RIICE development in Cote d’Ivoire : AfricaRice report of 2024. Transforming Agrifood Systems in West and Central Africa Initiative (TAFS-WCA)

Côte d'Ivoire has significant potential for rice production, yet the country
remains heavily reliant on imports due to low yields and limited adoption of
improved technologies. Climate change further exacerbates these challenges,
affecting rice productivity and food security. The Remote Sensing-based
Information and Insurance for Crops in Emerging Economies (RIICE) decision
support system was introduced to provide reliable, real-time data on rice
cultivation, yield forecasts, and climate-related risks. This report details activities
conducted by AfricaRice in 2024 related to the adaptation and implementation of
the RIICE tool in Côte d'Ivoire through field experiments, georeferencing of rice
fields, and the collection of leaf area index (LAI) data as well as feedback from
stakeholders to ensure the tool is co-designed, responds to the local needs and that
challenges related to infrastructure requirements and capacity building are
addressed in the road for institutionalization. The findings highlight the potential of
RIICE to enhance rice sector planning, improve resilience among smallholder
farmers, and support policy decisions for achieving rice self-sufficiency.