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

1. From OS6 to NERICAs: What Lessons Can We Draw for the Future of Rice Research in Africa? Dr Kanayo F. Nwanze Director General, Africa Rice Center (WARDA) Africa Rice Congress 31 July – 4 August 2006, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. WA Countries Donors Int’l org IRRI CIAT JICA JIRCAS Benin Burkina Faso Chad Cameroon Côte d ’Ivoire Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo Rockefeller Foundation Japan UNDP WARDA Coordinating and Implementing Institution Advanced Institutes Cornell Uni. IRD; JIC Tokyo Uni. YAAS GATSBY Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative Approach Consortium Approach for NERICA Development

10. Production Status-ha (2006) Low: <5,000 Medium: 5,000-15,000 High: >15,000 Moving from Stereotypic to Innovative Approach Upland NERICA Production Area

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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)

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. Thank you Merci Asante sana Obrigado Melesi