John Kasozi
10 June 2008
Kampala — UPLAND rice has begun to significantly increase rice production in many parts of Uganda.
"The successful development and release of stress-tolerant upland and low-land irrigated Nerica rice varieties has begun to significantly increase rice production," said Dr. George Bigirwa, the programme officer for seed production and dissemination Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), at a media briefing at Hotel Africana.
"These varieties are resistant to diseases and pests. They also respond very well to low rainfall, a minimum of 20mm per week. But the rain should be well-distributed during the three month growing season," he added.
Uganda and Tanzania have successfully developed and released three disease-resistant Nerica (upland rice) varieties.
The varieties are Nerica 1, 4 and 10. Nerica 1 and 10 were released in 2002 and Nerica 4 in July, 2007.
Nerica 4 has stable yields in all ecological zones including flooding areas. Nerica varieties can be grown in places that were not possible before. "Nerica 10 referred to as special quality matures in 99 days, while 1 and 4 take between 110 and 115 days.
Nerica 1 is aromatic in cooking, even when it is flowering or being cooked," said Dr. Jimmy Lamo, rice breeder, National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge. Only 54% of rice consumed in sub-Saharan Africa is supplied locally. The rest is imported. Uganda and Kenya imports 50% and 86% of rice respectively.
In March 2004, President Yoweri Museveni launched the Upland Rice Project. Since then, rice farming in Uganda has grown from 4,000 farmers in 2004 to over 35,000 in 2007. Uganda has reduced its rice importation from 60,000 metric tonnes in 2005 to 35,000 in 2007, saving us about $ 30m (51b) according to the Uganda National Agricultural Research Organisation.
However, more rice is being consumed than produced. According to Jane Inanda,the AGRA programme officer, in Africa rice consumption exceeds production. "Consumption of rice is growing faster than that of any other major staple crop."
Inanda said, farmers need high-yielding, varieties to raise rice production and turn-around Africa's food crisis.
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