The African Development Bank (AfDB), in partnership with the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has launched a five-year rice development programme across West Africa.
The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire.
The programme, known as the Multinational Rice Resilient Value Chains Development Programme (REWARD–AfricaRice), has a budget of $8.5 million and will run from 2024 to 2029.
It targets 14 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
The initiative seeks to address long-standing challenges in the region’s rice sector, including low average yields of 2.2 to 2.5 tonnes per hectare, post-harvest losses of up to 42 per cent, and production levels that meet only about 60 per cent of regional demand.
Climate-related shocks have also reduced rice output by between 16 and 29 per cent over the past 15 years.
REWARD–AfricaRice focuses on climate-resilient production systems, improved seed development, modern processing methods and stronger regional coordination.
Speaking at the launch, the Rice Agenda Coordinator at ECOWAS, Dr Boladale Adebowale, stated that the programme reflects the importance of regional cooperation in strengthening food systems.
He described rice as a strategic commodity for food sovereignty and economic stability in West Africa.
AfDB Regional Development Manager, Dr Eklou Attiogbevi-Somado, mentioned that the programme aligns with the Bank’s broader strategy to strengthen agricultural value chains.
He noted that investment in resilient rice systems would support regional integration, employment and long-term economic growth.
AfricaRice Director General, Dr Baboucarr Manneh, said achieving rice self-sufficiency in West Africa requires coordinated action across research, policy and markets.
He emphasised that the programme combines science, innovation and institutional strengthening to benefit farmers, processors and consumers across the region.
Key activities under the programme include centralised breeder seed production by AfricaRice, strengthened foundation and certified seed systems, capacity building in seed quality control, promotion of climate-adapted rice varieties and cross-border knowledge sharing.
The programme projects yields could rise to up to seven tonnes per hectare, while farmer incomes could increase from about $1,385 to $1,605 per year.
It also estimates the creation of up to 78,000 jobs, including 39,000 for women, and an increase in intra-regional rice trade to 250,000 tonnes.
The launch brought together government officials, researchers, development partners and private sector representatives, who committed to coordinated implementation across participating countries.
In Nigeria, the programme aligns with ongoing national efforts to strengthen the rice sector.
In 2022, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security launched the National Rice Development Strategy II (NRDS II), a 10-year plan aimed at achieving rice self-sufficiency, improving nutrition, creating jobs and generating export surplus.
The strategy was developed with technical support from partners including GIZ, JICA, AGRA and NEPAD and was adopted by the National Council on Agriculture in 2021.
Nigeria also operates the Competitive African Rice Platform (CARP), a multi-stakeholder forum that brings together actors across the rice value chain to promote competitiveness and policy coordination.
CARP is represented at the ECOWAS Rice Observatory and works alongside NRDS II to support sustainable rice production, resource efficiency and market development at national and regional levels.
Source: The Nation Online
Image Credit: Baboucarr Manneh, Africa Rice DG
