Sekondi, Oct 18, GNA - Mr Anthony Evans Amoah, the Western Regional Minister, on Tuesday asked the Inland Valleys Rice Development Project (IVRDP) to sensitise the people to patronise rice produced in the country.

He said this when officials of IVRDP and the Regional Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) briefed him about the project.

Mr Amoah said sensitisation of the public to buy locally produced rice should be made part of the project because of the poor patronage. He said the project should make it possible for rice farmers to market their produce to encourage them to increase output.

Mr Amoah said lack of ready market for agricultural produce discourages farmers and retards efforts to boost agriculture production.

Mr Edwin Sonne, a Rice Production Specialist of MOFA, said the five-year IVRDP is estimated to cost 22 million dollars. He said the African Development Bank (ADB) is providing 88 per cent of the funds and the government, 12 per cent.

Mr Sonne said the project is being undertaken in 25 sites in 17 districts in the Western, Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Eastern and Central regions.

He said the components of the project included land management, credit for crop development and capacity building.

Mr Sonne said the project would directly benefit 60,000 people in 10,000 households and would create 8500 seasonal jobs. Mr Kofi Ayiah, the Regional Officer of IVRDP, said 1,400 hectares of land are to be developed in eight districts for the project in the region.

He said the districts are the Shama-Ahanta East Metropolis, Mpohor Wassa East, Nzema East, Wassa West, Wassa Amenfi West, Aowin Suaman, Sefwi Wiawso and Bia.

Mr Ayiah said so far 172 hectares of land has been developed but 164 hectares has been cropped.