The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku, has called for closer collaboration and the sharing of expertise between Ghana and Pakistan to boost rice production and strengthen the value chain.
He said Ghana was ready to partner Pakistan in areas such as research, technology transfer, and agro-industrial investment to ensure sustainable food security.
Mr Opoku made the call at the maiden Pakistan Rice Show 2025 held in Accra on yesterday.
The two-day three-nation roadshow, on the theme “Bridging Markets, Delivering Quality: Pakistani Rice for Ghana,” is being organised by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) under the Ministry of Commerce and the Pakistan High Commission in Ghana.
The event is also being staged in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.
The roadshow is being attended by more than 30 Pakistani businesses engaged in rice farming, processing, and exports.
It features business-to-business (B2B) meetings to link Ghanaian importers, traders, and farmer-based organisations with Pakistani rice exporters.
Pakistan is one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of rice, with an annual production capacity of about nine million metric tonnes.
Mr Opoku in his address said Ghana’s rice consumption had risen sharply in recent years, but local production was yet to meet demand despite government interventions. “While we continue to expand irrigation facilities, mechanisation and farmer support under government’s food production programme, we acknowledge that quality imports still play an important role in meeting demand and ensuring food security,” he stated.
He noted that Pakistan’s expertise in producing premium basmati and long-grain rice presented an opportunity for Ghana to not only access high-quality imports but also to learn from Pakistan’s experience in research, organisation, packaging, and distribution.
“This forum represents more than a rice exhibition; it is a platform for knowledge-sharing, trade linkages, and long-term partnerships,” the Minister stressed. He said potential collaborations could evolve into joint ventures in rice milling, packaging, storage, logistics, and technology transfer for Ghanaian farmers.
The Pakistani High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Najeeb Durrani, described the event as a milestone in strengthening trade and investment ties between the two countries. “The Pakistan Rice Show is not just an exhibition. It is a platform for mutual learning, sharing expertise, and creating opportunities for sustainable trade and prosperity,” he said.
The Head of Delegation and Director of TDAP, Mr Athar Hussein Khoktar, said Pakistan had the capacity to export surplus rice to meet Africa’s growing consumption needs.
“Our annual domestic requirement is about three million metric tonnes, yet we produce nine million tonnes. This gives us the capacity to export six million tonnes annually,” he explained.
He said Pakistan earned $4 billion in rice exports in 2024, with projections of $6 billion this year.
Speaking on the theme “Pakistan’s Rice: Empowering West Africa’s Food Security”, Mr Khoktar said the show would open avenues for business deals that could support West Africa’s rising food needs.
He expressed optimism that the B2B engagements in Accra would translate into long-term partnerships in trade, investment, and agricultural innovation.
The Pakistan Rice Show ends today with trade exhibitions and bilateral meetings.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE
