Overview

Indonesia is a Southeast Asian country made up of more than 17,000 islands, making it the largest archipelagic nation in the world. Its unique geography and climate contribute to one of the biggest biodiversity on the planet. Agriculture plays a vital role in the country's economy, accounting for approximately 12% of Indonesia's GDP (World Bank, 2023). Additionally, rice holds significant cultural importance, celebrated through various rituals that remain strong among those who adhere to traditional beliefs.

Rice drives Indonesia’s agriculture sector and is a staple crop for about 90% of its population. In 2023, USDA-FAS recorded that the country produced about 33 million tons of rice making it one of the leading rice producers in the world. However, this is currently challenged by the rising number of imports which stood at 4 million tons the same year. About 90% of rice producers are from smallholder rice communities who own an average of less than a hectare of land for rice cultivation.

The Indonesian Government is focusing on increasing rice production by optimizing the use of swampy and rainfed areas, reducing imports, and harnessing mechanization. IRRI is committed to supporting these efforts to promote modern and sustainable agriculture in the country. IRRI is also contributing to the government’s goals to improve rural prosperity, food security, and environmental sustainability by helping farmers access integrated crop and nutrient management information through the Layanan Konsultasi Padi 2.0 (LKP) also known as Indonesia’s Rice Crop Manager.

Overview

The Kingdom of Cambodia is located on the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia. This region is where the Mekong River meets Tonle Sap, the largest lake in Southeast Asia. Agriculture plays a significant role in the country’s economy, providing employment and a livelihood for the majority of its rural population. Rice, particularly award-winning varieties such as Phka Rumduol and Malis Angkor, is a staple crop in Cambodia, supporting millions of farmers in rural areas.

Rice tightly ties IRRI with Cambodia’s history. At a time when the nation was faced with food shortages, several rice seeds and traditional varieties were lost. Through the support of the International Rice Genebank (IRG), which was able to conserve 766 Cambodian rice seeds from December 1972 to January 1973, the country was able to reinvigorate its rice seed supplies. This is a concrete impact of the conservation efforts of IRRI since the 1960s and its continued commitment to supporting each nation’s food and nutritional security.

According to USDA, Cambodia is among the top 10 largest rice producers in the world, with its production capabilities expanding fivefold compared to 1993. This can be attributed to the expansion of harvested land. However, Cambodia is up against other major rice producing countries, as there is a need to improve their climate resilience, soil and nutrient supplies, and agronomic practices. Furthermore, it has been recorded by the Ministry of Water Resources and Agrometeorology that only 24% of the agricultural areas are irrigated. Salinity is also increasing along coastal areas.

IRRI is working collaboratively with the with the Royal Government of Cambodia, the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) by providing capacity-building and increasing yields through the development of improved varieties and disseminating sustainable crop, nutrient, and pest management practices. IRRI is exploring the introduction of salinity-tolerant rice varieties as well as developing low-emission technology packages to help farmers become more climate resilient.

Overview

Uganda, is situated in the African Great Lakes region, possesses a diverse a climate and rich biodiversity that support its agricultural development. While rice is relatively a new crop for Ugandan farmers, the government has identified it as strategic for achieving food security and poverty reduction, as outlined in the National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS) for 2008-2018 and the NRDS II.

Rice consumption increases by 4% annually and currently, demand exceeds local production. The rice market has experienced significant growth since 2000, with production peaking in 2022 at 347,000 MT before declining to 260,000 MT in 2023. The market has shown resilience and expansion over the past two decades, but recent fluctuations suggest potential challenges, such as climate variability or market dynamics, which may influence future production and consumption trends. Uganda's rice production has shown significant growth from 109,000 MT in 2000 to a peak of 347,000 MT in 2022, before declining to 260,000 MT in 2023 (FAO stat, 2023).

