1. National Rice Research and Development Strategy of Ethiopia (NRRDSE) July 5 - 9, 2010 Cotonou, Benin

2. Background: Ethiopia Population: 72+ Million (growth 2.4+%)
Altitude: <120 masl to over 4600 masl
Diversity: Relief, Soils and Climate
Flora and Fauna
Peoples, Culture and Languages (> 80 languages and ethnic groups)
Economy:
15-17 percent of GOE’s expenditures are committed to agriculture and rural development,
agriculture directly supports
85 percent of the population’s livelihoods,
45 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and
over 80 percent of export value.
Thirteen million smallholder farmers account for 95 percent of total production, and
five to seven million households are chronically food insecure year-round

3. Basic facts: Policy
The potential rice production area in Ethiopia is estimated to be about thirty million hectares
It has wider adaptation
The government has also recognized it as a millennium crop in light of ensuring food security in Ethiopia
Rice is important sector along with the focus given to Agriculture in the GoE’s poverty reduction strategy,
the 2004 Food Security Strategy (FSS),
the 2006 Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End Poverty (PASDEP)
the new PASDEP is expected to incorporate the targets of this strategic document.

4. Basic facts: Rice Production Trends
The development aspect in promoting rice production is also limited to certain areas. However, there is an increasing trend in both area and production of the crop since 2006.
Region
2007
2008
2009
No. of farmers
Size (ha)
Producti on (ton)
Production (ton)
Amhara
96300
32100
73280
211440
52985
140135
218375
68430
202149
Tigray
3600
1271
3286
6855
5150
14050
Benshangual Gumuz
1474
362
1181
3230
10080
39786
Oromiya
8865
2955
9465
22036
5875
20676
25065
12940
44104
Somali
13590
4530
13815
5154
9920
38120
8300
16780
63355
SNNP
31,113
10,371
25,742
15,741
18,721
77,723
22443
29156
120,391
Gambella
657
1314
4,456
13350
54,890
Ethiopia
149,868
49,956
122,302
260,102
90,448
285,577
284268
155,886
538,725

5. Basic facts: Rice Suitability Map: Rain-fed
Total - about 30 m ha
5.6 m ha highly suitable
25 m ha suitable

6. Basic facts: Irrigation potential for Rice
River Basin
Irrigable Land (ha)
Region (s)
Tekeze
83,368
Tigray and Amhara
Abbay
815,581
Amhara, Oromiya, Benishangul Gumuz
Baro-Akobbo
1,019,523
Benishangul-Gumz, Gambella, Oromia, and SNNPR
Omo-Ghibe
67,928
SNNPR and Oromiya
Rift Valley (Lakes)
139,300
Oromiya and SNNP
Mereb
67,560
Tigray
Afar /Denakil
158,776
Afar, Tigray, and Amhara
Awash
134,121
Amhara, Oromia, Afar, and Somali
Wabi-Shebelle
237,905
Oromia, Harari and Somali
Genale-Dawa
1,074,720
Oromia, SNNRP, and Somali regions
Total
3,798,782

7. PRIORITY AREAS AND APPROACHES
Agro-ecology based promotion of Rice R&D
Promotion of both small-scale and commercial rice production
Gender consideration
Value chain approach promotion
Environmentally sustainability

8. Strategies of the NRRDSE
In view of the suggested approaches and addressing the priority areas indentified, the NRRDSE is designed to have nine main strategic components namely
strengthening the institutional framework and policy development
Research, Technology Dissemination, Promotion and Capacity Building;
Seed Production, Multiplication and Dissemination of Certified Seed
fertilizer marketing and distribution;
irrigation and investment in water control technologies;
pre-harvest technologies,
post-harvest technologies
access to and maintenance of agricultural machinery and equipment; and
access to credit/ agricultural finance.

9. Paddy Grain Production in ton
Projected rice area and production (2009 – 2019)
Region
Year
Area in ha
Paddy Grain Production in ton
Upland
rain-fed
Lowland
Irrigation
Total
Amhara
2009
38,430
30,000
68,430
103,761
96,000 -
199,761
2014
81,769
63,833
13,624
159,226
261,662
255,330
74,932
591,924
2019
124,662
97,316
27,248
249,226
436,317
486,580
190,736
1,113,633
Oromiya
12,940
41,408
30,805
123,220
34,743
15,570
50,313
173,715
108,990
282,705
SNNPR
1,475
27,681
29,156
3,983
88,578
92,562
3,680
69,044
72,724
11,775
276,177
287,952
5,526
103,687
7,785
116,998
19,342
518,434
54,495
592,271
Tigray
3,950
1,200
5,150
10,665
3,840
14,505
18,580
5,965
24,545
59,457
23,859
83,316
32,823
11,117
43,940
114,880
55,586
170,466
Gambela
3,350
10,000
13,350
10,720
40,000
50,720
53,530
20,000
73,530
214,120
110,000
324,120
93,710
133,710
468,550
280,000
748,550
Benshangul
10,080
32,256
Gumuz
58,670
234,680
102,260
5,000
107,260
511,300
35,000
546,300
Somali
16,780
67,120
43,984
241,912
71,807
502,649
Afar
120
660
250
1,750
43,855
85,251
26,780
155,886
118,409
272,802
107,120
498,332
104,030
281,846
77,728
463,604
332,895
1,127,385
427,504
1,887,784
163,011
442,833
167,660
773,504
570,538
2,214,165
1,173,620
3,958,323

10. Human capacity building targets
Year
Agricultural researchers with BSc MSc or Ph D
Research Technicians
Rice Seed Technologists
Extension Workers
spend about hours a week on rice promotion
Total
Full time
Part time
2009 23 6 17 12 4 8 7
160 -
2014 69 18 51 36 24 15
488
2019
186 48
138
101 65 25
1,326

11. Governance Ministry of Agricultur National Rice Steering Committee
National Rice Technical Committee
EIAR (3)
MoARD (3)
Rice Secretariat (Plan &Prog Dir)
Collabora tors
Ministry of Agricultur
National Rice Steering Committee
National Rice Technical Committee
ESE (1)
SAA (1
Regional BoARD
(Focal Person)
Collaborators
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
(MoARD)

12. Partnership arrangements
The NRRDSE will be promoting effective partnership with all stakeholders within the country and also abroad like IRRI, Africa Rice Center, JIRCAS, CARD.
The National Rice R&D Steering Committee will take the responsibility in strengthening this partnership.
In addition, the Agricultural and Rural Development Partners’ Linkage Advisory Council at federal, regional, zonal and woreda level will play in further strengthening the linkage among stakeholders.

13. Thank you