Say Africa, is it far from self-sufficiency in rice?

A farmer in his rice field in Côte d'Ivoire.

ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP

By: Jean-Pierre Boris Follow

3 min

Twelve years after the 2008 food crisis that caused hunger riots in Africa, rice consumption on the continent continues to increase.

But, local production does not follow and imports explode.

The Covid-19 crisis and global warming complicate the situation.

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In a press release at the beginning of November 2020, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Program jointly warn of the risks of famine which threatens again in Burkina-Faso, in the north. -est of Nigeria and South Sudan.

More generally, these two organizations warn, rates of acute food insecurity are reaching new heights globally.

The causes of these phenomena are well known: political violence, economic crises linked to the coronavirus.

The time has therefore come to ask ourselves whether Africa, which was one of the main victims of the 2008-2009 food crisis, has taken measures to protect itself from the recurrence of such a situation.

And in particular, if West African rice cultivation produces enough small seeds to meet consumer demand.

Four guests answer this question:

- Njack Kane,

 President of Intervalle and Director of External Relations for the

.

In another life, you were a rice trader in Geneva. 

- Nadjirou Sall,

farmer.

He produces rice and market garden products and raises cattle and goats in the Senegal River valley.

He chairs the main Senegalese peasant platform,

.

He is also secretary general of ROPPA, the network of farmers' organizations and producers in West Africa.

- Étienne Duveiller,

 director of research for development within

.

Africa Rice is an intergovernmental association that brings together 28 African countries.

It is a rice research center whose goal is to contribute to food security, to fight against poverty by first improving the standard of living of African rice producers.

- Patricio Mendez del Villar,

 economist at CIRAD, the agricultural research center for development, based in Montpellier.

Patricio Mendez del Villar publishes a monthly market barometer which contributes to

which he is the host. 

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