West Africa's rice systems need $3.5bn investment
West Africa consumes some 22 to 24 million tons of milled rice annually but produces only about 60% of it; a vast untapped market.
West Africa's rice deficit-consuming 22 to 24 million tons annually while producing only about 60%-represents a structural import dependency that exposes the region to global price shocks and currency risk. Closing that gap through domestic production would require an estimated $3.5bn in investment across irrigation, milling, and seed systems, signaling commercial opportunities for agribusiness and a policy case for regional self-sufficiency.
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