Strategies for Promoting Rice Self-sufficiency in Sierra Leone

Rice is the main food of Sierra Leoneans and an important source of employment and income for rural communities. According to the West African Rice Development Association report, annual consumption of rice is amongst the highest in SubSaharan Africa（SSA）, 104 kg. Mainly, small scale farmers who are resource poor on both the upland and various lowlands grow rice. Sierra Leone has not been able to produce enough rice to meet its local consumption demand for a very long time now. 530 000 MT of milled rice is the required consumption need of the Sierra Leonean population per annum. In 2007, national paddy rice production was projected at 638 000 MT. The level of rice self-sufficiency rose from 50.57% in 2002 to 62.15% in 2006 and then to 63.49% in 2007. The remainder must be imported at increasingly expensive prices in the current situation of high food prices, which includes rice. The price of rice has seen a steady increase in the entire country. What most affected by this, is the low-income urban and peri-urban households. The promotion of domestic rice production is therefore a key element in the strategies for improving rice self-sufficiency, stimulating economic growth and increasing rural income. Therefore, supporting rice production programme is the only solution to pull the country out of the worsening rice situation and maintain the present trend in rice self-sufficiency. Therefore, having an understanding of the strategic interventions in rice production in Sierra Leone is an important ingredient in the promotion and attainment of rice self-sufficiency.     

Water stress and gibberellic acid effects on growth of fenugreek plants

Fenugreek plant is susceptible to water stress during the vegetative growth stages, since a soil matric potential lower than –0.3 MPa causes substantial reduction in growth parameters such as height, weight and total leaf area. Gibberellic acid (GA₃) application to the seeds before sowing caused slight changes in growth parameters as well as some physiological and biochemical aspects under water deficit conditions.Water stress decreased the area of leaves by reducing the number and volume of cells. Leaf growth was improved by GA₃ treatment by promoting the growth processes slightly. Photosynthetic pigments (Chlorophyll a and b, and carotenoids) in the leaves diminished and the concentrations of the main cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) were disturbed by a decreasing soil matric potential. Monosaccharides accumulated markedly under water stress, and GA₃ may have further stimulated such accumulation. A substantial reduction in total soluble nitrogen was accompanied by a marked increase in protein-N. The possible physiological and biochemical roles of such alterations in the chemical constituents are discussed. Received: 20 March 1998