Rice In Nigeria Research Articles

A Comparative Analysis of Economic Efficiency Between Traditional and Improved Rice Varieties Farmers in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State

There is a well established and growing demand for rice in Nigeria as a major staple. Only about half of that demand is met by domestic production, the availability and prices of rice directly impact on the welfare of the poorest Nigerian consumers due to the fact that consumption runs ahead of local production. The study examines and compares the technical, allocative and economic efficiency between improved and traditional rice farmers in Oriade local government area of Osun state. Primary data were collected from 60 traditional and 60 improved rice farmers. Data obtained was analyzed using Cobb-Douglas production and cost function. The result revealed that farm size and agrochemical were significant factors which influence both rice technologies in the area. The return to scale (RTS) reveals that both improved and traditional rice production were in stage II of production surface. The result of the cost frontier shows that labour, agrochemical and output were significant for both for both rice technologies while fertilizer and seed were significant for improved and traditional rice production, respectively. The mean technical efficiency for improved rice production is 0.84 and 0.329 for traditional rice production while allocative and economic efficiencies mean values for both improved and traditional rice are 0.931, 0.773, 0.861 and 0.278, respectively. Conclusively, there is existence of inefficiency in cost for both the traditional and improved rice technologies.

Effect of Quality on the Demand for Rice in Nigeria

Effect of Quality on the Demand for Rice in Nigeria

Effect of water management and nitrogen rates on iron concentration and yield in lowland rice

In order to attain self-sufficiency of rice in Nigeria, production could be increased to feed the growing population. Water for irrigation is becoming scarce; iron toxicity is a major constraint in the production of lowland rice under waterlogged conditions. Loss of nitrogen through denitrification and leaching also mitigate against sustainable irrigated rice production in Bida area. A field trial was conducted in 2009 and 2010 to evaluate water and nitrogen management on concentration of iron as it affects yield of lowland rice in the NCRI research fields in Bida,Niger State. The results obtained show that there were significant differences in plant height, panicles number, straw and grain yield when compared with the control (farmers practice). There were no significant differences in grain yield between treatments three with values of 3.05 t ha -1 and four with 2.80 t ha -1 . Yields generally increased with increasing levels of nitrogen and declined from 80 kg ha -1 . Nitrogen use efficiency increased with increasing levels of nitrogen rates and was 4.78 kg at 80 kg N ha -1 .There were also significant differences in plant tissue iron content but no significant differences in grain iron content. Iron concentration was higher in the control than treatments with higher levels of nitrogen as shown by iron toxicity score. Irrigation water was applied at soil moisture tension of -30 KPa. The total water applied was 1348 mm including rainfall and crop water use for the control that had flooding till harvest. The treatment that was drained four times at intervals saved 143 mm and water use efficiency was 4.78 kg mm

Demand Analysis for Rice in Nigeria

Demand Analysis for Rice in Nigeria

Socio-economic factors influencing foreign rice consumption in Ikwuano and Umuahia north local governmentareas of Abia State.

The study examined the socio-economic factors influencing foreign rice consumption in Ikwuano and Umuahia North local government Areas of Abia state. A total of 93 rice consumers were selected across the two local government areas using the simple random technique. Data, which comprised information on the socio- economic characteristic and other quantitative variables of interest, were collected using a well-structured questionnaire administered to the consumers. The socio-economic characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistic such as percentages and frequencies. The ordinary least square (OLS) model of multiple regression technique was used to analyze the consumption functions of rice consumers. From the results obtained, it was revealed that the price of commodity (X ), price of substitute (X ), Household size (X ) frequency of consumption (X ), and educational status(X ) were significant and positively related to foreign rice consumption in the study area. The economic implication is that foreign rice has become an essential commodity whose demand is not easily decreased by the decrease or rise in its price or price of its substitute, household size and its frequency of consumption in study area. The government should therefore regulate importation of the foreign rice commodity and on the other hand increase investment on agriculture so as to boost and accelerate indigenous production of local rice which can match the imported ones in quality and standard. Government should create enabling environment to attract foreign rice producing companies in Thailand, China, e.t.c. to enter into partnership with Federal, State, Local governments as well as organized private sector for production of same high quality rice in Nigeria. Keywords: Socio-Economics, Foreign Rice, Consumption.

