Get Guardian on GoogleNigeria is expected to join the next phase of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Regional Rice Resilient Value Chains Development Programme (REWARD), following the launch of the regional initiative in Abuja.
The Coordinator of the ECOWAS Rice Agenda and REWARD Project, Boladale Adebowale, disclosed this at the programme’s launch on Wednesday, identifying Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Mali and Senegal as the five countries participating in the first phase.
Adebowale said other member states would be brought into the programme in subsequent phases, with Nigeria expected to participate in the next.
The announcement provides an indication of Nigeria’s place in the regional initiative, although no date has been given for its entry, and details of the projects or funding expected to come to the country remain unclear.
The programme, known as REWARD, is designed to strengthen rice production, processing and marketing across West Africa as part of efforts to reduce the region’s dependence on imports and improve food security.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dehpue Zuo, said the broader regional rice development agenda had an investment portfolio of about $25 billion, with $1.5 billion in firm commitments mobilised at a regional financing conference in Accra.
The commitments are expected to support farmers, agribusinesses, agricultural production and the development of resilient rice value chains across participating countries.
ECOWAS had earlier valued the REWARD programme itself at approximately $650 million, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB). The distinction is between the programme’s stated value and the wider investment portfolio for the regional rice development agenda.
The regional bloc is targeting 100% rice self-sufficiency by 2035. Adebowale said West Africa currently meets about 60% of its rice requirements through local production and would need to produce approximately 35 million metric tonnes to meet projected consumption.
He said achieving the target would require increased agricultural productivity, expanded production capacity and improvements across the rice value chain.
The initiative will also focus on processing, marketing and increased trade in rice among West African countries. The ECOWAS Rice Observatory is expected to coordinate interventions and investments and help monitor progress across the regional sector.
Under REWARD, ECOWAS will lead a component covering policy and regulatory reforms, technical assistance and regional coordination. Its priorities include harmonising rice-related policies, improving regulations governing agricultural inputs and establishing digital monitoring systems linked to the Rice Observatory.
The ECOWAS-led component has a grant allocation of $12 million over five years, with the regional body expected to work with AfricaRice and other partners.
A regional steering committee was also established to provide oversight for the programme, while its first meeting on Thursday is expected to review the implementation plan, clarify institutional responsibilities and agree on immediate priorities.
For Nigeria, participation in the next phase could provide an opportunity to access regional support for strengthening its rice value chain. However, the absence of a timeline, funding details and identified Nigerian projects leaves the country’s expected participation at the level of an announced intention rather than an implementation commitment.
