Senegal moves to support rice farmers amid rising imports to protect local rice sector
The support accompanies a renewed push for self sufficiency anchored in the Senegal River Valley campaign and is intended to integrate domestic rice into commercial distribution channels.
SENEGAL – The government of Senegal has launched a targeted support package for rice producers, introducing a subsidy of CFA50 (US$0.09) per kilogram on purchases of locally produced rice effective 5 March 2026, a policy designed to make domestic paddy and milled rice more competitive with imported varieties and to strengthen market linkages for local farmers.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced the measure and said it will be implemented through public procurement and commercial distribution channels to encourage wholesalers and retailers to source more from national producers.
The move comes amid persistently high rice import volumes: Senegal imported about 1.6 million tonnes of rice in 2024/2025, and the USDA projects imports of roughly 1.7 million tonnes for 2025/2026, figures the government cites to justify urgent action to rebalance domestic supply and demand.
Rice remains the most widely consumed cereal in Senegal. However, the rising reliance on imports has limited local production’s ability to reach consumers’ plates.
The initiative should strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic rice sector against imported rice, according to the Market Regulation Agency (ARM).
The regulator described the measure as an essential lever for stabilizing consumer prices while ensuring fair remuneration for domestic producers.
The subsidy marks the latest government effort to promote locally produced rice.
Earlier, on 26 February, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko issued a circular instructing administrative services, public institutions, and state agencies to prioritize Senegalese rice in procurement.
Authorities aim to increase demand for local producers through public procurement.
Authorities also implemented earlier market interventions. In November 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce agreed with sector stakeholders to suspend the issuance of rice import declarations for one month. The measure targeted tighter market regulation.
These policies come as Senegalese rice producers struggle to sell their accumulated stocks after months of competition from cheaper, and often higher-quality, imported rice.
In October 2025, producers in the Dagana department in the Senegal River valley warned that nearly 195,000 tonnes of paddy and milled rice from the 2025 harvest could remain unsold.
Rice imports into Senegal have increased in recent years. Data compiled by the United States Department of Agriculture show that the country imported 1.6 million tonnes of milled rice during the 2024/2025 marketing year, a 23% increase from 1.3 million tonnes in 2022/2023.
The agency estimates that imports during the ongoing 2025/2026 marketing year could reach 1.7 million tonnes.
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