EXPERT
CONSULTATION AND WORKSHOP HELD IN 2002
THE
MEETING BETWEEN WARDA AND SPECIAL PROGRAMMES FOR FOOD SECURITY
IN SELECTED COUNTRIES IN WEST AFRICA
Mbe, Côte d' Ivoire, 28 March 2002
• The
meeting was organized to provide a forum for discussion on
collaborative actions regarding the transfer of NERICA rice
to farmers. Participants came from FAO, WARDA, UNDP, SPFS
in Benin, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, and Nigeria. Observers came
from Sierra Leone and NGO - SG 2000/Guinea.
WARDA'S
Presentation:
WARDA distributed
its most recent publication,"Participatory Varietal
Selection: Beyond the Flame" as a reference material
for use in the discussion and formulation of the collaborative
activities.
The testing and
dissemination of NERICA lines was done through the participatory
varietal selection (PVS) and the community-based seed production
system (CBSS). The PVS process lasted for three years. In
the first years, a "rice garden", managed by NARES,
was established for farmers to evaluate and select new rice
varieties. In the second year, farmers grew the selected varieties
in their own farms, while scientists and extension officers
of NARES and WARDA visited these farms to evaluate the varieties.
In the final year, farmers grew the selected varieties in
large plots in their farms. The seed multiplication through
CBSS began with the provision of certified foundation seeds
through a national seed service to informal seed growers.
These informal seed growers then produced and distributed
the non-certified seeds of acceptable quality for multiplication
at the community level. The PVS, the seed multiplication through
CBSS, and the seed priming trials have been carried out in
17 member-countries of WARDA under the Participatory Rice
Improvement and Gender/user Analysis (PRIGA), which was supported
by the World Bank from 1996-2001.
The major results
of these activities include:
• Collaborating
farmers selected both NERICA varieties and improved varieties
of sativa sub-species for cultivation.
• The criteria that farmers used for selection of rice
varieties varied greatly from vegetative to reproductive to
maturing stages of rice crops. Different farmers and/or farmers'
groups use different sets of criteria for selection of rice
varieties. Consequently, in a producing zone (or a country),
rice varieties selected by farmers at one test location may
be different from those that were selected by farmers at other
test locations.
• In one producing zone, the number of selected rice
varieties is quite large. The ratio of selected varieties
to the test varieties was substantially high. Following this
system, therefore, seeds of several varieties may have to
produce for farmers in one producing zone.
• The PVS and CBSS obtained significant progress in
the transfer of NERICA varieties in Côte D' Ivoire and
in Guinea.
FAO Presentation:
In 2000, FAO and
WARDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote
the collaboration in the programme on "Rapid Rice
Technology Diffusion in West Africa". Although FAO
has supported the formulation and implementation of several
Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) activities in several
West African countries since 1996, the SPFS Programmes are
national programmes. Each SPFS Programme generally has four
main components: water improvement and control, crop intensification,
diversification, and constraint analysis. Many activities
of SPFS Programmes, therefore, are similar to WARDA's activities
to transfer NERICA varieties to farmers in the sub-region.
Presentation
of National Special Programmes for Food Security
The National Coordinators
gave more time to present the activities of the Rice Intensification
component in their Programmes, such as the characteristics
of the zones of intervention, on-farm demonstration and training
of farmers on proven rice technologies, rice seed multiplication
and related activities. In general, the National Coordinators
agreed that there are good opportunities for collaborating
with WARDA in the transfer of NERICA varieties to farmers
in their zones of intervention. Specifically, the National
Coordinators proposed the following zones for the initial
collaboration activities:
• Benin:
North and Central Zones
• Gambia: Areas that are presently
under the demonstration of fonio (Digitaria sp) or, hungry
rice.
• Guinea: Upland and hydromorphic areas
in Haut Guinea and Bas Guinea
• Mali: Inland swamps in Sikasso and
Haut zones in the flood plain of Mopti
• Nigeria: Upland and hydromorphic
rice areas in Benue, Ogun State and Ekiti
The National Coordinators
expressed their willingness to include NERICA varieties in
the activities of rice intensification, if found promising.
Presentation
of SG 2000/Guinea:
The SG 2000 is
a non-governmental organization. It has been closely collaborating
with WARDA in the testing and transfer of NERICA varieties
in Guinea during the last few years and this has contributed
to the success of the transfer of NERICA in the country. For
this year, the SG 2000 will give priority to help upland rice
farmers in the Fouta Jalon region of Guinea. The SG 2000 requested
WARDA to provide about 5 to 10 tons of seeds of NERICA and
other rice varieties for its activities in 2002.
