By Joseph Momoh, Daily Scope Reporter
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka says West Africa will not achieve rice self-sufficiency by expanding farmland alone, warning that weak processing and logistics remain the sector’s biggest bottlenecks.
Addressing a ministerial panel at the ECOWAS Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra, Dr. Kpaka argued that higher yields must be matched with investment in irrigation, modern milling, and aggregation systems to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access for farmers.
“Boosting production is only part of the equation,” he told delegates. “Without efficient logistics, competitive mills, and structured markets, farmers will continue to lose value between the farm gate and the consumer.”
The Minister outlined Sierra Leone’s current strategy, which targets irrigation expansion and the development of rice production clusters. Supported by the African Development Bank and the World Bank, the plan is intended to attract private-sector participation while improving access to technology, finance, and agricultural insurance for smallholders.
Dr. Kpaka acknowledged that cheaper imported rice still dominates regional markets, but said recent global shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed the risks of relying heavily on external food supplies. He called for a gradual reduction in imports through coordinated policy, long-term financing, and closer collaboration among governments, development partners, financial institutions, and private investors.
The roundtable brought together policymakers, investors, and development agencies to discuss financing models and policy reforms aimed at strengthening rice value chains across West Africa.
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