Ivory Coast trains rice processors to boost local quality
A four-day workshop in Yamoussoukro aims to improve milled rice quality and competitiveness against imports.
The Agency for the Development of the Rice Sector (ADERIZ), through the REWARD-CI project, organized a four-day capacity-building workshop in Yamoussoukro starting November 4, 2026. The training targets managers of mini rice mills, processing one to two tons per hour, to enhance the quality of local milled rice and its competitiveness against imports.
According to Brou Jérémy Kouadio, technical operations chief for REWARD-CI, the initiative addresses paddy supply shortages, quality issues, and inadequate equipment. Upon completion, participants will better understand their equipment's operation and how to improve rice quality to meet market demands. A diagnostic mission will follow to identify specific needs for factory upgrades and environmental compliance, facilitating bank financing.
The REWARD-CI project, launched in June 2026 and ending April 2028, aims to strengthen food sovereignty in West Africa by providing quality milled rice and increasing private investment. The project is active in seven to eight regions of Ivory Coast and is part of a national strategy to make rice a competitive sector by 2030.
Why it mattersRice processors in Ivory Coast are being trained to improve their product quality and competitiveness, which will help them meet market demands and access bank financing.