This growth was primarily driven by land expansion, which contributed to 90% of the increased production, while yields remained stagnant or declined in some areas (NRDSII, 2024). Key drivers behind these trends include: (a) The introduction of New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties improved resilience and productivity, particularly in upland ecologies, which account for 46% of production (b) investments in irrigation infrastructure supported consistent production, especially in lowland ecologies (54% of production),(d) The expansion of the rice milling sector enhanced market access and value addition, incentivizing farmers to increase production, and (e) Improved coordination among stakeholders and technology dissemination under the National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS I) framework facilitated production growth (NRDSII, 2024).

Smallholder farmers, primarily located in the Eastern and Northern regions account for 80% of the rice producers in the country. These farmers cultivate rice mainly under rainfed and irrigated ecosystems. Despite ranking among the top 5 rice producers in the Eastern and Southern African regions according to FAOSTAT, productivity remains low (Senthilkumar et al., 2020). This is largely attributable to limited investment in essential inputs such as irrigation, quality seeds, and mechanization, as well as inadequate access to advanced postharvest technologies and insufficient pest and disease management (Strecker et al., 2022). This demonstrates the considerable potential for growth if farmers' productivity is improved.

IRRI supports the development of Uganda’s rice industry by building its value starting from the seed. IRRI aims to bolster production and address demand gaps by promoting certified quality rice seeds and building key partnerships for seed development. IRRI also supported the research, development, and commercialization of key rice varieties in Uganda.

Overview

Tanzania is located within the African Great Lakes region which is known for its large freshwater lakes which are home to a large portion of country’s biodiversity. Rice is an immensely important crop for the country’s food and nutrition security, as well as socioeconomic development which is why the Government of Tanzania positioned it as a strategic crop.

Domestic consumption has increased at an average of 2.1 million metric tons annually due to raising income and urbanization which has also driven dietary shifts in the country. About 70% of the rice in the country is produced in 6 regions namely Shinyanga, Tabora, Mwanza, Mbeya, Rukwa, and Morogoro. As a leading rice producer in Africa, Tanzania produced estimated at 3 million metric tons which meets their domestic demands turning them into a rice self-sufficient nation.

Majority of Tanzania’s rice farmers are smallholders, with more women (about 80%) being involved in agriculture compared to 70% for men. Women are highly involved in multiple stages of rice production from planting, weeding, harvesting, up to trading while men are commonly responsible during land preparation.

Multiple opportunities for rice value chain development exist in the country. IRRI is collaborating with the public and private sector to support the development of seed systems in Tanzania. Local companies are enabled by building their capacities on quality seed production and linking them to markets. However, there is still a need for improved rice seed varieties that are resilient to drought, major pests and diseases, and flooding.

To ensure that improved rice varieties are adopted by farmers, millers, traders, and consumers, IRRI ensures the integration of market intelligence into the breeding process. There is also a need to optimize agronomic management practices to realize the potential of improved varieties. Additionally, adoption of labor saving, harvest and post-harvest technologies can reduce drudgery, especially for women farmers, and reduce quantity and quality losses, to make Tanzania rice competitive.

There are also existing formal institutions that provide support to irrigation (National Irrigation Commission) and mechanization (Center for Agricultural Mechanization and Rural Technology). Institutions like them help farmers gain access to improved input and technologies as well as modern irrigation technologies.

Overview

Mozambique is an Eastern African country with a rapidly growing agriculture sector. Rice is a socioeconomically essential crop, with its annual domestic consumption (8.6%) overtaking other cereals. Because of this, the Government of Mozambique identified rice as one of its priority crops under their Strategic Plan for Agricultural Development (PEDSA). They also made it a priority to develop the rice sector under the National Agriculture Investment Plan (PNISA).

Around 97.7% of rice in Mozambique is grown mostly by smallholder farmers from the provinces of Sofala, Zambézia, Nampula, and Cabo Delgado. However, irrigation is more common in Gaza, Maputo, and some parts of Sofala and Zambézia. The potential land area for cultivation across the country stands at around 900,000 ha which is significantly higher than the actual area used which is at about 310,000 ha.

The government priorities involve the research and development of high-yielding rice varieties which can adapt to both irrigated and rainfed lowland ecosystems, as well as the dissemination of improved rice production technologies. This includes the promotion and use of certified seeds and fertilizers, building capacity for seed quality control, and the establishment of rice seed information system. Mechanization and post-harvest technologies will also be promoted and the extension and maintenance of irrigation schemes across the rice-producing provinces.

