The Congress took stock of advances in rice science and technology aimed at enhancing rice productivity in farmers’ fields, while protecting environmental services and coping with climate change. The Congress also provided an opportunity to discuss institutional innovations, policies and key investments needed to significantly increase rice production in sub-Saharan Africa, develop competitive and equitable rice value chains, reduce imports and enhance regional trade.
The Africa Rice Congress was organized by the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) under the distinguished patronage of the Malian Authorities.
Introductory remarks by Dr Papa Seck, Director General, AfricaRice, Cotonou, Benin
Dr Marco Wopereis (Deputy Director General, Director of Research for Development) of AfricaRice presenting Rice research strategies for Africa at the Africa Rice Congress 2010
Dr Tetsuji Oya, Regional Coordinator (Africa), Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences ( JIRCAS), Africa Liaison Office, Accra, Ghana at the Africa Rice Congress 2010
Dr Achim Dobermann, Deputy Director General for Research, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines at the Africa Rice Congress 2010. Comments about the new role of science with a lot more ownership to all partners and clarify the role of each of the partners involved.
Prof E. Tollens, Centre for agricultural and food economics, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium at the Africa Rice Congress 2010
Mr. Issouf Coulibaly, IER/CRRA, Sikasso programme Riz-Bas fond (one of the stalls from IER at Africa Rice Congress 2010)
Reference:
Life blog of the conference: http://africaricecongress2010.wordpress.com/
