Olam Ghana, a wholly-owned subsidiary of leading food and agri-business Olam International, has launched its locally grown and sourced rice brand – Mama Gold, a premium jasmine rice – to bring more choices to consumers in Ghana.
Olam Ghana is collaborating with rice growers and millers in the Volta, Ashanti and Eastern Regions to produce and stock the product.
The launch of Mama Gold will support and continue the development of rice farming in Ghana and government’s initiative to boost domestic rice production and processing – meant to promote self-sufficiency and improve the country’s foreign exchange position.
Speaking at the launch of Mama Gold in Accra, Marketing Manager at Olam Ghana, Mrs. Christiana Anim-Asare, stated: “We are proud of being the first company to source from local suppliers and launch a rice brand that is entirely ‘Made in Ghana’.
“With our market knowledge and experience in rice-farming, sourcing and distribution across Africa, we have done extensive work to ensure that Mama Gold will deliver the clean, well packaged and tasty local jasmine rice that Ghanaians want. Beyond meeting our consumers’ requirements, the increased economic activity around locally produced rice will have a positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of many farmers and households,” the Marketing Manager said.
The Director of the Planting for Food and Jobs Secretariat at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Richard Twumasi-Ankrah, said the ministry is fully committed to reducing the annual rice import bill – which, according to him, is high because the local rice industry has in the past been plagued with challenges that necessitated the importation of substantial quantities to supplement national demand.
Mr. Twumasi-Ankrah said rice is one of the priority crops being promoted under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Campaign, and stressed that the ministry’s primary effort has been directed at putting in place a strategy for increasing farm level productivity.
He said government intervention has resulted in improved yield from an average of 2.72 metric tonnes per hectare in 2016 to an average of 4.2 metric tonnes per hectare in 2019, adding that local rice production has increased from 688,000 metric tonnes of paddy production in 2016 to a total paddy production of 925,000 metric tonnes in 2019.
Mama Gold will be available across Ghana in 1kg, 4.5kg and 22.5kg pack sizes.
Source: agrighanaonline.com
