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Add value to rice, Africa govts told
2006-08-07 09:25:59
By Prosper Makene
Rice producers have been urged to add value to their produce so as to secure high price in the local and international markets.
Paniel Lyimo, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Co-operatives revealed this in his closing remarks at the first Africa Rice Congress in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.
”It is important to recognise that milling, cleaning and identity preservation are important in the marketing of local rice, otherwise consumers will continue to view your produce as an inferior product in which case increasing production may not help,” he said.
”Go all the way from rice production to consumption, follow the value addition chain and put equal importance on all stages,” the PS said.
Lyimo underscored that the first ever Africa Rice Congress would have no meaning if the resolutions reaches would not be translated into feasible and sustainable processes capable of increasing rice production and enhance fast development of rice to farmers.
”I’m sure all delegates acknowledge the importance of this congress and that the five days have not been a waste of time. I understand the meeting has provided a very good forum for exchanging ideas between East, Central and West Africans sharing experiences with the objectives of improving the welfare of rice farmers in their respective countries,” he said.
He said he believed the congress had the opportunity to learn important lessons on policies that Africa can draw from the Asian Green Revolution and that the development of high-yielding varieties could not have alone boosted India’s rice production in the 1960’s that led to its Green Revolution.
”It was a combination of success factors that included the government’s decision to support its rice farmers by providing fertiliser subsidy, price setting support, a ready market, in addition to facilities such as irrigation, roads and machinery,” he observed.
He urged African government to learn from Asian countries’ government so as to support their rice farmers.
He disclosed that there is a need to strengthen the capacity of human resources in rice research and development.
”The capacity of the whole range of rice stakeholders from rice researchers to extension workers, farmers and processors need to be strengthening,’ he said.
He also mentioned that capacity building of African intellecturals was essential, ”But all our efforts will fail if we cannot give to our trained personnel the right working conditions and incentives in order to prevent brain drain.”
However, he said that the New Rice Varieties For Africa (NERICA) which are giving hope for a green revolution in the continent have to take care on issues regarding breeding, integrated pest and natural resources management, economics and technology transfer.
He said that the NERICA breakthrough for upland ecologies in mid-nineties and that of the lowland in 2005 were making great impact in many African countries.
”I’m sure this success will further be improved to suit African conditions, particularly drought, diseases and pests, while increasing their yield potential nutrient and water use efficiency using advanced scientific tools,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said that varieties should be considered as part of an integrated crop management system and that biotechnology and ecotechnology should be given equal priority.
He added that innovative and appropriate water management systems should be explored to maximise the high potential of the continent’s lowlands.
”However, priority should be given to improve existing crop and water management systems, before introducing new systems from outside,” he concluded.
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