Rice production in West African countries will increase in 2024 – OCHA

Rice production in Nigeria and other West African countries will increase in
2024.West Africa Regional Supply and Market Outlook, coordinated by the United
Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, disclosed this in
its latest data.
Meanwhile, the outlook revealed that production of grains (maize, sorghum, and
millet) in Nigeria and other West African countries is anticipated to decrease
considerably due to agroclimatic challenges, insecurity, and rising production costs.
Accordingly, the report showed that the aggregate regional cereal production for
2023/24 is forecasted to be about 76.5 million metric tons (MT), down by one per
cent from the previous year (2022/23) and up by three per cent compared to the five-
year average (2018/19 to 2022/23).
“While rice production is expected to experience significant increases, production
for coarse grains (maize, sorghum, and millet) is anticipated to decrease
considerably due to agroclimatic challenges, insecurity, and rising production costs
(Figure 1). Notable annual declines in national cereal production are expected in
Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Mali. Regional production prospects are optimistic for
most roots, tubers, and cash crops”, the report stated.
The development comes as AFEX’s report predicted rice to increase by 32 per
cent in 2024. The National Bureau of Statistics data showed that a 50 kilograms
bag of rice jumped to an average price of N55,000 in 2023 from N12,000 ten years
ago.