Abstract:
Although the wild ricc (Oiyza longistamincita) was observed in the swampy and the
waterlogged areas o f Gambela and Fogera plains, the history o f ricc cultivation in
Ethiopia is very short comparing to some Asia countries such as China. It is believed
that ricc in the Amhara Region was first introduced by Dutch man and American
missionaries at Fogera plain in 60-70th last century (Bekur, 1997). During the 1980s,
rice research and extension was promoted by North Koreans in Fogera plain with
farmers’ producers’ cooperatives and resettlement areas especially in Jigna and Shaga
farmers’ producers’ cooperatives of Dcra and Fogera Districts, respectively. Based on
these observations, rice experiments were initiated and conducted at Fogera, Gambela,
Wercr, from 1969 to 1992 A.D. by different interested individuals and organizations.
The high yield rccords were 36-85 qt ha'1 respectively, as it is shown in Tabic 1, which
promoted the ricc production greatly. Today rice is produced mainly by small-scale farmers in many parts o f the country, but
also with large-scale farmers in a few placcs. There are 93,286 smallholders engaged in
rice production with average land size o f 0.33 ha per household in 2011/2012
production season (CSA, 2012) .
Average annual milled rice production from 2008/2009 to 201 1/2012 was estimated at
63,464 tons. Annual average import o f milled rice over the last ten years is estimated at
21,724 tons (MoARD, 2010) . Imported milled rice accounted for 25% o f total milled
rice consumption.
Adet Research Centre o f Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute coordinates
the rice research program in Ethiopia. EIAR and other Regional Research Institutes are
also engaged in the research. Currently, the total number of researchers engaged in rice
research is 6 fulltime and 17 part-time (MoARD. 2010.
Till 2013, 9 lowland ricc varieties and 8 upland ricc varieties are released. But in the
actual production, only few are planted. Such as in Amhara Region, actual used
varieties are X-Gigna, dcmwez for lowland rice and NERICA 3 and 4, for upland rice.
In 2005, among total 11,185 ha rice, X-Gigna was 11,085 ha and NERICA-4 was 50.3
ha.
Pests and diseases o f rice occur seldom in Ethiopia. In the case o f wet and
high-temperature, sheath blight (Thanaphrus cucumeris), rice blast ( Pyricularia
oryzae), rice brown spot (Heliminthosporium oryzae), stem borer (Chilo suppresscilis),
rice bugs (Leptocorisa svp.) may be boosted.