ORYLUX varieties: Aromatic Rice for Africa

Local African aromatic rice

This technology is all about growing special types of delicious-smelling rice in Africa. These rice varieties are designed to grow well in African conditions. They taste really good and are in high demand. Right now, not enough of this rice is grown in Africa, so a lot of it has to be imported.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 7/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

Increased productivity from ORYLUX may lead to higher incomes, enhancing economic stability for families.

The poor: Positive high

Adoption of ORYLUX raises income levels for low-income farmers, contributing to poverty alleviation.

Under 18: No impact

Women: Positive high

Increased income from rice sales can provide women with greater financial autonomy and opportunities for investment in their families or businesses.

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Shorter maturity period enables farmers to adapt to unpredictable weather patterns and secure harvests even in challenging climates, contributing to resilience against climate change.

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

The improved yields and resilience of these rice varieties enable farmers to maintain production levels despite changing environmental conditions, reducing vulnerability and increasing food security.

Problem

Low production of aromatic rice in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and high dependence on imports from Asia.
Limited access of farmers to seeds adapted to prevalent growing conditions.
Lack of availability of aromatic rice varieties suited to SSA's growing conditions.
Need to improve yields, quality, and resistance of rice crops in the region.
Insufficient connections between stakeholders in the agricultural value chain for the commercialization of aromatic rice varieties.

Solution

Development of aromatic rice varieties specifically tailored to SSA's agroecosystems.
Crossbreeding aromatic rice varieties with elite lines to maintain high yields and other beneficial agronomic traits.
Utilization of genetic mapping and molecular tools to expedite selection and breeding processes.
Dissemination of ORYLUX variety seeds in local markets to increase availability for farmers.
Establishment of connections between farmers, food processors, and consumers through virtual market applications to fully capitalize on the added value of aromatic rice.

Key points to design your program

A Premium Rice Solution for African Markets

ORYLUX is a series of premium-quality aromatic rice varieties developed by AfricaRice to enhance the competitiveness of local rice against imports, particularly in high-value markets. With maturity of about 100 days and yields of 6.5 t/ha under rainfed lowland, its offers the possibility of double cropping.

ORYLUX directly supports several Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2 by improving food security through higher-quality yields, SDG 13 by promoting climate resilience through efficient water use, and SDG 8 by creating economic value through premium rice markets. As part of the Rice Innovation Toolkit, ORYLUX varieties work alongside practices like Axial flow thresher and improved quality polishing to optimize yield and sustainability in rice farming.

This high-quality, aromatic rice solution is ideal for development programs focusing on sustainable food security and increased farmer profitability. With support from AfricaRice and its partners, ORYLUX varieties are now a favored choice across Africa, offering a competitive edge and creating new economic opportunities for rice farmers.

Cost: $$$ 1,3 USD

A Seed cost per kg

10—12 Kg per Ha

Planting densities

51 USD per Ha

Labour costs for planting

105 USD per Ha

Fertilizer inputs

200 USD per Ha

Harvesting and winnowing of grain

IP

Unknown

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Senegal	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–	–	–	–
Semiarid	–		–
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

By increasing rice yields and quality, ensuring that more communities have access to nutritious food.

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

By increasing farmers' incomes through higher yields and access to premium markets, ORYLUX contributes to economic growth and job creation within local agricultural sectors.

Goal 13: climate action

By supporting adaptation to climate change, enabling farmers to continue producing food under changing environmental conditions

ORYLUX varieties are cultivated in the same way as any type of rice.

Manually or mechanically planted by sowing seed at the planting densities of 10 - 12 kg rice seed per ha under the System for Rice Intensification or 50 kg/ha under non-SRI conditions.
Mineral fertilizer and animal manure applied at recommended dosage.
Soil water contents are managed through construction of low embankments around divides paddy fields, and weed control is through manual removal, mulching and chemical agents.

Last updated on 11 December 2024