Accra roundtable calls for increased financing for West Africa's rice industry

Agriculture

Thursday, 04 June 2026 11:16

Accra roundtable calls for increased financing for West Africa's rice industry

(Togo First) - Representatives from 15 West African countries, alongside ECOWAS, the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB), called for increased public and private investment in the rice sector during the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable held in Accra on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Discussions focused on key segments of the value chain, including irrigation, seeds, mechanisation, processing, storage and marketing, as participants explored ways to strengthen regional food security and reduce dependence on rice imports.

The meeting also endorsed the creation of a Regional Investment Pact aimed at coordinating national initiatives and attracting additional financing for the sector.

An AfDB representative said the rice value chain offers opportunities across irrigation, mechanisation, processing, logistics, digital agriculture and agricultural entrepreneurship, and argued that greater investment could help turn Africa's population growth into an economic advantage.

Togo's national strategy

For Togo, the regional initiative is consistent with a strategy pursued over several years to increase domestic rice production and curb imports. Authorities consider rice production a priority for strengthening food security and improving the country's trade balance.

Several public programmes have supported the sector through the development of lowland rice-growing areas, the distribution of agricultural inputs, the acquisition of processing equipment and assistance to cooperatives. These interventions have been implemented notably through the PASA, PADAT and PPAAO projects and, more recently, the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP).

According to the agriculture ministry, the World Bank-backed FSRP distributed more than 342 tonnes of certified seeds and over 2,500 tonnes of fertiliser to more than 34,000 rice farmers in 2025. Initial results indicate higher yields and increased farm incomes.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

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In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

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GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

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REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

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PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

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