CÔTE D’IVOIRE – The Ivorian government has launched a comprehensive plan to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production to reduce its dependence on rice imports, which account for more than 46% of its consumption.
On July 8, 2024, a round table was organized to finance the new Rice Sector Development Strategy (SNDR 2).
The Ivorian government and various international partners aim to mobilize US$1.3 billion for this initiative.
The Minister of Agriculture, Kouassi Kobénan Adjoumani, announced the announcement in the presence of Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé and Ousmane Diagana, Vice President of the World Bank for West and Central Africa.
The project, which will span from 2024 to 2030, is structured into two phases. The first phase, with a budget of US$546 million, will be implemented from 2024 to 2027, followed by a second phase costing US$770.7 million from 2028 to 2030.
The primary objective of SNDR 2 is to boost the country’s rice production significantly. By 2027, Côte d’Ivoire aims to increase its paddy rice production to 4.16 million tonnes, up from the current 1.8 million tonnes.
The goal is to produce 3.2 million tonnes of milled rice by 2030, compared to the estimated 1.4 million tonnes produced locally in 2023.
The strategy allocates approximately 66% of the total funding to expanding rice cultivation areas and improving water management.
Around 27% will focus on enhancing the productivity of rice farms, while the remaining 7% will improve the sector’s processing capabilities, governance, financing, and business environment.
Côte d’Ivoire has significant rice cultivation potential, with over 2 million hectares of arable land and nearly 77 billion cubic meters of water resources annually.
Despite this, the country remains heavily reliant on foreign rice, doubling imports between 2008 and 2022, reaching US$830 million.
Reflecting on the country’s achievements, Ousmane Diagana stated, “Côte d’Ivoire was self-sufficient in rice in the 1970s. It can repeat this same feat today and even position itself as a net rice exporter.”
The round table witnessed commitments from several international partners, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), each pledging financial support for SNDR 2.
Ousmane Diagana reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to the initiative, highlighting the institution’s readiness to provide technical and financial support.
“The World Bank is ready to support the government of Côte d’Ivoire and its partners in strengthening food security. We are committed to filling the necessary financing gap through a multi-phase program during the implementation period of the 2024-2030 strategy and beyond,” he stated.
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