West Africa Rice Development Association
Encyclopedia
The Africa Rice Center formerly known as the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA), is an Africa
n organization located in Cotonou
, Benin
. AfricaRice is an agricultural
research center that was constituted in 1971 by 11 West African countries. Presently the center counts 24 African member states. AfricaRice is since 1986 one of the 15 specialized research centers – the "Future Harvest Centers" – of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
(CGIAR).
Its normal headquarters are in Bouaké
, Côte d'Ivoire
, but because of the political situation in that country, it is operating from the premises of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
's station in Cotonou. The center runs regional research stations in Saint-Louis
, Senegal
, in Ibadan
, Nigeria
and in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
.
AfricaRice aims to contribute to poverty alleviation and food security in Africa through research for development. The center has therefore close links to agricultural research organizations in the African member states, to agricultural universities and research institutes in Europe, Japan and the United States, and to the development sector, which include Non Governmental Organizations, farmers organizations and donors. AfricaRice, being part of the CGIAR system, shares resources with several of the other CGIAR organizations, including the International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI) in Los Baños, Philippines, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
in Ibadan
, Nigeria
. In the course of reforms at the CGIAR, AfricaRice developed together with IRRI and International Center for Tropical Agriculture
(CIAT) the Global Rice Science Partnership
(GRiSP), which sets a global strategic research agenda for rice.
One of the major tasks of AfricaRice is the development and introduction of new rice seed varieties that are suitable for African conditions. NERICA, which stands for "New Rice for Africa
", is an interspecific
cultivar of African (Oryza glaberrima) and Asian (Oryza sativa
) rice varieties, that was developed to improve the yields of African farmers. For his work on NERICA, Dr. Monty Jones from Sierra-Leone was awarded the World Food Prize
in 2004 becoming the first African national to win this award.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n organization located in Cotonou
Cotonou
-Demographics:*1979: 320,348 *1992: 536,827 *2002: 665,100 *2005: 690,584 The main languages spoken in Cotonou include the Fon language, Aja language, Yoruba language and French.-Transport:...
, Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
. AfricaRice is an agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
research center that was constituted in 1971 by 11 West African countries. Presently the center counts 24 African member states. AfricaRice is since 1986 one of the 15 specialized research centers – the "Future Harvest Centers" – of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
The CGIAR is a strategic alliance that unites organizations involved in agricultural research for sustainable development with the donors that fund such work. These donors include governments of developing and industrialized countries, foundations and international and regional organizations...
(CGIAR).
Its normal headquarters are in Bouaké
Bouaké
Bouaké is the second largest city in Côte d'Ivoire, with a population of 775,300 . It is the main urban settlement of the Bouaké Department with a population exceeding 1.2 million, in the Vallée du Bandama Region...
, Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
, but because of the political situation in that country, it is operating from the premises of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture is one of the world's leading research partners in finding solutions to hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. IITA's award-winning research-for-development addresses the development needs of tropical countries...
's station in Cotonou. The center runs regional research stations in Saint-Louis
Saint-Louis, Senegal
Saint-Louis, or Ndar as it is called in Wolof, is the capital of Senegal's Saint-Louis Region. Located in the northwest of Senegal, near the mouth of the Senegal River, and 320 km north of Senegal's capital city Dakar, it has a population officially estimated at 176,000 in 2005. Saint-Louis...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, in Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
.
AfricaRice aims to contribute to poverty alleviation and food security in Africa through research for development. The center has therefore close links to agricultural research organizations in the African member states, to agricultural universities and research institutes in Europe, Japan and the United States, and to the development sector, which include Non Governmental Organizations, farmers organizations and donors. AfricaRice, being part of the CGIAR system, shares resources with several of the other CGIAR organizations, including the International Rice Research Institute
International Rice Research Institute
The International Rice Research Institute is an international NGO. Its headquarters are in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, and it has offices in sixteen countries...
(IRRI) in Los Baños, Philippines, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture is one of the world's leading research partners in finding solutions to hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. IITA's award-winning research-for-development addresses the development needs of tropical countries...
in Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. In the course of reforms at the CGIAR, AfricaRice developed together with IRRI and International Center for Tropical Agriculture
International Center for Tropical Agriculture
The International Center for Tropical Agriculture is a not-for-profit research and development organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger while protecting natural resources in developing countries...
(CIAT) the Global Rice Science Partnership
Global Rice Science Partnership
The Global Rice Science Partnership is an initiative of the CGIAR to bring together research and development partners from around the world to undertake and deliver rice research...
(GRiSP), which sets a global strategic research agenda for rice.
One of the major tasks of AfricaRice is the development and introduction of new rice seed varieties that are suitable for African conditions. NERICA, which stands for "New Rice for Africa
New Rice for Africa
New Rice for Africa is an interspecific cultivar of rice developed by the Africa Rice Center to improve the yield of African rice varieties. Although 240 million people in West Africa rely on rice as the primary source of food energy and protein in their diet, the majority of this rice is...
", is an interspecific
Interspecific competition
Interspecific competition, in ecology, is a form of competition in which individuals of different species compete for the same resource in an ecosystem...
cultivar of African (Oryza glaberrima) and Asian (Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa
Oryza sativa, commonly known as Asian rice, is the plant species most commonly referred to in English as rice. Oryza sativa is the cereal with the smallest genome, consisting of just 430Mb across 12 chromosomes...
) rice varieties, that was developed to improve the yields of African farmers. For his work on NERICA, Dr. Monty Jones from Sierra-Leone was awarded the World Food Prize
World Food Prize
The World Food Prize is an international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.-The Prize:...
in 2004 becoming the first African national to win this award.