Fungal Diseases of Rice in Ghana: Knowledge and Research Needs

Abstract

Rice is an important food and cash crop in Ghana. Domestic consumption is rapidly increasing and likely to reach 762,000 mt of paddy equivalent in 2006. The current production barely exceeds 221, 300 mt (PPMED, 1995). Large scale mechanised rice production prevalent during the 1970s collapsed once Government subsidies were withdrawn. However, small scale rice farming is now on the raise. With the increase in consumption, the rice supply is more dependent on imports (170,000 mt/yr on average, i.e. 2/3 of the requirement). The total production has indeed increased over the past 10 years, but is still far below domestic demand. In the inland valleys, the area cropped under water controlled system is currently estimated at less than 2,000 ha i.e. 2% of the cultivated area (MOFA & CFD Draft Report, 1997). Rice acreage increased from 76,100 to 99,900 ha between 1986 and 1995 with most of the cultivation under upland/lowland conditions (PPMED, 1995). While the scope for increasing the irrigated production is limited, there is clearly a large potential for developing rice in the inland valleys, which are presently under utilised, with only 99,900 ha of rice of a possible 400,000 ha.