AfricaRice, AATF Launch Five-Year Partnership to Boost Rice Production, Reduce Africa’s $6 Billion Import Bill

The Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) have entered into a five-year partnership aimed at increasing rice production across Africa, improving food and nutrition security, and reducing the continent’s annual $6 billion rice import bill.

The collaboration was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), bringing together AfricaRice’s expertise in rice research and technology development with AATF’s experience in scaling agricultural innovations to smallholder farmers in 32 African countries.

According to AfricaRice, the continent currently produces more than 30 million metric tonnes of rice each year, with Nigeria, Egypt and Madagascar among its leading producers. However, domestic production remains insufficient to meet rising consumer demand, leaving many African countries dependent on imported rice.

Under the partnership, both organisations will work to strengthen the entire rice value chain by expanding farmers’ access to improved rice varieties, including high-yielding hybrid seeds, while promoting technologies that enhance productivity from seed production through processing and marketing.

The initiative will focus on improving the production and distribution of quality seeds, promoting good agricultural practices, expanding agricultural mechanisation, introducing decision-support tools for efficient use of farm inputs and enhancing rice processing technologies.

Speaking on the partnership, Director-General of AfricaRice, Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, said the collaboration is intended to bridge the gap between agricultural research and practical application.

He noted that the partnership would support the development and deployment of mechanised tools and equipment to reduce labour-intensive farming practices, improve processing efficiency and enhance the quality and competitiveness of locally produced rice.

Executive Director of AATF, Dr. Canisius Kanangire, described the agreement as a timely intervention, highlighting the growing pressure on Africa’s food systems due to rapid population growth, climate change and declining agricultural productivity.

According to him, investing in agricultural innovation presents a significant opportunity to transform the continent’s agriculture sector into a driver of economic growth, improved food security and sustainable development.

The two organisations said the partnership will accelerate the adoption of modern rice production technologies while strengthening collaboration among research institutions, governments and private-sector stakeholders to advance Africa’s goal of achieving greater rice self-sufficiency.

The announcement comes at a time of growing investment in Africa’s rice industry. During the recent West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable held in Accra, governments, development partners and private investors pledged $1.54 billion to expand domestic rice production, improve processing capacity and reduce the region’s dependence on imported rice.