2023-07-06 08:29:06
Rice imports fell considerably in April according to the monthly bulletin of the Rice Observatory (ODR). 15,090 tons of rice were imported in the fourth month of the year against 80,955 tons in 2022 at the same period.
The import volume of rice between January and April this year is significantly lower than in 2022 for the same period. It went from 241,768 tons to 222,519 tons for this year.
The availability of local rice from the beginning of the year until the end of April explains this situation. A drop also influenced by prices on local markets. The Rice Observatory’s monthly bulletin notes an overall drop in prices from traders on the national market after the price spike at the start of the year. Between March and April, the price of paddy fell on average by 14.7%, from 1,603 ariary to 1,368 ariary per kilo.
Regarding production, the State has set itself the objective of reaching 5.3 million tonnes of paddy in 2023 and 6 million tonnes in 2024 during the first phase of the National Rice Development Strategy. National annual production was estimated at 4,400,000 tons in 2022, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
The country’s white rice needs amount to 3 million tons in 2022. The average annual rice import is estimated at 700,000 tons per year, according to figures from the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Development. the consumption.
To achieve the objectives set for paddy production, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock plans to increase irrigated areas, provide certified and improved seeds and provide farmers with mineral fertilizers to be combined with organic fertilizer. The strategy also aims to facilitate rice farmers’ access to mechanized services and modern processing techniques.
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