Rice

Rice production in West Africa has been increasing annually, mostly as a result of expansion in cultivated areas. However, there is no comparable increase in investments in mechanized processing and milling capacity. This absence of investment, combined with poor marketing, results in weak markets, inefficient distribution of rice seed, reduced commercial rice production, and limited large-scale processing. Additionally, the intra-regional trade environment is challenged by poor infrastructure, informal and formal barriers to trade, variability in tax and tariff structures, and informal seasonal bans on cereal trade.

Regional food security in rice is enhanced by having commercial flows of rice and rice seed that can link surplus with deficit areas. USAID E-ATP’s strategy is to make the rice value chain more competitive against imported rice and rice products by working on upgrades in the following areas:
Commercial market channels of local/regional rice seed and rice production to compete with imported rice: The project focuses on supporting increased and improved participation by value chain actors who want to compete in the imported rice market.

Regional supplies of harvest, post-harvest and processing equipment: There exists an unsatisfied demand for equipment, which USAID E-ATP leverages to induce regional and/or foreign suppliers to expand their distribution in this market.

Leveraging USAID E-ATP project resources: Grants, access to finance, policy advocacy, organizational strengthening, transport and logistics, market information systems, and public-private partnerships are all used to help make the value chain more competitive.

In all our interventions, we are committed to gender equity and to mitigating potential adverse environmental effects.