Dangote and AfricaRice join forces to tackle Africa’s rice deficit
Discussions between Aliko Dangote and AfricaRice‘s delegation focused on accelerating adoption of AfricaRice’s breakthrough climate-smart rice varieties.
NIGERIA – Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, hosted Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, Director General of the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), on September 13, 2025, to discuss strategic collaborations aimed at bolstering Africa’s rice sector.
The Africa Rice Center is a CGIAR Center dedicated to rice research.
The high-level meeting focused on scaling innovations and building stronger public-private partnerships to close the continent’s widening rice production gap.
Rice is a staple for an estimated 750 million people across Africa, yet the continent faces a production shortfall of 17.2 million tons annually.
Africa currently produces about 23.6 million tons of milled rice but consumes nearly 41 million tons. Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, mirrors this trend, with production consistently falling short of domestic demand. This reliance on imports has created significant pressure on food security and trade balances.
Against this backdrop, AfricaRice and Dangote Industries are seeking collaborative approaches to strengthen the agricultural ecosystem.
The discussions highlighted the scaling of AfricaRice’s climate-smart rice varieties, sustainable inland valley development through the Smart-Valley approach, and advanced agronomic practices such as solar-powered irrigation, integrated rice-fish farming, and water-efficient Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) techniques.
In addition to on-farm productivity, both parties emphasized the importance of post-harvest solutions.
AfricaRice’s Mini-GEM parboiling technology and value chain models developed under the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program were identified as critical tools for improving rice quality and strengthening regional supply chains.
“Africa is richly endowed with arable land. With the right policies, adequate investment, and the adoption of modern technology, farmers can significantly increase their yields and return on investment,” said Aliko Dangote.
“With effective policy frameworks and technological advancement, Africa can achieve food security and become self-sufficient. Investing in agriculture will also unlock growth across various sectors of the economy” he added.
The visit also follows recent landmark agreements where AfricaRice signed a partnership with Niger State to provide technical support for producing 10 million tons of rice by 2030.
Separately, Dangote Rice Limited sealed a N1.8 trillion ($1.2 billion) deal with Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company, owned by the Niger State Government, to scale rice production.
Dr. Manneh emphasized that private sector engagement is central to achieving Africa’s food security goals.
“It’s a real privilege to have this audience with Mr. Aliko Dangote. This is concrete proof of AfricaRice’s solid vision to make Africa rice self-sufficient by leveraging different partnership models, including with the private sector,” he said.
During his official visit, Dr. Manneh also toured the Dangote Fertilizer Plant, the continent’s largest granulated urea facility located in Lagos’s Lekki Free Trade Zone. The plant is expected to play a vital role in boosting productivity through improved fertilizer availability.
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