At the recent Africa Rice Center Research Days,
its Scientific Advisory Committee comprising three top rice experts from the
world – Prof. Takeshi Horie from Japan, Dr Alain Ghesquière from France and Dr
Neil Rutger from USA – praised the Center for the changes made in its new
Center’s research thrusts.
The changes include:
(1) A clear focus on
the development of the next generation varieties for Africa in partnership with
national partners, IRRI and CIAT – building on the NERICA success;
(2) Greater linkages
with development organizations operating at village level to close yield gaps
and enhance rice productivity in farmers’ fields;
(3) Increased emphasis
on the lowland ecology which has high potential for sustainable rice expansion
and diversification in the continent;
(4) Introduction of rice
value-chain research to study ways to increase the competitiveness of the
Africa rice sector; and
(5) Greater emphasis on
capacity building and rice information exchange.
Africa
Rice Center Deputy Director General Dr Marco Wopereis presented the
Center’s restructured research programs and the outline of a new Strategic Plan
for 2010 and beyond, which is being developed in close consultation with its
national partners.
The Committee expressed its appreciation for the
successful research alignment between Africa Rice Center and IRRI, which it
considered to be of great benefit to Africa’s rice producers and
consumers. It also appreciated the progress in the number of scientific
publications by Africa Rice Center scientists – compared to 2007 – particularly
in partnership with national scientists.
Participants of the Research Days meeting
included the Chairs of ROCARIZ rice network and African Rice Initiative, the
Coordinator of the West Africa Productivity Program, scientists from all Africa
Rice Center research stations and partners from IRRI and IITA-Cotonou as well
as the Director General of Gabon’s national program who was visiting Africa
Rice Center to explore the possibilities of future collaboration.
Representatives from Africa Rice Center’s National Experts Committee,
comprising the Directors General of Africa Rice Center’s 22 member States also
attended.
