Promoting Hybrid Rice to Improve National Food Security and Livelihoods– FAO-China South-South Cooperation (SSC) Project in Madagascar
Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations (FAO)
(
United Nations / Multilateral body
)
#SDGAction33549
Description
Madagascar is a low-income food-deficit country with high malnutrition rates. Although rice is a staple crop, the country relies on imports to meet domestic needs and ensure national food security. Through the SSC project, technical assistance on hybrid rice technologies, livestock production and agribusiness is provided by China to support implementation of the National Development Plan (2015-2019), Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Sector programme and Investment Plans (2016-2020) of Madagascar. The project focused on agricultural extension to small-scale farmers, agribusiness enterprises as well as capacity support to national technical officers, experts and research institutions.
The project is implemented jointly by the Governments of Madagascar, China and FAO according to a Tripartite Agreement (TPA) signed between of the three parties. In addition to the project fund, the host government (Madagascar) provided in-kind contribution, including recruitment/designation of national staff assigned to the project as well as provision of facilities and supplies necessary for implementation of the project. Within the two-year project period, 9 Chinese experts and technicians have been working closely with local counterparts, including government officials, smallholder farmers, technicians, etc., to conduct hands-on technical demonstration and training activities to beneficiaries. The technical assistance on hybrid rice production is one of the priority areas supported by the project, which included 1) direct support to beneficiary farmers and 2) capacity support to experts and technicians in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAEP) and others. In the case of the former, Chinese experts and technicians provided training on high-yield cultivation technologies and practices for new hybrid rice varieties, and introduced the use of integrated agricultural management, and application of agricultural machineries (e.g. small rotary tiller, electric fertilizer applicator and water pump). In the latter, staff from MAEP and other technicians in Madagascar received training and improved their skills on hybrid rice production techniques including rice seeding, transplanting technologies, rice mechanization, and application of pesticides. The SSC project is financed through the FAO-China SSC Trust Fund (Phase II) for a total USD 1, 430 055.
To date, more than 300 farmers (almost half of which women) benefitted from on-site demonstrations and trainings and acquired practical skills on hybrid rice production and mechanization (seed and soil preparation, sowing practice and nursery establishment, cultural maintenance, control of pests and disease and application of pesticides). Furthermore, a total of 79 technicians and experts (training of trainers) from MAEP and others have benefitted from the transfer of skills and knowledge on hybrid rice technology introduced by Chinese experts and technicians. The new hybrid rice has been introduced to various regions and significant yield improvement has been achieved, from 2.8 tons per ha with local varieties to 9 to 11 tons per hectare with the use of the hybrid rice. In addition, through cooperation with the private sector, i.e. Yuan's Madagascar Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., public-private partnership has been established in the rice sector.
In the framework of South-South cooperation, the governments of China and Madagascar have been collaborating on rice technologies in the past. The government of China supported a Hybrid Rice Demonstration Project in Madagascar (during 2007-2012), the results of which laid a solid foundation to extend the technology of hybrid rice cultivation further in Madagascar. Strong commitments by participating countries (Madagascar and China) and FAO under the tripartite agreement signed by the three parties has been one of the key factors for successful implementation of the project. Furthermore, certainty of project finance from the FAO-China Trust Fund enabled mobilization of technical expertise from China and ensured a smooth implementation of the project. Madagascar lags behind in basic infrastructure, including irrigation systems, for demonstration of high-yield hybrid rice cultivation, which affects the large-scale promotion of hybrid rice. Despite, appropriate demonstration area/sites have been identified through the project to effectively test the hybrid rice variety.
In addition to direct beneficiaries (farmers), the project focused on training of trainers (local experts and technicians from MAEP and others) to ensure sustainability of the project. The trainers will guarantee the continuity of the transfer of skills and knowledge after the return of Chinese technicians and experts. Furthermore, the demonstration and technical assistance in hybrid rice farming technologies have attracted local NGOs and small-scale farmers to participate in the project, which contributes to its replication to other areas. Through the technical exchanges, capacities of local technicians was enhanced to engage in large-scale hybrid rice extension in the future. Furthermore, the concept of modern agricultural cultivation was promoted to local people through demonstration and training. The combination of high-quality hybrid rice varieties with standardized planting operations contributed to increase the production efficiency and reduce the harmful impact of an obsolete cultivation practice on the environment.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the project’s implementation. Due to travel restrictions, procurement, importation and transport of equipment and the organization of field visits and technical trainings have been affected. Through effective coordination and management, the project has overcome the difficulties by introducing innovative modalities and alternative solutions. For instance, the work plan was adjusted to the situation on the ground, and virtual training materials were prepared and delivered online.
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The key stakeholders engaged include the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Centre of China, Yuan's Madagascar Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., FAO Representation in Madagascar, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Madagascar, Centre National de la Recherche Appliquée au Développement Rural (FOFIFA) of Madagascar, as well as other local NGOs, private sectors, institutions, etc.
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Anping, Director, South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division