CAADP Pillar 4 Workshop

AfricaRice contributed to the discussion on the implications of CGIAR reform for investment in research for development in Africa at the workshop ‘Investing in a knowledge and information base for African agriculture: A workshop for CAADP Pillar 4 institutions and development partners to discuss mobilization and harmonization of support for Pillar 4 initiatives’, held in Zurich, Switzerland from 31 January to 4 February.

The workshop was attended by over 80 participants representing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Pillar 4 institutions, CAADP institutions supporting other pillars, organizations supporting agricultural research at global and Africa levels, the Africa Union Commission (AUC) and 11 development partners.

Participants recommended stronger links among research, development partners, advisory services and higher education in agriculture in the context of Pillar 4.

Harvest field day in Liberia

A harvest field day was held in Saclepea, Nimba County, Liberia on 22 January to harvest rice planted under the South–South Cooperation Project funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The field day was attended by Dr Sizi Subah (Deputy Minister), Paul Jallah (Assistant Minister), the City Mayor of Saclepea, all the South–South Cooperation Project farmer groups from Nimba, the Marketing Association of Nimba, the youth group and other interested farmers. Also present were Nimba county traditional harvesters, singers and dancers.

The project was implemented in three counties — Montserado, Bong and Nimba — by the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) with backstopping by AfricaRice through the African Rice Initiative (ARI). The total area of rice planted in the three Counties in 2010 was 40 ha. The day’s harvest covered 10 ha and the estimated yields were 4 tonnes from 2 ha of variety Suakoko-8 (2 t/ha) and 20 tonnes from 5 ha of NERICA-L-19 (i.e. 4 t/ha). The project was so successful that many farmers were eager to join as beneficiaries in 2011.

New Sahelian rice varieties bred by AfricaRice and its partners released in Mali and Senegal

Three varieties developed through collaboration between the AfricaRice Sahel Station and the Institute d’Economie Rurale (IER) Mali have been released in Diré in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. WAS 62 (WAS 62-B-B-14-1-4-2), WAS 49 (WAS 49-B- B-9-1-4-3) and WAS 197 (WAS 197-B-6-3-11) were selected through the participatory varietal selection (PVS) approach.

The varieties were released at a ceremony held on 6 January, attended by 40 participants from various stakeholder organizations, including government officials, farmers, rice farmers’ associations, chambers of agriculture, extension officers, scientists, local and international media representatives.

Local names were selected on the basis of comments of the farmers who conducted the PVS trials: WAS 62 = Sutura (meaning quietude); WAS 49 = Saku (satisfaction); and WAS 197 = Wapmo (WAAPP rice). The latter (an aromatic rice) was released in Senegal in 2009 with the name Sahel 177.

The ceremony was organized jointly by the Regional Agricultural Research Center (CRRA) in Gao and the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program’s (WAAPP) National Rice Center (CNS-Riz). The ceremony was opened by Barema Diallo, who was representing the regional governor.

New Sahelian rice varieties bred by AfricaRice and its partners released in Mali and Senegal

Three varieties developed through collaboration between the AfricaRice Sahel Station and the Institute d’Economie Rurale (IER) Mali have been released in Diré in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. WAS 62 (WAS 62-B-B-14-1-4-2), WAS 49 (WAS 49-B-B-9-1-4-3) and WAS 197 (WAS 197-B-6-3-11) were selected through the participatory varietal selection (PVS) approach. The varieties were released at a ceremony held on 6 January, attended by 40 participants from various stakeholder organizations, including government officials, farmers, rice farmers’ associations, chambers of agriculture, extension officers, scientists, local and international media representatives. Local names were selected on the basis of comments of the farmers who conducted the PVS trials: WAS 62 = Sutura (meaning quietude); WAS 49 = Saku (satisfaction); and WAS 197 = Wapmo (WAAP rice). The latter (an aromatic rice) was released in Senegal in 2009 with the name Sahel 177.

The ceremony was organized jointly by the Regional Agricultural Research Center (CRRA) in Gao and the West Africa Agricultural Programme’s (WAAP) National Rice Center (CNS-Riz). The ceremony was opened by Barema Diallo, who was representing the regional governor.