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ECOWAS has unveiled a $25 billion Regional Rice Resilient Value Chains Development Programme (REWARD), targeting 100 per cent rice self-sufficiency across West Africa by 2035.
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The region currently meets about 60 per cent of its rice requirements locally but needs to produce 35 million metric tonnes to satisfy projected consumption.
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The programme has secured $1.5 billion in firm financing commitments, with Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Mali and Senegal selected for the first phase.
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Nigeria is expected to join the next phase, while ECOWAS establishes a regional steering committee and Rice Observatory to coordinate investments and implementation.
November 12, (THEWILL) – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has unveiled a $25 billion regional rice development programme aimed at achieving 100 per cent self-sufficiency in rice production across West Africa by 2035, as the regional bloc moves to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen food security.
The initiative, known as the Regional Rice Resilient Value Chains Development Programme (REWARD), was unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja, with ECOWAS identifying increased agricultural production, improved processing capacity and stronger regional trade as key priorities.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dehpue Zuo, described the programme as a major milestone in the region’s efforts to achieve food security and promote sustainable rice production.
Zuo disclosed that the programme had an overall investment portfolio of approximately $25 billion, with $1.5 billion in firm financing commitments mobilised at a regional financing conference held in Accra.
He said the funds would support farmers, agricultural businesses, production activities and the development of resilient rice value chains across participating countries.
According to him, Wednesday’s event also marked the establishment of a steering committee to provide strategic oversight for the programme’s implementation between 2025 and 2035.
Zuo called on governments, development partners, private investors and other stakeholders to demonstrate collective commitment towards achieving the 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, leaving a significant production gap that must be addressed to meet growing consumption demands.
He said 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 efficiency across the rice value chain imperative.
Adebowale explained that the programme would prioritise the development of a more productive and competitive rice sector through improved processing facilities, efficient marketing systems and increased trade among West African countries.
He also highlighted the establishment of the ECOWAS Rice Observatory as a mechanism for coordinating interventions, investments and activities to maximise the impact of development initiatives across the regional rice sector.
According to him, the $1.5 billion mobilised at the Accra Regional Rice Roundtable demonstrated growing commitment from development partners and private-sector investors towards the initiative.
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On the implementation framework, Adebowale identified Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Mali and Senegal as the first group of countries selected to participate in the programme.
He said other ECOWAS member states would join in subsequent phases, with Nigeria expected to participate in the next phase of implementation.
The phased approach is expected to enable participating countries to strengthen domestic production, improve processing and marketing capacities, expand access to regional markets and encourage greater private-sector investment.
The REWARD programme is also expected to create opportunities for farmers, agribusinesses, processors and other operators across the rice value chain, while strengthening the region’s capacity to withstand disruptions to food supplies.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of West Africa’s continuing dependence on imported rice and the growing need to strengthen local agricultural production to meet rising consumption.
The programme’s unveiling attracted government representatives, development partners, agricultural experts and private-sector stakeholders.
Participants included the ECOWAS Director of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Madadozi Tezike, and the Director-General of AfricaRice, Dr Baboucarr Manneh, who was represented.
The African Development Bank was also represented through its Vice-President, Dr Abdul Kamara.
The programme is expected to deepen regional cooperation in rice production, encourage investment in agricultural infrastructure and improve trade among member states.
Its implementation will be coordinated through the newly established steering committee, while the ECOWAS Rice Observatory will provide a platform for aligning interventions and investments across the regional rice sector.
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