AFRICA – According to the FAO’s biennial “Food Outlook” report published on June 13, African milled rice production is projected to reach 28.4 million tonnes in the 2024/2025 season, marking a 4% increase from the previous year’s 27.3 million tonnes.
This anticipated growth represents a third consecutive year of increased rice production across the continent.
In Africa, rice has firmly established itself as the third most consumed cereal after corn and wheat. The continent, recognized as the second-largest importer of rice after Asia, has shown sustained growth in its production over the last two years.
The UN organization attributes this upward trend to several key factors, including an expected rebound in local supply driven by abundant rainfall in Tanzania, the leading rice producer in East Africa.
Tanzania’s milled rice production is forecast to rise by 26% to 2.9 million tonnes, an increase of 600,000 tonnes from the previous year.
West African countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo are also expected to contribute to the overall increase.
High prices, favorable rainfall forecasts, and continued support from public authorities through input aid programs are driving improvements in rice supply in these regions.
Specifically, the Senegalese government’s recent 20% increase in agricultural input subsidies, amounting to US$197 million for the 2024/2025 season, is expected to bolster production.
However, the FAO report notes that rice production in Africa’s top three suppliers—Nigeria, Egypt, and Madagascar—is expected to stagnate in the 2024/2025 season.
Rising input costs in Nigeria, adverse weather conditions linked to the El Niño phenomenon in Madagascar, and increased competition from animal feed crops in Egypt, along with government efforts to limit plantings to conserve water, are cited as the primary reasons for this stagnation.
Collectively, these three countries account for approximately 45% of Africa’s milled rice production.
Overall, the FAO’s projections highlight the resilience and growth potential of Africa’s rice sector amid varying regional challenges and opportunities.
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