ABSTRACT
Historically, rice production in Africa has tended to be low-yielding, geographically dispersed and uncompetitive against low-cost Asian imports, even when protected by high freight costs and substantial trade barriers. Skyrocketing prices in world markets, however, were a shock to African consumers, producers and governments alike, and numerous initiatives have been announced to stimulate rice production on the continent (Inter-réseaux Développement Rural, 2008).
