Background
Our Regional Rice Program in West Africa aims to reduce rice imports by strengthening the technical and organizational capacities of small local producers through the following measures :
1. access to inputs and equipments
2. improvement of average yield by 20 %
3. reduction of post- harvest losses, and improvement of machining and handling.
Since 2013, we have supported rice intensification projects in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire , Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal through pilot programmes in partnership with private investors and producer organizations.
Models and partnerships
Investor-driven model
- In this model, a private investor finances major parts of the value chain (inputs supply, support and advice, paddy collection and storage, processing and marketing). Central or local authorities participate via land access and / or as shareholder. Producers benefit from purchase contracts at agreed prices.
- In 2013, we signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with companies in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. These resulted in the projects:
- COPA Connect
- YAANOVEL Future Farm
- SAHEL Farming Rice Optimization
all of which run from 2013-2015.
Producer-driven
- Here, producers' organizations partner with other parts of the supply chain (access to inputs, paddy collection and storage, processing and marketing). Mechanized cultivation and harvesting contribute to more productive agriculture.
- In 2014 we signed MoU with the Union des Producteurs de Pont-Gendarme (Vallée du Fleuve Sénégal) and the Société Coopérative (SOCOUMA) of Diabaly at Kouroumari in Mali's Office du Niger. These projects are due for implementation in 2015. Further details are as follows:
Project CEMA - Sénégal
The Farm Equipment Operating Center Project agreement (CEMA) in the irrigated area of the Senegal river valley creates a Guarantee Fund for purchase of a tractor, combine and sprayer. In addition, we provide support for operations and for the training of producers. A partner will be financing a storage warehouse.
The expected results are a ten-fold increase in white rice production (from 535t in 2014 to 5265t in 2017) and creation of 170 jobs.
Project CEMA - Mali
Here the Guarantee Fund will fund acquisition of inputs and CEMA equipment including a combine. Again, we also help with equipment operation and farmer training.