Liberia Seeks Jigawa’s Playbook to Cut Rice Imports, Boost Food Security

Liberia is moving to partner with Nigeria’s Jigawa State on rice farming, aiming to curb heavy import dependence and strengthen food security across West Africa. The plan took shape during a visit to Dutse by Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, David Akoi, who said his delegation came to “study the rice value chains and learn from Jigawa’s success story.”

Why Liberia cares

Rice is Liberia’s staple—consumed multiple times a day—yet the country imports roughly 70% of its needs. Akoi said the government’s goal is to flip that ratio, producing at least 70% domestically to lower costs, reduce pressure on foreign reserves, and shield households from global supply shocks. He also referenced Liberia’s historic “rice riots,” underscoring the grain’s political and economic sensitivity.

What Jigawa brings

Governor Umar Namadi highlighted Jigawa’s rapid scaling: cultivated rice area climbed from 60–70k hectares in 2023 to over 200k in 2024, with a target near 300k this year. He credited irrigation-first policies—revamping dams that added 4,500+ hectares—and mechanization investments: 300 tractors, 60 combine harvesters, and 150 planters. Each of the state’s 30 constituencies, he added, has at least 10 tractors available on subsidized hire to smallholders.

What a partnership could look like

Liberia is exploring practical knowledge transfer—irrigation development, mechanized land prep and harvesting, farmer services (input access, extension), and value-chain organization from paddies to mills. Officials say the goal is a full transformation of Liberia’s rice chain, not one-off projects.

The regional angle

If successful, the tie-up could cut Liberia’s import bill, stabilize local prices, and improve resilience to climate and market shocks—benefits that ripple across the Mano River and Sahel corridors. For Nigeria, it bolsters subnational diplomacy and showcases a state-led model of agrifood scaling.

By the numbers (Jigawa)

• Rice area: ~60–70k ha (2023) → 200k+ ha (2024); targeting ~300k ha (2025)
• Irrigation boost: +4,500 ha from dam rehabilitation
• Mechanization: 300 tractors, 60 combines, 150 planters; subsidized hire across 30 constituencies