The Central Region has initiated a five-year strategic plan to make the region a major hub for producing rice in the country.

According to the Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan, the region is partnering with some international pro-agricultural agencies to provide equipment and other implements that will help speed up agriculture production in the region.

Mrs Marigold Assan was speaking to the media at Cape Coast during the end-of-the-year Regional Coordinating Council meeting.

“Our quest to make the Central Region the hub of rice production is also on course. The regional directorate is currently designing a five-year strategic plan to grow rice in many districts. There will be an update as to when the plan is completed,” she said.

In pursuit of that, a strong collaboration has been forged with Korea International Corporation, an expert organisation in upscaling rice production who has given the region some rice seeds to support the project, the Minister revealed.

She said that "we also want to thank KOICA, that is, the Korea International Corporation Agency for the continuous support to improve rice production in the region. I have been told that KOICA has given us some rice seeds to also expand the rice production in the region."

"Already, they are in five or six regions so this is to support us to give rice seeds to other districts so that all of us will be able to produce.” she added.

The Regional Minister further appealed to the Metro, Municipal and District assemblies to take advantage of it and make productivity their topmost priority in the year 2023.