The Institute of Agricultural Research and Development (IRAD) at the 2013 edition of the National Science and Innovation Expo held at Yaounde city hall, Cameroon, showcased a new and improved rice variety named ‘nerica’.

The newly improved variety rice which the institute (IRAD) said can grow on dry land and produce much more than other varieties was also said to have growth duration of only three months from planting time to the time of harvest because the root does not go deep into the ground.

Madeleine Akoa, a worker at the rice unit of IRAD revealed that the ‘nerica’ is also easier to harvest and can adapt to any ecological conditions compare to other varieties.

She also explained that the nerica rice can be cultivated the same way that corn is cultivated and can yield up to four tons of high quality rice per hectare, adding that this is very significant for Cameroon which is a net importer of rice