Biology of the African rice gall midge Orseolia oryzivora (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and its incidence on wet-season rice in Nigeria

The biology of the African rice gall midge Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagne was investigated in screenhouse and laboratory studies, and its incidence on cultivated wet-season rice was studied in farmers’ fields during the 2006 and 2007 rice-growing seasons at two localities in Nigeria. This insect is nocturnal, and mating takes place immediately after emergence. Both mated and unmated females lay eggs, with mated females laying on average 389 eggs each, and unmated females laying about 87 sterile eggs. The egg stage takes on average 2.5 days. Larval development takes 3.6, 3.3 and 3.0 days for the first, second and third instars, respectively, while the pre-pupal and pupal stages take 2.8 and 6.1 days, respectively. Adult females live for 48–78 h, while males live for 24–30 h. The life cycle of O. oryzivora is completed within 21–24 days under screenhouse conditions. The adult male is slender and about 3 mm long, while the female is more rounded with a 4 mm long body and a bright red abdomen. The insect produces unisexual progeny. Field incidence is low at the beginning of the rainy season, peaking with the peak in rainfall and humidity that concurs with the vegetative stage of the crop. The population of the midge declines as temperatures rise. In conclusion, prediction models may be developed based on weather parameters, to aid in forecasting the field incidence of O. oryzivora and its management strategies. Furthermore, it maybe possible to reduce the damage caused by O. oryzivora to rice crops by altering planting period and taking into account environmental factors.

Screening of African rice, oryza glaberrima steud, for resistance to the African rice gall midge orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagne

Two hundred seventy-three lines of the cultivated African rice species Oryza glaberrima Steud were screened in a paddy screenhouse at the National Cereals Research Institute, near Bida, Niger State, Nigeria for resistance to the African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagne, an increasingly important pest of lowland rice in Nigeria. Twenty entries which showed no galls in the screenhouse evaluation were retested under natural infestation in a gall midge-endemic field location near Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Whereas the susceptible check variety, FARO 37, had 39.6 % of tillers infested 60 days after transplanting, damage in the test entries ranged from 0 to 3.7 %, an indication that they were all highly to moderately resistant to the pest. Greater host plant resistance is a central requirement for more effective management of O. oryzivora. Using resistance genes from O. glaberrima is a promising approach to achieving this.

Population dynamics of the African rice gall midge Orseolia oryzivora (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and its parasitoids in the forest and southern Guinea savanna zones of Nigeria

The African rice gall midge (AfRGM) Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagne is an important insect pest of rice in Nigeria. Studies were conducted at Ogidiga (forest zone) and Edozhigi (southern Guinea savanna) in Nigeria, under rainfed lowland conditions during the 2006 and 2007 rainy seasons, on the population dynamics of AfRGM adults using light trap and random sampling of % tiller infestation (plant damage due to AfRGM) and % parasitism by Platygaster diplosisae Risbec and Aprostocetus procerae Risbec (parasitized larvae and pupae and parasitoid species present in dissected tillers). The results obtained showed that AfRGM populations were relatively low in June and July - the beginning of the 2006 and 2007 rainy seasons, respectively - and increased abruptly from September, reaching a peak in October at both locations. The increase was attributed to the rapid build-up of the pest populations at both locations. There were strong positive correlations between adult populations from light-trap catches and % tiller infestation, and between % tiller infestation and parasitism. The peak period of parasitism by P. diplosisae and A. procerae occurred towards the end of the rainy season in October, coinciding with high level of % tiller infestation. It is concluded that conservation of the parasitoids early in the cropping season (i.e. to improve their synchronization with the host) could become an effective management strategy against AfRGM.