Programme
of SPFS-WARDA Collaboration for 2002
Taking the presentations
and subsequent discussion into consideration, the National
Coordinators of SPFS Programmes of the participating countries
took a cautious approach towards collaboration. For the year
2002, the participating SPFS Programmes conducted further
varietal tests and multiplied the seeds of only selected NERICA
varieties. The table below shows the NERICA varieties selected
by different SPFS Programmes.
| |
Varieties |
Quantity
of seeds (kg) |
Date
needed |
| Benin |
WAB450-I-B-P-157-1-1 |
280 |
End
April, 2002 |
| WAB450-
I-B-P-157-2-1 |
140 |
| WAB515-B-16A2.2 |
140 |
| Gambia |
WAB365-B-1-H1-HB |
70 |
End
April, 2002 |
| WAB450-11-1-1-P31-HB |
70 |
| WAB450-I-B-P-163-4-1 |
70 |
| WAB56-50 |
70 |
| Guinea |
WAB450-I-B-P-28-HB |
140 |
Mid-April,
2002 |
| WAB450-I-B-P-91-HB |
140 |
| WAB56-125 |
140 |
| WAB450-I-B-P-160-HB |
140 |
| Mali |
WAB450-11-1-1-1-P50-HB |
35 |
Early
May, 2002 |
| WAB50-125 |
35 |
| WAB181-18 |
35 |
| Nigeria |
WAB450-11-1-P31-1-HB |
25 |
End
April/Early May, 2002 |
| WAB189-B-B-B-8-HB |
25 |
| WAB450-I-B-P-38-HB |
25 |
In addition to
the above, the SPFS of Nigeria invited WARDA to send scientists
to participate in the meetings of State Coordinators of the
SPFS, which will be organized in the near future to further
discuss the collaboration on the transfer of NERICA varieties.
TOP
THE SUB-REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON HARMONIZATION
OF POLICIES AND CO-ORDINATION OF PROGRAMMES ON RICE IN THE ECOWAS
SUB-REGION
Accra, Ghana; 25 to 28 February 2002
• The
participants of the Workshop include senior officers from
Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte D’Ivoire, Gambia,
Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger,
Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo; Inter-Governmental
Organizations in the region: WARDA, UEMOA, and ECOWAS and
FAO.
The Session started at 10.00
hours and was chaired by Dr. Tshikala Tshibaka, Chief RAFP.
The Session included the following presentations:
• Welcome
by Dr. Tshikala Tshibaka
• WARDA Statement by Mr. Frederic Lancon
• ECOWAS Statement by Mr. Salifou Traore
• UEMOA Statement by Mr. Roger Bila Kabore
• FAO Statement by Regional Representative a.i. and
FAO Representative in Ghana, Mr Anatolio Ndong Mba
• Keynote Address and Formal Opening of the Workshop
by Hon. Minister for Food and Agriculture of Ghana.
The Regional Representative
a.i. stated that in line with the ideals of the World Food
Summit Plan of Action, FAO further confirmed it’s commitment
and in collaboration with ECOWAS, formulated a Framework in
the form of a Regional Programme for Food Security for ECOWAS
countries. The Strategy for operating the Regional Programme
involves mainly activities related to policy-making and programme
building, to be carried out at national and regional levels.
This Workshop enabled national experts in the field to exchange
information, experience, views and ideas on how to harmonize
the rice policies and programmes in the region.
The Minister pointed
out that as a consequence of the changes in consumer trends,
rice has become an essential food for the region, and that
this trend would be difficult to change. He also emphasized
that the authorities in the region should promote rice production
in the region to lessen the dependence on external rice and
to assure food security to the population in case of emergency.
He expressed willingness to receiving practical recommendations
from the Workshop.
Plenary
Session I: Presentation of key papers.
After the Coffee
break and the departure of the Minister, the Workshop continued
with this Session, which was also chaired by Dr. T. Tshibaka.
Nine key papers covering various aspects of the rice sector
were presented. They include:
• Global
trends on situation and outlook for rice production and trade.
• Rice sub-sector in West Africa and the challenges
of globalization of the world market.
• Potential and prospects for rice production in West
Africa.
• Experiences in rice policies, strategies and programmes
in the South Asia region.
• Co-ordination of national rice policies and strategies
in the West Africa sub-region.
• Issues and challenges of sustainable rice production
in Sub-Sahara Africa.
• FAO activities in Integrated Pest Management in rice
farmer field school in West Africa.
Rice is now the
second most important staple food commodity in the ECOWAS
sub-region. It is a very important agricultural item for trade
in the ECOWAS and other sub-regions in Africa. Immense opportunities
exist and are waiting to be exploited by the region for trade
in rice. Demand for the commodity is increasing and has exceeded
the production in the sub-region. Supplies to meet deficits
are obtained from sources, which are external to the sub-region,
even though there is considerable potential within the sub-region
for sustainable production. The projected world rice prices
imply substantial price increases in 2010. This suggests the
higher costs of importation.
There is plenty
of land resource potential in the sub-region for increased
production of rice, while proven technologies are also available
and could be applied to ensure the sustainability of its supply.
