Sustainable Productivity Enhancement (Leader: P.Kiepe)

Rationale

• In sub-Saharan Africa, rice yields are constrained by inadequate water control, low soil fertility, soil acidity and further hampered by biotic stresses such as blast, stem borers, termites and weeds. Gaps between attainable and actual yields are high, even in input-intensive systems. New challenges include competition for water from increasing demands from urbanization, climate change and increasing incidences of salinity and alkalinity. Integrated systems, like rice and aquaculture, livestock, vegetables, and fruit trees offer an array of opportunities for intensification and diversification, leading to additional income and improved nutrition for the farming community.

Goal

• Contribute to food security and well-being of rice producers and consumers in Africa.

Purpose

• To enhance the productivity of rice-based systems through intensification and diversification, while minimizing negative effects on environmental services

Outputs

• Integrated management options for weeds, pests and diseases available

• Sustainable intensification options for rice-based systems developed

• Profitable opportunities for diversification of the farmers’ portfolio of enterprises made available

• Use of environmental services optimized and safeguarded for future generations

Collaboration with farmer organizations, NGOs, NARES, CIRAD, IRD, NRI, WorldFish, IFPRI, ICRISAT, Universities of Hannover, Hohenheim, California, Sheffield and Wageningen

Activities in AfricaRice member countries, Madagascar, Tanzania