Economic Community of West African States has launched a major initiative aimed at achieving rice self-sufficiency across West Africa by 2035, in a renewed push to reduce heavy reliance on imports and strengthen regional food security.
The programme was unveiled at a high-level investment roundtable in Accra, where policymakers, development partners, financiers, and private sector actors gathered to explore funding strategies for transforming the region’s rice sector.
The meeting was supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
Officials said the initiative seeks to mobilise public, private, and blended financing to implement national and regional rice development plans.
West Africa currently imports large quantities of rice despite its strong agricultural potential, creating significant pressure on foreign exchange reserves and food systems.
Ghana’s leadership, speaking through Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, described the project as part of a broader effort to achieve economic transformation and reduce dependency on external food supply chains.
ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray said the bloc aims to build sustainable and competitive agri-food systems that generate jobs, improve value chains, and strengthen food sovereignty across member states.
The meeting also featured a strategic framework outlining investments in irrigation, mechanisation, processing, and agricultural research as key pillars for boosting production.
Stakeholders noted that success would depend on long-term financing commitments and stronger coordination between governments and private investors across the region.
If implemented effectively, the 2035 roadmap could significantly cut import bills and reshape West Africa’s agricultural economy toward greater self-reliance.
