Agro-ecological and infrastructural barriers to sustainable rice production in Republic of Ghana: a systematic analysis and ways forward

Derick Yamoah; Igor Prikhodko; Khristofor Kesafoti; Valeria Klimenko

doi:10.55186/25876740_2026_69_4_499

VAK Russia 4.1.1 UDC 633.18 UDC 631.674.6

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AGRO-ECOLOGICAL AND INFRASTRUCTURAL BARRIERS TO SUSTAINABLE RICE PRODUCTION IN REPUBLIC OF GHANA: A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS AND WAYS FORWARD Agro-ecological and infrastructural barriers to sustainable rice production in Republic of Ghana: a systematic analysis and ways forward

АА Аа

Published in INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL · Issue 4 · Pages 499–502 · Rubric: International experience in agriculture

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55186/25876740_2026_69_4_499

Received: 18.04.2026 Accepted: 28.05.2026 Published: 15.08.2026

Authors

Derick Yamoah

ORCID

Igor Prikhodko

ORCID Scopus ResearcherID SPIN

Khristofor Kesafoti

ORCID ResearcherID SPIN

Valeria Klimenko

ORCID

Derick Yamoah

Kuban State Agrarian University named after I.T. Trubilin postgraduate student · department of construction and operation of water management facilities · Russian Federation · Krasnodar

ORCID

Igor Prikhodko

Academic degree: candidate of technical sciences

Science rang: docent

Kuban State Agrarian University named after I.T. Trubilin head of the department · department of construction and operation of water management facilities · Russian Federation · Krasnodar

ORCID Scopus ResearcherID SPIN

Khristofor Kesafoti

Kuban State Agrarian University named after I.T. Trubilin assistant · department of construction and operation of water management facilities · Russian Federation · Krasnodar

ORCID ResearcherID SPIN

Valeria Klimenko

Kuban State Agrarian University named after I.T. Trubilin head of the laboratory of the department · laboratory of the department of construction and operation of water management facilities · Russian Federation · Krasnodar

ORCID

ABSTRACT

Rice is a strategic agricultural crop for Republic of Ghana, accounting for 15% of GDP and ensuring food security for millions of households. However, over the past decade, the gap between domestic production and consumption has widened dramatically, reaching 50% dependence on imports. Despite significant progress in rice production in recent years, domestic rice production only covers 47% of total demand of 1.5 million tons. The primary challenge to achieving rice self-sufficiency is the lack of rice irrigation systems, modern, water-efficient rice cultivation technologies, and a sufficient number of specialists capable of implementing them across Ghana. Consequently, the average annual rice yield across the two seasons (wet and dry) ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 t/ha, with potential yields of 10 t/ha for various varieties. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the systemic barriers hindering the development of rice cultivation in Ghana. Based on a synthesis of modern literary sources (2013-2025), four key clusters of problems were identified: soil degradation and salinization; climatic instability with a temperature increase of 0.21°C per decade; critical insufficiency of land reclamation and processing infrastructure with 77.6% manual labor; irrational management of water and nutrient resources. Particular attention is paid to the reclamation aspect: it has been proven that with the use of only a small share of the irrigation potential and the prevalence of a rainfall cultivation regime, the sector remains extremely vulnerable to weather anomalies. A concept for transitioning to integrated resource management is proposed, including scaling up drip irrigation systems and the wet-dry cycle (AWD) method, using biochar and rice straw for soil restoration, and introducing stress-tolerant Oryza glaberrima varieties. A paradigm shift is needed: from extensive import substitution to sustainable intensification based on the principles of agro-ecology and climate-smart agriculture.

KEYWORDS

Republic of Ghana, rice, rice yield, water-saving rice cultivation technologies, rice irrigation regimes, nature-like technologies

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Editor-in-Chief

Aleksandr Fomin

Deputy Editor-in-Chief

Tat'yana V. Kazennova

Responsible Secretary

Irina Mamontova

Issue Editor

Gilyana Yakushkina

Literary Editor

Marina G. Fomina

Editorial

Redakcii Sotrudnik

info@mshj.ru

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GOST

Yamoah D. G., Prikhodko I. A., Kesafoti K. E., Klimenko V. E. Agro-ecological and infrastructural barriers to sustainable rice production in Republic of Ghana: a systematic analysis and ways forward // INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 2026. no. 4. pp. 499-502. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55186/25876740_2026_69_4_499. (Date of access 22.10.2026).

MLA

Derick Yamoah, Prikhodko I. A., Kesafoti K. E., Klimenko V. E.. "Agro-ecological and infrastructural barriers to sustainable rice production in Republic of Ghana: a systematic analysis and ways forward." INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL.4 (2026): 499-502. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55186/25876740_2026_69_4_499.

APA

Yamoah D. G., Prikhodko I. A., Kesafoti K. E., Klimenko V. E. (2026). Agro-ecological and infrastructural barriers to sustainable rice production in Republic of Ghana: a systematic analysis and ways forward. INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL(4), 499-502. https://doi.org/10.55186/25876740_2026_69_4_499

Chicago

Derick Yamoah, Prikhodko I. A., Kesafoti K. E., Klimenko V. E.. "Agro-ecological and infrastructural barriers to sustainable rice production in Republic of Ghana: a systematic analysis and ways forward." INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, no. 4 (2026): 499-502. https://doi.org/10.55186/25876740_2026_69_4_499.

WIKI

{{cite journal | author = Yamoah D. G., Prikhodko I. A., Kesafoti K. E., Klimenko V. E. | title = Agro-ecological and infrastructural barriers to sustainable rice production in Republic of Ghana: a systematic analysis and ways forward | journal = INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL | year = 2026 | issue = 4 | pages = 499-502 | doi = 10.55186/25876740_2026_69_4_499 }}

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AGRO-ECOLOGICAL AND INFRASTRUCTURAL BARRIERS TO SUSTAINABLE RICE PRODUCTION IN REPUBLIC OF GHANA: A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS AND WAYS FORWARD Agro-ecological and infrastructural barriers to sustainable rice production in Republic of Ghana: a systematic analysis and ways forward

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