MTP Overview

Introduction

This Medium Term Plan (MTP) of the Africa Rice Center (WARDA) for the period 2009-2011 is written at a time when the world is scrambling to come up with solutions to improve the global food situation and avoid famine and further riots in the streets. Rice consumers in Africa are particularly vulnerable as the continent consumes far more rice than it produces. The rice self-sufficiency ratio in sub-Saharan Africa declined steadily from a high 112% in 1961 to 61% in 2006. Close to 10 million tons of milled rice are being imported into sub-Saharan Africa every year. With rice prices hovering around US$ 1000 per ton, major producing countries closing borders to export and global stocks are at their lowest levels ever, this clearly is no longer a sustainable strategy. Even if a country has the financial resources there may just be no rice to buy. WARDA is acutely aware of the important role it has to play in boosting rice production capacity and this new MTP will be a major guide in conducting rice science for impact in the continent.

The structure of the 2009-2011 MTP is radically different from the 2008-2010 MTP. The new structure is simpler and provides a clearer focus on WARDA’s core research activities. This 2009-2011 MTP contains four MTP projects and one SWEP:

• Project 1: Bridging genetic diversity and breeding to produce rice genetic resources adapted to changing environments

• Project 2: Enhancing productivity of rice-based farming while protecting ecosystem services

• Project 3: Creating windows of opportunity through partnerships, learning and innovation systems

• Project 4: Rice policy and technology impact on food security and poverty reduction

• Project 5: The Consortium for the Sustainable Development of Inland Valley Agro-ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa (IVC)

The new research structure has been approved by WARDA’s board in March 2008. This MTP is still linked to WARDA’s Strategic Plan for 2003-2012. However, in 2008 and 2009 WARDA’s Strategic Plan will be revised to take account of the changing situation in Africa both due to the influence of global external factors such as rising food prices, declining global rice stocks, and climate change and continental changes such as those in demographics and the rising sophistication of urban consumer demands. The need to develop a new Strategic Plan is also a direct response to the 2007 EPMR and the recent enlargement of WARDA’s geographic mandate with the admission of four Eastern and Central African countries as members (Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo and Uganda). The total number of WARDA member states as of February 2008 is 21. In March 2008, WARDA’s board commented on and approved a first skeleton plan. The new strategic plan is expected to cover the period 2010-2015.

Highlights of Project Portfolio

The need for simplification of WARDA’s research structure was strongly recommended by the external program management review (EPMR) of the Africa Rice Center (WARDA) held in August 2007

New and terminated research:

With the arrival of a new deputy director general for research and development (DDG R&D) in December, WARDA management and research staff held several meetings in November and December to revamp the research structure.

Based on these discussions, WARDA developed a new and leaner structure that was approved by the board in March 2008, effectively removing one administrative layer between the DDG R&D and scientific staff. WARDA’s new research structure contains only 4 Programs, each equivalent to one MTP project:

• Program 1: Bridging genetic diversity and breeding to produce rice genetic resources adapted to changing environments (Genetic diversity and breeding)

• Program 2: Enhancing productivity of rice-based farming while protecting ecosystem services (Productivity enhancement)

• Program 3: Creating windows of opportunity through partnerships, learning and innovation systems (Partnerships, learning and innovation systems)

• Program 4: Rice policy and technology impact on food security and poverty reduction (Policy and impact)

Program 1 covers the area from gene to plant, and aims to enhance genetic diversity and develop improved rice lines adapted to abiotic and biotic stresses and consumer preferences, using conventional breeding, MAS and profiting from farmer knowledge. The program has four main outputs: (i) enhanced genetic diversity generated; (ii) improved and stable rice lines and varieties with good grain quality available; (iii) enhanced knowledge of G x E interactions for abiotic and biotic stresses available; and (iv) enhanced involvement of farmers in rice genetic resources development established.

This Program will profit from several large projects on improving rice resistance to both abiotic and biotic stresses in partnership with NARS partners and IRRI.

Program 2 covers crop and NRM research related to intensification and diversification and protection of environmental services, and aims to move research from plot to systems level and to introduce more systems thinking in general. The program has four outputs: (i) integrated management options for weeds, pests and diseases available; (ii) sustainable intensification options for rice-based systems developed; (iii) profitable opportunities for diversification made available; (iv) use of environmental services optimized and safeguarded.

The program will specifically focus on the rainfed and irrigated lowlands as greatest opportunities to boost rice production in sub-Saharan Africa are expected within these ecologies, and will be backed by funding from several donors including the European Union and Japan.

Program 3 covers partnerships, learning and innovation systems and works on improving the link between farmers and input and output markets and value chain development. The program has four outputs: (i) partnerships and networks to promote rice sector development; (ii) mechanisms for pro-poor seed system development; (iii) agricultural education tools and learning pathways; and (iv) strategies and tools to strengthen the rice value chain.

Program 4 covers the policy and impact work and includes three programs: (i) tools, methods and enhanced capacity for impact assessment, policy analysis; (ii) rice policy options and institutions for competitive domestic rice production; (iii) improved post-harvest systems for competitive domestic rice production.

Changes in collaborative arrangements

WARDA, IRRI and CIAT have agreed to align their research programs and established the Sub-Saharan Africa Rice Consortium (SARC) on 28-29 June 2007.

WARDA acted upon a recommendation by the EPMR to transfer its convening role within the System Wide Initiative on HIV/AIDS (SWIHA) to another partner more suited to leading the SWIHA initiative. An agreement was obtained with IFPRI to transfer SWIHA to the Agriculture and Health Platform convened by IFPRI in 2008.

During the period of this MTP, WARDA will intensify its collaboration with European research institutes, in particular with Wageningen University and Research Center in the Netherlands, with Hohenheim University in Germany, and CIRAD, INRA and IRD in France. To this effect, a MOU was signed between WARDA and these three French research institutes early June 2008 in Paris.

WARDA will remain an active partner within the Generation, HarvestPlus, Water and Food and sub-Saharan Challenge Programs.