Smallholder Rice Seed Project

The principal objective of this project was to institute a national rice seed improvement programme and, through the provision of improved seed varieties, to increase the rice production efficiency of smallholder farmers.

Among the key components of the project were:

• Multiplication, drying, processing, storage and distribution of improved rice seed varieties through a Rice Seed Production Unit
• Provision of credit, both in-kind and cash, to contract seed out-growers
• Training and support for Ministry of Agriculture staff assigned to carry out the project's extension activities
• Local and overseas training for local project staff.

Two channels were used for seed distribution: local Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs) where these existed, and extension staff from the Ministry of Agriculture where ADPs did not operate. The project's target group constituted 91,400 households of smallholder rice farmers.