Africa has been hardest hit by the soaring rice prices; 40 percent of the total rice consumption comes from international markets.
The rising prices may offer a great opportunity to use the latent potential of land and water to increase rice production.
First of all small scale farmers need  help  in raising productivity by introducing modern technologies. There is a great need in investing into research and extension and last but not least in modern irrigation schemes.
As a follow up of the World Food Summit an Emergency Rice Initiative for Africa was launched recently.

Dr. Papa Abdoulaye Seck
Director General Africa Rice Center (WARDA)
Cotonou, Benin
s.mohapatra@cgiar.org