Nigeria, ECOWAS Push for Rice Self-Sufficiency
Nigeria and the ECOWAS Commission have intensified efforts to achieve rice self-sufficiency, ending decades of dependence on imports.
Governments, research institutions, and development partners are deploying AI-enabled technologies to boost yields, improve nutrition, and strengthen resilience to climate change.
The push aligns with the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD), which reported that sub-Saharan Africa produced 38.34 million metric tons of paddy rice in 2024, with a target of 56 million metric tons by 2030.
CARD, comprising 32 African countries and 14 partners, supports national strategies to double rice production.
Despite cultivating 18.18 million hectares in 2024, productivity averaged only 2.11 tons per hectare, below the 3 tons per hectare needed for self-sufficiency.
CARD estimates the region imports 18.11 million metric tons annually, while exports remain minimal.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest rice market, has validated its National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS) under CARD’s second phase. Other countries include Ghana, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Cameroon.
AfricaRice Director-General Dr. Baboucarr Manneh said West Africa would need about $25 billion in investment by 2035 to achieve rice self-sufficiency. He noted that partners pledged $1.54 billion at a recent Accra roundtable.
“The journey toward rice self-sufficiency is not simply about producing more rice. It is about creating jobs, strengthening food security, and empowering rural communities,” he said.
Manneh stressed Nigeria’s strategic role due to its market size, research capacity, and production potential, adding that AfricaRice is committed to accelerating the deployment of climate-smart and AI-supported technologies.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture Dr. Kalilou Sylla highlighted the importance of regional coordination.
“Improving productivity, expanding market access and fully implementing regional policies, including the ECOWAS common market for rice, will be critical to accelerating sustainable growth,” he said.
The broader ECOWAS Rice Roadmap aims to strengthen value chains, promote regional trade, and operationalise the ECOWAS Rice Observatory, positioning West Africa to reduce imports and build a competitive rice economy.