FSC in dialog: Potential impact of new technologies

May 14, 2013

The topic "Estimation of aggregate actual and potential impact of adoption of a new technology using the marginal treatment effect framework" was presented and discussed on May 14, 2013, by Aliou Diagne from the Africa Rice Center.
Rice plays a fundamental role in the food security of Africa as it has become the main source of calories for low-income households, particular in West Africa.  Africa rice’s economy has seen a tremendous boost since the rice crisis occurred in 2008, driven equally by expanded harvested area and yield increase. Over the period 2007–2012, average rice yield in SSA increased in real terms by 78 kg/ha per year, comparable to Green Revolution growth rates in Asia or what was witnessed in the USA and Europe after the Second World War.  
In the talk the trends in rice production and consumption in Africa were reviewed, placing particular emphasis on the improvements in rice productivity and competitiveness achieved after the 2008 food crisis. Appropriate policies needed to sustain these promising developments in the African rice sector were discussed as well as challenges faced to keep rice imports at a manageable level given the continuing relatively high growth rate in rice consumption across the continent.