AsaaseYaaGrowing rice in Ghana
When to plant, how far apart, which variety, how to feed it and which pests to watch for. The same guide the AsaaseYaa app uses to plan your rice jobs day by day.
When to plant
| Where | Season | Months |
|---|---|---|
| South and middle belt | Season 1 | Apr – May |
| South and middle belt | Season 2 | Aug – Sep |
| Northern regions | Main Season | May – Jul |
In the app, the dates follow your region, and the jobs follow the rain forecast for your farm.
Getting the land ready
- Feeding: Compost or manure. Incorporate compost or well-rotted manure during land preparation to improve soil structure before flooding.
- Weeds: Thorough land preparation including harrowing. Good land preparation removes existing weeds and exposes weed seeds to drying. Flooding the prepared field for 5–7 days before transplanting kills many weed seedlings.
- Pests: Check for termite activity. For paddy fields, flooding after land preparation naturally suppresses many soil pests.
Varieties grown in Ghana
Aromatic long-grain rice — fetches premium prices, especially in urban markets.
New Rice for Africa, bred for upland (rainfed) fields. Matures fast and handles less water than valley rice.
Performs best in irrigated paddies and valley bottoms. High yields when water is reliable.
Bred for lowland systems with some blast tolerance. Steady performer in the Volta and forest valleys.
Care through the season
Establishment
- Feed: NPK 15-15-15, 50 kg per acre. Broadcast and incorporate before transplanting, or topdress at 1 week after germination.
- Weed: Weed at 2–3 weeks after transplanting, repeat at 5–6 weeks after transplanting.
- Watch for: Rice stem borer, Gall midge, Rats. Scout twice weekly.
Vegetative growth
- Feed: Urea 46%, 20 kg per acre per split. Broadcast onto moist soil at tillering stage.
- Weed: Weed at 5–6 weeks after transplanting.
- Watch for: Rice blast, Brown planthopper, Stem borer. Scout twice weekly.
Flowering
- Feed: Muriate of Potash (MOP 60%), 15 kg per acre. Broadcast on drained field.
- Weed: Once if needed.
- Watch for: Rice bugs (Oebalus), Neck blast, Stem borer. Scout daily at heading.
Grain fill
- Watch for: Rice bugs, Rats, Birds. Scout daily.
Pests and diseases
| Pest or disease | When it shows up |
|---|---|
| Rice stem borer | Establishment |
| Gall midge | Establishment |
| Rats | Establishment, Grain fill |
| Rice blast | Vegetative growth |
| Brown planthopper | Vegetative growth |
| Stem borer | Vegetative growth, Flowering |
| Rice bugs (Oebalus) | Flowering |
| Neck blast | Flowering |
| Rice bugs | Grain fill |
| Birds | Grain fill |
Tap a name to see what it looks like and what to do. In the app, tap the leaf that looks like yours to see what is wrong. All pests: pest and disease library.
Harvest and storage
It is ready when:
- 80–85% of panicles have turned golden yellow
- Grains are hard when pressed between fingers
- Panicles are beginning to droop from grain weight
- Grain moisture is approximately 20–25% at optimum harvest time
Harvest when 80% of panicles are golden. Cut panicles 25 cm below the head using a sickle, or use a reaper for larger fields. Drain field 10–14 days before harvest to firm up the soil.
- Bundle and stack cut panicles in the field for 2–3 days to continue drying
- Thresh bundles onto a clean tarpaulin or using a pedal thresher
- Winnow immediately to separate chaff from paddy
- Dry paddy in thin layers on tarpaulins — target below 14% moisture for milling
Store in clean, dry jute or polypropylene bags in a well-ventilated store off the floor on pallets. Avoid storing near fertilizer or chemicals. Check monthly for insect infestation.
What to plant next
Plant a legume or vegetable next. Rotate rice with a legume to restore N and break stem-borer / blast cycles. Vegetable rotation also viable on lighter ground.
General advice from crop guides for Ghana. Check important decisions with an agronomist or your district agriculture office.
Get your rice jobs day by day
AsaaseYaa turns this guide into picture steps for your farm, with reminders. Free.