Gender Analysis Of The Access To Factors Of Rice Production In Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper aims to assess the access to rice production factors in SSA and its determinants. The data were collected from 268 farmers. The results show that male farmers had larger land for rice cultivation than females. They had lower access to extension service, chemical fertilizer and mechanization for land preparation than females. Both males and females used children for bird and rat control. The experience, the membership to associations, the education and the cropping system are the determinants. Holistic approach taking into account gender and youth is needed for enhancing the access to various rice production factors in SSA

Contribution of improved processing equipment to rice value chain upgrading in West Africa: Evidence from Benin

Consumers in Benin developed strong preference to imported white rice. It is suggested that upgrading local rice value chain will require efforts on post-harvest segments by adding value to the product. Therefore, efforts have been deployed in the recent years to upgrade the value chain. Using experimental auction based on Becker-DegrootMarshack (BDM) mechanism combined with the endow-and-upgrade and a two stage approach, this study assessed: i) consumers’ willingness to upgrade and to pay for different parboiled rice types, ii) the competitiveness of local parboiled rice relative to imported parboiled and iii) the price premium of each improved processing technology. Results show that consumers will accept parboiled rice only if it is high quality rice. Among the local parboiled rice, the one produced with GEM parboiling technology, milled with rubber roll mill and sorted with optical sorter is more competitive than imported rice. Among technologies, optical sorter is the most important in the parboiled rice value chain upgrading. Econometric results revealed that rice attributes and information exchange on the benefit of parboiled rice are the most important to be considered in the value chain upgrading. Results suggest to combine improved processing technologies for an effective value chain upgrading

Agribusiness opportunities for youth in Nigeria: Farmers perceptions and willingness to pay for mechanized harvesting equipment

Nigeria is facing two major problems. The high rate of post-harvest losses in rice value chain and high rate of youth unemployment. This study assessed farmers perception on business opportunities for youth as well as farmers willingness to upgrade and to pay for two mechanized harvesting equipment, mini-harvester and reaper that youth can use to provide services. The study is conducted in the two rice development hubs in Nigeria on 290 farmers. Contingent valuation method combine with a two stage approach is used to elicit farmers willingness to pay. Descriptive statistics show that farmers perceive harvesting and threshing as the main business opportunities for youth in rice value chain. Moreover, majority of farmers prefer mechanized harvesting equipment to traditional method and are willing to pay for that with a strong preference to reaper. Compared to the cost of traditional method, farmers are willing to pay 27.33% and 21.59% less respectively for mini-harvester and reaper. Double hurdle model reveals that access to credit, extension, training and perceptions increase farmers willingness to upgrade and to pay. The study suggest many policy actions Key words: Youth, Nigeria, Rice value chain, willingness to pay, contingent valuation Acknowledgement : Authors are grateful to CGIAR research program on rice for financing the study. Thanks to partners of State Agricultural and Rural Development Programs of the two rice hubs, executive of innovation platforms and all enumerators and facilitators in Nasarawa and Kano rice hubs

Which Local Rice To Satisfy The Urban Consumers In Benin In Order To Ensure Rice Self-Sufficiency?

This study was initiated to identify the local rice varieties which can be promoted to satisfy the most the urban consumers’ requirements in Benin. Vikrey’s method of second price experimental auction was combined with “Endow-and-upgrade” method to collect data. The results show that the competitiveness of local rice vis-à-vis the most preferred imported rice is low. The most competitive local rice were the nonparboiled IR841, Gambiaca, and Nerica L20. Based on these results, the improved variety “IR841” and the local variety “Gambiaca” are the rice varieties to promote. However, the processing technology and the post-harvest activities need to be improved