Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has called on West African countries to work together to reduce the region’s more than $3.5 billion annual spending on rice imports and boost local production.

Speaking at a high-level ministerial dialogue at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF), Dumelo said stronger regional cooperation could help West Africa achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, create jobs and improve food security.

“It’s important that West Africa collaborates on the rice value chain because no country is an island,” he said.

West Africa spends more than $3.5 billion annually importing rice, despite the region’s potential to produce more locally.

Dumelo noted that Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Benin and Sierra Leone are already working together to improve rice production. However, he said more needed to be done to reduce the region’s dependence on imported rice.

Ghana risks losing transit trade to Côte d’Ivoire, Togo over poor roads – World Bank

“The main aim is that we should be able to be self-sufficient in rice production so that we stop the imports and create more jobs,” he stated.

He said governments could not achieve this alone and called for farmers and private businesses to play a greater role.

“It has to be a collaborative effort between government and farmers,” he noted.

He added that countries must work together not only to increase rice production but also to improve access to farm inputs, technology, financing, processing, storage, transportation and markets.

According to him, stronger cooperation in these areas would help West Africa build a competitive rice industry and reduce its reliance on imports.

National Security foiled attempt to sabotage airport equipment - GCAA

Rice is widely consumed across West Africa, making the crop critical to the region’s food security.

Increasing local production could help countries save foreign exchange spent on imports, create jobs, increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen food security.

DR/MA

We want Ghana to become a preferred aviation destination – President Mahama