UNIDO and Japan partnership boosts rice processing capacity in Tepa

A collaborative initiative between the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the Japanese government and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) is significantly enhancing rice processing standards at Tepa in the Ahafo Ano North Municipality.

Six rice millers in the Municipality have been equipped with modern milling technology to improve product quality, boost farmer incomes under the initiative. 

Dubbed, “Improving Technology and Quality Control System for Higher Value Addition in the Post-harvest Processes of the Rice Value Chain (ITEQ-RICE), the Project also seeks to strengthen food safety.

Following a comprehensive needs assessment, the beneficiaries received training and equipment, including three rice milling machines, three destoners, six grading and sorting machines, three electric motors, and three elevators.

A follow-up inspection led by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), with support from MoFA, UNIDO and the Ghana Standards Authority assessed how well the millers were applying the training and using the machines. 

The exercise also reinforced knowledge gained and highlighted improvements in production practices, especially the adoption of improved seeds.

Farmers in the area are now selecting and treating seeds more effectively, managing nurseries properly, and improving land preparation techniques. 

Millers have also learned standard machine operation and maintenance procedures.

Mr Stephen Adgzibli, Municipal Director of Agriculture for Ahafo Ano North, disclosed that the municipality now hosts 29 active rice processing centres. 

He said the introduction of grading machines had enhanced the quality of milled rice and helped operators acquire essential technical skills.

He added that the project had trained farmers in good agricultural practices such as variety selection, field management, and cropping systems, while millers and aggregators have improved their storage practices. 

However, Mr Adgzibli identified two persistent challenges — the lack of colour sorters to achieve fully polished rice and the reluctance of some millers to keep proper records. 

He urged millers to package their rice in consumer-friendly sizes to attract more buyers.

Stakeholders who participated in the inspection included rice farmers, mill owners, operators, aggregators, transporters, and marketers.

Mr Percy Adomako Agyekum, Director of the Centre for Import and Export Control (CIEC) at the FDA, noted that while the mills were operational, general cleanliness and infrastructure were inadequate. 

He indicated that dusty, wooden milling structures compromise product quality and urged the municipal authorities to improve these facilities to enable mills to meet FDA licensing requirements. 

He further encouraged millers to keep proper records and increase production of high-quality local rice to boost consumer confidence.

Mr Kwabena Owusu, Chairman of the Tepa Rice Millers Association, praised the project for improving the livelihoods of farmers and millers. 

He said the machines provided had streamlined operations and reduced the workload for processors. 

He encouraged the youth to venture into rice cultivation and processing and appealed for additional support to further enhance the quality of locally produced rice.

Source: GNA

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