Genetic resources

First NERICA rice released in Uganda tops

farmers’ rankings
 
J. Lamo, J. Imanywoha, G. Bigirwa, M. Walusimbi, D. Kyetere, J. Kikafunda, and T. Kalule,
National Agricultural Research Organization, National Crops Resources Research Institute,
P. O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda
E-mail: lamojim@gmail.com, lamo_jim2000@yahoo.com 
 
 
 
Rice production in Uganda is growing fast and there is an accelerated shift from
other cereals such as maize, millet, and sorghum to rice. In spite of this and the
increase in rice consumption, the country is still not self-sufficient in rice.
Uganda meets this gap through importation valued at US$30–50 million
annually. Because of the huge domestic demand and the fact that rice gives a
higher rate of return on investment (output to input ratio of 1.83 compared with
hybrid maize [1.2] and sorghum [1.6]) (Kijima et al 2006), this crop’s contribution
to agriculture is undoubtedly enormous. Earlier emphasis was given to irrigated
rice, but, from 1990, government priority shifted to upland rice because of
environmental concerns on the continued use of wetlands for rice production.
This alternative was considered achievable, considering that about 70% of the
country is suitable for double cropping of rainfed rice.
A key initiative geared at promoting upland rice was the varietal
improvement program of the National Crops Resources Research Institute,
Namulonge (previously the Namulonge Research Station), under the auspices of
the National Agricultural Research Organization. This culminated in the
introduction of a few exotic varieties that entered the farmers’ production
system. They replaced landraces with long growth duration, which were not
suitable for areas with short or marginal rainfall. The new varieties were fairly
tolerant of most major biotic stresses, except rice blast.
A total of 110 varieties and breeding lines from the Africa Rice Center-
West Africa Rice Development Association (ARC-WARDA), now the Africa Rice
Center (AfricaRice), were tested on-farm in the 1999 rainy season to identify
materials with acceptable phenotypic scores and short to medium growth
duration (95–125 d) (Anonymous 2005, 2007). Of these, 10 varieties were
advanced for on-farm and on-station evaluation in five key locations. Variety
selection was conducted using participatory evaluation procedures. Three
varieties—NERICA-4, IRAT257, and IRAT325—were nominated for release on
the basis of their superiority over local variety IRAT112 (IRAT13/Dourado
Precoce). They were endorsed by the Variety Release Committee in 2002 as
NERICA-4, NARIC-1, and NARIC-2, respectively (Table 1). Variety NERICA-4

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(WAB450-I-B-P-91-HB) was developed by ARC-WARDA from the cross WAB56-

104/CG 14//WAB56-104. It is the first New Rice for Africa (NERICA) released in
Uganda. IRAT257 (NARIC-1) and IRAT325 (NARIC-2) are breeding lines
developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan.
 
Table 1. Morphological characteristics and performance of NERICA-4 compared
with other non-NERICA varieties released in 2002.  
Characteristic NERICA-4 NARIC-1 NARIC-2 IRAT112
Former designation NERICA-4 IRAT257 IRAT325 IRAT112
Cultivar pedigree WAB 450-I-B-P- Introduced Introduced IRAT13/Dourado
91-HB Precoce
Production area Upland Upland Upland Upland
Leaf blade color Dark green Green Green Green
Awn presence Partially present Absent Absent Absent
Stigma color White White Yellow White
Phenotypic acceptability Good Good Excellent Fair
Growth duration (d) 125 115 120 98
Leaf length-width ratio 32 ± 1.9 38 ± 4.5 35 ± 3.2 33 ± 0.8
Leaf blade color Green Green Dark green Green
Flag-leaf angle Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal
Panicle length (cm) 20.1 23 23 22
Spikelet sterility Highly fertile Highly fertile Highly fertile Fertile
Culm lodging None None None None
Tillering ability 11.7 ± 1.1 13.4 ± 1 11.6 ± 1.1 10 ± 0.9
Panicle exsertion Well-exserted Well-exserted Well-exserted Well-exserted
Shattering Moderate to low Low Low Low
Grain shape Slender Slender Slender Medium
Seed coat color (bran) Brown Straw Straw Straw
1,000-grain weight (g) 30.1 28.0 29.2 27.1
Reaction to blast Resistant Resistant Resistant Susceptible
Scent (aroma) Scented Nonscented Nonscented Nonscented
Grain yield (four seasons, t ha–1) 3.6 3.4 3.5 2.7
Performance (grain yield, t
ha–1) across locations
(districts) in 2001 season
Pallisa 1.48 1.48 1.35 0.87
Bugiri 3.61 3.61 3.54 2.60
Apac 4.07 4.19 4.01 3.11
Lira 3.51 3.97 3.32 2.86
Kamwenge 4.91 4.75 4.62 4.06
Across locations 3.52 3.60 3.37 2.70
Rank 2 1 3 4

