Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture John Dumelo urged West African governments, farmers and private actors to strengthen regional collaboration at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, on Thursday. He said the region’s reliance on imported rice, which costs more than US$3.5 billion a year, could be reduced through a coordinated value‑chain approach.
“It’s important that West Africa collaborates on the rice value chain because no country is an island,” Dumelo said. He highlighted that Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Benin and Sierra Leone have already begun joint efforts, but called for deeper and better‑coordinated action to achieve true self‑sufficiency and job creation.
According to Dumelo, a collective effort must involve governments, farmers and businesses across the entire chain—from inputs and technology to processing, storage, transport and markets. The Deputy Minister linked the push to broader continental initiatives aimed at boosting domestic food production and reducing import dependence.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, echoed the call. He warned that treating rice as a regional business opportunity, rather than a series of national challenges, is essential. Kpaka cited the ECOWAS Rice Offensive, which seeks to mobilise an initial $500 million for rice development, and stressed that finance must be backed by consistent policies.
“Foreign producers in some major exporting countries have benefited from subsidies and long‑term investments that allow them to produce, transport and export rice at prices that can undercut locally produced rice in West African markets,” Kpaka said. He questioned how the region could level the playing field.
AGRA President Ms Alice Ruhweza added that farmers possess the innovation and courage needed, but require a system to propel them forward. The high‑level dialogue at the AFSF, the world’s premier forum for African agriculture, will see more than 5,000 stakeholders from over 50 countries gather to explore investment opportunities and strategic partnerships.
Moving forward, Dumelo said political commitment and active private sector participation will be key to turning the regional rice strategy into a reality that supports food security, rural incomes and economic resilience.
