RIU-supported rice projects to exchange learning
20 February 2011
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RIU supports two major rice projects: the NERICA rice project based in Uganda and RIU Zambia's rice value chain project. One has strength in seed production and the other in marketing, expertise they are about to swap during an RIU-facilitated exchange visit.
The NERICA project in Uganda has focused on the production of quality rice seed through capacity building of smallholder outgrowers linked to Ugandan seed companies. Two of the key project partners, National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) and CABI Africa, have recently published a comprehensive manual on rice seed production. Copies of the manual can be freely copied on a non-commercial basis.
Following the procedures described in the manual, NASECO, one of the project's commercial partners, working closely with 126 local contracted farmers produced over 300 tonnes of NERICA rice seed in the last growing season. During the same period NaCRRI produced over 4 tonnes of NERICA breeder's (foundation 1) seed - this is the seed that NASECO and its farmers sow to produce the certified rice seed which is then distributed to rice farmers (see box below). Prior to the project NERICA rice seed was in short supply in Uganda and of variable quality.
In Zambia, a focus has been on developing and marketing a premium rice product under the brand name IT'S WILD! This work has been done in partnership with COMACO Ltd (Community Markets for Conservation), a limited-by-guarantee non-profit company. COMACO uses a business approach to find economic solutions to end poverty among rural small-scale farmers and encourages improved farming technologies to help end hunger.
COMACO's IT'S WILD! range of foods are marketed as 'green' products that offer value to the consumer and simultaneously support rural families in Zambia as well as contributing directly to conservation of Zambia's wildlife and ecosystems. The product range includes whole ground nuts, peanut butter, honey, rice, soy, dried bean products and maize meal.
In March 2011, a group from Uganda will visit their counterparts in Zambia to share experiences and swap approaches, tools and success stories. As the RIU programme draws to an end a key strategy to share learning is to facilitate and document such collaborations.
Types of seed
There are three types of seeds; breeders' seeds, foundation seeds, and certified seeds. Seed production starts with the breeder in a Research Institute. When new varieties are developed, very small quantities of their seeds are produced by the breeders and made available to organizations and seed companies that have the responsibility to multiply them so that many more farmers can get them to use. The small quantity of seeds that breeders produce are referred to as breeders' seeds. These are given first to potential private seed companies, in the case of Uganda, who use them to produce foundation seeds. The Seed Companies multiply the foundation seeds with the assistance of trained farmers to produce certified seeds. The certified seeds are the seeds sold to farmers by the Seed Companies or private seed growers to produce grain for food and for sale in the market. Some farmers who have been trained to produce certified seeds may also produce foundation seed which is later sold to seed companies on contract basis.
Source: Quality rice seed production manual. Godfrey Asea, Geoffrey Onaga, Noah Anthony Phiri and Daniel Kimani Karanja. National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) and CABI Africa. July 2010
20 February 2011
Tweet
RIU supports two major rice projects: the NERICA rice project based in Uganda and RIU Zambia's rice value chain project. One has strength in seed production and the other in marketing, expertise they are about to swap during an RIU-facilitated exchange visit.
The NERICA project in Uganda has focused on the production of quality rice seed through capacity building of smallholder outgrowers linked to Ugandan seed companies. Two of the key project partners, National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) and CABI Africa, have recently published a comprehensive manual on rice seed production. Copies of the manual can be freely copied on a non-commercial basis.
Following the procedures described in the manual, NASECO, one of the project's commercial partners, working closely with 126 local contracted farmers produced over 300 tonnes of NERICA rice seed in the last growing season. During the same period NaCRRI produced over 4 tonnes of NERICA breeder's (foundation 1) seed - this is the seed that NASECO and its farmers sow to produce the certified rice seed which is then distributed to rice farmers (see box below). Prior to the project NERICA rice seed was in short supply in Uganda and of variable quality.
In Zambia, a focus has been on developing and marketing a premium rice product under the brand name IT'S WILD! This work has been done in partnership with COMACO Ltd (Community Markets for Conservation), a limited-by-guarantee non-profit company. COMACO uses a business approach to find economic solutions to end poverty among rural small-scale farmers and encourages improved farming technologies to help end hunger.
COMACO's IT'S WILD! range of foods are marketed as 'green' products that offer value to the consumer and simultaneously support rural families in Zambia as well as contributing directly to conservation of Zambia's wildlife and ecosystems. The product range includes whole ground nuts, peanut butter, honey, rice, soy, dried bean products and maize meal.
In March 2011, a group from Uganda will visit their counterparts in Zambia to share experiences and swap approaches, tools and success stories. As the RIU programme draws to an end a key strategy to share learning is to facilitate and document such collaborations.
Types of seed
| Seed class | Activity / Institution responsible |
| Nucleus Seed = Pre-Basic Seed | Seed developed at NaCRRI or introduced from Africa Rice Development Centre (WARDA) / IRRI / any source to Uganda, tested, found suitable and released as variety by NaCRRI / NARO/ Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (Variety Release Committee). Nucleus seed of each such variety released by NARO must be maintained by NaCRRI. |
| Breeder Seed = Basic Seed | Breeder Seed of the varieties must be multiplied only by NaCRRI. A committee jointly with National Seed Certification Service (NSCS) to inspect the field and ascertain the quality of individual variety. |
| Foundation Seed = 1st Generation | Any private seed company, NGO, organization or individual registered with NSCS can produce Foundation Seed. NSCS will carry out field inspection and laboratory tests for quality analysis. NSCS also to monitor post-production quality of the seed being sold to farmers. |
| Certified Seed = 2nd Generation | Any private seed company, NGO or individuals registered with NSCS can produce certified seed. NSCS will carry out field inspection and laboratory tests for quality analysis. NSCS also to monitor post-production quality. |
| Truthful Seed = Standard Seed | Anyone who can produce seed of same quality as Certified Seed |
There are three types of seeds; breeders' seeds, foundation seeds, and certified seeds. Seed production starts with the breeder in a Research Institute. When new varieties are developed, very small quantities of their seeds are produced by the breeders and made available to organizations and seed companies that have the responsibility to multiply them so that many more farmers can get them to use. The small quantity of seeds that breeders produce are referred to as breeders' seeds. These are given first to potential private seed companies, in the case of Uganda, who use them to produce foundation seeds. The Seed Companies multiply the foundation seeds with the assistance of trained farmers to produce certified seeds. The certified seeds are the seeds sold to farmers by the Seed Companies or private seed growers to produce grain for food and for sale in the market. Some farmers who have been trained to produce certified seeds may also produce foundation seed which is later sold to seed companies on contract basis.
Source: Quality rice seed production manual. Godfrey Asea, Geoffrey Onaga, Noah Anthony Phiri and Daniel Kimani Karanja. National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) and CABI Africa. July 2010
| RIU-backed rice projects share learning. March 2011 (15:42) |  |