However, a number of factors still limit the realisation of
the commodity’s full potential in terms of production
and trade in the sub-region. A variety of policies and programmes
exist in countries in the sub-region. With the increasing
influence of globalisation, national policies and programmes
need to be reviewed and adjusted, aimed at identifying the
right approaches and commitments at both national and sub-regional
levels.
Low competitiveness,
due to low productivity, was identified as the major reason
for the failure of rice production in the region to meet popular
demand. Improving productivity and reducing production costs
are considered essential for sustainable rice production in
the region, especially in the context of globalisation. The
region still contains substantial wetland area and the improvement
and expansion of the rainfed lowland and irrigated rice production
systems in the region are considered key elements to improve
the competitiveness of rice production in the region. It is
also felt that efforts should be given to stabilize the upland
rice production systems in order to reduce the rate of deforestation
and rate of desertification as well as the conservation of
water resources for the development of lowland rice production
systems.
Plenary
Session II: Country presentation.
The Delegate from
Senegal chaired the Plenary Session II: Country Presentation.
The presentations from member countries supported the observations
made in the papers that were presented during the Plenary
Session I. They also indicate the diverse situations and conditions
of rice production as well as varying resources for rice development
and production. In addition, the presentations indicated the
different levels of rice consumption among the populations.
Major
Conclusions:
The FAO Regional
Office in Accra will prepare and publish the Report of the
Workshop.
TOP
EXPERT CONSULTATION
AND WORKSHOP HELD IN 2001
THE
RICE BREEDING CONFERENCE AND THE THIRD TECHNICAL CONSULTATION
OF THE INTER-REGIONAL COOPERATIVE RESEARCH NETWORK ON RICE
IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA (MED-RICE).
Krasnodar, Russian Federation, from 3 to 8 September 2001.
The Conference
was jointly organized by the All Russia Rice Research Institute,
the European Union and the FAO-sponsored MED-RICE Network
to strengthen the scientific relationship among partners in
Western and Eastern Europe, with special emphasis on rice
genetic resources and exchange of germplasm stock. About 80
participants from 25 countries attended these meetings. At
the end of the Conference, the All Russia Rice Research Institute
celebrated its 70th anniversary with the participants.
The Conference
was divided into four sessions:
• Session
I: Rice genetic resources and issues related to rice
production in the Mediterranean and other temperate areas.
This session focused on technical and economic competitiveness,
specific biotic and abiotic constraints and the evolution
of quality constraints.
• Session II: Description, management and availability
of rice genetic resources for the Mediterranean and other
temperate areas. In this session, the topics on analysis of
genetic diversity, management of germplasm banks, core collections,
accessibility of information and genetic material were discussed
at length.
• Session III: Genetic markers and identification
of interesting genes in rice genetic resources. A few topics,
such as QTL and gene mapping, functional genomics, etc. were
presented.
• Session IV: Objectives and methods for rice
breeding in the 21st century. The topics covered recurrent
selection, marker-aided breeding, hybrid breeding and genetic
transformation.
On this occasion,
MED-RICE Network’s Third Technical Consultation was
convened to provide a forum for Network Members to address
problems/constraints and issues related to Mediterranean rice,
review past and on-going activities and reorient its programme
for the next four years. For this purpose, two discussion
groups were established: (i) rice biotechnology and rice breeding
and (ii) rice agronomy, technology and economy. It is worthwhile
noting that the First and Second Technical Consultation were
convened in 1990 and 1996, respectively. During this Consultation,
changes were made within the Network’s organization,
as follows:
a) Dr. Jean
Chataigner, who has been acting as coordinator since 1993,
resigned for personal reasons and Professor Aldo Ferraro of
the University of Torino was elected as the new coordinator.
b) Dr. Massimo Bolini, Rice breeder of the Centro di Ricerche
sul Riso, Ente Nazionale Risi, Italy, was elected as Head
of the Rice Improvement Group to replace Dr. Ibolya Simon-Kiss.
c) Dr. Emmanuel Guiderdoni, Rice Biotechnologist, Biotechnology
and Plant Genetic Resources, CIRAD, was elected as Head of
the Rice Biotechnology Group to replace Prof. E. Cocking who
retired.
d) Three countries, namely Iran, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, applied
for membership in the MED-RICE Network.
e) The new working Group “Rice Information” was
established to promote the development, exchange and dissemination
of information related to Mediterranean rice and rice from
other temperate areas.
In the closing
session, the Network Members unanimously agreed to the following
recommendations:
General issues:
a) Extend membership to Ukraine,
Uzbekistan and Iran;
b) Set up a new working group on “Rice Information”,
in addition to the working groups on rice biotechnology,
breeding, agronomy, technology and economy.
Rice Biotechnology Group:
a) Characterize genetic biodiversity
by using molecular markers;
b) Identify blast lineages in the Mediterranean area;
c) Provide training sessions on biotechnology (molecular
biology and genetic engineering) to Member Countries in
the Mediterranean area at CIRAD and IRD (Montpellier, France);
d) Develop biotechnology research on drought, blast, cold
and salinity.
