Senegal moves to strengthen rice sector oversight with ECOWAS support
The country sets up a national platform to address weak demand for local rice and rising imports.
SENEGAL – Senegal has announced plans to set up a national chapter of the ECOWAS Rice Observatory to improve how it manages and supports its rice sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture shared the update on March 30, saying the new platform will help coordinate efforts across the value chain and support local rice producers who continue to face low demand.
The ECOWAS Rice Observatory, created in 2021, brings together governments, farmers, private firms, and research groups. It supports the region’s goal to reach self-sufficiency in rice and other cereals by improving coordination, guiding investments, and helping actors access finance.
Officials said the Senegal chapter will focus on local needs. “The actors will proceed with the adoption of an inclusive governance framework, the establishment of steering bodies and the development of a roadmap to operationalize the chapter in favor of competitive and sustainable local rice,” the ministry said.
Pressure from imports
Local rice in Senegal still struggles to compete with imports. Many buyers prefer imported rice because it costs less, looks more uniform, and comes in packaging that suits different budgets.
This pressure has left producers with large unsold stocks. In October 2025, farmers in Dagana warned that nearly 195,000 tonnes of paddy and milled rice from that season could remain unsold.
The situation has continued into 2026. By March 28, producers and processors in Saint Louis said more than 50,000 tonnes of rice still sat in storage.
The government has taken steps to ease the pressure. On March 5, it introduced a subsidy of 50 CFA francs per kilogram of local rice, which equals about US$0.08 per kg. The measure aims to help traders clear existing stocks and support farmers’ incomes.
Despite this support, demand for imported rice keeps rising. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that Senegal imported 1.47 million tonnes of milled rice during the 2024 to 2025 season. This marks a 13 percent increase from 1.3 million tonnes in the 2022 to 2023 season.
The same report expects imports to reach 1.5 million tonnes in the current 2025 to 2026 campaign.
The coming months will show whether the new ECOWAS-backed platform can improve coordination and help local rice compete more effectively in the market.
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