ECOWAS to rake $43.5m from members for rice production

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has disclosed that the region requires about $43.5m to achieve uniform self-sufficiency in rice production in the region by 2025.

Currently, total domestic production in the region covers only 60 per cent of the population, and with the three per cent consumption growth rate yearly, it is estimated that demand for rice in the region would be about 24 million metric tonnes by 2025.

To achieve self-sufficiency in rice production in West Africa, the ECOWAS Commission and partners had announced a new Regional Action Plan to implement its rice policy, commonly known as the “Rice Offensive.”

The goal set by the “Regional Rice Offensive” of ECOWAS member states is to produce 24 million tonnes of milled rice, projected to be consumed in the region, by 2025. The entire programme was estimated to gulp $500m. However, about $43.5m would be required to implement strategic action, as highlighted in the action plan.

ECOWAS Commissioner of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Sekou Sangare, at a press conference in Abuja, disclosed that the Economic Community of West Africa Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) donor roundtable would follow to mobilise required resources to implement the action plan.