Abidjan, July 4, 2025  – The representative of the resident representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Akoda Aya, has recommended scaling up the Local Rice Promotion Project in Côte d'Ivoire (PRORIL) nationwide, with the aim of improving local rice production and achieving food self-sufficiency.

According to Ms. Akoda, with less than a year remaining before the project's completion, it is a suitable time to present key guidelines for building a quality rice value chain in Côte d'Ivoire. These include institutionalizing the project's approach and extending it beyond the pilot municipalities such as Bouaké and Yamoussoukro.

She expressed hope that lessons learned from the second phase of PRORIL will encourage greater involvement of financial institutions in the development of the rice sector. JICA also recommends strong engagement from the Ivorian government to implement production infrastructure, particularly the development of irrigation systems, as well as the creation of a quality seed supply system in partnership with the private sector.

Regarding the institutionalization of the PRORIL 2 approach, JICA advocates for the mechanization of rice value chains, which it considers a "key factor in the development of the rice sector." The agency recommends improving the lease-financing scheme developed for agricultural machinery by strengthening installment collection mechanisms and fostering collaboration with agricultural equipment dealers to ensure the availability of spare parts.

For seed production and sustainability, JICA emphasizes the importance of establishing a sustainable supply system. This system should integrate seed producers trained under PRORIL 2 into a central coordination center, thereby ensuring the continuous provision of quality seeds.