Southern Africa Seeks to Boost Rice Production Amid Growing Demand

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region faces significant challenges in ensuring consistent rice supply, quality, and affordability, despite the staple food's growing demand. With the population projected to increase substantially in the coming decades, addressing these challenges is critical.

Rice consumption in SADC has consistently grown, while production remains largely static, resulting in a significant deficit.

The region's average rice imports stand at over 3.2 metric tons per annum, with a 7% annual growth rate between 2010 and 2021.

To address this deficit, A pivotal workshop convened in Zambia, to validate the SADC Regional Rice Development Strategy (RRDS), organized by the Coalition for Rice Development (CARD) Secretariat and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded the project.

JICA Zambia Senior Representative Keira Izumi emphasized the need for a unified strategy to address the rice deficit, particularly in the face of climate-induced shocks.

According to Mr. Izumi this forum is taking place at a very crucial time for SADC region as it is facing various climate induced shocks that have threatened regional food security, trade, and general wellbeing of the citizens.

Speaking at the SADC Regional Forum To Review And Validate The Regional Rice Development Strategy, "The forum comes at a time when the need for concerted efforts across the block is a necessity", He said.

"I would congratulate the SADC secretariat for taking a lead in ensuring that the region devises mechanisms to respond to the challenges", He said.

As technocrats and stakeholders review and validate the Regional Rice Development Plan, we need to keep this reality at the centre of all the discussions so that we can come up with strategy that is realistic and responsive to the needs of the people across the region.

"Many countries still have the potential to increase the production and productivity of rice especially among small scale farmers, therefore, let us all share experiences and knowledge to rally behind each other in implementing the regional strategy", he said.

Mr. Izumi has further encouraged participant's to share experiences and knowledge to rally behind each other in implementing the regional strategy.

Speaking earlier SADC Secretariat Senior Program Officer Duncan Samikwa hailed the RRDS as a critical tool to guide the region toward a sustainable, competitive, and resilient rice sector.

“None of these goals can be achieved without the collective efforts of all stakeholders in the rice value chain. The strategy’s success will depend not only on government policies and programs but also on the active involvement of private sector players, research institutions, development partners, and, crucially, the farmers themselves” Mr. Samikwa said.

“Today’s validation meeting is an opportunity for us to ensure that the RRDS aligns with the realities and aspirations of all stakeholders. Your feedback—whether it is from governments, the private sector, civil society, or technical experts—will be essential in refining the strategy. We need your insights to make sure the strategy is not only ambitious but also realistic and adaptable to the unique circumstances of each country within SADC”, he said.

Meanwhile Ministry of Agriculture Principal Agricultural Officer Lous Chikopela reiterated Zambia's commitment to rice sector development, acknowledging challenges such as low productivity while Zimbabwe Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development Director Business Development Abraham Mashumba emphasized the rice sector's priority status in improving food security and incomes.

By implementing the RRDS, SADC countries can unlock the potential of the rice sector, ensuring a sustainable and food-secure future for the region.

Ends……...