My face beamed with smiles when I saw the Edumawura rice, produced and marketed by Worawora Rice Mills Ltd, being advertised on social media. The thought of Omo Tuo, Dr. Papa Kwesi Ndoum’s favourite and groundnut soup (Omo Tuo is a soft, smooth rice dough served with soup) immediately crossed my mind. While thinking about how to get myself a 5kg bag, I could not help but notice the number of comments about the cost of this premium perfumed rice. Many Ghanaians are happy with its introduction but are concerned about the price compared to imported varieties of similar quality.
As an agricultural expert and ardent fan of Made in Ghana products, I can attest that the cost of producing rice domestically is significantly high, which makes the final retail price less competitive than imported varieties. Several factors contribute to this:
🌾 High input costs – Seeds, fertilizers, and agrochemicals are often expensive due to importation costs or limited local production.
🌾 Labour intensity – Rice farming in Ghana relies heavily on manual labour, which increases production costs compared to mechanized farms abroad.
🌾 Limited mechanization – The cost of machinery, fuel, and maintenance is high, and small-scale farmers may not have access to affordable mechanized solutions.
🌾 Post-harvest losses – Inefficient milling, storage, and transportation can reduce yield and increase costs.
🌾 Financing challenges – Limited access to affordable credit forces farmers to rely on high-interest loans, further increasing production costs.
Notwithstanding these challenges, I urge Dr. Papa Kwasi Ndoum and the Worawora Rice Mills Ltd to take a second look at the pricing. Your team of experts can conduct a market survey to peg a competitive price relative to imported brands. This can be done in a way that safeguards your investment costs while still allowing profitability to sustain production.
I can’t wait to get a bag of Edumawura rice. I look forward to enjoying a bowl of Omo Tuo with groundnut soup, goat meat, and fresh fish with the man whose commitment to serving his people knows no bounds.
By: Henry Cofie Fordi