Smart irrigation and a hearty strain of rice has allowed the farmer of Benin see a growth in their harvest. Small farmers in southeastern Benin have seen their harvest double over four years from 1.2 to 2.4 tons per acre. This growth is the outcome of participation with the Africa Rice Center, or AfricaRice, a not for profit research and training center. The organization changed how the farmers utilization irrigation to nourish the harvest.
The organization created “Smart-Valley’s”, humid inland valleys that were natural areas for catching rainfall to aid in the potential to grow rice. The benefits of the irrigation system was that it is cheap and sustainable, if its built-in the right areas, providing an influx of water when needed and limited amount when not needed. The Smart-Valley’s became a success through the collaboration of the rice specialists and farmers knowledge of the land to decide which areas would produce bountiful harvests of rice.
An added benefit of the rice grain production came a hybrid strain of rice called Nerica, short for New Rice Africa. The strain comes from genes of high yielded Asian strains and ancient African strains that is low yielding but drought resistant. The new strain has allowed for rice harvests to double, giving the farmers areas of where to expand on their processing and marketing.
The currently issue in the way to expanding production is getting the people of area to enjoy the hardy, nutty grain to the preferred aromatic imported rice from Asia.
Benin, West Africa 