Dr. Omar Aliu Touray, Chairman of the ECOWAS Fee, warned that West Africa’s continued dependence on imported rice threatens the area’s meals sovereignty, and urged governments and buyers to speed up efforts in the direction of rice self-sufficiency.
Talking on the West African Rice Funding Roundtable in Accra, Dr. Touray mentioned that regardless of years of funding and coverage reforms, demand for rice within the area continues to develop and outstrip native manufacturing.
He famous that though West Africa’s rice manufacturing elevated by 44% between 2008 and 2024, the area stays closely depending on imports to feed its inhabitants.
“Though regional manufacturing elevated considerably by 44% between 2008 and 2024, demand nonetheless exceeds provide, forcing West Africa to rely closely on rice imports,” he mentioned.
In accordance with Dr Touray, rice is extra than simply an agricultural product, it has turn out to be a strategic crop that’s central to meals safety and financial resilience throughout the area.
“Rice is a vital socio-economic crop for West Africa and has developed from a marginal commodity to a strategic product important for meals safety and rural livelihoods,” he mentioned.
The ECOWAS Chair mentioned the area’s rice scarcity was a serious vulnerability, but in addition a chance to create jobs, promote native trade and strengthen regional commerce.
“This problem represents a strategic alternative – a chance to extend home manufacturing, strengthen regional worth chains, entice funding and speed up the transformation of agricultural methods throughout West Africa,” he mentioned.
Dr Touray revealed that at the moment regional manufacturing solely meets 61 per cent of demand, with thousands and thousands of tonnes yearly sourced from exterior the area.
To reverse this pattern, ECOWAS adopted the Regional Rice Roadmap (2025-2035), which goals to realize elevated self-sufficiency by way of coordinated investments, stronger worth chains and improved competitiveness.
He pressured that the time has come to maneuver from planning to implementation.
“This gathering marks the subsequent necessary step on this journey, shifting past methods and plans to funding mobilization, stronger partnerships, and concrete actions to place West Africa as a aggressive, resilient, and self-sufficient rice-producing area,” he mentioned.
Dr Touray additional referred to as on monetary establishments, improvement companions and personal buyers to assist bankable tasks recognized beneath the nationwide rice funding plans developed throughout ECOWAS member states.
“The success of this roundtable will in the end be measured not by the standard of the discussions, however by the progress it brings to farmers, companies and communities,” he added.
The 2-day roundtable will deliver collectively authorities, buyers, improvement companions and personal sector stakeholders to mobilize financing and partnerships to rework the rice sector throughout West Africa.
