The Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya North, Frank Yeboah, has appealed to the government to prioritise the purchase of locally produced rice to create a ready market for Ghanaian farmers.
He said government institutions, including the School Feeding Programme, Senior High Schools and prisons, could be encouraged to purchase locally grown rice.
According to him, a reliable market would motivate farmers to increase production and make agriculture more attractive to the youth.
Mr Yeboah expressed concern that some rice farmers in his constituency have large quantities of bagged rice stored in their homes and warehouses due to a lack of buyers.
He said farmers could become discouraged from expanding their farms when they struggle to sell their produce.
The MP made the appeal when he donated modern rice harvesting and processing machines to farmer groups in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District.
He said the machines would reduce the stress involved in harvesting and processing rice, minimise post-harvest losses and improve the quality of locally produced rice.
Mr Yeboah urged the beneficiary groups to maintain the machines properly to ensure their long-term use.
Some of the farmers described the donation as timely and said the equipment would help increase productivity and boost rice production in the area.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Obofo Micheal
