For West Africa’s 360 million-plus people, rice is food, culture, and an economic lever. The region consumes vast quantities of the staple, yet local production meets only about 60% of demand, forcing countries to spend roughly $3.5 billion annually on imports. Experts argue that closing this gap could strengthen food security, conserve foreign exchange reserves, and stimulate industries ranging from processing and logistics to retail and digital agriculture. With more than 60% of West Africa’s population under 25, a stronger rice value chain will also provide critical employment opportunities for a growing workforce. Achieving that vision, however, will require coordinated investment, improved infrastructure, better financing, and deeper regional integration.
African Business