and prolonged dry spells that affected the MY 2013/14 (Oct 2013-Sept 2014) cropping season in most selected countries, milled rice production continues to increase.Post and countries estimate milled rice production for MY 2013/14 will increase by 13 per cent from the previous year and reach 5.0 million tons. This is anticipated growth for Cote d’Ivoire (20 per cent) and for Mali (14 per cent), but declines for Burkina Faso (5 per cent) and Senegal (9 per cent).
For the previous marketing year (MY 2012/13), milled rice production was estimated at 4.5 million tons representing a 21 per cent increase compared to the previous year with increases in Cote d’Ivoire (82 per cent) and Burkina Faso (34 per cent) in one year.
This confirms that Cote d’Ivoire milled rice production has been nicely progressing over the past three years due to the implementation of the Revised National Rice Strategy for the period 2012-2020 which aims to reach 2.0 million tons of milled rice.
Post forecasts rice production for MY 2014/15 to reach 5.6 million tons representing a 10 per cent increase compared to MY 2013/14.
Rice imports for MY 2013/14 are forecast to remain stable compared to the previous year (3.6 million tons). The Government of Cote d’Ivoire anticipates reducing imports by 30 per cent due to local production increases while Post believes that imports may decline by 13 per cent.
From 30 September to 14 October 2013, 11 West African fellows from Senegal (8), Burkina Faso (2) and Cote d’Ivoire (1) participated in a USDA Cochran fellowship programme in rice production and technology. USDA - Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) provided oversight while the programme was designed by the University of California, Davis.
Activities took place in South Carolina, Louisiana and California. This training complemented efforts made by USAID‘s Economic Growth Project (PCE) and USDA-FAS to improve the rice sector and increase local rice production in Senegal and the sub region.
