Kumasi, April 14, – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Ghana have held the maiden Steering Committee meeting for a project aimed at promoting sustainable and climate-smart rice cultivation in the country.
Rice remains a key staple food and livelihood source for many farming households in Ghana, but conventional irrigated production is increasingly associated with high methane emissions and heavy water use.
The new initiative, titled the Promotion of Climate Smart Agriculture Practices for Sustainable Rice Cultivation in Ghana, seeks to address these challenges through improved farming techniques and climate-friendly practices.
The project is being implemented by UNDP in collaboration with government under the Ghana–Switzerland bilateral cooperation framework in line with Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.
A central feature of the intervention is the promotion of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), an irrigation method that allows rice fields to periodically dry instead of remaining continuously flooded.
The approach is expected to reduce methane emissions, improve water efficiency and lower production costs while maintaining or improving yields for farmers.
Beyond farm-level gains, the project is also designed to support Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions and enable access to results-based climate finance through measurable emission reductions.
The Steering Committee, which serves as the project’s highest decision-making body, brings together government institutions, farmer-based organisations, research bodies, civil society actors and development partners.
It is mandated to provide strategic direction, approve work plans and budgets, monitor progress and strengthen coordination to ensure effective implementation.
Speaking at the meeting, Abdul-Razak Saeed, Head of Environment and Climate at UNDP Ghana, said strong governance structures were essential for achieving credible climate and development outcomes.
He noted that climate-smart interventions such as AWD offered a practical pathway for reducing emissions while improving the resilience and incomes of farmers.
The committee is expected to guide the nationwide rollout of the project as Ghana strengthens efforts to build a more sustainable and low-emissions agricultural sector.
GHBUSS
14 April 2026
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