FAO and AfricaRice call for investing in sustainable and inclusive rice production
Partnership for Sustainable Rice Systems Development in Africa
25 November 2014, Nairobi, Kenya - FAO together with key players in the rice value chain in Africa and high level government representatives have launched a comprehensive Programme for Rice Development in Africa for the benefit of rice farmers, national and international partners as well as private sector actors directly involved in the design and implementation of rice development and investment programmes in Africa.
The programme was presented at a Partnership Meeting on the Regional Initiative for Rice Development in Africa, co-organized by FAO and AfricaRice in Nairobi, Kenya, in the presence of FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Mr Bukar Tijani, the Interim Director General of AfricaRice, Dr Adama Traoré, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Felix Koskei, and the FAO Representative for Kenya, Dr Luca Alinovi.
In his opening remarks on behalf of the Kenyan government, Mr Felix Koskei has emphasized the need to improve the quality of local produce through the provision of competitive prices for farmers. ‘We need to put in efforts to develop high yielding, input responsive, short-duration varieties for irrigated and favourable rain fed systems’ he noted.
The meeting seeks to mobilize resources and key partners at global, regional, subregional and national levels to jointly develop and implement a holistic and comprehensive programme for sustainable rice systems development in the region. As the demand - supply gap continues to widen, the region is witnessing increasing calls to step up efforts to significantly increase local supply and curb rice importation.
“A key problem facing the rice sector in Africa in general is that local production has been unable to keep pace with demand for rice, and the continent continues to rely on importation to meet its increasing demand for the crop”, stressed Mr Tijani. “We expect this initiative to contribute to reducing high food import bills and impact on small producers”.
The Programme will promote synergies and build on the comparative advantages, lessons and experiences of key institutions, organizations and programmes to promote food security and rice self-sufficiency in Africa. Since the soaring food price crisis in 2006-2008, rice stands out as a key commodity in many national strategies for food security in line with the recommendations of the Abuja Food Security summit in (2006).
“Rice is a strategic and priority crop for food security in the region. Rice consumption is growing faster than that of any other major staple in the region. It is the single most important source of dietary energy in West Africa and the third most important for Africa as a whole”, advocated Mr Traoré.
Building on Existing Partnerships
By initiating a partnership for sustainable rice systems development in Africa, FAO and AfricaRice are aiming to support translating into action resolutions and commitments made by African Governments that adopted the 2014 Malabo Declaration to Ending Hunger in Africa by 2025.
During the TICAD IV Conference in Japan in 2013, the FAO Conference in Rome in July 2013 and the TICAD V Ministerial meeting in Cameroon in 2014, requests were received from African Heads of States and Ministers of Agriculture for support to increase rice production and productivity in Africa.
Past and on-going efforts in the development of the rice sector in Africa include institutions and significant programmes such as the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), the Coalition for Africa Rice Development (CARD), the Amélioration de la Production du riz en Afrique de l’Ouest (APRAO) and several FAO supported projects, the Emergency Rice Initiative (ERI) and other national, bilateral and multilateral supported African rice programs and projects.
The programme will start in 23 African countries in partnership with key rice development institutions and organizations in the region. It will directly benefit governments and rice farmers, national and private sector actors, and international partners involved in the design and implementation of rice value chain development and investment programmes in Africa
The total estimated budget required to cover all the member states during the first phase is USD 500 million.
Contact:
Judith Mulinge
Communication, FAO in Kenya
Email: [email protected]|
Mob: +254 721 574971
Additional information: The Programme for Rice Development in Africa (PARDA) is an example of translation into action of resolutions and committements made by FAO and African Governments that adopted the 2014 Malabo Declaration to Ending Hunger in Africa by 2025.
RESOURCE LINKS:
http://www.africarice.org (AfricaRice Website)
http://www.fao.org/africa/news/detail-news/en/c/263354/ (FAO visit to AfricaRice)
http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/237300/icode (Ending hunger by 2025, Malabo)
http://www.fao.org/africa/news/detail-news/en/c/235549/ (Partnering to end hunger in Africa, Addis Ababa)
http://www.fao.org/food-loss-reduction/news/detail/en/c/250883/ (Food Loss Reduction)
http://www.fao.org/about/who-we-are/director-gen/faodg-statements/detail/en/c/218681/ (FAO Director-General’s Opening Statement at the 28th FAO Regional Conference for Africa)
South-South Cooperation, FAO
http://www.fao.org/partnerships/south-south-cooperation/south-south-cooperation-at-work/en http://www.fao.org/in-action/south-south-cooperation-successfully-links-nigeria-china-and-fao/en
Africa Solidarity Trust Fund (ASTF),FAO