Africa’s Looming Rice Crisis Concerns Economists

In the recent Third Annual Meeting of the Africa Policy Research and Advocacy Group at the Africa Rice Center (WARDA), participants expressed deep concern about the current world rice situation and its implications for sub-Saharan Africa. World rice consumption continues to outstrip rice production and rice prices are rising and are expected to double in the next couple of years. World rice reserves remain at the lowest level.

Sub-Saharan Africa gets 40% of its rice from imports, and if it were to meet its rice demand, the region should urgently reconsider its rice import policy to avoid the looming crisis, said WARDA Economist Dr Aliou Diagne. Africa should also consider tapping its immense potential for rice production. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the paddy (unhulled rice) production in Africa has gone up for the sixth consecutive year, reaching 21.6 million tons in 2006.

Participants of the workshop emphasized that African governments should give adequate support to small farmers who form the majority of rice producers in sub-Saharan Africa. Domestic rice production has long been neglected, and it requires the right policies to make African rice sector competitive.

Readers can access the press release at http://www.warda.cgiar.org/warda/newsrel-ricecrisis-jun07.asp.