In Northern Senegal's rice growing valley, its mainly the women who do the farming. Most grow just enough rice to feed their extended families.

But if these women could increase yields without putting more land under the plough, then crop shortages could become a thing of the past. So in the hope of changing their situation, some are taking part in a revolutionary experiment.

Scientists at the UN funded Africa Rice Centre are cross breeding a new variety of rice that can adapt to the harsh African climate and soil. So far the results have been remarkable.

Ouey Matougleye is one farmer who has made the switch and is convinced of the benefits. She says: " We dont have enough money to pay for our children's higher education but if we can increase our rice yields and sell more expensively we will have enough money to pay for their schooling."

The new variety called "Nerica" or New Rice for Africa provides a 30 percent increase in yield - it grows faster, can handle the salty soil conditions and requires far less water - crucial for the scrubland of West Africa.

Food riots broke out across Africa last year as rice prices tripled.

If this new rice is adopted by the local population, Senegal, which has to import around 80 percent of its rice from Asia, could become self-sufficient within a decade.

But changing the countryside is not easy. Scientists have to work closely with the farmers to help them see the benefits.  It’s a slow process.

Baboucarr Manneh is a scientist with the Africa Rice Central in northern Senegal. He says patience is important.
 

"We bring the varieties into the farmers fields and we allow the farmers to cultivate this variety alongside their own traditional strains. Then the farmers will be able to evaluate the new varieties with their own under their own management conditions. If the new varieties perform better than their own - then you will find that they will adapt this new one."

Self sufficiency may the goal but not everyone is convinced that is even important - many feel food is a commodity like anything else and money should be spent on urbanisation instead. Jean Paul Azam is a specialist in African economic affairs at the University of Toulouse. He argues, " Food security can be secured by buying the food on the markets and having regular incomes. The Japanese produce very little food and they never have a famine. And many countries that are self-sufficient have recurrent famines."

Nevertheless Senegal and much of Africa's population is growing by four percent a year; people that will have to be fed somehow. This new rice for Africa may well be part of the solution.