NERICA Compendium - Kenya Rice Researchers Forum

Module 3NERICA dissemination insub-Saharan Africaresearch,resulting in the release of about 200 improved rice varietiesover the past 25 years in West Africa alone. An impact study foundthat the producers’ surplus gains from these improved varietieswere worth about USD 360 million in 1998 alone and that, withoutimports in 1998 would have been 40% higher. Additional 650,000hectares of farmland would have to be under rice cultivation tomaintain consumption levels at their current standard (Dalton andWARDA has strengthened its germplasm distribution, regionalevaluation and utilization activities across sub-Saharan Africain recent years. Improved rice germplasm have been multiplied,processed and distributed – free of charge – nurseries for further evaluation under local conditions and utilizationby national rice improvement programs in SSA.Participating countriesFigure 7.1994 to 200636