Côte d’Ivoire secures US$1.2M to digitize rice sector
The new funding is expected to speed up efforts to cut import reliance and improve production efficiency.
COTE D’IVOIRE – Côte d’Ivoire has received a US$1.2 million grant from the Japanese government to strengthen the digital infrastructure of its rice sector.
The funding, which will be managed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), was confirmed during a meeting on July 29 between FAO’s representative in Côte d’Ivoire, Nyemah Joseph, and Agriculture Minister Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani.
The support comes at a crucial time, as the country works towards achieving self-sufficiency in rice production by 2026. Côte d’Ivoire is currently the second largest rice producer and importer in West Africa after Nigeria.
With demand outpacing supply, local production stood at 1.4 million tons of milled rice in 2024, against an annual consumption rate of 2.5 million tons.
According to the Ivorian Press Agency (AIP), the grant will mainly help improve digital systems across the rice value chain. Although details of the rollout are still being finalized, the funding is expected to support operational management and data access in the sector.
Minister Adjoumani noted, “This support reflects our shared belief that technology can offer practical solutions for farmers. With the right tools, we can bridge the gap between production and consumption.”
The government has already made progress in this area through Orange Agritech, a digital platform created in partnership with telecom provider Orange Côte d’Ivoire.
The platform offers real-time access to weather and water data, tracks stocks and labor, and integrates payment and communication tools. Its aim is to automate activities from production to sales.
One key player in the sector, the Agricultural and Management Company (AMC), began using Orange Agritech in 2022. The move helped the company supervise producers more effectively, streamline logistics, and ease access to inputs and credit.
The latest funding is expected to help spread the use of digital tools to more farmers and businesses, something the government sees as essential for reaching its self-sufficiency target.
“We are racing against time,” said Nyemah Joseph. “There’s no room for delay. This investment helps us push forward with stronger coordination and better data.”
To meet demand by 2026, the country will need to raise production by about 55 percent. Officials hope that with improved digital systems and ongoing private sector efforts, this goal will be within reach.
The Ivorian Ministry of Agriculture also confirmed that the support from Japan and FAO aligns with its National Strategy for the Development of the Rice Sector (SNDR 2.0), which includes efforts to modernize infrastructure, build local capacity, and strengthen partnerships across the supply chain.
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