Water management practices for sustainable rice production in Nigeria

The importance of rice in Nigeria is no longer the question but rather how can we meet the growing demand, reduce import and be self-sufficient. Consumption per capita jumped from 2.9 kg (1970/74) to 24.1 kg (1995/99). Our production figure increased by 6 times within the period to 3.27 million tons but our importation figure by 1998 stood at 1 million tons accounting for one third of the total import for West Africa. By 1999 area harvested from rice stood at 2.2 million hectares of which 65% was from rainfed lowland. However our yield average is 1.5 t/ha. There are 55 high yielding varieties for various ecologies officially released and another 6 NERICA varieties in the pipeline for upland areas. The lowland elite varieties with good management could yield up to 6 tons per ha. But these potentials are never achieved on farmers’ field because of poor water control system and bad soil management. This is why a renewed call for a concerted effort needs to be made for a better water and soil management practices referred to in this paper as *Sawah System and better policies.

MARKET SUPPLY RESPONSE AND DEMAND FOR LOCAL RICE IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY POLICY

This study examined the supply response and demand for local rice in Nigeria between 1960 and 2004. A system of equations using secondary data was estimated by OLS and 2SLS techniques. Area planted with local rice is mainly affected by expected price of output, agriculture wage rate and by the partial adjustment coefficient. The short-run response elasticity is 0.077. The implied long-run response elasticity is 1.578. The partial adjustment measure is 0.049. This, points to the difficulty of supply response to changing economic conditions. The price elasticity of demand obtained is 0.841. The demand for local rice is thus price inelastic. Rice income elasticity is 0.3378. It is also inelastic. The ban on rice importation in Nigeria could be said to be a step in the right direction. This policy should be continued and policed. However, price, output and non-price incentives that can exert significant influence on rice supply response and demand are required if the self-sufficiency goal is to be achieved.

Abundance of 24‐methylenecholesterol in traditional African rice as an indicator of resistance to the African rice gall midge,Orseolia oryzivoraHarris & Gagné

AbstractRice production is of great importance to food security in Nigeria. The African rice gall midge (AfRGM),Orseolia oryzivoraHarris & Gagné, is a major pest of lowland rice in Nigeria and many other Africa countries. Current management efforts are directed at integrating host plant resistance with biological agents. The type and abundance of some phytochemicals are known to affect resistance in host plants, so in this study we measured rice culm hardness, rice culm stickiness and the type and quantity of phytosterols in rice cultivars, and investigated the effects of these factors on resistance to the AfRGM. The study was conducted at 24 ± 2°C, 60 ± 5% relative humidity, and a 12 h light : 12 h dark photoperiod. Three rice cultivars were studied: oneOryza glaberimmacultivar, Tog 7442 (resistant), and twoO. sativacultivars, Cisadane (tolerant) and ITA 306 (susceptible). We found no significant differences in culm hardness and stickiness among the cultivars tested. Using gas chromatography (flame ionization detection) analysis, we identified four major phytosterols: campesterol, 24‐methylenecholesterol, stigmasterol and β‐sitosterol. 24‐Methylenecholesterol was the most abundant sterol in the resistantO. glaberimmacultivar (79.20 μg), whereas β‐sitosterol was most abundant in the two susceptibleO. sativacultivars (Cisadane, 71.27 μg; ITA 306, 66.37 μg). The comparatively high concentration of 24‐methylenecholesterol in this cultivar of O. glaberimmamay be an indicator of resistance to AfRGM.

Effect of Parboiling on Physico-chemical Qualities of Two Local Rice Varieties in Nigeria

Two varieties of local rice in paddy form were used for this study. The rice were collected from local farmers at Okemesi Ekiti in Ekiti State of Nigeria (western Nigeria). The rice were divided into halves, one half was processed by Parboiling, Drying and Milling, the other half was processed by Drying and Milling only. The result from the study showed that parboiling affected the physico-chemical qualities of the rice varieties. There were differences in the physical dimension, appearance, colour, water absorption, cooking time, amylose, protein, fat and carbohydrate contents of the parboiled and non-parboiled rice samples. Varietal differences also exist between the rice samples. Parboiling reduced the breakage, fat, protein and amylose content of the rice while the cooking time, water uptake and thiamine contents were increased. It can therefore be inferred that parboiling which has been the means of processing rice in Nigeria can be a way of improving vitamin content and milling properties of rice and should attract the interest of food technologists and food processors to develop the rice industry. The Journal of Food Technology in Africa Volume 6 No.4, 2001, pp. 130-132

