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October 03, 2024

Building Capacity for Sustainable Rice Value Chains: Highlights from Recent Training Programs

This year, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conducted a series of impactful training programs aimed at strengthening sustainable rice production systems across three countries: Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Philippines. These initiatives, in collaboration with the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) and national partners – namely the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), Agence Nationale d’Appui au Développement Rural (ANADER), L’Agence pour le Développement de la Filière RIZ (ADERIZ) in Côte d’Ivoire, and the Department of Agriculture/PhilRice in the Philippines – were conducted in March and September as part of the “Capacity Development and Experience Sharing for Rice Value Chains through South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC)” project, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MAFRA).

The objectives of these trainings were to enhance the capacities of agricultural research and extension services while exploring SRP tools, particularly the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation and the SRP Performance Indicators. The collaborative initiative is vital for promoting good agricultural practices among smallholder farmers, fostering sustainable rice production systems, and ultimately enhancing the overall rice value chain in these countries.

Training in Morogoro, Tanzania

The first training was conducted in March 2024, with an SRP Authorized Training session on the SRP Standard and Performance Indicators held in Morogoro, Tanzania. Organized in collaboration with the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), this training brought together over 65 participants, including researchers, agricultural extension officers, and smallholder rice farmers from various districts.

Training Programs in Côte d’Ivoire and the Philippines

From 16 to 20 September, FAO and SRP organized a five-day training program at PhilRice in Nueva Ecija, the Philippines. A total of 30 participants engaged in-depth with the SRP Standard and Performance Indicators (SPI), guided by experts including Rowell Dikitanan, SRP’s Impact, Monitoring & Evaluation Manager, and Estela Pasuquin from IRRI.

Simultaneously, from 17 to 21 September, a training session on the SRP Standard and Performance Indicators was conducted at CFMAG in Grand-Lahou, Côte d’Ivoire, where 36 participants, including four from Benin who attended through funding support from Enabel, the development agency of Belgium’s federal government, received targeted training. The program was facilitated by local experts Kouah Noé DJIGBE from ADERIZ and Michel Tougma from Rikolto.

Development of French Language Training Materials

A notable achievement during the Côte d’Ivoire training was the pilot testing of French-language training materials developed in collaboration with Rikolto, specifically tailored for the West Africa Regional Rice Programme and French-speaking Africa. These materials will be finalized for use by Authorized Training Providers and Authorized SRP-SPI trainers in future training sessions.

Conclusion: Driving Innovation and Sustainability

These training programs are vital components of the SSTC project, reinforcing SRP’s commitment to enhancing rice value chains and scaling adoption of sustainable rice cultivation across Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Philippines. By equipping local stakeholders with the necessary tools and knowledge, we are driving innovation and promoting sustainability in the global rice sector.

As we move forward, we look forward to continued collaboration and the positive impact these training initiatives will have on rice production practices and food security in these regions.