Improving the Rice Value Chain in Côte d'Ivoire through Sino-Ivorian Exchanges

CHALLENGE 

As the third largest rice producer in West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire has made remarkable progress in rice production, from around 2 million tons in 2010 to almost 3.5 million tons in 2017. Yet, Côte d’Ivoire still relies heavily on importation to satisfy its domestic consumption of this grain. National rice production is below 50 percent of demand over the last three decades despite policies fostering the rice sector. 

Due to the climate constraints, especially low rainfall and the lean session, the northern region has a lower capacity of rice production than the southern region in Côte d’Ivoire. Lack of knowledge and adequate technologies leads to high post-harvest losses and limited access to market. Therefore, the smallholder producers cannot provide sufficient quality rice product to satisfy the national market. 

TOWARDS A SOLUTION 

The China-Africa Rice Value Chain Development Initiative is a South-South project to further develop the rice value chain in northern Côte d’Ivoire. Through exchanges with Chinese experts and the introduction of Chinese equipment, such as threshers and tractors, local stakeholders benefit from Chinese experience at policy, technical and technological levels to strengthen their capacities. 

Prior to project implementation, two missions were conducted to better understand the needs of target groups and identify the expertise required for the exchange. In June 2020, CERFAM visited a demonstration site, which had been created by a group of Chinese experts in 1995, to understand their technical assistance and training in seed production, rice production and irrigation in Southern Côte d’Ivoire. Another mission took place in northern 

Côte d’Ivoire, during which CERFAM visited local communities and the implementing non-governmental organizations and conducted a basic needs assessment for rice production and post-harvest manage- ment in the region. 

To kick off the collaboration, a multi-stakeholder dialogue was organized in June 2021 with representatives from UNOSSC, CERFAM, and WFP China CoE to explain what China could offer to Côte d’Ivoire in terms of support to the country’s rice value chain development. 

In November 2021, a joint mission from the Africa Rice Center, CERFAM and the Ivorian Agency for the Development of the Rice Sector conducted a needs assessment, identifying the gaps and requirements of rice producers in the northern part of the country. An on-site train- ing on post-harvest management was provided to local stakeholders, including government authorities, non-governmental organizations and communities, to reduce rice losses after harvest. 

To better mechanize rice production and processing in the north of Côte d’Ivoire, Chinese equipment was procured. A four-day virtual training session was organized by Chinese experts to explain the application of the equipment and share techniques in rice threshing and processing. A Training-of-Trainers approach was used so that the techniques and knowledge acquired by participants, especially local non-governmental organizations and local authorities, could be further disseminated at the community level, ensuring the project’s sustainability. After each class, participants could raise further questions regarding the tech- niques and technologies mentioned in the training. According to the post-training survey, participants found the training very useful. Most participants stated that the techniques and knowledge acquired were applicable to their work in the north of Côte d’Ivoire. The participants expressed an interest in further learning from China on aspects such as processing, production and harvesting. 

A regular dialogue mechanism was launched in April 2022 to promote knowledge and technical exchanges between stakeholders from Africa and China. The objectives of the dialogue mechanism are to: 1) share rice-related organizational engagements in China and Africa; 2) exchange experiences and lessons learned in rice value chain development; 3) identify opportunities in Sino-African collaboration on rice value chain development at technical and policy levels; and 4) forge partnerships between China and African countries in knowledge exchanges and capacity strengthening. The first exchange in April 2022 was attended by more than 80 experts from government and research institutions. 

The design and implementation of this initiative focuses on two key criteria of good practice, as defined by CERFAM: 1) partnership and multi-sectorality; and 2) innovation. By adopting an integrated approach with different partners (government, research institutions and local non-governmental organizations), capacities at both local and national levels were strengthened. The introduction of new Chinese equipment and techniques offered alternatives to local stakeholders for rice production and post-harvest management. 

As the neighbouring countries in West Africa face similar challenges in rice production and post-harvest management, this practice could be replicated to develop their rice value chains. It is planned to scale up the initiative in Côte d’Ivoire and replicate the initiative in Guinea to create a greater impact on rice value chain development in the region. 

Original Link: https://unsouthsouth.org/2022/08/31/good-practices-in-south-south-and-triangular-cooperation-for-sustainable-development-vol-4-2022/