The Ghana Strategy Support Program (GSSP) and the Nigeria Strategy Support Program (NSSP) of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) held a joint seminar covering two topics: 1) the rice economy in Nigeria and 2) value chains in Ghana, on January 22, 2015 in Accra, Ghana. The event was attended by members of the Ghanaian Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Finance, Development Partners, and other stakeholders. The event was chaired by Dr. Paul Dorosh, Division Director, Development Strategy and Governance Division, IFPRI.
Dr. Hiroyuki Takeshima, Research Fellow, IFPRI and Dr. Michael Johnson, Research Fellow, IFRPI, presented findings on the Nigerian experience from their study, “Assessing the Potential and Policy Alternatives for Achieving Rice Competitiveness and Growth in Nigeria” (a policy note is available here). A more comprehensive overview of Nigeria’s rice economy will be published in the upcoming year in the forthcoming book, Achieving Rice Self-Sufficiency in Nigeria: Options for Future Strategies and Policies, edited by Dr. Kwabena Gyimah-Brempong, Dr. Michael Johnson, and Dr. Hiroyuki Takeshima and published by the University of Pennsylvania Press. The Ghanaian experience was also presented in a presentation entitled, “Reaching Smallholders through Value Chain Development” by Dr. Shashidhara Kolavalli, GSSP Program Leader/Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI.
