NERICA rice

10 March 2010

Noah Phiri

We are working on the transfer and dissemination of emerging agricultural technologies of New Rice for Africa (NERICA), trying to improve access to quality seed through public-private partnership in Uganda. We will aim to support scaling up, production and delivery of high quality NERICA rice seed varieties by local seed companies and to implement a marketing strategy to stabilise demand.

NERICA is fast maturing with good resistance to drought and disease, and it also cooks well. NERICA rice is considered to be cultivable in most parts of Uganda, including both upland and lowland areas.

Highlights so far:

• 3 tonnes of basic seed of three registered NERICA varieties have been produced by National Crops Resources Research Institute (NACRRI), Uganda, for distribution to seed growers in the first season of 2010. One tonne of seed was given to each of two local seed companies, Creative Associates International Inc (CAII) and Nalweyo Seed Company (NASECO), for production of foundation seed under the supervision of NACRRI staff. This will be given to the companies' out-growers for certified seed production
• we obtained an import permit and nucleus seed is being sourced from the Africa Rice Centre (formerly WARDA) for production of foundation seed. The project has identified additional key farmer groups as out growers for NASECO and CAII
• we trained 7 production and extension staff from both companies for one week on quality rice seed production. Plans are underway for us to train farmer group leaders as trainers
• we have translated seed health videos on quality rice seed production, covering seed sorting, seed floatation, seed drying and preservation, into 7 local languages. We are also translating a complete rice production video into 4 local languages as training materials for trainers, extension agents and rice seed growers. We will copy these videos for distribution to rice producers
• We are developing training and information materials on quality rice seed production for distribution to farmers during the planting season

Comments

[vintage shoes]

It's amazing to see how some organizations' huge efforts grow vastly larger when tactical logistics such as these are implemented.