Malanding,

My never answered question (I never asked it) is - can water be harvested
for future use, especially in times of drought?

Thanks,
Soffie

-----Original Message-----
From: Malanding Jaiteh [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 12:03 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Africa: Rice for the Future (fwd)


Ylva,
Despite the promises of the many varieties, I am yet to be convinced
that home grown rice can save a country like the Gambia. The single
greatest obstacle to self-sufficiency in rice is environmental (water
and fertility). Our country does not have enough of that now and future
does not look brighter either.


Malanding

Ylva Hernlund wrote:

>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2004 08:25:11 -0800
>From: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Africa: Rice for the Future
>
>
>Africa: Rice for the Future
>
>AfricaFocus Bulletin
>Feb 4, 2004 (040204)
>(Reposted from sources cited below)
>
>Editor's Note
>
>Only two decades ago, rice was considered a luxury food in West
>Africa, comments Dr. Kanayo Nwanze of the West African Rice
>Development Association (WARDA). Now it is a staple, accounting for
>more than 25% of cereal consumption. Import growth has consistently
>outpaced growth in production. But new rice varieties developed by
>WARDA researchers give hope that Africa could rapidly increase
>domestic production.
>
>This could save African countries millions in import costs.
>Although Nigeria produces about 80% of its rapidly rising rice
>consumption, imports are still growing faster than production, and
>cost some $300 million a year. Other countries in West Africa and
>around the continent also rely heavily on imports.
>
>This issue of AfricaFocus Bulletin contains a slighlty abridged
>version of an article from Africa Recovery on new varieties,
>developed by cross-breeding Asian and African rices [full version
>is available at http://www.africafocus.org/docs04/rice0401.php].
>The NERICA (New Rice for Africa) varieties preserve adaptability to
>African conditions while increasing yields or requiring large new
>inputs of fertilizer or pesticide. The research program, initiated
>by Sierra Leonean scientist Monty Jones, and building on
>cooperation with both African and Asian research institutes, is
>considered a model of successful South-South research cooperation.
>
>For much additional background information, see WARDA's web site at
>http://www.warda.org. Other useful sources are listed at the end of
>the article. The reposted article appeared in the issue of Africa
>Recovery [http://www.africarecovery.org] for January 2004.
>
>
>

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