Ghana and other African countries like Nigeria and Burkina Faso have seen success with increasing rice productivity and improving family nutrition through CARI projects. 17 projects have been implemented so far across the region engaging over 75,000 farmers and leveraging $4.3 million in partner investments. Studies in Ghana found that rice producing households consumed rice but lacked intake of vitamin A and iron rich foods, showing the need to address both agricultural productivity and nutrition. CARI projects aim to do this through improving rice yields, diversifying crops, boosting income, teaching better farming and storage techniques, and providing family nutrition training.

1. Ghana and other regional successes
@
Competitive African Rice Initiative
Country-level exemplars: e.g., Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana
Stefan Kachelriess-Matthess, GIZ

2. CARI at a glance
Experiences with tackling productivity
and nutrition
Accra November, 2015

3. Results so far at a glance
17 Projects
operational
€2.9Min program
funding
€4.3Min partner
investments
farmers engaged
75,000+
leveraged against
17 projects in
development
3women-focused** under
Walmart
* Mixed-gender projects include at least 30% women farmers
** Women-focused projects target about 90% women

4. Rice producers are rice consumers
• HDDS scores vary from 4.9-6.3 in Northern
and Upper East to Volta Region (highest possible
value is 12)
• Generally consumption of fruits, organ meat,
eggs, milk and milk products is very low
among all households interviewed
• HH interviewed consumed a much higher
percentage of grains and cereals compared to
fruits and vegetables high in Vitamin A
• All HH interviewed showed a high intake of
grains and cereals but show major
shortcomings in the intake of Vitamin A and
iron rich foods (same true for Nigeria)

5. addresses improved family nutrition
• Higher productivity and profitability of rice production
• Better income from agricultural production
• Crop diversification
• Diversification of alternative income sources for all
family members
• Skills development to manage farm and households
better
• Sensitisation/training on family nutrition
• Improved small scale post harvest handling, storage
and processing

6. Improved productivity
• Inputs, technics, management, finance

7. GAP training

8. Diversification
& better food

9. Harvest,
post-harvest
& storage

10. Improved processing
(parboiling)

11. Family nutrition training for men and
women)
Shift focus to training in food
preparation demonstrations to
acquire skills and build capacity
that would define the best
methods for obtaining
nourishment from foods

12. Training materials