CÔTE D’IVOIRE—Côte d’Ivoire has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s Saemaul Foundation to harness the foundation’s extensive experience in agricultural development to bolster the country’s rice sector.
Rice remains a staple in the Ivorian diet, but the country has struggled with low production capacity.
As Africa’s second-largest rice producer and importer after Nigeria, the Ivorian Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production signed the partnership on September 11 in Gumi as part of a broader initiative to enhance the country’s rice sector.
Speaking on the agreement, Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, Minister of Agriculture, underscored the significance of the partnership.
“We were able to witness firsthand the remarkable advancements achieved by the Saemaul Foundation in Korea’s rice sector. With this cooperation, we are confident that the National Strategy for the Development of the Rice Sector (SNDR 2) will lead Côte d’Ivoire towards self-sufficiency in rice,” he said.
Côte d’Ivoire’s National Strategy for the Development of the Rice Sector (SNDR 2) is a comprehensive initiative designed to expand the country’s rice production to meet growing domestic demand.
The plan aims to boost local production of milled rice to 3.2 million tonnes by 2030, compared to the 1.4 million tonnes currently being produced in 2023. To reach this target, the government intends to mobilize US$1.3 billion in investments from various financial and technical partners.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that between 2020 and 2023, Côte d’Ivoire produced an average of just 1 million tonnes of milled rice annually, while consumption soared to 2.8 million tonnes per year.
This significant gap has made rice imports a necessity, further burdening the country’s economy.
The agreement with South Korea’s Saemaul Foundation is part of a larger effort to leverage international expertise and investment to meet Côte d’Ivoire’s food security goals.
The foundation, which has been instrumental in South Korea’s agricultural transformation, specializes in the development of rural areas, particularly in enhancing rice production capabilities.
Minister Adjoumani emphasized that Côte d’Ivoire’s partnership with Saemaul is expected to provide both immediate and long-term benefits.
“We believe this cooperation will offer cutting-edge techniques and innovations that can transform our rice sector. Our goal is to not only increase production but also improve quality and sustainability,” he added.
Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to rice self-sufficiency aligns with broader regional efforts to enhance food security in West Africa.
The collaboration with Saemaul Foundation will focus on several key areas to enhance rice production, including infrastructure development, farmer training, access to modern agricultural technologies, and the mobilization of private sector investments.
Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.
