Media backgrounder MB/02/08

NERICA could dramatically improve food security

Tokyo, 24 March 2008 – Wider and systematic dissemination of New Rice for Africa (NERICA) seeds in Africa will boost food production and provide cash for smallholders, said Kanayo F. Nwanze, Vice-President of IFAD, prior to the African agriculture experts meeting in Tokyo.

The experts’ meeting, taking place in Tokyo on 26-27 March, will shape the discussions of the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) scheduled to be held on 28-30 May in Yokohama, Japan.

TICAD IV will be attended by African heads of state or governments and senior government officials.

“Wider dissemination of NERICA seeds is key to realizing the full potential and the strength of NERICA, and will reap real benefits for farmers in Africa,” said Nwanze.

There are projected reductions in rice stocks and production in Asia, which is a major exporter of rice to Africa. This implies the need for increased rice production in Africa.

Agricultural production and access to food in many African countries and regions is projected to be severely compromised by climate variability and change. The amount of land suitable for agriculture, the length of the growing seasons, and yield potential, particularly in semi-arid and arid areas, are expected to decrease.

“Africa faces a complex set of problems,” Nwanze said. “Climate change and rising food prices are now making the fight against poverty even more challenging.”

Currently, 30,000 farmers in 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa are using NERICA. Many of these farmers are women. About 250,000 hectares are planted with NERICA.

During his visit to Tokyo, Nwanze will hold bilateral meetings with senior officials from Japan’s ministries of foreign affairs, finance, and agriculture.

Nwanze will also deliver a lecture on Thursday 27 March, from 3 to 4.30 pm at the Kensei Kinenkan Conference Room 2 (1-1-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo: a 5 minute walk from No. 2 exit of Kokkaigijido/Nagata-cho station) | See the map

The lecture will focus on the link between agricultural development and climate change, one of the new challenges facing Africa. The use of NERICA will also be discussed.

TICAD is a policy forum initiated by Japan 15 years ago to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners.

It has since evolved into a major global framework to facilitate the implementation of initiatives for promoting African development. The results of TICAD IV will be taken to the Group of Eight (G8) Summit, to be hosted by Japan in July, where African development will be a major theme. The summit is an annual meeting attended by the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the USA, and the President of the European Commission.

IFAD has been associated with NERICA and the Africa Rice Center (WARDA) since the late 1990s and has provided US$3.5 million to WARDA to promote the use of NERICA in Africa.

With support from Japan, WARDA was responsible for developing NERICA, a new rice variety that combines the hardiness of local African rice species with the high productivity of Asian rice. NERICA is resistant to drought and pests, produces higher yields using less water and fertilizer, and has a higher protein content than other rice varieties. NERICA has been tested in more than 30 countries in Africa. Yields have increased significantly in Benin, Gambia, Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

Prior to joining IFAD, Nwanze, a national of Nigeria, spent 10 years as the Director-General of WARDA. He is a principle advocate for the widespread adoption of the new rice variety, promoting NERICA’s potential to increase rice production, improve food security, improve nutrition, increase incomes and reduce imports.

Seed is essential for food security in developing countries. Inadequate supply of quality seed in Africa is a major constraint to crop production and food security.

Japan is a leader in providing development assistance to Africa.

Between 2005 and 2006, Japan provided US$2.57 billion to sub-Saharan Africa through bilateral aid, and US$2.6 billion to the Middle East and North Africa.

To date, Japan has pledged over US$330 million to IFAD’s regular resources and a further US$21.47 million to its Special Programme for sub-Saharan Africa (SPA). Japan has also provided more than US$60 million to cofinance seven IFAD projects: in Bangladesh, Gaza and the West Bank, Georgia, two in Sri Lanka, Togo and Zimbabwe.

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IFAD was created 30 years ago to tackle rural poverty, a key consequence of the droughts and famines of the early 1970s. Since 1978, IFAD has invested more than US$10 billion in low-interest loans and grants that have helped more than 300 million very poor rural women and men increase their incomes and provide for their families. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency. It is a global partnership of OECD, OPEC and other developing countries. Today, IFAD supports more than 200 programmes and projects in 84 developing countries.