Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e
Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e
Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e
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The Democratic Republic of <strong>the</strong> CONGO, <strong>for</strong>merly Zaire, is a large centr<strong>al</strong> African<br />
country with a narrow corridor of land to <strong>the</strong> Atlantic Ocean. Its population was 50.3 million<br />
in 1999. The center and <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn parts of <strong>the</strong> country are covered in rain<strong>for</strong>est (but which<br />
is rapidly disappearing) and are sparsely populated, mainly by subsistence farmers. In <strong>the</strong><br />
south are extensive grasslands where <strong>the</strong> bulk of agriculture is carried out. Agriculture<br />
constituted 58% of GDP in 1997, occupying some 68% of <strong>the</strong> work<strong>for</strong>ce.<br />
Gener<strong>al</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />
• GNI per capita PPP$, 2000: 570<br />
• Intern<strong>al</strong> renewable water re<strong>source</strong>s: 935 km 3<br />
• Incoming water flow: 84 km 3<br />
• Main food consumed: roots and tubers,<br />
maize, oil and fat, fruits, nuts<br />
• <strong>Rice</strong> consumption, 1999: 16.5 kg milled rice<br />
per person per year<br />
Production constraints<br />
Nation<strong>al</strong> yield is among <strong>the</strong> lowest in <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
There are sever<strong>al</strong> constraints to sustainable rice<br />
production in Congo DR:<br />
• Drought stress, low soil fertility, and erosion<br />
of soil and soil fertility in upland areas,<br />
which are <strong>the</strong> dominant rice ecosystem<br />
• Blast and weed comp<strong>et</strong>ition<br />
• Inadequate and irregular input supplies:<br />
seeds, fertilizer, and credit<br />
• Lack of sm<strong>al</strong>l farm equipment, especi<strong>al</strong>ly<br />
<strong>for</strong> postharvest operations<br />
• Lack of effective farmers’ organizations and<br />
cooperatives<br />
• Poor maintenance of irrigation facilities<br />
• Lack of a well-defined rice policy<br />
• Poor road n<strong>et</strong>works and mark<strong>et</strong>ing systems<br />
• Limited irrigation facilities and <strong>the</strong>ir poor<br />
maintenance<br />
• Weak research and extension support<br />
• Recent d<strong>et</strong>erioration of <strong>the</strong> security situation<br />
Production season<br />
Planting Harvesting<br />
Main season, north Jan-Mar Jun-Jul<br />
Main season, south Sep-Oct Feb-Mar<br />
148 <strong>Rice</strong> <strong>al</strong>manac