RAFT TechTalk series – Rice and malaria in Africa: part of the problem or part of the solution?

In many African countries, the Ministry of Health is planning the pathway to malaria elimination, and meanwhile the Ministry of Agriculture is planning a massive expansion of irrigated rice. These are both desirable goals, and many international donors, including FCDO, are supporting both. Unfortunately, the agricultural goal is likely to interfere with the public heath goal: irrigated rice in Africa tends to “build-in” the malaria problem.

Possible solutions to this problem were discussed during the webinar, in the light of previous work on methane and the role of rice as a driver of climate change.

Speakers:

• Jo Lines (LSHTM): The role of environmental development in malaria elimination
• Kallista Chan (Costello Medical): The rise and fall of the Paddies Paradox 
• Abdelbagi Ismail (International Rice Research Institute): Trends in rice development in Africa, and how the issues of Methane Emission and climate adaptation are being addressed
• Pauline Chivenge (International Rice Research Institute): Our plans for collaborative research