Transcript The rice Value Chain In - Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection

The Rice Value Chain in
Zambia
Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection
JCTR Premises Plot No. 3813 Martin Mwamba Road, Lusaka.
January, 2015
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Who we are – Organizational Structure
JCTR
Social &
Economic
Development
Faith & Justice
Outreach
Livings
tone
Monze
Mongu
Kabwe
Ndola
Kasama
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Introduction
This presentation introduces the debate
around the Rice value chain in Zambia.
This Report presents the findings of the
study that was tasked to carry out a
scoping on agricultural-led wealth creation
and employment generation with a specific
focus on the production and marketing of
rice in Zambia.
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Introduction
It explores the possibility of staple food
diversification away from dependence on maize.
It also proposes advocacy for changes in
domestic consumption patterns in tandem with
increase in rice production in Zambia.
The scoping study was motivated by an
awareness that Zambia is a maize centric
society hence the need to have a diversified
food crop.
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Objectives of the Study
Explore the agriculture sector’s potential in
wealth creation and employment creation in
Zambia;
Investigate agriculture crops and sectors with
the most potential for employment and wealth
creation;
Review the existing literature including
general statistics-for example to confirm
existing production volumes and productivity,
the divisions between commercial and smallscale farming contributions to production.
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Objectives of the Study
Review of the current policy context answering
questions for example about current import and
export tariffs, the details of the National Rice
Development Strategy and to what extent it is
being implemented and policies in neighbouring
countries towards rice production, import and
export;
Engage various parties including the Ministry of
Agriculture, active donors and NGOs such as
SNV, rice growers and producers associations,
research
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Methodology of the Study
The Study was conducted in five phases, namely;
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Engagement of the consultant to undertake the Rice
scoping, which included field visits in Western and Luapula
Provinces.
Consideration of successful rice production models in
Tanzania.
Private sector engagement regarding the scope, and level of
intervention in rice value chain in Zambia.
Exploration of the co-operative model in rice value chain
production in Zambia.
ZEAP also engaged Peter Peter Langmead who did an
analysis of the rice value chain focusing on Luapula
Province.
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Map of Zambia
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Opportunities
Henry Ngimba who introduced the System
of Rice Intensification (SRI), contends that
Zambia has comparative advantage to
spearhead growth of the rice sector on
account of;
 existing local varieties that give good
yields.
 Less seed is used – lower plant
population per area
 No need for chemical fertiliser – use
compost
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Opportunities
Availability of abundant human, water and land
resources.
An improved trunk road network.
Geographical location of the country which gives
it leverage to export to neighboring countries like
the Congo and Angola and in general the SADC
Market.
Rice offers opportunities for sustainable
agriculture systems (No need for chemical
fertiliser – use compost
Local rice enjoys preference regarding aromatic
taste.
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Challenges
The high cost of transportation of rice from production
areas to markets i.e. distance to markets.
Lack of rice water-saving and controlling technologies
which could optimise water usage.
Labour intensive
Poor milling plants in areas where rice is grown.
According to Peter Langmead “ ..milling rice gives 50
per cent whole grain rice, 16 per cent broken rice, 20
per cent husks and 14 per cent bran and meal…”
Lack of market linkages for small-holder farmers. Bulk
of the commodity is traded on informal markets.
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Insights Gained from the Rice Scoping
The scoping study shows that there is limited
political will to improve the viability of rice.
That the focus on maize is politically expedient.
Rice is perceived as a middle class commodity.
Demand for Rice in Zambia is on the increase
as incomes increase.
Commercial companies unwilling to invest in
rice processing, packaging and marketing
with exception of National Milling.
That government has a greater role to play in
advocating for changes in consumption
patterns in Zambia.
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Conclusion
We hypothesize that the greatest
factor accounting for limited rice
production in Zambia are two fold
namely consumption patterns and
the lack of a coordinated structural
framework integrating all actors in
the rice value chain from production
to marketing.
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Stakeholder Meeting
• This meeting has been called to discuss the
findings of the Scoping Study.
• The overall objective of this meeting is to
incorporate the various insights from players in the
rice value chain and discern whether we can
sustain advocacy around staple food
diversification in Zambia by way of championing
causes for agriculture policy review as
government is clearly struggling with the
practicalities of crop diversification as clearly
manifest in agro-policy priorities around FISP
which favor maize.
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Which is the best
recommended advocacy
strategy to escalate the
Rice diversification
debate?
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