West Africa can be self-sufficient in rice production – John Dumelo

Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration among governments, businesses, and farmers across West Africa to establish a self-sufficient and competitive rice industry. At a high-level ministerial dialogue at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Kigali, Rwanda, Dumelo stressed that stronger regional cooperation is crucial to addressing the challenges facing rice production and reducing the region's dependence on rice imports. He noted that West Africa's annual expenditure on rice imports exceeds US$3.5 billion.

Dumelo highlighted that while some progress has been made in strengthening rice production across the region, involving countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, and Sierra Leone, there is a need for deeper and more coordinated efforts to achieve true self-sufficiency. He stressed that this objective requires a collective approach encompassing governments, farmers, and businesses throughout the rice value chain, including access to inputs, technology, financing, processing, storage, transportation, and markets.

He also emphasized that regional cooperation should extend beyond production to encompass the wider rice value chain, given that rice is a staple food in West Africa and plays a vital role in food security, employment, rural incomes, and economic resilience. Sierra Leone's Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, echoed Dumelo's sentiments, arguing that treating rice as a regional business opportunity rather than a series of isolated national challenges is essential for overcoming dependence on imports.

Dr Kpaka pointed out that the ECOWAS Rice Offensive, which aims to mobilize an initial $500 million for rice development across West Africa, is already gaining momentum, but stressed that financial support must be accompanied by consistent policies, particularly in relation to food production and trade. He highlighted the competitive disadvantage faced by African producers compared to those in countries offering substantial government support to their rice farmers.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security called for leveling the playing field by addressing issues such as subsidies and long-term investments that allow foreign producers to produce, transport, and export rice at prices that undercut locally produced rice in West African markets. He expressed optimism that West Africa's market of over 400 million people can support a thriving regional rice industry, especially considering the current volume of rice imports from outside the continent.

AGRA President Ms Alice Ruhweza called for a holistic approach to improving rice systems across the continent. She noted that farmers possess the necessary innovation and courage, but require a supportive system to succeed. The high-level ministerial dialogue, held as part of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Kigali, Rwanda, is one of the key highlights of the Forum, which aims to explore coordinated approaches to addressing food systems challenges on the continent.