Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has emphasized the need for immediate investment in rice production, characterizing it as a vital economic resource for West Africa in the pursuit of reducing significant food import reliance and enhancing food security.
During her address at the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable held in Accra on Tuesday, June 2, she asserted that increasing rice production and converting it into a commercially viable sector is essential for meeting the region’s escalating demand and alleviating the import burden.
She noted that enhancing local rice production will improve food security, generate employment opportunities, and lessen the region’s reliance on imports.
“Despite our economic capabilities, Africa continues to expend over $50 billion each year on food imports, with rice constituting a considerable portion of that expenditure. Rice has emerged as one of the most widely consumed staple foods throughout West Africa. As demand continues to surge, West Africa imports millions of tonnes of rice annually.
“The challenge we face is not solely about increasing rice production, but also about mobilizing the necessary capital to shift agriculture from a subsistence model to commercial production, and from fragmented farming to cohesive value chains. Therefore, West Africa must recognize rice as a strategic economic asset,” she remarked.
