Rice technology and its market value in Guinea: A case of Faranah Prefecture

Abstract

Rice (Oryza spp.) is one of the major food crops on which global food security depends. Although most rice is produced in Asia, it is an important food crop in many other parts of the world, including West Africa (WARDA, 2007). This research aims to assess the economic performance of rice processors in terms of net income and productivity from rice technology in Faranah prefecture, republic of Guinea. The study has used gross margin analysis to identify the total production cost, gross revenue, net income and benefit cost ratio (BCR) of each rice processors through which the statistics descriptive analysis had been used. The marketing of paddy and net rice in our production area is illustrated by this circuit which is subdivided into three main steps: A, B and C through which rice is sold from producers, buyers-steamers and machine owners to wholesalers, retailers and consumers. It was observed that transportation cost/ bag, food cost, husking cost and price of wood were also high (800; 103.68; 91 and 78 US$ respectively. However, tax, other charge and water were judged low (17.96; 41.47 and 15 US$) respectively. In husking, it was observed that the higher average values were wages, diesel, lubricant, repairs (324, 306.72, 134.4, and 115 US$) respectively followed by wear piece, tax and other charge (75.32, 32.4 and 25 US$). Comparting these two actors, the buyer-steamers expend more (2932.92 US$) than the machine holders with (1012.84 US$). This channel is dominated in terms of economic performance by producers (Small, medium and large) and processors (buyers-steamers and machine holders) respectively.

Keywords: Rice technology, market value, marketing, Parboiling, Husking, stakeholders