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NATIONAL WORKSHOP REPORT. PRESENTED TO REGIONAL WORKSHOP BY B. M. WALELA KENYA 13 TH -17 TH APRIL,2009 KAMPALA, UGANDA. Introduction. The regional workshop on rice and aquaculture production, productivity and market development held from 3 rd -7 th November, 2008.
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NATIONAL WORKSHOP REPORT PRESENTED TO REGIONAL WORKSHOP BY B. M. WALELA KENYA 13TH -17TH APRIL,2009 KAMPALA, UGANDA
Introduction • The regional workshop on rice and aquaculture production, productivity and market development held from 3rd -7th November, 2008. • The workshop was attended by eleven African countries (Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, DRC, )
Objectives of the Workshop • To understand the GCP/INT/053/JPN Project design, activities and goals • Review the current situation and constraints of the development and market access of rice. • Share key technologies and programs e.g. Japan’s cooperation achievements and NPFS • Lessons learnt on key technologies and programs • Identify specific technical areas for national and regional interventions.
The National Workshop • National rice Stakeholders workshop held from 7th – 8th April,2009. • The workshop was a follow up of the Rice and aquaculture production, productivity and market development Kampala workshop • Facilitation of the workshop was by FAO and GOK
Objectives of the National Workshop • Bring together major stakeholders in rice Industry for discussion and information sharing • Share the outcomes of the FAO Kampala workshop with key stakeholders • To internalize project design activities and goals of the GCP/INT/053/JPN project. • Identify constraints and challenges to rice production in the country and give possible intervention guidelines.
Objectives (cont’d) • Discuss with stakeholders the draft National Rice strategic plan and the National Rice Development Strategy with a view to getting their inputs and suggestions. • Identify with the stakeholders the main issues to be fast tracked and addressed by GCP/INT/053/JPN project and others. • Come up with conclusions and recommendations for the next regional workshop
Stakeholders in attendance • The Minister for Agriculture • The Agriculture Secretary • The representatives from FAO country office • CARD Secretariat Coordinator • The Director KARI • Farmer representatives • Researchers from KARI, Universities and NIB
Stakeholders (Cont’d) • CEO STAK • Representatives of donor community (JICA,FAO & World Bank) • Government Ministries in the Agric. Sector • Representatives of financial institutions NGOs • Extension officers (PDAs and DAOs) • Regional Development Authorities
Workshop coverage • Outcome of Kampala workshop • Draft National rice strategic plan • Status of NERICA rice work • NRDS • Workshop recommendations and conclusions • Action plan
Key issues identified • Unavailability of good quality seed • Inadequate information on suitable varieties and crop husbandry practices • Inability of the farmers to access credit • Disorganized marketing channels and poor marketing infrastructure. • High labour and input cost which lead to high cost of production
Key issues (Cont’d) • Importation of cheap highly subsidized rice which distorts the market prices • Weak farmers organizations • Land tenure problem in irrigated areas • Non exploitation of available wet lands and suitable rainfed ecologies • Expensive methods of water delivery system in the field
Key issues (cont’d) • Lack of appropriate technology for farm operations • Limited availability of production technologies and information flow • Lack of appropriate and accessible milling facilities • Pests and diseases( quelea birds, weeds and blast)
Issues for fast tracking • Dissemination of the NERICA varieties. • Availability of good quality seed for the preferred/recommended varieties • Implementation of the National Rice Strategic Plan and the NRDS • Rice value chain analysis to establish critical areas for intervention • Financial (monetary ) resources for the rehabilitation and expansion of the rice schemes.
Issues for fast tracking (Cont’d) • Development of gravity water irrigation system to minimize irrigation costs. • Organizing and strengthening of farmer groups and linking them to other stakeholders • Capacity building for researchers, extension officers and farmers • Production of technical manuals, brochures and leaflets. • Improved access by farmers to affordable credit and farm inputs.
Issues for fast tracking (Cont’d) • Introduction of appropriate technologies to reduce drudgery. • Introduction of improved rice farming systems (Rice & aquaculture and alternate crops.)
Conclusions • Rice has been prioritized as an important staple food to promote. • The Government is willing and ready to support rice production as an important staple food crop. • Priority rice production ecologies have been identified ( irrigated lowlands, rainfed lowlands and upland rainfed) • The potential for rice production in these ecologies is big (1.3m ha rainfed and 540,000ha irrigated)
Conclusions (Cont’d) • The stakeholders adopted and endorsed for implementation the National Rice Strategic plan and the National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS).
Recommendations to Government • Development of a National Rice policy • Priority setting for programs and projects in rice production e.g. irrigation infrastructure development • Budgetary provision – To increase funding for rice production activities • To solicit funding from development partners • Provide extension services • Support for rice research • Avail agricultural credits
Recommendations (Cont’d) • Provide subsidy for agricultural inputs • Support capacity building and training of extension staff and farmers • Rehabilitate / construct transport and communication infrastructure. • Provision of improved seed supply system • Enhance public/private partnerships • Strengthening of farmer institutions • Implement rice production intervention as one of household food security interventions
Recommendations to FAO • Support interventions for high quality seed production. • Solicit for financial support from donors for identified priority projects such as irrigation infrastructure development. • Support initiatives for input access by farmers • Support for production of technical manuals, brochures, leaflets and electronic media programs • Capacity building of researchers and extension officers
FAO cont’ • Support to market development initiatives • Facilitate the South - South cooperation
Recommendations to the project • Support to stakeholders fora activities. • Encourage information sharing and exchange among researchers and other stakeholders • Support for establishment of data rice bank within countries and across the region • Establish a website for rice information • Facilitate technology transfer NERICA manuals • Put in place monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.