Enhancing Productivity, Profitability and Sustainability of Irrigated Rice Farming in the Sahel

In countries, such as Senegal and Mauritania, improved rice varieties and decision-making tools are offering new choices to rice farmers and enhancing the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of irrigated rice farming. Even a partial adoption of these technologies by irrigated rice farmers in these countries has resulted in 60% increase in farm yields and 85% increase in profits.

The improved technologies have been jointly developed by the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and its partners—he national programs of Senegal and Mauritania.

AfricaRice researchers have found that the relatively low productivity of irrigated rice-based systems in the Sahel is partly because most research approaches assume that such environments are homogenous and have, therefore, developed uniform technologies. However, the Sahelian environment is very complex and the constraints and priorities within the same region vary considerably as do farmers’ perceptions and knowledge base.

Progressive Integrated Crop Management (ICM) approach

Realizing that irrigated-rice farmers in West Africa need a wide range of improved technologies from which to choose, combine and adapt to suit their specific conditions, AfricaRice and its partners used the ‘progressive ICM approach’ that offers farmers ample flexibility and autonomy.

As part of this approach, a wide range of improved technologies that are still in the prototype phase are made available to farmers and are then adapted to the locally prevailing conditions through a progressive integration process.

The ICM basket includes options for improved fertilizer, weed, and water management, improved varieties and efficient post-harvest technologies as well as decision-making tools, such as optimum sowing date, seeding and fertilizer rates and timing of fertilizer application, based on crop modeling research.

The ICM technologies are fine-tuned in farmers’ fields, with a high degree of farmer involvement in the adaptation process. The technology that is of greatest interest to farmers and that addresses the major constraints is integrated first. Often the integration of one component requires the subsequent integration of complementary technologies, thus resulting in rapid adoption of improved technologies by farmers.

To ensure the success of ICM in the long term, AfricaRice is placing greater emphasis on the sustainable management of the natural resource base, including maintenance of soil fertility, avoidance of salinity build-up, and biodiversity conservation.