Rice Breeding Group:
a) Promote the exchange of germplasm stock among the Network
Members in collaboration with IRRI’s INGER and other
institutions;
b) Orient breeding programmes to develop varieties suitable
for soil salinity, blast and other major diseases, cold
stress, allelopatic traits for weed control;
c) Evaluate the current methodologies for breeding: conventional
breeding, recurrent selection, hybrid rice.
Rice Agronomy Group:
a) Improve crop
management with emphasis on crop establishment, water, fertilizers
and crop protection;
b) Develop strategies for organic farming;
c) Encourage closing exploitable rice yield gaps in Member
Countries.
Technology and
Economy Groups:
a) Stimulate
research on technology for improving rice quality;
b) Carry out studies on rice quality expectations of the consumer;
c) Develop training on farm management and technology transfer;
d) Encourage young scientists to participate at the MED-RICE
scientific meetings.
TOP
THE
WORKSHOP ON “POLICY SUPPORT FOR RAPID ADOPTION OF HYBRID
RICE ON LARGE-SCALE PRODUCTION IN ASIA”
Ha Noi, Viet Nam, 22 to 23 May 2001.
FAO, in collaboration
with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)
and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), organized
a workshop on “Policy Support for Rapid Adoption of Hybrid
Rice on Large-Scale Production in Asia” which was held
in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, from 22 to 23 May 2001. Fifty senior policy
officers, including the Minister of Agriculture in Bangladesh,
the Vice Minister of Agriculture in Viet Nam, hybrid rice specialists
from seven countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Philippines,
Sri Lanka and Viet Nam, and experts from IRRI, APSA and FAO,
attended this meeting. The objective of this Workshop was to
provide a forum for senior policy makers from the Member Countries
of the ADB-funded project on hybrid rice and to exchange experiences
regarding the potentials and challenges of the development and
use of hybrid rice so as to ensure continuous commitment and
support.
The Workshop was comprised of the following sessions: Opening,
Country Experiences, Needs for New Orientation, Discussions
and Conclusions, Closing. H.E. Nguyen Cong Tan, Deputy Prime
Minister for Rural Development delivered the Welcome Address,
in which he stressed the importance of rice in the Vietnamese
economy and how hybrid rice has provided rural employment opportunities
and saved land for other high value crops. He further stated
that considerable progress has been made in hybrid rice research
and F1 seed production owing to the support from FAO, IRRI,
China’s Ministry of Agriculture and to the commitment
of dedicated individuals. The Welcome address was followed by
the FAO Statement delivered by Ms. F. Guerrieri, FAO Representative
in Vietnam, and IRRI’s Statement delivered by Mr. S.S.
Virmani, Senior Hybrid Rice Specialist.
The countries' experiences
in hybrid rice were reported:
Viet Nam:
The national hybrid rice programme, which was initiated in 1992,
has been strongly supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural development (MARD), especially the former Minister, currently
Deputy Prime Minister for Rural Development. MARD has provided
subsidies which cover 25% of the F1 seed production and hybrid
rice production costs, for the initial three to five years,
to research centres and seed companies and farmers. In the year
2000, the country grew 340,000 ha of hybrid rice - or nearly
70% of its goal: 500,000 ha by 2005 - and produced 1,300 tons
of F1 seed on 650 ha. At present F1 seed production meets only
13% of farmer demands. The F1 seed production component is the
weakest in the national hybrid rice programme. By the year 2010,
the country intends to grow one million ha of hybrid rice in
Central and North Viet Nam where arable lands are very limited.
India:
The national hybrid rice programme has been strongly supported
by the Government with the active participation of public and,
especially, private seed agencies. The Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR) identified hybrid rice technology as a top priority
area. In fact, it initiated a network project on hybrid rice,
in collaboration with IRRI, which has been active since December
1989. Since September 1991, this project has been further strengthened
with the assistance from UNDP/FAO.
The project's first phase was completed in 1996, and its second
three-year phase started in 2000. Its research network comprises
two lead centres, Kapurthala in Punjab State for North India
and Mandya in Karnataka State for South India, plus ten research
institutes/centres. Commitment and support from policy planners,
senior government officials and senior research managers, together
with the scientists' active involvement, have contributed to
the remarkable success of this project. However, extension support
for the national hybrid rice programme remains weak and the
grain quality of hybrids does not meet the standards of the
diversified local markets.
Philippines:
In 1998, a comprehensive hybrid rice Research, Development and
Extension, (R,D&E) programme was initiated to strengthen
national capacity for hybrid rice development and use. During
the initial stage, the former President Ramos transplanted hybrid
rice in a farmer's field. A PhilRice Hybrid Rice Centre, based
in San Mateo, Isabela, was also established to serve as the
fulcrum for applied hybrid rice R,D&E. Private companies
such as Agroseed, Hyrice, Aventis CropScience and Hybrid Rice
Entrerprises, and a Division of SL Agritech, have been involved
in hybrid rice research and seed production. The country will
grow 20,000 ha of hybrid rice in 2001; 150,000 ha in 2002; 400,000
in 2004. F1 seed production is the weakest in the Philippine
hybrid rice programme.
