After successfully cultivating desi tomatoes on its soil, Ghana is set to grow Indian rice varieties and medicinal and aromatic plants.

Goodearth Global Ltd, based in Accra, Ghana, has inked an agreement with the National Research and Development Corporation (NRDC) in this regard.

Deal inked

Goodearth is owned by Hyderabad-based international commodity trader Ch Gopal. As per the agreement signed between him and H Purushotham, Chairman and Managing Director of NRDC, the rice and medicinal and aromatic plants will be grown on 3,000 acres, which the company has leased for 50 years.

Goodearth has been present in Ghana for the past five years and is expanding operations. “We have leased virgin land near the town of Ho in the Volta (river) region, which is fertile. The climate is also suitable for growing these crops. Access to the US and European markets is easier from there,” Gopal told BusinessLine .

The company plans to grow short-duration (125 days), fine-grained blast-resistant paddy variety called ‘Telangana Sona’. This variety can be grown both during rainy and winter seasons.

Though rice is a staple food for Ghana, where significant quantities are imported, especially from Thailand, Vietnam and India. This offers good scope and opportunity for growing rice in the African nation itself.

Goodearth also plans to lease another 3,000 acres for growing tomato, cassava and seeds. NRDC will provide the technical support, he said. According to Purushotham, the $2 million Indo-Ghana pilot research project for tomato production, launched in 2015 successfully demonstrated the cultivation of high-yielding tomatoes on three plots of five acres each.

At a meeting in Ghana recently, both the governments expressed interest in expanding cooperation in value-added agriculture.

Millet cultivation

Ghana has also sought Indian help in boosting its rice and millet crops, Purushotham said.

Millets, particularly sorghum and pearl millet have potential in North, Upper East and Upper West Ghana to increase income and food security through strengthened capacity to achieve higher and sustainable yields in sorghum and pearl production.

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