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Rice is one of the main staple foods in the Sahel and throughout West Africa. Its sustainable production and processing are crucial to the region's food and nutritional security.

Burkina Faso, a landlocked country with a population of around 20 million, depends mainly on rice and other staples such as corn, millet, sorghum and wheat.

Although overall rice production in West Africa has increased over the last decade, it is not close to the regional goal of rice self-sufficiency. This means that many countries are resorting to rice imports to meet local demand. This is the case in Burkina Faso and other West African countries.

Thanks to the rice intensification system, CORAF and its national partners have made a significant contribution to the regional ambition of producing enough rice for the region. But efforts are still insufficient in some countries.

Researchers at Burkina Faso's Institut National de l'Environnement et de la Recherche Agricole (INERA) are working hard to design new varieties that are not only high-yielding, but also more profitable and more nutritious. This is the case of Dr Valentin Edgard Traoré, Rice Breeder at INERA. In the following interview, he talks about the latest research findings and how they could help reduce rice imports into Burkina Faso. Read more...

Why did you think of creating new rice varieties when there are already several in Burkina Faso and the sub-region?

Dr Traoré: My ambitions for the creation and improvement of rice varieties go back a long way, to when I was working in the field of phytovirology. In 2009, I had the privilege of benefiting from the PhD program at the West African Center for Crop Improvement (WACCI), funded by the Alliance pour la Révolution Verte en Afrique (AGRA). It was both a challenge and a great opportunity for me. With my background as a pathologist, I was convinced that acquiring additional knowledge in genetics and plant breeding could help me develop new high-yielding, disease-resistant and tolerant rice varieties preferred by farmers and consumers.

Between 1996 and 2005, I carried out many varietal screenings for resistance and tolerance to rice yellow mottle virus, the most dreaded viral disease of rice in Africa, responsible for crop losses of 20 to 100% in the event of heavy epidemics. The disease is caused by the Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV). The results of our work have enabled us to confirm and/or identify sources of partial and total resistance in several rice lines, mainly in Glaberrima or Sativa Indica varieties. However, almost all the varieties preferred and cultivated by growers were found to be highly susceptible to RYMV. However, it must be recognized that our elders in the field have carried out a great deal of varietal selection work, which has enabled INERA to popularize over sixty rice varieties in Burkina Faso. These varieties, commonly known as FaraKobaRizor FKR, are classified into an FKR series followed by even numbers for the irrigated/lowland system, and an FKR series followed by odd numbers for the rainfed system. Fortunately, senior researchers have produced many results. The Rice Program continues to generate many technologies that seem to satisfy both growers and end consumers. Of the sixty or so varieties available, only ten or so are currently grown throughout the country, mainly FKR18 or SC27, FKR19, FKR56N, FKR60N, FKR62N, FKR64 or TS2, FKR84 or Orylux6, FKR45N, FKR47N, NERICA4..... Most of these varieties are more than 10 years old, and no longer necessarily take account of emerging constraints in the context of climate change. What's more, despite the fact that most of these varieties stand out with yield potentials of 5 to 7 tonnes per hectare, the average yields recorded by our growers are still among the lowest in Africa; between 2 and 3 tonnes per hectare. In addition, several studies have shown that our producers are unable to meet market demand in terms of paddy quantity and quality.

With this in mind, we decided to invest in the creation and dissemination of a new generation of high-yielding, more resilient varieties that meet the current demands of growers and consumers. So, as part of my PhD work, which effectively began in the field in 2010, I opted for participatory varietal creation in order to respond directly to the specific needs of our producers in terms of rice varieties.

How did you come up with these new rice varieties?

Dr Traoré: The participatory approach involved conducting a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) study. The findings of this study enabled us to: (i) identify the main rice varieties grown in two of the country's main rice-growing zones (Banzon and Mogtédo); (ii) classify these varieties according to the preferences of producers and consumers; (iii) and finally, to identify the main preference criteria for rice varieties. This approach guided us in our choice of parental lines for crosses with RYMV-resistant/tolerant lines identified through varietal screening tests. We then succeeded in obtaining successful crosses with 16 pairs of parental lines. The F2 generations obtained from these crosses were subjected to the Single Seed Descent (SSD) technique, which we modified to generate 3 generations per year. The varietal selection process, which began with the F5 generations, has enabled us to generate several promising recombinant lines. In 2015, we again benefited from support from AGRA through the PASS-027-2015 to finance a project entitled "Development of farmers' preferred rice varieties resistant to Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) and participatory varietal selection (PVS) in Burkina Faso". Under this project, some twenty recombinant lines have been evaluated for DUS and VATE. In 2019, four (04) varieties named KamBoisinRizor KBR were submitted to the Comité National de Semences for inclusion in Burkina Faso's national catalog of agricultural species and varieties.

Can you tell us about the characteristics of these new varieties? And how do they differ from other rice varieties?

