The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Wednesday in Abuja unveiled a 25-billion-dollar regional rice development programme, targeting 100 per cent self-sufficiency by 2035.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mr Dehpue Zuo, while unveiling the initiative, described it as a major milestone towards regional food security and sustainable rice production.
The programme, known as the Regional Rice Resilient Value Chains Development Programme (REWARD), seeks to boost rice production, strengthen food security and reduce West Africa’s dependence on imported rice.
Zuo disclosed that the programme had an overall investment portfolio of approximately 25 billion dollars, with 1.5 billion dollars in firm commitments mobilised at a regional financing conference in Accra.
He said the funds would support farmers, businesses, agricultural production and the development of resilient rice value chains across participating countries.
According to him, the event also marks the establishment of a steering committee to provide strategic oversight for its implementation between 2025 and 2035.
Zuo urged governments, development partners, private investors and other stakeholders to demonstrate collective commitment towards achieving the sub-region’s rice self-sufficiency ambition.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the ECOWAS Rice Agenda and REWARD Project, Boladale Adebowale, said rice remained a strategic staple crop whose development was critical to West Africa’s food security.
Adebowale disclosed that the region currently achieved approximately 60 per cent rice self-sufficiency, with REWARD targeting complete self-sufficiency by 2035.
He explained that West Africa would need to produce approximately 35 million metric tonnes of rice to satisfy projected consumption requirements.
He stressed that population growth made increased agricultural productivity, expanded production capacity and improved value-chain efficiency imperative.
Adebowale said the programme would prioritise a more productive and competitive rice sector through improved processing, marketing systems and increased trade among West African countries.
