NATIONAL WORKSHOP REPORT PRESENTED TO REGIONAL WORKSHOP BY B. M. WALELA KENYA 13 TH -17 TH APRIL,2009 KAMPALA, UGANDA.

NATIONAL WORKSHOP REPORT

PRESENTED TO REGIONAL WORKSHOP BY B. M. WALELAKENYA13TH -17TH APRIL,2009KAMPALA, UGANDA

Introduction

The regional workshop on rice and aquaculture production, productivity and market development held from 3rd -7th November, 2008.

The workshop was attended by eleven African countries (Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, DRC, )

Objectives of the Workshop

To understand the GCP/INT/053/JPN Project design, activities and goals

Review the current situation and constraints of the development and market access of rice.

Share key technologies and programs e.g. Japan’s cooperation achievements and NPFS

Lessons learnt on key technologies and programs Identify specific technical areas for national and

regional interventions.

The National Workshop

National rice Stakeholders workshop held from 7th – 8th April,2009.

The workshop was a follow up of the Rice and aquaculture production, productivity and market development Kampala workshop

Facilitation of the workshop was by FAO and GOK

Objectives of the National Workshop

Bring together major stakeholders in rice Industry for discussion and information sharing

Share the outcomes of the FAO Kampala workshop with key stakeholders

To internalize project design activities and goals of the GCP/INT/053/JPN project.

Identify constraints and challenges to rice production in the country and give possible intervention guidelines.

Objectives (cont’d)

Discuss with stakeholders the draft National Rice strategic plan and the National Rice Development Strategy with a view to getting their inputs and suggestions.

Identify with the stakeholders the main issues to be fast tracked and addressed by GCP/INT/053/JPN project and others.

Come up with conclusions and recommendations for the next regional workshop

Stakeholders in attendance

The Minister for Agriculture The Agriculture Secretary The representatives from FAO country office CARD Secretariat Coordinator The Director KARI Farmer representatives Researchers from KARI, Universities and NIB

Stakeholders (Cont’d)

CEO STAK Representatives of donor community (JICA,FAO &

World Bank) Government Ministries in the Agric. Sector Representatives of financial institutions NGOs Extension officers (PDAs and DAOs) Regional Development Authorities

Workshop coverage

Outcome of Kampala workshop Draft National rice strategic plan Status of NERICA rice work NRDS Workshop recommendations and conclusions Action plan

Key issues identified

Unavailability of good quality seed Inadequate information on suitable varieties and crop

husbandry practices Inability of the farmers to access credit Disorganized marketing channels and poor

marketing infrastructure. High labour and input cost which lead to high cost of

production

Key issues (Cont’d)

Importation of cheap highly subsidized rice which distorts the market prices

Weak farmers organizations Land tenure problem in irrigated areas Non exploitation of available wet lands and suitable

rainfed ecologies Expensive methods of water delivery system in the

field

Key issues (cont’d)

Lack of appropriate technology for farm operations Limited availability of production technologies and

information flow Lack of appropriate and accessible milling facilities Pests and diseases( quelea birds, weeds and blast)

Issues for fast tracking

• Dissemination of the NERICA varieties.• Availability of good quality seed for the

preferred/recommended varieties• Implementation of the National Rice Strategic

Plan and the NRDS• Rice value chain analysis to establish critical

areas for intervention• Financial (monetary ) resources for the

rehabilitation and expansion of the rice schemes.

Issues for fast tracking (Cont’d)

• Development of gravity water irrigation system to minimize irrigation costs.

• Organizing and strengthening of farmer groups and linking them to other stakeholders

• Capacity building for researchers, extension officers and farmers

• Production of technical manuals, brochures and leaflets.

• Improved access by farmers to affordable credit and farm inputs.

Issues for fast tracking (Cont’d)

Introduction of appropriate technologies to reduce drudgery.

Introduction of improved rice farming systems (Rice & aquaculture and alternate crops.)

