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Breakthrough in Nutrient Use Efficiency for Rice by Genetic Improvement and Fertility Sensing Techniques in Africa

Bioresources

Republic of Madagascar

Finished

Breakthrough in Nutrient Use Efficiency for Rice by Genetic Improvement and Fertility Sensing Techniques in Africa

Challenges for Rice production with limited soil nutrients - Endeavor to increase yield under harsh conditions

Principal Investigator

- Dr.
  TSUJIMOTO Yasuhiro
  Project Leader, Crop, Livestock and Environment Division, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS)
- Mr.
  RAMAROSON Lantonirina
  General Director, Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAEP)

ODA Recipient Country

Republic of Madagascar

Research Institutions in Japan

Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences(JIRCAS)/The University of Tokyo/Kochi University/Yamanashi Eiwa College

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAEP)/ The National Center for Applied Research and Rural Development (FOFIFA)/ University of Antananarivo (LRI)/ National Office of Nutrition (ONN)

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2016

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

To increase the rice yield under low fertility conditions through rapid diagnosis of soil fertility and the development of nutrient-use-efficient breeding lines
Madagascar is one of the largest rice producers in Africa with a per capita rice consumption twice as high as that of Japan. Its rice productivity, however, remains stagnated to date because of the lack of fertilizer input and nutrient-poor soils occurring in many areas of Africa. The project aims to develop rice production techniques to realize high yield even under low fertility conditions by combining fertilizer application techniques suited to the soil nutrient characteristics of the field and new breeding lines with high nutrient use efficiency. It will also evaluate the impact that the adoption of such techniques has on the income and nutritional status of local farmers

Toward the stabilization of African food production and a paradigm shift in agriculture
The project will contribute to stabilizing food production in Africa by disseminating rice production techniques suited to the poor fertility soils common in Madagascar and elsewhere in Africa. Furthermore, the development of techniques to raise crops with high nutrient use efficiency is expected to help promote the conversion from resource intensive to a resource-saving and sustainable agriculture.