Top 10 Rice Producing Countries in Africa

Top 10 Rice Producing Countries in Africa
Hello Displorers, welcome to another exciting video presented to you by Displore and thanks for watching. In this video, we shall be looking at the top 10 rice producing countries in Africa. The African continent has been experiencing a consistent increase in the demand of rice and it currently takes first position on the list of fastest growing staple foods. In the early 1970’s it was mostly consumed during special events but it has gradually replaced yams, sweet potatoes and cassava on the dinner table. One thing that has changed is not just the rate at which rice is consumed as the production dynamics on the continent has drastically shifted as well towards the positive terminal. Many African countries have moved from importers to producers of this continent’s stable. Some governments even instituting fiscal, as well as protective policies to topple importation in favour of protecting home production.

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Although, about a third of rice consumed on the continent is still imported from abroad mainly Asian countries, many African countries have picked up production of rice to commercial levels.With numerous initiatives to encourage rice cultivation and increase the production capacity, here are the top 10 rice producing countries in Africa.

10. Cameroon - 359,320 Tonnes Per Annum
In Cameroon, rice cultivation dates as far back as the colonial era but since its independence in1960, Cameroon has enjoyed better rates of growth in the rice sector than most other countries. Therecord, however, is one of stability rather than growth. The production showed a spectacular evolution duringthe period from 1960 to 1985, in terms of cultivated areas and grain yields. However, rice prices droppingin the nineties, followed by an economic crisis and the devaluation of the local currency, the CFA in 1994,Cameroon went from self-sufficiency in rice production to dependence on imports and, eventually, food aid. Today, rice production is almost in the hands of the smallholder or peasantsector which produces an overwhelming 93% of total output. In 2005, the production supplied only 13% ofCameroonian consumption. In 2018, rice, paddy production for Cameroon was 332,534 tonnes.

9. Ghana - 687,679 Tonnes Per Annum
Rice is one of the major food staples consumed in Ghana, but one in which the country is food insecure, with consumption outstripping domestic production and 66% of rice consumed being imported. In 2017 Ghana produced 721,610 tonnes of rice but consumption, at 1.3m tonnes, far outstripped it and left a deficit of 580,300 tonnes. Domestic rice production grew from 44% of total consumption in 2016 to 47% of total consumption in 2017, modestly reducing the import burden.Projections for rice production in Ghana hopes to increase the area under rice cultivation to 260,000ha by the end of 2020, up from 239,340ha which will increase production too.

8. Senegal - 885,284 Tonnes Per Annum
Agriculture is the one sector that could provide much-needed employment opportunities and help to keep them in their communities and in Senegal, 46% of people work in agriculture. With Arable land of around 3,200,000ha with only 63,000ha of land irrigated, Senegal has huge potentials when it comes to the production of rice on the continent. The country has been able to produce up to 885,284 tons per annum which is pretty impressive given its consumption levels. Senegal is not yet producing at full capacity but then with a boast and the available land, it could become one of the biggest rice producers in the world.