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From OS6 to NERICAs: What Lessons Can We Draw for the Future of Rice Research in Africa?

This presentation examines the development of rice research in Africa and the lessons learned, including the shift from a stereotypic to innovative approach. It also highlights the impact of rice research in Africa through case studies and concludes with the future prospects.

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From OS6 to NERICAs: What Lessons Can We Draw for the Future of Rice Research in Africa?

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  1. From OS6 to NERICAs: What Lessons Can We Draw for the Future of Rice Research in Africa? Dr Kanayo F. Nwanze Director General, Africa Rice Center (WARDA) Africa Rice Congress 31 July – 4 August 2006, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  2. Presentation Outline • What rice means to Africa • Development of rice research in Africa • Moving from stereotypic to innovative approach: Three models used by WARDA • Has rice research in Africa made any difference? • Lessons learnt • Conclusion

  3. What Rice Means to Africa • Rice: most rapidly growing food source in Africa • Significantly important to Africa’s food security • Annual demand for rice in SSA increasing at 6% per year • Paddy rice production: from 8 MT (1980) to 18.6 MT (2005) • Rice imports: from 2.5 MT (1980) to 7.6 MT (2004) • Foreign exchange spent on rice imports > $1.5 billion per year

  4. Development of Rice Research in Africa • Formal rice R&D in SSA began in colonial period • Office du Niger (Mali), ORTAL (Senegal) established by France • Rice research initiated in 1930s: NCRI (Nigeria), Rokupr (Sierra Leone), Mwabagole (Tanzania), INEAC (RD Congo) • Madagascar and Cote d’Ivoire: strong rice programs • Early success: OS6 rice variety released by INEAC

  5. Development of Rice Research in Africa • IRAT played major role in rice research in SSA • Among the first to collect and characterize Asian & African rice germplasm • Over past 40 years: valuable contributions from international organizations • WARDA, IITA and IRRI, in collaboration with national programs

  6. Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative Approach • Stereotypic Approach • 1960s & 70s: focus on introducing varieties from Asia,Latin America • Assumption: easy to transfer Green Revolution varieties to Africa • However, in SSA: • Limited impact due to greater diversity of conditions • Poor on-farm performance: varieties developed for high-input conditions

  7. Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative Approach • Innovative Approach • WARDA explored innovative pathways to research • Designed to succeed under African farming conditions • Example of 3 innovative R&D models

  8. Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative Approach • Model 1: Upland NERICA Breakthrough • First time: priority given to technologies for poor rice farmers • Technology adapted to harsh & low-input conditions • Key success factors: • Use of African rice species • Plant Varietal Selection (PVS) approach • Complemented by community-based seed system

  9. WA Countries Donors Int’l org IRRI CIAT JICA JIRCAS Benin Burkina Faso Chad Cameroon Côte d ’Ivoire Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo Rockefeller Foundation Japan UNDP WARDA Coordinating and Implementing Institution Advanced Institutes Cornell Uni. IRD; JIC Tokyo Uni. YAAS GATSBY Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative Approach Consortium Approach for NERICA Development

  10. Production Status-ha (2006) Low: <5,000 Medium: 5,000-15,000 High: >15,000 Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative Approach Upland NERICA Production Area

  11. Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative Approach • Model 2: Lowland NERICA Breakthrough • 2005: Going beyond the first generation NERICA • NERICA varieties released for lowlands • 60 Lowland NERICAs selected by farmers • Potential of lowlands much higher than that of uplands • Suitable for rice cropping intensification

  12. Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative Approach • Model 2: Lowland NERICA Breakthrough • Landmark in SSA rice research • National programs played central role • Thanks to ROCARIZ rice network in West and Central Africa • ROCARIZ facilitated shuttle-breeding approach among member countries • To accelerate selection process, achieve wide adaptability

  13. Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative Approach • Model 3: Integrated System for the Irrigated Systems • Irrigated ecology in SSA: homogenous, input-intensive • Benefited from introduction of materials from Asia, Latin America • Ex.: 3 WARDA Sahel varieties occupy 78% in Senegal River Valley • Integrated crop management (ICM) approach developed • To enhance productivity, profitability, sustainability of irrigated rice farming

  14. Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative Approach • Model 3: Integrated System for the Irrigated Systems • Wide range of improved technologies • Accessible to farmers in prototype phase • Basket of ICM options including decision-making tools • Later fine-tuned in farmers’ fields • High degree of farmer involvement in adaptation process.

  15. Has Rice Research in Africa Made any Difference? • Good news from Africa are few • But this is one of them: rice research has certainly made impact • 3 impact studies highlighted • Dalton and Guei study on impact of rice research in W Africa • Fall study in Senegal and Mauritania • NERICA socio-economic impact studies

  16. Has Rice Research in Africa Made any Difference? • Dalton and Guei Study • Impact of rice varieties from national, international centers • Study covered 7 West African rice-producing countries • Improved varieties released 1980-2000 • Generated about USD 375 million per year • Returns to investment in rice research exceeded 20% per year

  17. Has Rice Research in Africa Made any Difference? • Fall Study • Impact of rice research in Senegal and in Mauritania • Investment in rice R&D: good alternative for use of public funds • Internal rate of return for 2 countries: 74% • WARDA studies confirm these findings • Revenue gains from Sahel varieties: >30 million USD (1995-2000)

  18. Has Rice Research in Africa Made any Difference? • WARDA Socio-economic Studies • In farming families, who had adopted NERICAs: • 3% increase in child school enrollment; • 3% increase in school retention rate; • About USD8 increase per child in school expenditure • 2% reduction in frequency of child sickness in farming households; • 5% increase in hospital attendance frequency when sick; • About USD12 increase in health expenses per sick child.

  19. Has Rice Research in Africa Made any Difference? • If these findings extrapolated across SSA rice sector, with more than 20 million poor rice farming households: • NERICA research increases in significance • New WARDA projections: 20% increase in NERICA planting in upland ecology of SSA countries will lead to 5% reduction in rice import bill

  20. Lessons Learnt • First of all, bold and imaginative thinking • Emphasis on African-led research; multidisciplinary networks; combining conventional and advanced science • Designing technologies that fit specific ecology, environment • Priority to indigenous genetic resources; genetic diversity from worldwide sources

  21. Lessons Learnt • Emphasis on participatory approaches • Nurturing technologies until dissemination; advocating their cause at the highest political level • Committed partnership at all levels; and most important of all • Sustained funding for rice research and development in Africa

  22. CONCLUSION • Massive food aid – not the solution for SSA • Development: endogenous and intrinsic process • Africans should be actively involved in technology development • Should be both technology innovators and users

  23. CONCLUSION • Pre-requisites for Africa • Political and social stability; Favorable rice policies • Removal of unfair subsidies; Competitive markets • Better infrastructure; Private sector involvement • Price incentives; Credit to farmers; Promotion of local rice • Political commitment from the highest level

  24. Thank you Merci Asante sana Obrigado Melesi

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