Creating interest and excitement around new research findings has become an important part of the research funding cycle. NERICA (New Rice for Africa) is a rice type developed by the Africa Rice Center (WARDA). Since the emergence of NERICA varieties at the turn of the millennium, claims about their characteristics and potential have been made by WARDA and repeated by many of WARDA's funders, other development organizations and the media. This has led to large-scale support for these varieties, international accolades and continued funding. In this paper, the authors review the evidence that is in the public domain in relation to claims in three specific areas: yield potential, weed competitiveness and impacts in Guinea. It is concluded that the main claims about NERICA are not well supported, and that this has implications not only for WARDA but for the funding of agricultural research more broadly.
BalasubramanianV.SieM.HijmansR. J., and OtsukaK. (2007), ‘Increasing rice production in sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and opportunities’, Advances in Agronomy, Vol 94, pp 55–133.
DaltonT. J., and GueiR. G. (2003), ‘Productivity gains from rice genetic enhancements in West Africa: Countries and ecologies’, World Development, Vol 31, No 2, pp 359–374.
DiagneA. (2006), ‘Diffusion and adoption of Nerica rice varieties in Cote d'Ivoire’, The Developing Economies, Vol 44, pp 208–231.
10.
DiagneA., and DemontA. (2007), ‘Taking a new look at empirical models of adoption: Average treatment effect, estimation of adoption rates and their determinants’, Agricultural Economics, Vol 37, pp 201–210.
11.
DiagneA.SogbossiM. J.DiawaraS., and CamaraA. (2006), ‘L'entendue du succès de la dissémination des variétés NERICA en Guinée: estimation des superficies emblavées’, mimeo, Africa Rice Center, Cotonou.
12.
DingkuhnM., and AschF. (1999), ‘Phenological responses of Oryza sativa, O-glaberrima and inter-specific rice cultivars on a toposquence in West Africa’, Euphytica, Vol 110, pp 109–126.
13.
DingkuhnM.AudebertA.JonesM. P.EtienneK., and SowA. (1999a), ‘Control of stomatal conductance and leaf rolling in O. sativa and O. glaberrima upland rice’, Field Crops Research, Vol 61, pp 223–236.
14.
DingkuhnM.JohnsonD. E.SowA., and AudebertA. Y. (1999b), ‘Relationships between upland rice canopy characteristics and weed competitiveness’, Field Crops Research, Vol 61, No 1, pp 79–95.
15.
DingkuhnM.JonesM. P.JohnsonD. E., and SowA. (1998), ‘Growth and yield potential of Oryza sativa and O. glaberrima upland rice cultivars and their interspecific progenies’, Field Crops Research, Vol 57, pp 57–69.
16.
DobermannA. (2004), ‘A critical assessment of the system of rice intensification (SRI)’, Agricultural Systems, Vol 79, No 3, pp 261–281.
HazellP. (2005), ‘The role of agriculture and small farms in economic development’, paper prepared for workshop on ‘The Future of Small Farms’ organized by IFPRI, ODI and Imperial College, 26–29 June 2005, Withersdane Conference Centre, Wye.
IrzX.LinL.ThirtleC., and WigginsS. (2001), ‘Agricultural productivity growth and poverty alleviation’, Development Policy Review, Vol 19, No 4, pp 449–466.
23.
JacquotM. (1987), ‘Varietal improvement programme for pluvial rice in Francophone Africa’, in BuddenhagenI. W., and PersleyG. J., eds, Rice in Africa, Academic Press, London and New York.
JohnsonD. E.DingkuhnM.JonesM. P., and MahamaneM. C. (1998), ‘The influence of rice plant type on the effect of weed competition on Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima’, Weed Research, Vol 38, No 3, pp 207–216.
26.
JonesM. (2004), ‘From Asia to Africa: NERICA fighting Africa's war against poverty and hunger’, paper presented at the International Year of Rice and World Food Prize Celebration, Des Moines, IA, Website: http://www.worldfoodprize.org/Symposium/04presentations/jones.pdf (accessed 27 June 2005).
27.
JonesM. P.DingkuhnM.AlukoK., and SemonM. (1997), ‘Inter-specific Oryza sativa L X Oryza glaberrima Steud progenies in upland rice improvement’, Euphytica, Vol 92, pp 237–246.
28.
KagboR. B., and KamuangaJ. B. Mulumba (2000), ‘Asia–Africa joint research: interspecific hybridization between African and Asian species. End of project evaluation report’, prepared for UNDP/TCDC, New York.
29.
KassamA. H.GregersenH. M.FereresE.JavierE. Q.HarwoodR. R.de JanvryA., and CerneaM. M. (2004), ‘A framework for enhancing and guarding the relevance and quality of science: The case of the CGIAR’, Experimental Agriculture, Vol 40, pp 1–21.
30.
KijimaY.OtsukaK., and SserunkuumaD. (2008), ‘Assessing the impact of NERICA on income and poverty in central and western Uganda’, Agricultural Economics, Vol 38, pp 327–337.
31.
KijimaY.SserunkuumaD., and OtsukaK. (2005), ‘How revolutionary is the “NERICA Revolution”?’The Developing Economies, Vol 44, No 2, pp 252–267.
32.
KyddJ.DorwardA.MorrisonJ., and CadischG. (2004), ‘Agricultural development and pro-poor economic growth on Sub-Saharan Africa: Potential and policy’, Oxford Development Studies, Vol 32, No 1, pp 37–57.
