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Africa

IRRI in Africa

Africa has the highest reserves of untapped natural resources for food production, especially water and land, in the world. With over 130 million hectares in inland valleys suitable for rice production—but only about 10 million hectares are currently being used— Africa’s tremendous potential in agriculture remains untapped.

Africa can address food and nutrition security issues, especially for vulnerable socio-economic groups particularly the poor, women and children, if the region develops agri-food systems that are market-driven, more productive, nutrition-focused, resilient, and equitable.

IRRI’s efforts in the region are geared towards contributing to food and nutrition security, economic growth by developing and deploying cutting-edge science, designing sustainable agri-food systems, and catalyzing transformative partnerships.

We focus on developing and deploying climate-resilient and market-competitive rice varieties and suitable best management practices for a productive, nutrition-balanced, and profitable rice-based system. These efforts aim to curb the region’s reliance on imports of rice and other food staples and will significantly contribute to the Africa-wide rice development strategy.

Challenges in Africa

  • Unreliable water supply with the  region mostly dependent on rainfed farming 
  • Low-yielding rice varieties susceptible to pests and diseases and sensitive to adverse weather and soil conditions
  • Traditional production and processing systems
  • Lack of or insufficient access to agricultural credit
  • Heavy reliance on informal seed systems and very limited access to quality seeds 
  • Fragmented landholdings and limited mechanization
  • Lack of affordable agrochemicals, especially fertilizers
  • Inadequate postharvest management practices 
  • Limited market infrastructure and linkages
  • Insufficient local agricultural policies to enable significant shifts
  • Climate change resulting in extreme conditions such as drought, flood, and temperature extremes
  • Low wages leading to labor shortages during peak operations
  • Underrepresented and undervalued women farmers resulting in large gender gaps  
  • Limited economic opportunities for women and youth and the lack of enabling environment

IRRI's strategy in Africa

Climate-smart rice varieties

In collaboration with the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and national partners, IRRI released over 20 climate-smart rice varieties in several African countries in the last 10 years. These varieties are more resilient and could help reduce crop failures and significantly enhance productivity. We also initiated system-based improvements through good agronomic practices, mechanization, postharvest, and value addition, including better processing, packaging, branding, and marketing.

Rice policy and systems

We will enable the development of strategic and effective value chain by strengthening the role of the private sector role and catalyzing enabling policies for engagement. These policies should facilitate faster varietal replacement and speed-up the strengthening of the supply chain, including agricultural inputs, credit, and marketing channels to support the growth of the African rice sector.

Research and delivery targets

Modern breeding approaches are being used to facilitate faster development of tailored rice varieties with broader adaptation and shorter durations for intensive cropping systems. Developing resilient varieties with high yield and quality will encourage farmers to invest in inputs and manage their crops better to double productivity and ensure a productive and profitable rice-based agri-food system. Management strategies that optimize resource use and augment farmers’ revenues need to be developed to maximize the potential of the new varieties within efficient and sustainable production systems. Considerable gains could be made by replacing the current traditional systems with modern agronomic principles and practices. As part of improved agri-food systems, new crops and vegetables will improve the incomes of the farmers as well as consumer access to better nutrition.

Building effective seed systems

Seed systems that allow farmers access to good quality seeds of improved rice varieties in a timely manner need to be built and strengthened. Africa’s public sector is relatively weak, thus the role of farmer-managed seed systems, establishing community-based seed banks; and commercial seed production by the private sector becomes indispensable. Strengthening the private sector’s capacity and engagement could also facilitate the provision of fertilizers and other agrochemicals.

Capacity strengthening across the value chain

Unlike in Asia, rice is a relatively young crop in some African countries. It only recently became a priority crop. Enhancing the capacity for rice research and strengthening the whole value chain are both indispensable for rice sector development. A critical mass of post-graduate researchers is needed to lead local research and extension activities of partners, including the private sector and NGOs. Technical staff could be trained through short-term, hands-on courses to fill in the current gaps in domain expertise.

Adoption of innovation

Efforts to integrate the rice industry innovations into the local rice value chain are ongoing through partnerships, education, and technology development and transfer. These efforts aim to maximize the impact and produce substantive benefits for rice farmers, producers, and consumers.

Countries where IRRI is active

Burundi

Rice has emerged as an important food staple in Burundi. Estimated land area currently being used for rice production in Burundi is about 50,000 hectares. This includes 5,000 hectares in the irrigated Imbo plain, 15,000 hectares in the non-irrigated Imbo plain, and 30,000 hectares in the Moso lowland and in high elevation marshlands. Between 1984 and 2011, rice production increased from 18,000 to 75,000 metric tons per year – a 316% increase in 27 years. In 2019, rice production in Burundi was estimated to be 120,000 metric tons. Read more

Kenya

Since its introduction in 1907 in Kenya, rice has become the third most important cereal crop after maize and wheat. Due to the progressive change in eating habits of Kenyans, particularly in more urban areas, the annual consumption of rice is increasing at a rate of over 12% in the country. Moreover, the national rice consumption is estimated at 949,000 metric tons compared to an annual production of 180,000. With a projected population growth rate of 2.7% per year, the estimated annual national need can reach up to 1,290,000 tons by 2030 (National Rice Development Strategy-2, 2019-2030). Read more

Mozambique

Rice is one of the major food crops in Mozambique, along with maize, wheat, and sorghum. However, rice consumption has increased rapidly in recent years, from 86,000 metric tons in 1990 to 519,000 metric tons in 2010, at an annual growth rate of 8.6%. This shift in consumer preference, like other African countries, is attributed to urbanization, better income and rice’s convenience in preparation. Read more

Tanzania

In Tanzania, rice is the second most important food and commercial crop after maize with significant national importance as a source of employment, income, and food security for millions of rural households. The country has a rapidly growing population and a political ambition to sustain rice self-sufficiency, with a margin to export to neighboring countries in the region, through raising productivity and expanding production to areas with high potential for rice production. Read more

Major projects supporting IRRI activities in the region

The Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) project was started by IRRI at the end of 2007 in collaboration with AfricaRice. STRASA aimed to develop and deliver rice varieties that are tolerant to abiotic stresses for the millions of farmers in rainfed rice-growing environments in the two continents.

STRASA, which ended in 2019, delivered improved varieties to at least 18 million farmers and with significant spillover impacts in non-participating countries, particularly in the use of stress-tolerant rice varieties and regional cooperation through seed exchange agreements.

Building on the success of STRASA in developing and delivering improved rice varieties in South Asia and Africa, the project Accelerated Genetic Gain in Rice (AGGRi) Alliance continues to strengthen IRRI’s partnerships with the national research and extension systems in the region to increase rice yield and improve livelihoods of rice farmers and consumers.