Bangladesh:
From 1996 onward, hybrid rice research gained momentum with
the collaboration of IRRI. This programme was further supported
by FAO through a TCP project. Two promising varieties were included
in the National Hybrid Rice Trial in the last Boro (Winter)
season of 1999-2000 and for subsequent recommendation by the
National Seed Board. The Minister of Agriculture intends to
actively promote hybrid rice production in the country. In fact,
the Government has recently adopted a comprehensive master plan
on hybrid rice. In Phase I, the target season is the Boro rice
crop. BRAC, in association with ACI, a multinational company,
is responsible for distributing hybrid seed in the country.
GKF is also engaged in the production of hybrid rice seed. It
plans to grow 1.0 million ha of hybrid rice by 2010, or one
third of the total rice area in the Boro season. The hybrid
rice programme is still at in its early stages.
Indonesia:
Hybrid rice research has been conducted since 1983, but no hybrid
variety has been commercially released due to the genetic impurity/deterioration
of parental lines, susceptibility to major pests and low F1
seed yield. The relatively successful results of China’s
hybrid rice programme to increase rice yields, followed by India,
Vietnam and recently the Philippines, have encouraged the Government
of Indonesia to allocate more funds to the hybrid rice research
and development programme since the year 2000. The Indonesian
hybrid rice programme is supported by the FAO/TCP/INS/8921 project
and the IRRI/ADB-funded project on Development and Use of Hybrid
Rice in Asia. The private sector has been involvement in hybrid
rice consists of PT BISI, PT Pioneer, PT Sutowido, PT Kondo,
PT Monsanto and PT Bibit Baru. Indonesia plans to grow 1.5 million
ha of hybrid rice by 2004. This forecast is too ambitious. The
major weakness lies in the lack of coordination among researchers,
seed production, extension agencies, as well as inadequately
skilled humanpower.
Sri Lanka:
The situation of the hybrid rice programme in this country is
similar to that in Indonesia. Sri Lanka initiated research on
hybrid rice in the early 1980s but the programme failed; it
was then reinitiated in 1994 with the assistance of Chinese
experts. Since 1998, the IRRI/ADB project on the Development
and Use of Hybrid Rice has supported the national programme,
but the outcome is not positive due to a lack of well-defined
policies, and inadequately-skilled humanpower and facilities.
Following this presentation,
the participants spent the afternoon discussing policy and technical
issues related to the wide adoption of hybrid rice on large-scale
production. The following are the major conclusions and recommendations
of the Workshop:
1) National hybrid
rice programmes should have well-defined policies and provide
financial support to research, seed production, extension
agencies and other related issues.
2) Hybrid rice development programmes in Member Countries
should be implemented in a "mission mode" approach.
This calls for the simultaneous mobilization and involvement
of all stakeholders.
3) Member Countries should have an effective mechanism to
coordinate all aspects of hybrid rice development.
4) Member Countries should identify the major target areas
for hybrid rice cultivation and seed production in order to
clearly define their strategies/plan of actions, which should
include intensive training.
5) Member Countries should develop short-term and long-term
programmes with clear, specific and achievable goals.
6) Member Countries should provide a positive environment
(including incentives) to public, private and NGO seed companies
involved in the development and marketing of hybrid rice technology.
The quality of hybrid seed, especially genetic purity, is
essential; therefore, Member Countries should implement strict
seed certification standards for hybrid rice.
7) Continued commitment of international agencies, such as
IRRI, FAO, APSA, is fundamental for the rapid development
and large-scale adoption of hybrid rice technology.
8) IRRI should organize a meeting to discuss germplasm exchange
for hybrid rice among Member Countries.
9) The IRRI-ADB project on hybrid rice should be continued
and enhanced.
TOP
THE
PEAT (Participation, Evaluation and Transfer of Technologies)
WORKSHOP FOR IRRIGATED RICE PRODUCTION IN THE SAHEL ZONE OF
WEST AFRICA
Saint Louis,
Senegal; 2-4 April 2001
The Expert Consultation
on Yield Gap and Productivity Decline in Rice Production held
on 5-7 September 2000 in Rome, Italy, recommended the dissemination
of the Integrated Crop Management concept for enhancing sustainable
rice production in Member Countries. WARDA’s scientists,
who participated in the Expert Consultation, invited FAO to
collaborate in the scaling up of the Integrated Crop Management
system developed by the Irrigated Rice Programme of WARDA. In
December 2000, FAO was formally invited by WARDA to collaborate
in the organization of a Workshop to discuss the PEAT project.
In recognition of the synergy between the activities of WARDA
and the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) in the countries
of the region, FAO - through a Letter of Agreement - provided
funds to support the participation in the Workshop of the coordinators
of the SPFS in Burkina Faso, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal.
