Rojomena : organic rice par excellence

Among the many varieties of rice cultivated in Madagascar, “Rojomena”, a red rice, having fine quality and good taste, both sweet and fat, could penetrate the organic rice market where prices are 30 to 40% higher than those of conventional rice varieties, according to FOFIFA. Rojomena represents an opportunity, both in terms of boosting exports and improving the incomes of producers.

Organic farming requires high standards of restriction concerning the use of fertilizers and other chemical inputs. However, the variety of red-grain rice, called “Rojomena”, is produced organically in Madagascar. It does not need significant input in nitrogen or organic fertilization because that would makes the rice very susceptible to diseases such as blast (or maty fotsy: empty spikelets) and bacterial blight, in case of frequent rainfall.

However, if one wishes to produce the organic variety of the rice “Rojomena” after off-season crops, the land must not have been chemically fertilized. The production of “Rojomena” could contribute to the development of Malagasy exports of rice. This variety, generally produced organically and very popular with the rural, can satisfy not only local markets but also export markets. It could lead specifically to increasing demands in organic rice, ethnic or fair, on the European and American markets.