Various agricultural technology and production firms from Israel are keen on exploring opportunities along the local rice value chain.
Head of Economic and Trade Mission at the Embassy of Israel in Accra, Yaniv Tessel, revealed that a number of businesses from the Middle East country are considering opportunities in rice production, particularly technologies that boost production and improve standards and quality.
“I can tell you that some Israeli companies are interested in rice production in Ghana. Our strength is in harnessing the technologies – providing the technological solutions and setting these technologies up. Some of the Israeli companies are also looking at joint ventures; joint investments in agricultural projects involving rice cultivation,” he said.
Mr. Tessel spoke in Accra at an event dubbed ‘Building Climate Resilience in Rice Farming and Production’, organised by the Israel Economic and Trade Mission. The event brought together various Israeli agricultural technology firms and local actors across the agriculture value chain.
With Ghana currently unable to meet its rice consumption needs, he said Israeli businesses are ready to partner local players to boost production. “Rice production has been a long-standing issue and now that the government is prioritising it, it is definitely something we want to help tackle. For us, at the Embassy of Israel Trade Mission, it is important for us to engage stakeholders, especially to understand how we can bring our technologies and innovative abilities to help,” he noted.
For her part, the Ambassador of Israel to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Shlomit Sufa, added that Israel is seeking to help find solutions to the food security challenges facing Ghana.
“This is why we have our Economic and Trade Mission organising this very important conference on climate resilience in rice production and rice growing, introducing very interesting solutions to these challenges by Israeli companies that present top-of-the-line technological innovations and developments specifically designed for the climate African needs and the needs in Ghana, and thereby contributing to better food security and achieving the United Nations Development Sustainability Goals.”
Rice is a staple food in Ghana as well as many other parts of West Africa and Africa in general. The issue of increasing the local production of rice is on the very top of the agenda of the government.
This is where Ambassador Sufa believes Israeli companies, with their experience and technology, can help. “Israel can step in and support this effort in increasing and bettering the yields of rice, helping rice to be resistant to pests, diseases and the likes. We’re very happy to be able to do that. This conference is about introducing Israeli companies to interested stakeholders here in Ghana. And we’re hoping to see a lot of cooperation as a result of this introduction. We hope to have the best results in terms of future collaboration between the Israeli companies and the Ghanaian stakeholders,” she further emphasised.
“I think it is a good platform to allow the Israeli companies to gain more understanding of the legal system, as well as the challenges farmers and the business sector are facing here in Ghana because not all of these companies are operating in Ghana at the moment. Also, I think, for us at the Economic and Trade Mission, it is a good way to engage and create this platform for discussions; and I hope it won’t be the last time we convene in this form,” Mr. Tessel said of the event.
