Establishment of Rice Seed Systems for Western Africa Countries

Bill Gates Foundation

2021.9-2026.4

MAYUN 1GAWAL R1 26，800。30，212024，3。FENGYOU 360WINALL851 2，FARO69FARO70 2。，521100，。，GAWAL R1FARO44、。SelingueSan6MAYUN 1。，GAWAL R1，6，GAWAL R14000。2、Utilizing the certified varieties MAYUN 1 and GAWAL R1 in the target countries, six training sessions on high-yield cultivation techniques were organized, attracting over 800 participants including local agricultural technicians and farmers. Thirty new Green Super Rice combinations were trialed in Nigeria and Mali, leading to the selection of two water-saving and drought-resistant varieties and one high-yield hybrid rice for Nigeria’s 2024 national regional trials, as well as three high-yield hybrid rice varieties for Mali’s regional trials. Two high-yield hybrid rice combinations, FENGYOU 360 and WINALL 851, were certified in Mali, while two drought-resistant hybrid rice varieties, FARO 69 and FARO 70, were approved in Nigeria. Localized hybrid seed production techniques were implemented in Mali, achieving a stable yield of around 100 kg for Quanyou 521 and establishing technical measures for hybrid rice seed production in the target countries. Collaborative variety improvement efforts with the Cereals Research Institute in Nigeria resulted in new lines of the local varieties GAWAL R1 and FARO 44 with enhanced blast resistance, drought tolerance, and salt tolerance. In Mali, high-yield demonstrations and seed marketing networks for MAYUN 1 were established across six farms and seed agencies in the Selingue and San irrigation zones. Through farmer forums for sharing GAWAL 1 cultivation experiences, seed sales agreements were signed with distributors in six representative regions of Nigeria, leading to the cultivation of GAWAL 1 on over 4,000 hectares in the past two years. These efforts lay the foundation for establishing a robust system of seed production, marketing, and promotion of improved rice varieties in the two target countries.

Xu Jianlong

Making full use of the Green Super Rice varieties certified in the target countries, Chinese seed companies and local agricultural technology extension departments in these countries will collaborate to demonstrate the varieties and high-yield cultivation techniques in major rice ecological zones. This will be accompanied by training sessions and field visits to promote the characteristics of Green Super Rice and the corresponding high-yield cultivation methods. Efforts will include establishing localized seed production bases for new varieties and hybrid rice, as well as developing marketing networks for these varieties. By starting with pilot projects and expanding incrementally, the adoption and application of new Green Super Rice varieties will be progressively advanced. This initiative aims to enhance farmers’ enthusiasm for rice cultivation and increase their incomes, thereby addressing food security challenges for remote smallholder farmers across Africa. The ultimate goal is to achieve comprehensive coverage of Green Super Rice throughout Africa and realize food self-sufficiency on the continent.