Participatory identification of farmer-acceptable improved rice varieties for rain-fed lowland ecology in

UgandaDavid Nanfumba,1 N. Turyahabwe,2 J. Ssebuliba,2 W. Kakuru,2

1National Agricultural Research Organisation, Buginyanya Zonal Research and Development Institute, Mbale, Entebbe, Uganda;

2College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda;

nanfumbada@yahoo.com, nanfumbada@agric.mak.ac.ug

Background• Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an increasingly important food and income

security crop in Uganda.

• Country’s current production is 164,450 tones of milled rice yet its consumption is 224,000 tones. Imports 59,550t equivalent to US$ 72m.

• Meanwhile, her per capita consumption, is set to increase from 7 to 10kg by 2018. Combined with an annual population growth rate of 3.2% - demand/price for rice is projected to keep rising

• GOU has put in place strategies driving to increase rice production in the country

Background cont..

Rice production trends in Uganda

Farmers responding to rising demand/price by increasing area under rice production - encroaching on vulnerable portions of wetlands.

The problem and objective• Farmers in Rain fed lowland ecology (65% of total production area) get

2 t ha-1 compared to the potential 6 t ha-1.

• Low yields result from; use of low yielding varieties, poor agronomic practices, pests and diseases and declining soil fertility

• Identification of ecology specific adapted varieties is a key starting point in addressing low productivity.

• This study geared towards identifying high yielding improved rice varieties adapted to rain-fed lowland ecologies that are acceptable to farmers in Uganda

Methodology• On-farm variety evaluation trial were undertaken on 4 farmers rain-fed

lowland fields in the Kyoga plains , eastern Uganda for three seasons.

• Six varieties (IR 64, Basmat 370, Supa, WITA 9, K85, Buyu) were evaluated

• At physiological maturity, 119 rice farmers were mobilised to participate in a variety selection exercise

• A focus group discussion was undertaken to capture the reasons behind the farmers’ choices

Variety evaluation fields in rainfed lowland ecology - Limoto wetland in Eastern Uganda

Small holder farmers participating in the variety selection exercise

Results - Variety grain yield performance• Varieties K85 and WITA 9

yielded 2.6 and 2.1 t ha-1 respectively higher than local check. Significant (P<0.05, l.s.d.=1570, c.v. = 30.1%).

• Translates to US$ 1050 and US$ 828 more income per ha

• Varieties Basmat 370 and IR 64 were not significantly different from local check

Results - Farmer preferred lowland rice varieties• K85: Selected by 59% and 31% of farmers as the best and second-best

performing variety, respectively. – Some 54.5% of male and 36.4% of female participants preferred K85.

• WITA 9: Selected by 36% and 39% as their best and second best-performing variety

• Basimat 370 and Supa were selected by 50.4% and 17.6% as the worst-performing varieties.

• Buyu and IR 64 were neither rejected nor accepted – very few farmers placed their choices on the two

What influenced farmers choice

• Focus-group discussion indicated that participants were interested in: 1. Grain yield: Direct bearing on income 2. Maturity time: Liked early maturing varieties – escape drought3. Plant height: Waist height (easy to harvest, escape extreme

flooding)4. Resistance to lodging: Minimal grain contact with water 5. Ability to perform well at the wetland periphery: Easier to

cultivate and compliant with wetland conservation measures

ConclusionFrom this work, it can be concluded that:

1. Improved rice varieties K85 and Wita 9 most adapted to rice rain-fed lowland ecology in Uganda

2. K85 and Wita 9 most acceptable varieties. (Basmat 370 rejected while farmers were non committal on IR64 and Buyu)

3. Performance of local variety in trials indicate potential of Good Agronomic Practices to enhance yields in absence of improved varieties

Way - forwardFor results from this study to translate into improved food and

income security, we need to undertake:1. Promotion of the two varieties in rain-fed lowland rice producing

areas2. Development of Seed multiplication and dissemination model to make

seed of the two varieties sustainably accessible to farmers3. Promotion of good Agricultural Practices in lowland rice

Am looking out for partners and support to undertake this

Thanks for your

attention