“Jollof, but Make It Policy.”
Let’s be honest, nobody wants to argue over jollof at lunch. But what if we told you the rice on your plate has more to do with forex, failed policy, and lost jobs than it does with flavour?
Today’s Decode isn’t just about food. It’s about power. Who gets to grow what we eat. Who profits. And who loses — quietly, season after season.
Because every spoon of imported rice is a silent vote of no confidence in our own capacity. And when we all keep eating like that? The system doesn’t just stay broken, it gets worse.
Let’s connect the dots together.
From jollof to job creation.
From taste buds to trade policy.
NoOrdinary Eyitemi
Editor-in-Chief, Decode Daily
Why Africa keeps importing what it grows, and what it says about our politics, policies, and pride.
“You dey shout ‘support local’ but serve Uncle Ben’s at your wedding. Be like say na the economy go still carry last.” Your plug with a rice cooker and a macroeconomic lens
The Gist
Nigeria eats 8.3 million metric tons of rice every year. We grow about 7.9 million, yet we’re still importing over 2.5 million metric tons, draining $2.5 billion mostly into the hands of India, Thailand, UAE, and Benin (yes, your rice may have entered through Seme, not Apapa).
But this isn’t just a Nigerian story.
From Ghana to Senegal, Kenya to Zambia, Africa’s local farmers are losing to cheaper, foreign alternatives, in countries that can and should feed themselves
The Real Problem
Africa doesn’t have a rice farming problem.
It has a policy inconsistency problem.
Despite fertile land, youth unemployment, and rising demand, local producers are choked by:
- Zero access to cheap credit
- Crumbling roads and erratic power
- Diesel prices with Olympic ambitions
- Confused border policies that one day ban, the next day flood the market
Decode truth: Your Sunday Jollof isn’t just comfort food. It’s a statement of how deeply Africa still outsources its sovereignty.
Connecting the Grains Across Africa
- Senegal: Local Nerica rice faces stiff competition from cheaper Asian imports, despite years of donor support.
- Ghana: Farmers cry foul each time Nigeria bans imports — their excess harvests can’t cross easily, and they lose out.
- Kenya: Local rice like pishori is beloved, but drowned out by cheaper Pakistani alternatives that enter through Mombasa.
- Zambia & Malawi: Past IMF/World Bank policies stripped subsidies and support — the rice gap is just one symptom.
Decode memory lane: Remember those Structural Adjustment Programs from the 80s/90s? Yeah. We're still paying for that.
Why You Should Care (Even If You Don’t Like Rice)
If You’re in Business or Finance
This is your FX volatility case study. From logistics to agri-tech, rice exposes how short-term affordability masks long-term vulnerability.
If You’re a Builder or Founder
Milling. Cold storage. Processing tech. Market access. This rice gap is a startup goldmine — if you’re bold enough to build in spite of government chaos.
If You’re a Consumer
That “cheaper” imported rice is costing your economy jobs, forex, and resilience. You want cheaper food, yes — but not at the expense of national food security.
Decode takeaway: Local rice = jobs. Imported rice = debt dependency with basmati fragrance.
AfCFTA vs Reality: Where’s the Pan-African Rice Plan?
AfCFTA promised a borderless African market. But rice still needs a visa to cross ECOWAS.
Until regional policy stops fluctuating like crypto, Africa will keep importing food it grows, killing the very farmers it claims to empower.
Decode logic: If we can unite for Afrobeats, surely we can unite for affordable rice?
TL;DR
- Nigeria (and Africa) grows rice. We still import billions worth.
- Local producers are being undercut by poor infrastructure and inconsistent policy.
- The result? Weak agri sectors, lost jobs, and rising dependency.
- Whether you're a founder, investor, or foodie — this matters to your wallet and your future.
One Last Thing:
The next time you're buying rice, ask, am I just feeding myself or feeding a broken system?
Rice isn’t just rice. It’s currency. It’s trade. It’s politics.
And every plate tells a story about how Africa is or isn’t investing in itself.
So whether you’re a founder, foodie, policymaker, or just a hungry millennial trying to eat well and do better:
Let your next meal be a vote for the future you want.
- Stay sharp.
- Stay informed.
- Stay local (when you can)
Sources: World-Grain | Channels TV | CNCB Africa | Pulse Nigeria |Punch
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Your Decode Daily Team ✌🏾
African most feeds there self.
Yes we need to.
Let’s support agriculture in our country.
We align with that a 100%
We must all continue advocating for protectionist policies that ensures home grown are constantly prioritized by ALL.
We absolutely agree, Castro. And beyond that , we believe there’s need for strategic communication to help citizens connect the dots. Our ignorance is yet another layer of challenge.