33.
LinaresO. F. (2002), ‘African rice (Oryza glaberrima): history and future potential’, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol 99, No 25, pp 16360–16365.
34.
LiptonM. (2005), The Family Farm in a Globalising World: The Role of Crop Science in Alleviating Poverty, 2020 Discussion Paper 40, IFPRI, Washington, DC.
35.
MarediaM. K.ByerleeD., and PeeP. (2000), ‘Impacts of food crop improvement research: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa’, Food Policy, Vol 25, No 5, pp 531–559.
36.
MastersW. A.BedingarT., and OehmkeJ. F. (1998), ‘The impact of agricultural research in Africa: Aggregate and case study evidence’, Agricultural Economics, Vol 19, No 1–2, pp 81–86.
NwanzeK. F.MohapatraS.KormawaP.KeyaS., and Bruce-OliverS. (2006), ‘Perspective: Rice development in sub-Saharan Africa’, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, Vol 86, pp 675–677.
39.
ObilanaA. B., and OkumuB. N. (2005), ‘Evaluation study report, INT/00/992 Africa–Asia Joint Research: interspecific hybridization between African and Asian rice species’, report prepared for UNDP SU/SSC and WARDA, Cotonou.
40.
OikehS. O.NwileneF.DiattaS.OsinameA.Touré, and OkeleyeK. A. (2008), ‘Responses of upland NERICA rice to nitrogen and phosphorus in forest agroecosystems’, Agronomy Journal, Vol 100, No 3, pp 735–741.
41.
OrtizR., and HartmannP. (2003), Beyond Crop Technology: The Challenge for African Rural Development?International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria, Website: http://www.rimisp.org/isc/documentos/beyondcroptechnology.pdf (accessed 30 August 2005).
42.
OtsukaK. (2006), ‘Why can't we transform traditional agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa?’Review of Agricultural Economics, Vol 28, No 3, pp 332–337.
43.
OtsukaK., and KalirajanK. P. (2006), ‘Rice Green Revolution in Asia and its transferability to Africa: An introduction’, The Developing Economies, Vol XLIV, No 2, pp 107–122.
44.
PardeyP. G.RoseboomJ., and BeintemaN. M. (1997), ‘Investments in African agricultural research’, World Development, Vol 25, No 3, pp 409–423.
45.
RichardsP.de Bruin-HoekzemaM.HughesS. G.Kudadjie-FreemanC.OffeiS.StruikP. C., and ZannouA. (2008), ‘Seed systems for African food security: Linking molecular genetic analysis and cultivator knowledge in West Africa’, International Journal of Technology Management (in press).
46.
RodenburgJ. (2006), ‘Achievements and impact of NERICA on sustainable rice production in sub-Saharan Africa’, International Rice Commission Newsletter, No 55, pp 45–58.
47.
SarlaN., and SwamyB. P. Mallikarjuna (2005), ‘Oryza glaberrima: a source for the improvement of Oryza sativa’, Current Science, Vol 89, No 6, pp 955–963.
SheehyJ. E.PengS.DobermannA.MitchellP. L.FerrerA.YangJ. C.ZouY. B.ZhongX. H., and HuangJ. L. (2004), ‘Fantastic yields in the system of rice intensification: Fact or fallacy?’Field Crops Research, Vol 88, No 1, pp 1–8.
50.
SheehyJ. E.SinclairT. R., and CassmanK. G. (2005), ‘Curiosities, nonsense, non-science and SRI’, Field Crops Research, Vol 91, Nos 2–3, pp 355–356.
51.
StoopW. A., and KassamA. H. (2005), ‘The SRI controversy: A response’, Field Crops Research, Vol 91, Nos 2–3, pp 357–360.
52.
StoopW. A.UphoffN., and KassamA. (2002), ‘A review of agricultural research issues raised by the system of rice intensification (SRI) from Madagascar: Opportunities for improving farming systems for resource-poor farmers’, Agricultural Systems, Vol 71, No 3, pp 249–274.
53.
TollensE.MeneteZ.SachdevaP.CourtoisB.NcubeM., and HasegawaT. (2007), Report of the Fifth External Program and Management (EPMR) of the Africa Rice Center (WARDA), CGIAR, Science Council Secretariat, Rome.
UNDP (2002), ‘New African rice varieties could save poor countries millions in imports’, press release, Website: http://www.undp.or.jp/news/nerica27mar.htm (accessed 30 August 2005).
56.
UphoffN. (2003), ‘Higher yields with fewer external inputs? The system of rice intensification and potential contributions to agricultural sustainability’, International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, Vol 1, No 1, pp 38–50.
WARDA (2000b), Impact on Varietal Improvement in West Africa Crop Ecologies, West Africa Rice Research Brief No 3, WARDA, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire.
65.
WARDA (2001a), Rice for Life, WARDA, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire.
66.
WARDA (2001b), Bintu and Her New Rice for Africa: Breaking the Shackles of Slash-and-Burn Farming in the World's Poorest Region, WARDA, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire.
67.
WARDA (2003a), NERICA on the Move. A Symbol of Hope for Rice Farmers in Africa, WARDA, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
68.
WARDA (2003b), ‘Assessing the impact of NERICA rice varieties: Not just surveys and simple mathematics’, WARDA Annual Report 2002–03, WARDA, Abidjan, pp 33–41.
