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

Dr Kanayo F. NwanzeDirector General, Africa Rice Center (WARDA)

Africa Rice Congress31 July – 4 August 2006, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative ApproachConsortium Approach for NERICA Development

JapanJapan

WARDAWARDACoordinating andCoordinating and

ImplementingImplementing

InstitutionInstitution

UNDPUNDP Rockefeller Rockefeller FoundationFoundation

DonorsDonors

BeninBeninBurkina FasoBurkina FasoChadChadCameroonCameroonCôte d ’IvoireCôte d ’IvoireGambiaGambiaGhanaGhanaGuineaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuinea-BissauLiberiaLiberiaMaliMaliMauritaniaMauritaniaNigerNigerNigeriaNigeriaSenegalSenegalSierra LeoneSierra LeoneTogoTogo

WA CountriesWA Countries

IRRIIRRI

CIATCIAT

JICAJICA

JIRCASJIRCAS

Cornell Uni.Cornell Uni.

IRD; JICIRD; JIC

Tokyo Uni.Tokyo Uni.

YAASYAASGATSBYGATSBY

Int’l orgInt’l org

Advanced Advanced InstitutesInstitutes

Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative ApproachUpland NERICA Production Area

Low: <5,000

Medium: 5,000-15,000

High: >15,000

Production Status-ha (2006)

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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)

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you

Merci

Asante sana

Obrigado

Melesi