Côte d’Ivoire: Rice Self-Sufficiency by the End of 2026

In West Africa, rice ranks as the second most consumed cereal, after maize. Several countries in the region are working to increase their production in order to reduce dependence on international markets.

Côte d'Ivoire, the goal of achieving rice self-sufficiency is now targeted for the end of 2026. This announcement, made on February 24, 2025, by Mr. Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, pushes back the initial deadline from 2025 by one year. However, the minister remains optimistic, highlighting a significant increase in rice production, which rose from 900,000 tons between 2010-2015 to 1.3 million tons in 2023, and then to 1.55 million tons in 2024. This growth results from targeted investments in high-yield improved seeds and hydro-agricultural development.

Despite these advancements, achieving self-sufficiency remains a major challenge. Per capita consumption has increased by 20% over the past decade, currently reaching 84 kg per year, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). While authorities estimate that a production of 2.1 million tons would be necessary to meet national demand, the USDA assesses the actual consumption at around 2.5 million tons, while the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates it at 2.8 million tons.

During the 2023/2024 campaign, Ivory Coast became the second-largest importer of rice in Africa, after Nigeria, with 1.6 million tons of white rice imported primarily from India, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Thailand. In 2023, the value of these imports exceeded 722 million dollars, according to data compiled on the Trade Map platform.

In this context, observers estimate that national production must increase by nearly 55% by 2026 for the local sector to meet domestic demand.

More broadly, Minister Adjoumani’s statements are part of the new "National Strategy for the Development of the Rice Sector" (SNDR 2), announced by the government last July. This plan, with a total cost of 1.3 billion dollars for the 2024-2030 period, aims for a production of 3.2 million tons of white rice by 2030. The first phase, with a budget of 546 million dollars, will run from 2024 to 2027, while the second phase, with a budget of 770.7 million dollars, will cover the period from 2028 to 2030. Priority areas include the expansion of cultivated rice areas, optimized water resource management, and improved yields.

Source: Agence Ecofin, MEPD Web Portal Editorial Team