The competitiveness of domestic rice production in East Africa: A domestic resource cost approach in Uganda

摘要: The rapid increase of rice imports in sub-Saharan Africa under the unstable situation world market during 2000s has made it an important policy target for countries region to self-sufficiency order enhance food security. Whether domestic production can be competitive with imported is a serious question East African that lie close, just across Arabian Sea, major exportingcountries South Asia. This study investigates international competitiveness Uganda terms resource cost ratio. results show rainfed cultivation, which accounts 95% production, does not have comparative advantage respect from Pakistan, largest supplier Uganda. However, degree non-competitiveness serious, and high possibility exists Uganda’s cultivation become internationally by improving yield levels applying more modern inputs enhancing labour productivity. Irrigated though very limited area, even present input-output structure when irrigation infrastructure treated as sunk cost. If installing its operation maintenance taken into account, types development are economically feasible large-scale projects, but small- microscale projects lowland rain-water harvesting upland cultivation.