30 key players in the rice sector in West Africa participated, from December 9 to 12, 2024, in a regional experience-sharing visit to Kano, Nigeria, organized by the Executive Secretariat of the Rice Observatory of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) – (ERO). This initiative brought together representatives from ERO national sections and countries participating in the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), including Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria , Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
The main objective of this visit was to deepen participants’ knowledge of irrigation and mechanization systems used in rice cultivation and to strengthen their capacities in managing these systems to improve productivity and production resilience. rice growing in their respective countries. These exchanges made it possible to discover various innovative practices, to compare the strategies put in place and to promote collaboration between countries to support the development of the rice sector.
Mechanization: a pillar for modernizing rice farming and boosting productivity
Mechanization is at the heart of the evolution of agriculture and particularly rice growing. Nigeria, with its advanced experience in mechanization of the rice sector, has served as a model for several participating countries, including Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali, Senegal and Togo. During the visit, participants were able to observe adapted agricultural machines, discover maintenance practices, and learn about training programs dedicated to optimizing the use of equipment. These exchanges help reduce dependence on manual production processes and strengthen the efficiency of rice farms in West Africa.
In Nigeria, many companies are involved in the sale of agricultural equipment and machinery, as well as the provision of after-sales services. The service delivery model includes options such as short-term equipment rental, direct sales, and on-site services, something participants found particularly relevant to their own sector.
Irrigation systems: efficient water management to maximize rice production
Irrigation systems also constitute a key aspect for the success of rice cultivation, especially in areas subject to difficult climatic conditions. One of the most notable examples studied during this visit was gravity irrigation facilitated by the Tiga Dam, located in southern Kano State, northwest Nigeria. Built in 1974, this dam is a crucial reservoir that feeds the Kano River, a major tributary of the Hadejia River. Management of the dam and surrounding agricultural land is based on collaboration between a public entity and local producers, who participate in maintenance through a tax. This efficient water management has been instrumental in increasing rice production in the region.
Participants stressed that sustainable water management is essential to support large-scale rice cultivation, and that it must be adapted to the local realities of each production area. Back in their respective countries, they plan to share these good practices and advocate for the adoption of irrigation management and mechanization systems adapted to local needs.
Regional cooperation to achieve rice self-sufficiency in West Africa
This exchange visit strengthened regional cooperation and paved the way for collective efforts to strengthen food security in West Africa. The discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing to develop common solutions to agricultural challenges faced by countries in the region. Local and international players in the rice sector are now better equipped to work together towards sustainable rice self-sufficiency.
Enriching knowledge sharing for host and visiting countries
For ECOWAS, this initiative demonstrates the importance of strengthening exchanges between member countries and sharing good practices in order to strengthen the resilience of food systems in West Africa. The Nigerian hosts also learned valuable lessons from this meeting, and cooperation between countries in the region was significantly strengthened.
Moctar FICUU / VivAfrik