These are all done to address the rice production gap and lower imports by increasing the average rice productivity from 1.6t/ha to 4.2 t/ha by 2030, creating incentives to be involved in the intensification of rice production, and reducing post-harvest losses from 40% to 15%.

IRRI is working with Mozambique Institute of Agricultural Research (IIAM) to improve agricultural competitiveness based on sustainability and resilience. Since the country is mired with the impacts of climate change such as drought, cyclones, and droughts, IRRI aims to contribute to smallholder farmers’ climate resilience through the delivery of improved salinity- and submergence-tolerant rice varieties. IRRI is also working with public and private sector partners, as well as NARES, to deliver nutritious, marketpreferred, high-yielding rice seeds, all while ensuring equitable access for women and other marginalized groups in the country.

Overview

Kenya is located in Eastern Africa, with coasts along the Indian Ocean. Its geography and climate vary greatly across its 47 counties, from the arid Chalbi Desert to the treescapes and wildlife of Masai and the snowcapped mountains of Mount Kenya. 

Rice is the third most valuable staple crop in the country. In 2008, rice was recognized as a strategic crop for achieving food security which led to the development of Kenya’s National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS). The strategy aimed to contribute to the country’s agricultural transformation and economic growth by expanding rice production capacities. In the following decade, rice production indeed doubled. However, alongside this, demand and consumption significantly rose because of changing eating habits and the growing young population.

Climate change poses a huge threat to smallholder rice farmers, as reports show that extreme weather events such as droughts and floods are becoming even more frequent and intense. Sea levels are rising bringing more saline into the soil, making it difficult for farmers to cultivate rice. This is crucial since outside of the 80% irrigated rice farms, other smallholder farmers depend on rain for water supply.

With this, NRDS targets were updated for Phase 2 of its implementation to address the gaps identified during the first phase, specifically the production deficit, productivity gaps, lack of access to inputs and credit facilities, poor market infrastructures, and changing weather patterns among others. NRDS 2 will also focus on creating better markets and developing a functional seed system that can help smallholder rice farmers access improved varieties with better yield and therefore produce greater incomes.

IRRI works with national partners such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), as well as key community partners like the Mwea Rice Growers Co-operative Society Ltd. (MRGM) by providing research and capacity-building support to smallholder rice farmers. IRRI facilitates the turnover of advanced machinery to help improve farmers’ productivity, incomes, and outcomes.

Overview

Rice has been identified by the Government of Burundi as a key strategic crop due to its growing local consumption and market share. More and more rural households are cultivating and consuming rice. This is because unlike tuber crops, rice can be easily preserved and unlike other cereals, rice can adapt well in flooded conditions. Population growth and urbanization were also identified as some of the underlying causes of shifting diet preferences.

Rice cultivation started in Burundi’s low-lying areas, particularly around the Imbo plains. The crop is mostly grown under irrigated conditions in major areas such as the Imbo plain, Moso region, and other high-altitude marshes. Rice is cultivated in two seasons: the first season is from December to May, while the second season starts in June and ends in November. FAOSTAT states that from 2019 to 2023, Burundi produced an average of 369,000 tons of rice using about 192,000 ha of land.

Around 80% of the country’s population works in the field of agriculture that accounts for about half of the country’s 2019 GDP. From 2014 to 2020, the share of women employees in agriculture has grown from 32% to 49% with female land ownership recorded at 65.43% in 2016. Burundi is vulnerable to the impact of climate change such as drought and flooding which significantly threaten rice production, and by extension, the country’s economy.

IRRI’s country strategy focuses on supporting and complementing the Government of Burundi’s national strategy to meet the growing domestic demand for rice and reduce imports. Through its technical and research expertise, IRRI is collaborating with NARES and national partners in Burundi by releasing new resilient rice varieties, organizing and structuring farmer groups, introducing and disseminating post-harvest technologies, and training researchers, technicians, and smallholder farmers on sustainable rice research and farming.