A survey was conducted in 2007 in Uganda’s northern, eastern, and

western regions covering six major upland rice-growing areas. They comprise
traditional (northern and eastern) and new (western) rice-farming areas in the
country (Abong 1999, Kijima et al 2006). Lira and Dokolo districts from the
northern zone, Iganga and Bugiri from the eastern zone, and Masindi from the

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western zone were selected; two to three subcounties were sampled per district
for the survey. Results revealed that NERICA-4 was the most widely grown
variety, with up to 78% of the respondents growing it; NARIC-2 was second
(14%) and NARIC-1 was fourth (8%). Of the varieties released in 2002, farmers
preferred NERICA-4 because of its resistance to rice blast, stable yield across
locations, and semi-aromatic traits.

Table 2. Farmers’ preferences (%) of different rice varieties in several districts in

Uganda. 
Variety Districts Overall Mean Rank χ2a
Lira Dokolo Iganga Bugiri Masindi
NERICA-4 100 81.4 94.3 57.1 58.6 391.4 78.28 1 64.8
NARIC-2 NR NR NR 58.6 12.9 71.5 14.3 2 147.2
SIENA NR NR NR 14.3 25.7 40 8 5 51.9
SUPARICA-1 NR 10 25.7 5.7 27.1 68.5 13.7 3 34.9
SUPA 10 17.1 NR NR 1.4 28.5 5.7 7 30.2
NARIC-1 15.7 1.4 1.4 4.3 18.6 41.4 8.28 4 25
TOX 9 NR NR NR 5.7 11.4 17.1 3.42 8 22.1
NERICA-10 5.7 NR NR NR 1.4 7.1 1.42 9 12.2**
IRAT112 NR 2.9 NR NR 1.4 4.3 0.86 10 5.4**
NERICA-1 7.1 10 NR 11.4 10 38.5 7.7 6 8.3**
TOX 4 NR NR NR NR 1.4 1.4 0.28 11 4.0**
TOX 5 NR NR NR NR 1.4 1.4 0.28 11 4.0**
Congo NR NR NR NR 0.8 0.8 0.16 13 4.0**
b
Chi-square 138.5 122.8 121.4 157.1 172.1 142.38c
a
Chi-square calculated for each row, at df = (5–1) = 4, *=significance at 5%, **=significance at 1%, tabulated values at
0.05 and 0.01 probability level are 9.49 and 13.28, respectively. bChi-square calculated value = 310.486 and tabulated
values at 0.05 and 0.01 probability level are 67.5 and 76.15, respectively, at df = (13–1)*(5–1) = 48. NR = data not
recorded. cTotal is more than 100 because of multiple responses.   
 
References
Abong PS. 1999. Sustainable development in Uganda: the case of the Olweny Swamp Rice
Irrigation Project (OSRIP), Dublin University College, Dublin. Dublin (Ireland): Dublin
University Press. 196 p.
Anonymous. 2005. Participatory multiplication and testing of improved upland rice varieties in
Uganda. Final project report of the Cereals Research Program, Namulonge Agricultural
and Animal Production Research Institute submitted to the Rockefeller Foundation (Food
Security Project No. FS 53).
Anonymous. 2007. Variety release application for two upland rice varieties in 2007. Special report
of the Cereals Research Program, Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production
Research Institute submitted to the Rockefeller Foundation (Food Security Project,
Participatory Evaluation of Upland Rice Varieties and Determination of Appropriate
Crop Management Practices in Uganda, No. FS 065). 32 p.
Kijima Y, Sserunkuuma D, Otsuka K. 2006. How revolutionary is the NERICA revolution?
Evidence from Uganda. Dev. Econ. 44(2):252-267.

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Acknowledgment
This study was supported by the Rockefeller Foundation (Food Security Project No. 53 awarded
to the National Agricultural Research Organization). 

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