Action plan

Resolution/

Recommendation

Recommended actions

Actors Time

frame

Availing good quality seed

Enactment of seed and plant varieties act.Source and multiply breeder seed (NERICA)

GoK & KEPHISPlant breedersFAOPrivate seed C

6 months

Implement the National Rice Strategic Plan and the

Provision of budgetary supportForm and

operationalize the stakeholder fora

GoK, Donor agenciesGoK, Stakeholders

2009/2010 but continuous

Action plan (Cont’d)

NRDS Solicit support of development partnersStakeholders and development partners

FAO CARD & GoK

Establish critical areas for intervention in rice production

Conduct rice value chain analysis

GoK and other partners

6 months

Action plan (Cont’d)

Enhance information flow

Production of technical manuals, brochures and leaflets.Electronic media and website

GoK, NRSF and development partners

2009/2010 and continuous

Capacity building of Researchers and extension officers

Long coursesShort coursesTraining workshops/seminarsStaff tours

GoK ,NRSF and development partners

2009/2010 and

continuous

Action plan (Cont’d)

Rehabilitation and expansion of irrigation schemes

Budgetary provision

GoK and Development partners

Immediate and continuous

Encourage private sector participation

Formation and revival of farmer institutions (CIGs & Co-ops) Policy and legal frameworkCapacity building

GoK, NRDSF Immediate and continuous

Action plan (Cont’d)

Capacity building for farmers

Access to affordable credit and farm inputs

Sensitization workshops/seminarsDemonstrationsFarmers’ toursField days

Govt Subsidy

Grants

Tax incentives

GoK, NRSF, Stakeholders

GoK Development partners

2009/2010 But continuous

GoK Development partners

Action plan (Cont’d)

Disseminate NERICA varieties

Official release and launch

Seed multiplication Farmer mobilization Staff &farmer trainings Demonstrations &field

days Electronic media

programs Production of

Technical manuals

GOK

NRSF

NERICA T. Com.

FAO

JICA

Immediate &continuous

Action plan (Cont’d)

Market infrastructure development

Include rice in SFRWarehouse receipting for riceUse of ICT technologiesEnforcement of quality standardsIdentify and apply value addition technologies

GoK, FAO,

Stakeholders

2009/2010 and continuously

Conclusions

Rice has been prioritized as an important staple food to promote.

The Government is willing and ready to support rice production as an important staple food crop.

Priority rice production ecologies have been identified ( irrigated lowlands, rainfed lowlands and upland rainfed)

The potential for rice production in these ecologies is big (1.3m ha rainfed and 540,000ha irrigated)

Conclusions (Cont’d)

The stakeholders adopted and endorsed for implementation the National Rice Strategic plan and the National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS).

Recommendations to Government

Development of a National Rice policy Priority setting for programs and projects in rice

production e.g. irrigation infrastructure development Budgetary provision – To increase funding for rice

production activities To solicit funding from development partners Provide extension services Support for rice research Avail agricultural credits

Recommendations (Cont’d)

Provide subsidy for agricultural inputs Support capacity building and training of extension

staff and farmers Rehabilitate / construct transport and communication

infrastructure. Provision of improved seed supply system Enhance public/private partnerships Strengthening of farmer institutions Implement rice production intervention as one of

household food security interventions

Recommendations to FAO

Support interventions for high quality seed production.

Solicit for financial support from donors for identified priority projects such as irrigation infrastructure development.

Support initiatives for input access by farmers Support for production of technical manuals,

brochures, leaflets and electronic media programs Capacity building of researchers and extension

officers

FAO cont’

Support to market development initiatives Facilitate the South - South cooperation

Recommendations to the project

Support to stakeholders fora activities. Encourage information sharing and exchange among

researchers and other stakeholders Support for establishment of data rice bank within

countries and across the region Establish a website for rice information Facilitate technology transfer NERICA manuals Put in place monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

END