The sharp rise in rice prices in 2008 led to unrest in several West African countries, causing governments to take emergency measures and adopt policies and programmes to promote rice self-sufficiency. Government intervention helped boost the supply of locally produced rice in just a few years. But despite the progress made, rice imports don’t look like they’ll be declining anytime soon. Performance in West African countries has not yet been able to overcome the constraints that are hindering the growth of rice value chains. This document will examine the changes that have been implemented since the 2008 food crisis. After analysing the measures taken by public authorities and showing the effects those measures have had, we will take an in-depth look at current issues of debates.
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