Rice in Africa
andWARDA’s new strategies

Dr Papa Abdoulaye SeckDirector General
Africa Rice Center

Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development(FASID), Tokyo, Japan, 11 September 2007

Challenges
Africa will not meet its
Millennium Development Goals
without seriously taking into accountthe rice sector

Why is rice so important in Africa?
1.

Rice is increasingly becoming a staple food inAfrica

2.

Rice provides 27% of energy and 20 % of protein
requirements

3.

Africa has 13% of world population but accounts for
32% of global rice imports

4.

Between 1961 and 2005, annual growth rate of riceconsumption in SSA was 4.5% against 3.2%
production growth rate5.

Rice is the second leading import item after petroleum
products in West Africa Economic & Monetary Union zone
Rice Trends in WCA Million MT

10.00

7.50

5.00

2.50

0.00
1961

1966

1971

1976
Production

1981

1986
Import

1991

1996

2001

Consumption
Source: FAO

2006

6.

Rice is the most protected commodity in the world• USA’s 11,000 rice farmers receive subsidies
worth $1.4 billion per year
• 25,000 US cotton growers received $3 to $4billion in total subsidies each year

7. Decreasing global rice stocks (more than 50% of which is heldby China) with current level corresponding to 2 months ofconsumption needs
Ratio stock/utilisation
45352515
5
1960/61 1965/66 1970/71 1975/76 1980/81 1985/86 1990/91 1995/96 2000/01 2005/06
Source: USDA

8.

Rice prices are been increasing and they are expected
to double their 2001 levels
Se le cte d nominal rice price s $/M T

480

360

240

120
Jan-90Jan-94Usa2/4Jan-98Thai100

Jan-02Jan-06

A1Super Broken Rice

*Thai 100% fob Bangkok, Source :InterRice CIRAD

9.

Though present-day China is self-sufficient, it
could import rice in a few years• 10% of China domestic rice requirements
amounts to 10.5 million tonnes which
represents more than 35% of rice traded in
the global market• Should China become a net rice importer,
strong competition for limited import supply
and upward pressure on prices areexpectedStrategies
WARDA is one of the 15 centers
supported by CGIAR
but WARDA is unique
because it was created by African states
to address their specifics challenges
in the rice sector

Strategies
Addressing the emerging challenges
for Africa’s rice sectorrequires:
A New Way of Doing BusinessA New Way of Doing Business1.

New vision for Africa Rice Center (WARDA):
Competitive, diversified and sustainable2.

Our principles are:
1. Transparency
2. Equity
3. Research excellence
4. Interdisciplinary approach
5. Systematic approach
6. Strong partnerships with NARSA New Way of Doing Business3.

Key words of our vision are
1. Quality science
2. Utility of science
3. Effective technologies transfer
4. Sustainability of activities
5. Work performanceA New Way of Doing Business4.

Build a culture of entrepreneurship at all levels
based on:
1. Team work
2. Openness to the external world
3. Competitive spirit
4. Capacity to anticipate

A New Way of Doing Business
5.

WARDA working closely with IRRI and CIAT
1. Joint declaration signed to boost Africa’s
rice sector through a Rice Consortium
2. Formulation of joint proposals (CANADA,Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation …)
3. Improving NERICA’s resistance to stresses
and expansion of its genetic base
4. Developing more effective post-harvest
technologies

A New Way of Doing Business
8. Stronger advocacy role using the Council ofMinisters of WARDA for:1. Seed law at national and regional level
2. Seed quality control mechanisms
3. Government support to rice farming
4. Reduction of transaction costs
5. Strong rice research program at countrylevel

Time for action,for openness andfor the establishment ofan enabling policy & institutional environment
for the development of
the rice sectorin Africa

Thank you for your attention