Côte d'Ivoire aims to boost local rice production by attracting foreign investments, particularly from Italy, to reduce its heavy reliance on imports.
Côte d'Ivoire's rice import reliance
Côte d'Ivoire relies heavily on imported rice to meet its domestic demand, despite having vast areas of land suitable for rice cultivation. The country imported about 1.6 million tons of milled rice in 2024, while its total consumption was nearly 2.95 million tons.Local production potential
The country has over 2 million hectares of land that could be used for rice farming, but only about 900,000 hectares are currently cultivated. This gap highlights the potential for expanding rice production through better land use and improved farming techniques.Efforts to attract foreign investment
To boost local production, the Ministry of Agriculture organized a roundtable in October 2026 with 24 Italian companies to explore investment opportunities in the rice sector. The event presented 13 investment projects aimed at increasing national rice output and reducing import dependence.Investment needs and projects
The government estimates that more than one billion dollars in investments are needed to develop the rice industry. A key project involves creating 35,000 hectares of irrigated land in Kossou and Buyo, which alone would require 355 billion CFA francs (about 600 million dollars).Italian expertise and cooperation
Italy, the EU's leading rice producer, has expertise in agricultural mechanization, seed development, and rice processing. These skills align with Côte d'Ivoire's needs, opening potential for collaboration with Italian companies if they show interest in local projects.Previous international engagement
In April 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture also met with a delegation from the United Arab Emirates to discuss investment opportunities in the rice sector. This indicates a broader strategy to attract international partners to help develop the country's rice industry.
