New Rice Varieties in Africa Ease Effect of Rice Crisis

In the face of a dangerous rice crisis, new rice varieties adapted to African conditions are helping increase rice production in the continent. The new rice varieties, which are suited to drylands, were distributed and sown on more than 200,000 hectares during the last five years in several African countries, notably Guinea, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Uganda. Though this represents a major advance, it is still far short of meeting demand, according to a report released in advance of a key international conference in Japan on Africa’s development. Rice production in West Africa - the continent's main rice belt - cannot cope up with rice consumption, and Africa imports more than one-third of the rice traded in the world. “Relying so much on rice from other countries is a recipe for disaster for this continent,’’ said Dr. Papa Abdoulaye Seck, Director General of the Africa Rice Center. “Unless government leaders take strong action now, the economic recovery experienced in so many parts of Africa will evaporate. We need short- and long-term solutions that boost domestic rice production.”

To read more, visit: http://www.warda.cgiar.org/warda/Africa%20Rice%20Center%20T231B5F.pdf