Rice production in Nigeria and other West African countries will increase in 2024.
West Africa Regional Supply and Market Outlook, coordinated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, disclosed this in its latest data.
Meanwhile, the outlook revealed that production of grains (maize, sorghum, and millet) in Nigeria and other West African countries is anticipated to decrease considerably due to agroclimatic challenges, insecurity, and rising production costs.
Accordingly, the report showed that the aggregate regional cereal production for 2023/24 is forecasted to be about 76.5 million metric tons (MT), down by one per cent from the previous year (2022/23) and up by three per cent compared to the five-year average (2018/19 to 2022/23).
“While rice production is expected to experience significant increases, production for coarse grains (maize, sorghum, and millet) is anticipated to decrease considerably due to agroclimatic challenges, insecurity, and rising production costs (Figure 1). Notable annual declines in national cereal production are expected in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Mali. Regional production prospects are optimistic for most roots, tubers, and cash crops”, the report stated.
The development comes as AFEX’s report predicted rice to increase by 32 per cent in 2024.
The National Bureau of Statistics data showed that a 50 kilograms bag of rice jumped to an average price of N55,000 in 2023 from N12,000 ten years ago.
