NEW RICE FOR AFRICA (NERICA)

Introduction oo Activities oo Main Achievements

 

Introduction:

Collaboration with international institutions in the development and transfer of appropriate rice technologies is a priority of the International Rice Commission. Rice is the staple food in several countries in West Africa. The popularity of rice in the population of the region has substantially increased during the recent past. However, rice production has not been able to meet the demand of the growing population. In 1999, most of the national rice yields in the region were still lower than 2 tonnes/ha.

Scientists at the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA) have recently developed a number of promising rice varieties from crosses made between O. sativa and O. glaberrima. These rice varieties were named New Rice for Africa or NERICA. Since 1997, the RDP has collaborated with WARDA to carry out activities in support of the test and transfer of NERICA to farmers.

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Activities:

The RDP undertook missions to discuss, with the scientists of WARDA and those of the national programmes in West Africa, especially those who are responsible for the Special Programme for Food Security, on measures to expedite the transfer of NERICA to farmers. It organised study tours for responsible officers and supported the collection, collation and analysis of information on promising varieties for rice production, under different agro-ecologies in West Africa, including irrigated, rainfed lowland (or inland valley swamps), upland, tidal wetland (or mangrove) and deepwater.

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Main Achievements:

The Special Programme for Food Security in Guinea has carried out the on-farm demonstration and test of NERICA through a participatory approach. Several hundred farmers, researchers, and extension staff were exposed to the performance of NERICA, during field days organized by of the national programme. In 1999, the coordinators of the Special Programme for Food Security in Burkina Faso and Guinea and their counterparts in the rice programmes in these countries, undertook a study tour to visit WARDA and discuss with WARDA's scientists on collaborative actions for transferring NERICA to farmers.

Recently, FAO and WARDA prepared and published a database on promising varieties for different rice ecologies in West Africa (Please see RICEINFO). In early 2000, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by FAO and WARDA to support the implementation of the Programme for Rapid Rice Technology Diffusion in West Africa (RARIDWA).

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