ECOWAS Unveils Roadmap To Achieve Rice Self-Sufficiency By 2035

The Economic Community of West African States has launched a regional initiative aimed at making West Africa self-sufficient in rice production by 2035, as part of efforts to reduce the region’s heavy reliance on imports and strengthen food security.

The plan was unveiled during a high-level Regional Round Table on Investment in the Rice Sector held in Accra, Ghana, bringing together policymakers, development partners, financial institutions and private sector stakeholders to discuss strategies for transforming the rice value chain across the sub-region.

Organised by ECOWAS through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, the two-day meeting received support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

The initiative seeks to attract public and private sector investments needed to implement national and regional rice development programmes, with a focus on increasing production, improving processing capacity and strengthening agricultural infrastructure.

Opening the event on behalf of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang said rice self-sufficiency goes beyond agriculture and is closely tied to economic independence and regional development.

“Beyond rice, this meeting is about economic transformation, regional integration and Africa’s capacity to achieve self-sufficiency with dignity,” she said.

Rice remains one of the most consumed staple foods in West Africa, yet domestic production has consistently fallen short of demand, forcing countries in the region to spend billions of dollars annually on imports.

Speaking at the gathering, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, described the initiative as a major step toward achieving food sovereignty in the region.

“Our ambition is to establish competitive, inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems that strengthen food sovereignty, create jobs and promote shared prosperity while achieving regional self-sufficiency in rice by 2035,” Touray stated.

Other participants included Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem, World Bank Vice President Guangzhe Chen and AfDB Director of Agricultural Finance and Rural Development Richard Ofori-Mante.

A key feature of the meeting was the presentation of the “Vision for Rice Self-Sufficiency in West Africa by 2035” by Kalilou Sylla, which outlined plans to expand irrigation systems, boost mechanisation, improve rice processing and enhance productivity across the region.

Experts at the forum noted that achieving the target would require significant investments in agricultural research, infrastructure and value-chain development, alongside stronger partnerships between governments and private investors.

If realised, the initiative is expected to reduce import dependence, improve food security and create new economic opportunities across West Africa.