IVORY COAST – The government of Ivory Coast through the Ministry for the Promotion of Rice Growing has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Solevo Cote d’Ivoire, distributor of agricultural chemicals and inputs, to promote rice production in the country.

Under the partnership, Solevo will provide rice farmers with the necessary fertilizers, crop protection products and technical support to increase their productivity and revenues.

This agreement, is part of the National Rice Development Strategy (SNDR) for the period 2020 – 2030, whose objective is to ensure the country becomes self-sufficient in high-quality rice before 2025 and turn Ivory Coast into one of the largest African producers and exporters of rice by 2030.

“The development of rice growing is a priority for the government. I thank my partners including Solevo for their significant contribution to the practical implementation of the National Rice Development Strategy.”

Minister for the Promotion of Rice Growing Ivory Coast – Gaoussou Touré

The MoU comes days after OCP Africa, a subsidiary of the OCP Group, world leader in the phosphate market and its by-products, forged a partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support the rice sector in the country.

The agreement between Solevo and the government was signed by Minister Gaoussou Touré, and the Managing Director of Solevo, Marc Desenfans in the presence of the major players in the rice sector, the National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), AfricaRice, ADERIZ and OIA-RIZ.

According to Solevo, the partnership confirms the will of the government to improve each level of the value chain by relying on the expertise of each of its partners.

“The development of rice growing is a priority for the government. I thank my partners including Solevo for their significant contribution to the practical implementation of the National Rice Development Strategy,” said Minister Gaoussou Touré.

A second agreement was inked during this ceremony between the Ministery, the CNRA and AfricaRice for the supply of high-yield and quality seeds.

National Rice Development Strategy (SNDR) for the period 2020 – 2030, aims Ivory Coast to be self-sufficient in high-quality rice before 2025.

“We are happy to sign such a partnership with the Ministry for the Promotion of Rice Growing. Indeed, at Solevo we share the conviction that agricultural self-sufficiency is the key to the development of Africa.

“Through this agreement, we are committed to provide Ivorian rice farmers with complete solutions in order to increase their yields,” said Marc Desenfans.

According to a GAIN report by USDA, milled rice production in Ivory Coast for marketing year 2020/21 is projected at 1.4 million metric tons (MMT) just above the current record of 1.399 MMT from 2015/16.

The report also forecasts that 2020/21rice imports will be 1.3 MMT.

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