Screening of African rice, Oryza glaberrima Steud, for resistance to the African rice gall midge Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagné

Two hundred seventy-three lines of the cultivated African rice species Oryza glaberrima Steud were screened in a paddy screenhouse at the National Cereals Research Institute, near Bida, Niger State, Nigeria for resistance to the African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagne, an increasingly important pest of lowland rice in Nigeria. Twenty entries which showed no galls in the screenhouse evaluation were retested under natural infestation in a gall midge-endemic field location near Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Whereas the susceptible check variety, FARO 37, had 39.6 % of tillers infested 60 days after transplanting, damage in the test entries ranged from 0 to 3.7 %, an indication that they were all highly to moderately resistant to the pest. Greater host plant resistance is a central requirement for more effective management of O. oryzivora. Using resistance genes from O. glaberrima is a promising approach to achieving this.

Evaluation of postemergence herbicides for broad-spectrum weed control in three cultivars of flooded rice in Nigeria

Field trials were conducted in the 1989 wet season and 1989–1990 dry season at Badeggi, Nigeria to evaluate two postemergence herbicide mixtures at varying rates for broad-spectrum weed control in three cultivars of flooded rice. In both trials, irrespective of rice cultivar, the tank-mixture of thiobencarb plus propanil plus silvex at 2.0 + 3.4 + 1.0 kg a.i. ha −1 gave consistently good broad-spectrum weed control and higher rice grain yield comparable to two hand-weedings. Another promising treatment irrespective of rice cultivar was the tank-mixture of butachlor plus propanil at 3.6+ 3.4 kg a.i. ha −1 which effectively controlled weeds and increased rice grain yield. The interaction between cultivar and weed-control treatments had a significant effect on final grain yield at harvest in both trials. In these trials, low rates of tank-mixtures of thiobencarb plus propanil plus silvex at 1.0 + 2.0 + 0.45 and 1.5 + 2.5 + 0.6 kg a.i. ha −1 and butachlor plus propanil at 2.4 + 2.5 kg a.i. ha −1 resulted in significantly higher grain yield of the cultivars Faro 29 or Faro 15 (tall), compared with Faro 27, which is a semi-dwarf rice cultivar

Chemical weed control in rainfed upland rice in Nigeria

Abstract Two field experiments on chemical weed control in Faro 41 upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety were conducted at a rainforest site near the National Cereals Research Institute, Amakama Substation in 1989 and 1990. The herbicides tested were a coformulated mixture of pretilachlor and dimethametryne at 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 kg a.i./ha, a co‐formulated mixture of piperophos and propanil applied at 3.16 and 3.95 kg a.i./ha, and Oxadiazon at 1.0 kg a.i./ha. Two hand weedings and a ‘no weeding’ treatment were included. The herbicides were applied 5 days after planting. All were safely selective to the crop. Most provided adequate weed control through 8–12 weeks after planting. Weeds controlled included Cynodon dactylon, Commelina benghalensis, Dlgitaria horizontalis, Eleusine indica, Panicum maximum and Pennisetum purpureum as grass weeds. The broadleaf weeds were Emilia sonchifolia, Ageratum conyzoides, Portulaca oleraceae, Richardia brasiliensis and Ipomoea Involuncrata. The sedges Mariscus alternifolius...

