Policies and Strategies for 
Promoting Rice Production and 
Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Regional Workshop

Africa Rice Center (WARDA)
Cotonou, Benin

7-9 November 2005

OBJECTIVES

This regional workshop will provide a forum for sharing national and regional experiences on policies and food security strategies and form the basis for informed actions for promoting competitive rice production in SSA. The specific objectives of the workshop are to:

• Highlight the impact of trade liberalization on the competitiveness, institutions and infrastructures required for competitive rice sector development in SSA

• Draw lessons from specific country and sub-regional economic and trade organizations, and their effects on assuring food security/domestic rice production

• Compare rice policies and their implementation across countries and draw lessons from their effects on food security

• Facilitate the exchange of lessons and best practices from African and Asian countries for targeting the development and transfer of rice production and post-harvest technologies 

The workshop will also provide a forum to discuss necessary steps to improve the competitiveness of the domestic rice sector and how improvements in the rice sector could contribute to food security, income generation and economic growth. These experiences could assist regional policy makers in developing harmonized policies within the framework of the regional organizations [Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Union économique et monétaire ouest africaine (UEMOA), etc.]