Record Details

How Can West African Rice Compete in Urban Markets? A Demand Perspective for Policymakers

CGSpace

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title How Can West African Rice Compete in Urban Markets? A Demand Perspective for Policymakers
 
Creator Fiamohe, R.
Demont, M.
Saito, Kazuki
Roy-Macauley, Harold
Tollens, E.
 
Subject markets
west africa
consumers
value chain
rice
imports
 
Description In West Africa, rice produced locally falls short of meeting the demand and preferences of urban consumers. We analyzed the challenges facing local rice in urban markets and identified policies that can be implemented to improve the competitiveness of the regional rice sector. We argue that without addressing the demand side of the value chain, efforts on the supply side might fall short in reducing import dependency. Evidence suggests that while imported rice has easy access to urban markets, local rice faces more challenges in reaching urban consumers. The low market share of local rice in urban markets is in part due to consumers' dislike of local rice as it is perceived as being of inferior quality relative to imported rice. Local rice also tends to fetch lower prices. The experimental studies reviewed suggest, however, that urban consumers are willing to pay price premiums for local rice if its quality is upgraded. We propose a two‐stage policy sequence: (i) encouraging investment in quality upgrading; (ii) gradually increasing the Common External Tariff (CET) from 10 to 35 per cent to increase cost‐competitiveness of West African rice relative to imported rice. To stabilise and finance the sector, we further advocate the establishment of a flat‐rate levy on the value of rice imports.
 
Date 2018-08
2019-07-02T14:57:02Z
2019-07-02T14:57:02Z
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Fiamohe, R., Demont, M., Saito, K., Roy‐Macauley, H., and Tollens, E. 2018. How Can West African Rice Compete in Urban Markets? A Demand Perspective for Policymakers. EuroChoices 17(2): 51-57.
1478-0917
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/102055
https://doi.org/10.1111/1746-692X.12177
 
Language en
 
Rights Copyrighted; all rights reserved
Limited Access
 
Format p. 51-57
 
Publisher Wiley
 
Source EuroChoices