Rice is the second most widely consumed crop, next to wheat, in Afghanistan. Low national productivity, however, means that the country has had to import rice from Pakistan and Kazakhstan to meet local demand. 

 

Representatives from the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) signed on 9 November 2016 a memorandum of understanding with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) that is expected to boost rice production in the landlocked country. . The MOU involves the introduction of improved rice varieties, provision of technical support, exchange of information on rice research-related concerns, and training and capacity building.

 

"We really want IRRI to be engaged in rice research work in Afghanistan," said MAIL General Director of Extension and Agriculture Development Hamdullah Hamdard.

 

MAIL Acting Director of Adaptive and Applied Research Qudratullah Soofizada emphasized the importance of developing rice varieties of better quality adapted to the different rice-growing zones of the country. Currently, the ministry works with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in introducing new rice varieties in the country.

 

"Rice is very important to food security in Afghanistan," Mr. Soofizada explained. “Our rice farmers need seeds of new varieties.”

 

IRRI Deputy Director General for Communication and Partnerships Bruce Tolentino assured the Afghan partners of IRRI’s support for co-developing a program with MAIL to enable the ministry to access more rice seeds as needed.

 

Mr. Soofizada expressed interest in technical support from IRRI for characterizing traditional Afghan rice varieties. A MAIL survey had previously found that Afghanistan has more than a hundred landraces of rice with potentially useful genetic traits for plant breeders.

 

Afghanistan is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).