The Workshop was
also attended by 28 senior officers of national research and
extension agencies, NGOs, farmers’ associations from Burkina
Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal;
6 WARDA scientists; and three FAO officers.
The first day of
the Workshop was reserved for the presentation of activities
and results of WARDA, FAO, West Africa Rice Foundation (WARF)
and SPFS in Burkina Faso, Gambia, Mauritania and Senegal on
Integrated Crop Management and Participatory Approach in Technology
Transfer for irrigated rice production.
The second and third
day of the Workshop were devoted to the presentations of the
collaborative project on PEAT, which was prepared by WARDA and
WARF. The following recommendations and conclusions of the Workshop
are of specific interest to FAO:
• The initiative
of WARDA and WARF, in the development of the project idea,
is consistent with the goals and desires of the key actors
in the sector.
• The partners’ experiences give a good indication
of the various efforts aimed at addressing the problems of
improving productivity and enhancing the technology transfer
for irrigated rice production in the Sahel region and other
parts of the world.
• Integrated Crop Management and participatory Research
and Development efforts offer a significant scope for addressing
key problems related to irrigated rice production in the Sahel.
• WARDA and WARF, in consultation with the SPFS countries
of West Africa, have been requested to reformulate the project,
based on the deliberations of the Workshop.
TOP
EXPERT
CONSULTATION AND WORKSHOP HELD IN 2000
EXPERT
CONSULTATION ON YIELD GAP AND PRODUCTIVITY DECLINE IN RICE PRODUCTION,
Rome, Italy, 5-7 September 2000
Twenty-seven rice
experts from Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, India, Italy,
Republic of Korea, Nigeria, the Philippines, the USA, and Venezuela,
IRRI, WARDA, FAO/IAEA and FAO attended the Expert Consultation.
The following are the conclusions and recommendations:
YIELD
GAP
1. Defintion
The potential yield
for a variety x environment combination is derived from modelling
with optimum growth conditions. There is the highest yield that
can be used for breeding higher yielding varieties.
Under practical field conditions, we can only achieve from 80%
to 85% of the potential yield for a given variety x environment
combination. Thus we can define the practical yield gaps as
follows:
• Yield gap 1: The difference between research
(experiment station or on-farm research plots) and average farmers'
yields in any given location.
• Yield gap 2: The second gap is the difference
between the mean yield of large plot demonstrations or top 10%
of farmers (using the presently available improved technologies
and management practices in the best possible combination) in
a given location and the average yield of all farmers for that
location.
The Consultation
observed that the yield gap ranges from 10% to 60% between attainable
and economically exploitable yields depending on the ecosystem
and country.
2. Guidelines
for Identification of Yield Gaps
The research on
yields is mainly derived from the experimental plots and records
that are available from research stations. Average farmers'
yields should be obtained from sources, such as farm surveys,
including sample crop cut studies and/or from official yield
records for the chosen locations (village, district, province
or pilot sites). Mechanisms should be established on location
where by the information on yield gaps can be updated on a regular
basis.
3. Causes of
Yield Gaps
Biophysical, socio-economic,
technical/management, and institutional/policy factors cause
the yield gaps.
• Biophysical:
climate, soil type, water availability, pest pressure, etc.
• Socio-economic, institutional and/or policy: Farmers'
resource level, education, skills, attitude, etc.; infrastructure;
land tenure; credit and inputs supply.
• Technical: varieties, resource use efficiency (water,
soil, nutrients, seed quality, pests including weeds, harvest
and post-harvest, etc.).
4. Guidelines to Close Yield Gaps
4.1. Identify the
target group to change: farmers, socio-economic, institutional/infrastructure,
and/or policy support groups. Biophysical traits are difficult
to change, but varietal selection and crop management practices
can be used to mitigate the effect of biophysical constraints
to a certain extent. If the factors involve socio-economic,
institutional and/or policy areas that are outside farmers'
control, then efforts should be made to address these problems
at the policy level.
4.2. Develop a checklist
to identify and prioritize the technical constraints. A model
checklist is provided below:
• The rice
field infrastructure
• Rotation in cropping systems
• Rice varieties
• Seed quality
• Time of sowing
• Crop establishment
• Crop protection: weeds, pests, diseases, IPM
• Nutrition: N and other nutrients, INM
• Water management
• Harvesting
• Post-harvest management to reduce losses and to improve
grain quality
4.3. Identify the
technology options from the above checklist to address the critical
constraints to narrow the yield gap.
Develop objective crop management recommendations to assist
farmers/growers to meet crop management and yield targets for
a given location. This can assist growers to evaluate their
own management performance, identify strengths and weaknesses,
and take action to improve management for subsequent crops,
such as the Australian Ricecheck system and similar models used
in Egypt and Korea (see Annex).
4.4. Develop mechanisms
to evaluate, refine and deliver the recommendations, in close
collaboration with farmers, e.g. government extension service,
NGOs, voluntary organisations, private sector agencies, farmer
groups or grower associations.
