Kumbungu, Northern Region, March 24, – The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research–Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI), in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the AfricaRice Centre, has installed the Mini GEM Parboiler to enhance efficiency, product quality, and safety for women rice processors.
The initiative, under the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Phase II (TAAT II) project funded by the African Development Bank, aims to strengthen Ghana’s rice value chain and reduce post-harvest losses.
Two units of the Mini GEM Parboiler have been deployed — one at CSIR-SARI Nyankpala and the other in Kumbungu, with installation preceded by training workshops from March 16–21, 2026.
The parboiler can process about 400 kilograms of rice at a time, significantly more than traditional methods, while combining soaking and steaming in a single operation. It uses rice husks as fuel, reducing smoke exposure and improving working conditions.
Dr Joseph Maina Ndungu’u of AfricaRice highlighted the technology’s role in improving productivity and rice quality, while Alhaji Dauda Abdul-Salam of MoFA emphasized the training of women group leaders in technical and agribusiness skills.
Alex Yeboah, CSIR-SARI Rice Breeder and TAAT II focal person, noted that parboiling enhances nutritional value and reduces grain breakage during milling. Beneficiaries, including Madam Paulina Abanbire, expressed optimism that the innovation would boost income and the competitiveness of locally produced rice.
The technology is publicly accessible, allowing local fabrication and scaling across Ghana without intellectual property restrictions.
GHBUSS
March 24, 2026
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