A crisis is taking hold in the Senegal River valley. Meeting this Saturday in Ross-Béthio, rice producers and processors raised the alarm about a situation deemed critical.

Indeed, tens of thousands of tons of local rice remain unsold, jeopardizing the entire value chain.

According to Alioune Diagne, president of the National Rice Growers Association, more than 50,000 tons of rice have been stored without a market for nearly four months. This accumulation occurs despite strong agricultural performance. Between the dry and rainy seasons, production exceeded 200,000 tons of white rice, a record level.

But this abundance has now turned into a burden. In warehouses, approximately 14,000 tons of white rice and nearly 40,000 tons of paddy rice are waiting for buyers. As a direct consequence, several processing plants have slowed down or even suspended their operations, resulting in the temporary layoff of many workers.

Stakeholders in the sector are pointing to the lack of government support measures. They are specifically calling for a subsidy of 50 CFA francs per kilogram to make locally produced rice more competitive against imports.

Furthermore, the institutional purchases announced by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko are slow to materialize. "Since these announcements, no progress has been made. The matter doesn't even seem to have been addressed at the Ministry of Finance level," laments Alioune Diagne.

While an agreement signed with the government on November 12, 2025, did facilitate the release of slightly more than 6,000 tons, this effort remains largely insufficient given the scale of the existing stocks. At the same time, importers have reduced their purchases, further exacerbating market saturation.

Faced with this impasse, the processors have chosen to suspend husking to avoid product deterioration. "We prefer to keep the paddy rather than produce more white rice that won't find a buyer," they explain.

This commercial crisis is compounded by increasing financial pressure. Operators are struggling to meet their bank obligations and to mobilize the resources needed to prepare for the next season.

For Aïssatou Gaye, president of the College of Transformers, the equation is simple: without sales, no refunds are possible.

In a context where Senegal aims to strengthen its food sovereignty, industry professionals are calling for urgent action. They believe that rapid and structured support is essential to prevent the collapse of a sector that is strategic for the national economy and rural employment.