Accra, June 4, GNA - Mr John Awuni, President of Ghana Rice Inter-Professionals (GRIB) has appealed to the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC) to review increases in utility tariffs the Commission introduced recently, arguing that the move would affect the pr ice of locally produced rice.

He noted that presently, rice farmers were facing many challenges wh ich GRIB was trying to resolve and that the increases in tariffs would compou nd the problem. Mr Awuni was addressing the opening session of a day's Fifth Annual General Meeting of GRIB in Accra on Friday. GRIB is made up of rice farmers, importers, rice processors, millers , equipment suppliers and brokers.

The meeting was attended by about 150 members from the country. He appealed to utility service providers to consider reducing unnecessary expenditure rather than burdening consumers with tariff increases. Mr Awuni said last year, GRIB secured a GH¢30,000 fund from the management of Finatrade Ghana to sustain its programmes, secured markets for some rice farmers in Hohoe and Afife in the Volta Region and submitted proposals to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to conduct censu s on rice farmers in the country. "We also had approval from BUSAC Fund, one of our main sponsors, to continue our advocacy programme and participated in the Farmers' Day celebrations where we showcased locally produced rice," he added. On activities for 2010, Mr Awuni said GRIB would endeavour to resol ve all post harvest issues by supplying equipment at subsidised prices to members, help farmers produce quality products, make GRIB known and acceptable by stakeholders by strengthening its structures.

"We would work closely with MOFA for an improvement in rice producti on and continue to secure markets for our produce," he added. He urged members to pay their monthly dues, encourage more rice farmers to join the body, and remain united and committed to the ideals o f GRIB. Mr Benoit Lebeurre, Resident Manager of French Development Agency (AFD), which had been a major sponsor of GRIB since its establishment in 2004, urged the body to promote the interest of rice farmers nationwide. He commended government for efforts being made to increase the production of local rice and reduction on imported rice. Mr Lebeurre said AFD would soon implement its Rice Sector Support Project (RSSP) to help equip about 2,500 rice farmers to boost production ..