4.5. Use farmer
discussion groups to promote the adoption of the ricecheck recommendation
systems and specific technologies that require greater emphasis.
Discussion groups provide an opportunity to use the skills and
experiences of farmers to reinforce and/or modify the recommendations.
4.6. Extension officers require skills in group facilitation
as well as sound technical knowledge.
4.7 Make available
inputs, credit, and other incentives necessary to facilitate
farmer adoption of recommended practices. There is an additional
opportunity to involve agribusiness to provide inputs, services
and technical support to farmers
4.8. The extension
staff should monitor the crop performance and yields over time,
identify emerging problems, if any, and feed them back to researchers
to find solutions through relevant research.
4.9. Disseminate
successful management options, among farmers and others through
appropriate communication strategies for wider impact, e.g.
large field demonstrations, messages, guidelines, decision support
systems, and timing for various operations, and warnings of
pest outbreaks, etc. in print media, radio and TV as well as
internet.
4.10. Make sure
that an effective research and extension infrastructure is available
to address the problems and to provide technical support to
farmers. This will strengthen the linkage between research,
extension and farmers.
5. Recommendations
for National and International Action in Medium Term (5 Years)
5.1. Raise awareness
of yield gaps and factors causing yield gaps among all stakeholders
(farmers, extension staff, researchers, government decision-makers,
etc.). For example, FAO can organise dialogues with national
governments to address the policy-related issues responsible
for yield gaps.
5.2. The collaboration
among FAO, IRRI, WARDA, and CIAT/FLAR should be strengthened
in order to address the yield gap issues by networking with
national programmes.
5.3. It is greatly
acknowledged that donor-funded programmes, such as IPM and hybrid
rice in South East Asia, have been highly successful in reducing
yield gaps and improving farmers' health and environmental quality.
5.4. It is recommended
that international donor communities continue to provide support
to national public sector entities, international institutions,
and grower associations that are focussed on bridging the yield
gap, e.g. pilot programmes to establish and test tropical ricecheck
systems in selected sites, national capacity to carry out pilot
programmes for narrowing yield gaps.
5.5. It is recommended that the successes of grower associations
be recognised and organisations of farmer groups be encouraged
to support R and D for their needs.
5.6. Develop a viable
and sustainable structure to deliver the required research and
technology transfer options to bridge the yield gap.
5.7. Appropriate
training should be organised to give extension officers skills
in group facilitation as well as sound technical knowledge.
5.8. Extension officers
should monitor the crop performance and yields over time, identify
emerging problems ,if any, and feed them back to researchers
to find solutions through relevant research.
5.9. Disseminate
successful management options, among farmers at large, through
appropriate communication strategies for wider impact, e.g.
large field demonstrations, messages, guidelines, decision support
systems, and timing for various operations, and warnings of
pest outbreaks, etc. in print media, radio and TV as well as
internet.
5.10. Make available
inputs, credit, and other incentives necessary to facilitate
farmer adoption of recommended practices. There is an additional
opportunity to involve agribusiness to provide inputs, services
and technical support to farmers.
5.11. It is recommended
that FAO, in association with different stakeholders, come up
with region-specific recommendations and an action plan to address
the yield gap.
5.12. It is recommended
that national and international efforts be devoted to develop
new varieties by broadening the genetic base and using modern
tools such as biotechnology and other tools.
5.13. It is recommended
that international and national institutions facilitate the
exchange of pre-breeding materials through networks.
5.14. To emphasise
the importance of rice for world food security, we support the
efforts of Member Countries and FAO to declare an "INTERNATIONAL
YEAR OF RICE".
PRODUCTIVITY
DECLINE
1. Introduction
Continued population
growth necessitates continued production growth to ensure food
security in the developing world. Because the expansion of area
is limited, under current market conditions, future growth in
production will depend, to a large extent, on higher yields.
Yet the impressive yield growth achieved in the 1970s and 1980s
slowed down considerably in the 1990s, below the population
growth. Earlier research suggested that the recent slowdown
in yield growth might be partially due to widespread yield and
productivity declines in intensive irrigated rice-based cropping
systems on account of deterioration of the soil's health and
productivity.
In view of these
concerns, FAO convened a global expert consultation to deliberate
on these issues and to suggest measures for effectively addressing
this problem through national and international efforts. The
recommendations of this consultation are presented below.
2. Identification
of Yield and Productivity Declines
2.1. The group discussed
yield declines in three distinct systems, each with distinct
causes. In irrigated African systems, yield and productivity
declines are primarily caused by the deterioration of infrastructure
and management problems, as opposed to degradation of the natural
resource base. In upland production systems, continuous cultivation
of rice is not feasible owing to the decrease in yields over
a length of time. These problems are important and need to be
addressed, within an integrated national development program
that gives priority to the agricultural sector. This can be
implemented by improving access to inputs and new technologies.