Seasonal Abundance of Rice Stem Borer Species in Upland and Irrigated Rice in Nigeria

Studies were carried out in 1983 to determine the relative abundance and species composition of three lepidopterous stem borers in upland and irrigated rice at Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria. The relationship between irrigated rice crop phenology and the population of the borers and stalk-eyed fly was also studied. White stem borer, Maliarpha separatella was the predominant species in upland and irrigated rice, followed in upland rice by pink stem borer, Sesamia calamistis, and striped stem borer, Chilo zacconius and in irrigated rice by C. zacconius and S. calamistis. The proportion of M. separatella was higher in irrigated rice than upland. Three population peaks were observed annually in both upland and irrigated rice. Studies on the relationship between irrigated rice phenology and field population of lepidopterous borers and a dipteran borer showed that the stalk-eyed fly, Diopsis spp., occurred before 20 days after transplanting (DAT) in ITA 212 and continued up to 90 DAT: the peak was observed at 40 DAT. The lepidopterous borers did not appear until 40 DAT and populations peaked at 80 DAT.

Some effects of plant densities and carbofuran on the damage byDiopsis thoracicaWest, andMaliarpha separatellaRag. and yield of rice in Nigeria

Abstract In a field study of the effects of plant densities and carbofuran on damage by Diopsis thoracica Westwood and Maliarpha separatella Ragonot, significant increases were recorded in the percentage of dead hearts and bored stems in widely spaced rice plants. Carbofuran treatments resulted in significant control of borers, the best treatment being that covering early growth up to 40 days after transplanting. There was a significant depression of yield components and total yield with closer spacing. Yield increases of 59%, 32% and 55% for the 1983 planting, and 55%, 35% and 50% for the 1984 planting, were recorded when carbofuran was applied to cover the periods 0 to 40, 40 to 80, and 0 to 80 days after transplanting, respectively.The percentage of dead hearts and bored stems increased with increasing seedling density. The yield components, however, did not show any significant differences.

Yield losses in resistant and susceptible varieties of rice in Nigeria due toChilo zacconiusand other stem borers

Abstract In a screenhouse experiment, rice plants of eight varieties were artificially infested at the early tillering and booting stages with African striped borer, Chilo zacconius Bleszynski, one Iarva per tiller. In the mature plants there was found to be a reduction in height and an increase in tiller number among susceptible varieties and, to a lesser extent, among the resistant varieties. Additional tillers gave rise to panicles which had not matured by the time the uninfested tillers were harvested; as a result there was a significant reduction in grain yield and grain weight among the susceptible varieties. In a separate field trial some plots were protected with 3% carbofuran at 13 kg/ha. Infestation by the stem borers Maliarpha separatella Ragonot, C. zacconius and Sesamia spp. was consistently higher in protected susceptible varieties than in unprotected and protected resistant varieties. Yields were about twice as high in protected as in unprotected plots of susceptible varieties, but there wa...

Sarocladium attenuatum as one of the causes of rice grain spotting in Nigeria

The cause of rice grain spotting (dirty panicles) in Nigeria was studied. The fungus isolated most frequently from discoloured grains was Sarocladium attenuatum. Pathogenicity studies showed that it was capable of causing dirty panicle disease in the absence of insects. Disease severity increased with increasing inoculum. This is the first evidence that S. attenuatum is one of the major causes of dirty panicle disease of rice in Nigeria. Four isolates of S. attenuatum from different locations did not differ significantly in their virulence to three rice cultivars under upland conditions. Inoculations of cultivar BG 6850 at panicle initiation and booting resulted in severe disease and indicated the potential of the fungus to reduce yields. Trials under upland conditions of 69 cultivars of Oryza sativa and 89 of O. glaberrima indicated considerable variation in reactions, dwarf cultivars being generally more susceptible than taller ones.

Influence of Plant Density and Nitrogen on Yield and Milling Quality of Lowland Rice in Nigeria

SUMMARYIn experiments conducted with three rice varieties at different plant populations and N levels, the non-lodging varieties responded to 150 kg N/ha. The highest yield in non-lodging varieties were at the highest transplanted density, but at the lowest density in the lodging variety. The percentage of total milled rice of all varieties was not significantly affected by N application, which improved head-rice recovery in chalky IR-8, but had no significant effect on non-chalky varieties. Competition for nutrients could be a major factor limiting head rice return at high densities.