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The Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, the WFP Centre of Excellence in China, and the WFP offices in Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea Collaborate to Strengthen the Rice Value Chain

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JOINT PRESS RELEASE July 4, 2024

ABIDJAN – On July 4th and 5th, 2024, the government of Côte d'Ivoire, through the Regional Centre of Excellence against Hunger and Malnutrition (CERFAM), in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence for Rural Transformation in China (WFP CoE) and the WFP offices in Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea, organize a regional seminar on policies and solutions to support the development of the rice value chain in West Africa.

This event aims to assess the current state of rice farming, share good practices, and identify concrete solutions to improve rice production, processing, distribution, and marketing to enhance food security and boost the local economy. It is part of the rice value chain development project initiated in 2021 by the two Centres of Excellence and their partners, with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

« This project facilitates South-South cooperation between China, Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea and aims to help rice communities and local smallholders in the Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea to improve the performance and benefit of their rice value chains, particularly by reducing post-harvest losses, with adaptable and cost-effective practices and solutions from China," said Dr. Bing ZHAO, Director of the WFP China COE ».

The seminar will explore innovative ways to develop this value chain, such as irrigation, mechanization, partnerships, access to credit, and quality inputs.

« The objectives of this regional seminar align perfectly with our mission to assist countries in Africa” emphasized Marc Nene, Director of CERFAM. “It will enable the sharing of good practices, strengthen the capacities of stakeholders, and coordinate agricultural policies across West Africa ».

« By strengthening the rice value chain, the country will be able to increase local production, improve the quality and competitiveness of produced rice, and thus reduce its dependence on imports,” indicated Mr. Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Côte d'Ivoire.

Approximately 60 experts and key actors in the rice value chain from Africa and China will share their knowledge and experience to help stakeholders design and implement effective strategies to contribute to food self-sufficiency in West Africa.

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About WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization. It saves lives in emergencies and uses food assistance to pave the way to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disaster, or the impact of climate change.

About CERFAM

CERFAM is a specialized knowledge management, technical assistance, and South-South cooperation centre created in 2019 by the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP) to accelerate progress towards eradicating hunger and malnutrition on the continent.

À propos du Centre d'excellence du PAM en Chine

The Centre of Excellence for Rural Transformation (WFP China COE), established in 2016, aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and technology transfer among developing countries to address food security, nutrition improvement, and poverty reduction.

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For more information, please contact:

Mr. Marc NENE, Director of CERFAM: marc.nene@wfp.org

Marina MEA, Communication, Marketing, and Advocacy Officer at CERFAM: marina.mea@wfp.org