APPRAISAL OF MAJOR DETERMINANTS OF RICE PRODUCTION AND FARMERS’ CHOICE OF RICE IDEOTYPES IN SOUTH SUDAN: IMPLICATIONS FOR BREEDING AND POLICY INTERVENTIONS

摘要: Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is an important staple crop in South Sudan. Current rice consumption the country approximately 23,000 mg year −1 of which more than 75% imported. We investigated farmers’ perceived production and productivity constraints choice ideotypes across rainfed irrigated agro-ecologies Sudan to guide breeding policy interventions. Data were gathered through participatory rural approaches a formal structured survey involving 136 farmers from major growing areas Farmers generally cultivated old varieties with low yields varying 0.4 1.6 ha . Pair-wise ranking based on respondents score indicated yield, early maturity, cooking eating quality, nutritional importance drought tolerance as most desirable traits ideotypes. Further, imported best ranked for their sweet appealing taste, rich aroma, grain shape size, swelling capacity non-stickiness during cooking. Major unreliable rainfall, poor access credit facilities, soil water management practices, storage inadequate processing machines well limited technical skills production. The results show need integration stakeholders’ preferences variety development process desirability releasing site-specific cultivars given differences bio-physical, socio-cultural