Dr Traoré: The four varieties submitted for registration are KBR2 or Massamalo, KBR4 or NongSaamè, KBR6 or Bitonkini and KBR8 or Mouifiida. These new varieties stand out from the others on several counts:

• Intermediate 105- to 120-day sowing-harvest cycles;
• Resistance/tolerance to several isolates of rice yellow mottle virus ;
• NongSaamè, Bitonkini and Mouifiida do not require much water and respond very effectively to SRI, resisting well to dry spells outside the flowering phase;
• High yield potential in excess of 8-9 tonnes per hectare (yields in excess of 6 tonnes/ha have been observed among several growers in different rice production zones such as Douna, Bama, Dédougou, Niassan, Débé, Di, Bagré);
• Good organoleptic and nutritional quality of the seeds (sugar and protein assays carried out in collaboration with the University of Ouagadougou).

Several tasting tests were carried out to compare KBR with one of the varieties preferred by the majority of Burkina consumers, which turned out to be FKR64 or TS2 or Bagré rice. KBR was always better appreciated or, in the worst case, judged equivalent to the TS2 control variety.

How long did your research take, and what were the difficulties and constraints along the way?

Dr Traoré: The research took five (05) years, from selecting the parental lines to obtaining the recombinant lines. Then it took another three (03) years to conduct the DUS/VATE tests (DUS = Distinction-Homogeneity-Stability / VATE = Valeur Agronomique, Technologique et Environnementale) and complete the submission files for inclusion in the catalog in 2018. There was no shortage of difficulties and constraints. First and foremost, there is a critical shortage of qualified technicians to support research activities. As a result, fixed-term contracts (CDD) have had to be negotiated to obtain the support of research technicians. This type of technician, having benefited from training and practical experience, does not hesitate to resign in search of more stable employment. There are also difficulties in financing field activities, especially for VATE and PVS evaluations. It took AGRA's financial support to submit these 4 varieties in the KBR series. Several other promising varieties are still in the drawers, awaiting the necessary funding to get them into the hands of growers.

How have growers reacted to these new varieties?

Dr Traoré: The reaction of rice growers in Banzon and especially Di, Niassan and Débé growers in Sourou was most encouraging. Low yields (2 to 3 t/ha) in Sourou had prompted many growers to turn to onion production, which was booming thanks to outlets on the Ivorian market. However, the promise of yields with the KBR series that could reach and even exceed 9 t/ha with the first participatory varietal evaluations helped bring many growers back to rice production.

What is planned to facilitate large-scale access to these new rice varieties for growers?

Dr Traoré: As a reminder, the rice varieties in the KBR series were developed using a participatory approach. Over 120 growers were involved in VATE tests coupled with participatory varietal selection (PVS). In addition, several varietal demonstration tests were conducted as part of another project organized as a RIZ_BREP CONSORTIUM, funded by AGRA in 2018(Competitive & Inclusive Rice Value Chain Development: Rice Marketing and Production Systems Enhancement Project). Covering the 2018 and 2019 dry and wet seasons, these varietal demonstration tests compared the BREP project's 4 high commercial value varieties FKR60N, FKR62N, FKR64 and FKR84 with several varieties from the KBR series (KBR2, KBR4, KBR6, KBR8, KBR10, KBR12, KBR14, KBR16 and KBR18). As a reminder, only varieties KBR2/4/6 and 8 have been submitted for registration.

Although KBR varieties are not yet formally registered in the national catalog, a number of growers in different rice-growing areas have already adopted these varieties, which they produce for everyday consumption.

Do you have any appeal or advice for producers and players in the rice sector?

Dr Traoré: I'd like to draw the attention of producers and other players in the rice value chain to the problem of national rice quality.

The quality of rice on the market is strictly linked to the quality of the paddy raw material. Paddy quality in turn can be affected by problems of varietal blending rather than the intrinsic quality of the varieties grown. It should be remembered that paddy quality is linked to the quality of the seed used. As a reminder, seed accounts for over 40% of production yield, and the systematic reuse of crops in the form of seed can affect both paddy quality and the variety's yield potential. It is therefore preferable for growers to obtain certified seed from seed professionals. As a researcher, I have worked extensively with growers over many years. I have faith that our rice sector can experience a real boom while matching supply to market demand. To achieve this, all players in the rice value chain need to get involved and work in synergy to meet the challenge. I also believe that Burkina Faso can considerably reduce its rice import bill. This is possible, and that's why Research continues to innovate.

What they said about varieties

SAWADOGO Albert (Seed producer in the Kou Valley): I know KBR varieties. It was a real discovery for us growers on the Bama plain. We've been experimenting with them here for more than two seasons. We can't wait to be able to produce them to replace the old varieties.

OUEDRAOGO Zakaria (Producer): We produce many varieties of rice, including Chinese rice. For some time now, we've been adopting a new variety called KBR. It's being tested and we're very satisfied with its profitability per hectare. It produces more and it's also very tasty to eat.

KOBYAGDA Soumaila (Extension agent): KBRs are among the varieties most prized by growers. We experimented with KBR12 for 2 consecutive seasons. During the last season, we experimented with KBR8, which clearly has significant advantages over older varieties. These KBR varieties can yield up to 10 tonnes per hectare, or even more if the technological package is respected.

Read also:

• How can West Africa achieve rice self-sufficiency? A new publication reveals the enormous potential of the System of Intensive Rice Cultivation (SRI) to achieve this.
• SIR boosts farmers' incomes in Mali
• "West African rice must be able to compete with imported rice", Dr. Abdoulaye Touré