The Newage Agric Solutions Ltd, producers of one of Ghana’s premium long grain rice brands, Evivi Long Grain Rice has presented the first batch of rice produced under the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) Program to the Project Management Unit (PMU), Agri Impact Limited, to signify the beginning of sales of rice produced with funding from the program.

This forms part of activities to release the new produce onto the Ghanaian market and to consolidate their share of Ghana’s rice market, and also afford the PMU the opportunity to have a first-hand taste of the produce that their partnership has helped birthed.

According to the General Manager of Newage Agric Solutions Limited, Mr. Martin Nartey, this was to mark the milestone the collaboration between the two agricultural companies under the HAPPY Program has brought. He further explained that as partners with the same goal under the Program, it was necessary to provide progress reports on their activities and to also take feedback which could enrich the quality of subsequent productions.

“We started the rice production under the HAPPY project in December at Weta and Asutuare and commenced harvesting in March. We are currently in the second season of production and after the cleaning and milling process, we decided to present our first fruits, fresh from the farm, to the PMU - our partners - before it hits the market. This will also allow the PMU have a taste of what we have produced before it goes onto the market.

He further revealed that the partnership has helped the company to procure a new van to help with the distribution of the rice to the market centres in Accra and surrounding communities.

“For the sake of our work, we also procured a van to facilitate easy distribution to the various markets,” he said, pointing the Agri Impact team to the parked van on their premises.           

Additionally, Newage presented copies of Agrigold, an agriculture and lifestyle magazine produced by WeComm AgriMedia on behalf of the company, to Agri Impact Ltd. Mr. Nartey also emphasized the collaborative efforts with Agri Impact in producing quality content for the magazine.

“Beyond our first fruits, we also brought copies of the second edition of our agricultural magazine, AGRIGOLD MAGAZINE. It is published twice in a year and targets agricultural topics with the aim of depicting agriculture as a lifestyle to change the negative perception surrounding it. There are many issues in it that have been skillfully written both for agricultural and non-agricultural readers. We brought some copies in addition to the rice so you can have a look at it, give us feedback and help us make it better in our subsequent editions,” he added.

Mr. Larry Amekuse, the Project Coordinator for Agri Impact Limited, expressed gratitude for the bags of rice presented to them, and praised the nutritional value and quality of the rice since he is a regular consumer of Evivi long grain rice.

“Newage is one of our cherished private partners that delivers and we hold you in high esteem. We are also grateful for giving us your first fruits to taste and provide you with feedback. The rice they have given us is yet to hit the market and my group CEO, who actively patronises the rice, also testifies to its nutritional value and quality taste. So let’s us all promote the brand Evivi. We are grateful you came all the way here to grant us this opportunity,” he said.

He further explained how the four-year sustainability plan for the HAPPY program benefits young professionals in the sector.

“To the team of young professionals, I encourage you to give off your best as this project is a four-year sustainable one which will greatly benefit you. Don’t see yourself as someone whose voice will not be heard,” said Mr. Amekuse.