Impacts of climate change on rice markets in Senegal

The Stockholm Environment Institute’s research project Adaptation without Borders is placing a spotlight on the country of Senegal in West Africa to illustrate how climate change can have unexpected and indirect impacts on food security and social stability. in this blogpost four short films explore these issues in relation to rice production, consumption and global trade.

Spotlight on Senegal

In the film below SEI Researcher Adam John discusses global rice markets and price volatility in the context of a changing climate. He describes what it is about rice markets that makes them so volatile and explains why this makes countries like Senegal, who import the vast majority of their rice, so vulnerable to climate change effects on rice production in other countries - and the policy response of governments in major rice exporting and importing countries abroad. Adam also reflects on the scope for Senegal to reduce this vulnerability by reducing its import dependence.

Rice is the main staple food in Senegal. It currently imports around 70% of what is consumed, but has high potential to increase domestic production and big plans to become self-sufficient by 2017. SEI Researchers Adam John and Magnus Benzie travel through Senegal in this film to explore how the country is planning to achieve food security in the face of climate change impacts both at home and abroad…

Experts from the Africa Rice Centre explain the potential for Senegal to become self sufficient in rice. Does the country have the resources required to achieve this ambition in spite of climate change? Watch the film below.

Djeneba - a resident of Dakar - describes in the next film why so many people in Senegal today prefer to eat rice as their staple food as opposed to more traditional cereals. She compares domestically produced rice with imported rice to demonstrate why there is such a strong preference for the imported variety.

Read Djeneba's story here to learn more about what connects rice harvests in Asia and global trade to a hard working nanny in Senegal. Why are rice prices so important? Follow the link to find out more.
Read Djeneba's story here

Related: 16/01/2015. Daily Times Nigeria Rice policy: Asian cartel and their disruptive agenda Foreign importers have even falsely argued that rice production in Nigeria is not economically feasible and un­controlled imports should be allowed in. But the reality is completely different. Nigerian farmers have shown an impres­sive performance in response to Government’s new rice policy that favours local rice produc­tion and milling.