The second Africa Rice Congress, with the theme of Innovation and
partnerships to realize Africa’s rice potential, was held at Bamako, Mali, from
22 to 26 March. The Congress was organized in collaboration with the Malian
national agricultural research system, the Institut d’économie rurale (IER). The
Government of Mali hosted the Congress, which brought together about 500
participants from 54 countries.
The participants included rice farmers; seed producers; processors;
input dealers; manufacturers of agricultural machinery; national rice research
and extension systems; representatives from agricultural ministries, international
and advanced research institutes, NGOs, and the donor community; and other
development partners.
In view of the severe lack of capacity in rice production, which is
throttling the development of Africa’s rice sector, the participants called for
a ‘Marshall Plan’ to overcome this weakness.
During the opening ceremony, on behalf of Mali’s President Amadou
Toumani Touré, Prime Minister Modibo Sidibé presented distinguished service
awards to Drs Jacques Diouf, Eugene Terry and Kanayo F. Nwanze for their
outstanding contributions to rice research and development in Africa during
their respective terms as directors general of AfricaRice.
Mr Getachew Engida, AfricaRice Board Chair, presented a plaque of
appreciation to President Touré for his government’s tremendous efforts to
raise rice productivity through the Presidential Initiative on Rice in Mali,
which has led to a 50% increase in rice production in the country.
The participants took the opportunity to deliberate on strategies to
significantly increase rice production in Africa, develop competitive and
equitable rice value chains, reduce imports, and enhance regional trade. They
enthusiastically supported the newly proposed Global Rice Science Partnership
(GRiSP), an initiative of AfricaRice, IRRI and the International Center for Tropical
Agriculture (CIAT) to harmonize national and international rice research
agendas worldwide.
Under the main theme, the topics included rice genetic diversity and
improvement; ecological intensification and diversification of rice-based
systems; developing competitive rice value chains; new alliances and tools for
rural learning and innovations, and policy implications; integrated management
of pests, diseases and weeds in rice-based systems; and rice physiology and
modeling.
An important event during the Congress was a forum on ‘Investing in
Africa’s rice sector: opportunities and challenges’, in which ways to increase
investments in the rice sector in Africa – particularly through innovative public–private
partnerships – were explored. Issues such as the need to increase investments
for increasing the area under irrigation, improving rural infrastructure, and
introducing agricultural mechanization were raised.
The forum featured exhibitions of machinery, inputs and rice products. At
the end of the Congress, key recommendations were made to boost Africa’s rice
sector. Awards for the best presentation in each theme, the best poster, and
the Most Promising Young Scientist were also presented.
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