2.2. Within the
intensive, continuously cropped irrigated systems that cover
28 million hectares and provide more than half the world's supply
of rice, recent research indicates that yield and productivity
declines are not as widespread as previously believed. Such
declines may not be an inevitable consequence of long-term intensive
rice cropping. However, yield and productivity declines have
been documented under certain circumstances in certain locations.
2.3. The causes
of the yield declines, which have been documented, vary from
one location and ecosystem to another. Often, the causes are
not completely understood due to the lack of appropriate measurements.
In such cases, it is not easy to make appropriate recommendations.
However, several measures are warranted to help mitigate the
yield and productivity declines that do occur caused by degradation
of the natural resource base in some intensive irrigated systems.
3. Definitions
Yield decline:
A statistically significant reduction occurs in yields over
10 years at constant level of inputs and management practices,
not due to climatic variability or changes in varieties; a shorter
period of 5 years may be more appropriate for upland systems.
This is usually more relevant for experiment station trials.
Productivity
decline: A statistically significant reduction occurs in
the total factor productivity (TFP) over 5 to 10 years, not
due to climatic variability or changes in varieties; a shorter
period of 5 years may be more appropriate for upland systems.
This is usually more relevant for measurements in farmers' fields
where input quantities change from year to year. TFP is a measure
of the quantity of output relative to the quantity of all inputs
used in production and should be measured on a system basis.
4. Measures for
Reversing Yield Decline Where it Occurs
4.1. Firstly, many
researchers and farmers are not adequately aware of the dangers
of long-term negative P, K and micro-nutrient balances. Education
and training of relevant stakeholders, regarding the benefits
of balanced nutrient applications, will help alleviate the problems
caused by excessive nutrient mining.
4.2. Secondly, when
cropping systems are so intense that the soil is kept under
continuously submerged (anaerobic) conditions, for long periods
of time, yield and productivity declines may become serious
issues. This phenomenon has been documented in several places
around the world. While an increased intensity of cropping may
be necessary to ensure food security, countries should be aware
of the potential dangers of excessively intensive cropping and
take adequate steps to alert farmers of these dangers.
4.3. Thirdly, the
continued use of the same variety, for an extended period, especially
ones without substantial resistance to pests and diseases, is
likely to lead to yield and productivity declines. This highlights
the importance of breeding for continued resistance to pests
and diseases and maintaining varietal diversity.
4.4. Fourthly, declining
organic matter content may be a causal factor of yield decline
in the rice-wheat cropping system. This may warrant crop rotation
and other measures that will preserve the optimal level of organic
matter content, taking due account of the socio-economic conditions
facing farmers.
4.5. Fifthly, salinization
and alkalinization processes may affect rice yields and soil
quality. This may be remedied by alternative land and water
use and/or breeding of tolerant varieties.
4.6. Sixthly, development
of herbicide resistant weeds, caused by improper use of herbicides
may affect the sustainability of rice cropping systems.
5. Specific Recommendations
for National and International Actions (2001-2005)
National programs
should:
• Embark
on education campaigns to increase farmers' awareness of the
benefits of balanced fertilizer use.
• Remain cognisant of the dangers associated with overly
intensive cropping.
• Continue to support breeding programmes to progressively
improve yield potential and stability in the presence of abiotic
and biotic stresses.
• Conduct fewer and more appropriate long-term experiments
(in representative regions and ecosystems) with more detailed,
interdisciplinary measurements.
• Select several pilot sites to monitor continuously
yield and productivity trends. An emphasis on micro-level
investigation (e.g., state seed farms, and farmers' fields)
is suggested.
International
programs should:
Support national
programs in the above endeavours and continue with ongoing cross-country
network research on yield and productivity trends in major rice-based
cropping systems.
TOP
THE
FAO-SUPPORTED MED-RICE NETWORK'S WORKSHOP ON THE NEW DEVELOPMENT
IN RICE AGRONOMY AND ITS EFFECTS ON YIELD AND QUALITY IN MEDITERRANEAN
AREAS.
Edirne, Turkey,
13-15 September 2000.
The Workshop "The
new Development in Rice Agronomy and its Effects on Yield and
Quality in Mediterranean Areas", which was organised by
the Thrace Agricultural Research Institute located Edirne, Turkey
from 13 to 15 September 2000, under the framework of the FAO-sponsored
Mediterranean Co-operative Network on Rice in the Mediterranean
Region (MERD-RICE). About 30 rice specialists and scientists
from Bulgaria, Egypt, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal,
Romania, Russia and Turkey, and a Rice Agronomist from FAO participated
in the Workshop. During the three-day meeting, 15 technical
papers on rice agronomy, breeding and economic topics were presented
and extensively deliberated. The major outcome of this Workshop
includes:
1. Review
of the MED-RICE Network's achievements over the last 10 years:
As requested by
some participants, a brief review of the major achievements
of the Network since its establishment in 1990 was reported
as follows:
