Dangote and AfricaRice Team Up on Food Security
By Patience Ikpeme
The President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has called for a higher degree of prioritization of food security and self-sufficiency across Africa.
This call comes as the continent’s agricultural potential is described as vast. The statement was made during a visit by the pan-African Centre of Excellence for rice research, development, and capacity building, AfricaRice Centre, to Dangote’s Lagos office over the weekend.
Aliko Dangote described agriculture as a key pillar for sustainable development on the continent. During the meeting, he said, “Africa is richly endowed with arable land. With the right policies, adequate investment, and the adoption of modern technology, farmers can significantly increase their yields and return on investment.”
He also believes that strengthening agriculture can help address many of the continent’s socio-economic challenges due to its role as a major source of employment and income. “With effective policy frameworks and technological advancement, Africa can achieve food security and become self-sufficient. Investing in agriculture will also unlock growth across various sectors of the economy,” Dangote added.
His comments come on the heels of a recently signed N1.8 trillion purchase and sale agreement between Dangote Rice Limited and Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company Limited.
The agreement is designed to ensure a steady supply of high-quality paddy rice to Dangote Rice, supporting Nigeria’s broader food security agenda. The Dangote Group has made significant investments in rice mills and plantations across Nigeria and aims to create employment opportunities while promoting food self-sufficiency nationwide through its out-grower scheme.
The Director General of AfricaRice, Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, praised Dangote’s renewed focus on agricultural investments, describing them as a crucial step toward achieving food security on the continent. He also lauded the partnership with Niger State, noting its potential to transform regional food systems. “Niger State has set an ambitious target of producing five million tonnes of rice over the next five years.
To put this into perspective, Africa currently imports around 15 million tonnes of rice annually,” Dr. Manneh said. “If realised, this target will have a significant impact on rice self-sufficiency and food security in Africa.”
Dr. Manneh believes in the importance of leveraging public-private partnerships to strengthen the agricultural ecosystem. “This partnership can serve as a blueprint for other states and countries across the continent. With strong support from agricultural science and research, it can dramatically boost productivity and reduce Africa’s reliance on food imports,” he added.
Speaking during the visit, the Executive Chairman of Niger Foods, Sammy Adigun, confirmed the state’s commitment to transforming rice production. He said that AfricaRice is set to assist Niger State in increasing its annual rice paddy production from the current 1.5 million tonnes to 10 million tonnes.
This will be achieved through the deployment of climate-smart technologies, mechanization, innovation, and the integration of both large-scale and smallholder farms.
