Plant Biotechnology & Agriculture

Rice is the second main cereal crop from maize which accounts for 70,000 ha of cultivated land in Malawi. It is also an industrial crop grown by smallholder farmers. For some time yields of rice have been revolving around 1500 kg to 3000 kg against the potential of 4000 kg to 6500 kg which could be achieved if optimal factors of production are applied. Majority of smallholder farmers

have low to medium levels of production and one factor that aggravates the situation is the use of poor quality and over recycled seed. The main players in the rice value chain are smallholder farmers, input suppliers especially fertilizers, middlemen/vendors, processors/packers and government. Each of these players has a unique role to play in the rice value chain and their benefits and challenges also vary. The quantitative value chain study was aimed at assessing the competitiveness of price for the various rice value chain stages and suggests weak links that require attention in order to improve its competitiveness. The study targeted rice growing schemes of Mphinga, Mkondezi, Msenjere, Lifuwu, Domasi, Likangala and Nkhate. Middlemen, traders, transporters, retailers and consumers operating in the schemes were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were used to capture data from smallholder farmers. The study revealed that on average smallholder farmers sold their rice at $0.6 per

kg while retailers got $1.13 per kg indicating a price margin of $0.53 between the two players. Lower prices received by farmers are basically because farmers mostly sell paddy which fetches lower price than milled rice sold by the subsequent players. It is therefore be recommended that smallholder farmers should make use of the cooperatives, bulk their rice, mill and package the rice as a group if they are to be competitive.