The Rural Development Administration (RDA) on March 5 handed over the first rice seeds produced under last year’s project Rice Seed Production Improvement for Africa, aka RiceSPIA, to the Ghanaian government at the Ghanian branch of the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture in the African country’s capital of Dawenya. (RDA)
By Israa Mohamed
The government’s Rice Seed Production Improvement for Africa (RiceSPIA) project, which seeks the production and cultivation of superior rice varieties in Africa, has achieved its first results in Ghana.
In a news release on March 6, the Rural Development Administration (RDA) in Seoul said the first rice seeds produced through last year’s RiceSPIA were given the day before to the Ghanaian government at the Ghanian branch of the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) in the African country’s capital of Dawenya.
The initiative is part of the K-Rice Belt project launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in July last year to raise food output in Africa by supporting the production of superior rice varieties and cultivation technology.
The 300 tons of rice seeds delivered that day were from 60 hectares of land for rice cultivation secured by KOPIA Ghana Center. The seeds are Korea-Mo and Agyapa, both of which are based on Korean varieties, and Agra, which is based on a Ghanian type.
Over 100 Ghanian farmers and government officials from both sides attended the handover ceremony including Kim Hwang-yong, director general of the RDA’s Technology Cooperation Bureau, Ambassador to Ghana Park Kyongsig and Ghanaian Minister of Agriculture and Food Bryan Acheampong to mark the milestone of the rice seed project.
In connection with K-Rice Belt, the RDA facilitates the production of superior rice seeds suitable for a targeted country through the KOPIA center there. Beyond seeds, it provides training on rice cultivation techniques to researchers and farmers.
“With the production of rice seeds in Ghana, we expect the spread of superior and high-yield seeds suited for African conditions,” Director General Kim said. “We will contribute to solving the food shortage in Africa by successfully completing the RiceSPIA project.”
ess8@korea.kr
