Towards sustainable productivity enhancement of rice-based farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa

In the past 50 years, rice has become an important crop for food security in sub-Saharan Africa. However, yields remain relatively low, and large yield gaps exist. This Special Issue brings together agronomy research on rice-based farming systems Africa addresses three main, overarching questions: (1) what been achieved decades terms of Africa, (2) is state-of-the-art regarding development technologies (3) will be likely or required future directions? The broad topics included this are trends gap analyses, soil & nutrient, water, weed integrated management practices, cropping systems, (4) genetic improvements, (5) simulation modeling, (6) assessment farmers’ cultivation practices sustainability these practices. papers cover different sub-regions, from Sahel to highlands Madagascar major growing environments (irrigated lowlands, rainfed uplands). paper we describe challenges production sector historical efforts research, provide a short introduction discussion presented Issue. arrives at six main recommendations. 1. There need increase focusing systems. 2. More attention needs paid system landscape level, aimed agronomic solutions. 3. Current should thematically center around sustainability, including judicious natural resources management, climate change adaptation mitigation, conservation biodiversity environments. 4. To operationalize this, performance indicators developed used. 5. consensus more labor-saving technologies, mechanization options, provided do not ecological footprint 6. Future work interdisciplinary transdisciplinary, better address myriad smallholder farmers Papers inform state-of-the art SSA, ways sustainably enhance self-sufficiency region.