No.9 Toward a Rice Green Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa
The time is ripe to pursue a Green Revolution in rice in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as a means of promoting productivity growth, food security, and poverty reduction. This is partly because rice is an up-and-coming crop in this region and partly because we have now accumulated deep knowledge about rice cultivation in SSA. This policy note attempts to show what needs to be done to realize a rice Green Revolution in SSA, based on more than ten years of empirical inquiries into rice production by our research team in selected countries in the region. The primary strategy for achieving this goal is to strengthen the rice extension system to promote farming intensification along with the adoption of improved rice management practices. Complementary strategies comprise the diffusion of power tillers, the expansion of irrigated areas, and the quality improvement of milled rice using modern milling technologies.
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