"Africa rice farming system"
Development of sustainable rice cultivation and food production system in Africa

Related Research Program
Food

2022-07-27

Background

Sub-Saharan Africa is the world's most food insecure region, with one in four people chronically hungry. In order to secure a stable supply of food for the region and achieve the eradication of hunger set forth in the SDGs, food production technology that can adapt to the increasingly unstable growing environment and effectively utilize limited resources such as water and nutrients is required. To this end, we will create new technologies and knowledge that will lead to increased production of rice, a key crop in the region, and improved nutrition for the people, with the aim of building a sustainable food production system centered on rice cultivation.

Rice production (milled) and consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa

(Source:USDA Production, Supply Distribution Online at https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/app/index.html#/app/home
不安定な水環境、養分供給に乏しい風化土壌、農家の肥料投入力の低さにより、イネの生産性が制限されている。

Rice productivity is limited due to unstable water conditions, degraded soils with poor nutrient supply, and low fertilizer inputs by farmers.

Objectives

Develop new technologies and knowledge that will lead to a sustainable and nutrition-sensitive food production system centered on rice by integrating water management technologies, breeding materials and cultivation technologies, and to provide them to the target countries.

不安定な生産環境への適応性や栄養性・市場性が強化された育種素材の開発

Development of breeding materials with enhanced adaptability to unstable production environments, improved nutritional quality and marketability

Development and evaluation of food production systems that make effective use of water and soil nutrients, leading to increased rice production, improved nutrition, and higher incomes for farmers

Research Themes

  • Elucidation of the potential of paddy rice cultivation in Africa and development of technology to maximize output
  • Development of breeding materials for rice and vegetables that contribute to increased food production and improved nutrition in Africa
  • Development and impact assessment of cultivation technologies and production systems with excellent resource utilization that lead to improved nutrition and higher income

Target Countries

Madagascar, Tanzania, Guinea

Target Beneficiaries

Research institutes in target countries, extension organizations (members), research institutes in other countries, international research institutes, international development projects

Project Leader

TSUJIMOTO Yasuhiro (Crop, Livestock and Environment Division)

Poster

Related Pages

JIRCAS Report

Research Contributing to Poverty Reduction, Nutrition Improvement, and Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture in Madagascar — JIRCAS Project Provisionally Selected for SATREPS Program

As a newly adopted research topic (biological resources field) in FY2020 of SATREPS (International Science and Technology Cooperation Program for Responding to Global Issues), which is jointly implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Agricultural Research's proposed project was accepted with some conditions.

JIRCAS Celebrates 30th Anniversary of TICAD with Official Side Event on "Building a Sustainable and Resilient Food System in Africa"

On Friday, December 1, 2023, JIRCAS held a hybrid side event titled "Toward Building a Sustainable and Resilient Food System in Africa" to mark the 30th anniversary of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).

JIRCAS Showcases Agricultural Innovation at Agribusiness Creation Fair 2023

The research results of JIRCAS were exhibited at the "Agribusiness Creation Fair 2023" organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and held at Tokyo Big Sight, South Hall 2 from November 20 to 22, 2023.

Press Release

Event, Symposium

Event
Date
(JST)
Seminar "The application of science and traditional knowledge to foster the utilization of foods obtained from local landscapes for improved nutrition and livelihoods"
Registration period:
- (JST)
Place
 Vision Center Hibiya (Room 301 – Up to 40) + Webex
(Hibiya Marine Building 3rd floor, 1-5-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006)

Field Information

  • Pick Up

    849. Enhanced Rice Root Morphology Increases Phosphorus Uptake

    Phosphorus, one of the three main plant nutrients, is closely linked to plant growth and yield. It is therefore essential to provide plants with sufficient phosphorus. However, many agricultural areas around the world are deficient in phosphorus, and in developing regions such as Africa, economic constraints make it difficult to purchase enough fertilizer. As a result, crops often suffer from chronic phosphorus deficiency. Through genetic analysis of two rice varieties with contrasting root shapes, JIRCAS has discovered genetic loci that control lateral root development and the number of crown roots in rice, and has shown that these genes play a role in increasing phosphorus uptake by plants in phosphorus-deficient fields. The results of this research are expected to lead to improved rice yields in developing regions where phosphorus deficiency is widespread, and to reduced fertilizer application as a result of improved phosphorus use efficiency in rice.

  • Pick Up

    841. Table Salt for Soil Analysis ! ?

    Soils have a unique property called "phosphorus (P) retention capacity," which refers to their ability to bind with phosphates. When soil has a high P retention capacity, the P fertilizer applied in a cropland may bind to the soil before being absorbed by crops. This reduces the efficiency of fertilization. Therefore, P retention capacity is used for fertilization management. Recent studies have shown a close relationship between P retention capacity and soil moisture content. A research team from JIRCAS and the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar used this relationship to develop a method that accurately and easily estimates P retention capacity from soil moisture content, including a clever use of table salt (sodium chloride).
  • Pick Up

    789. Energy Intake and Seasons

    One component of food security is stability, and seasonality is a major factor affecting food security, especially for smallholder farmers in developing regions. Even if food is available immediately after harvest, it may not be available before the harvest season.

Research Highlights