Seven farmers were trained at the beginning of November in the cultivation and processing of rice by the Association Riz Réunion. These seven plots of rice, scattered across the island, will give their first harvest at the end of the first quarter of 2023. Around a hundred other operators are interested in this diversification. The strategy, for the Riz Réunion Association, is to encourage vocations, but also to structure a regular request. This is the objective of the “Sunday mi riz péi” operation launched on October 14.
With some 43,000 tonnes imported per year, rice remains a strategic product for the island. The average consumption of rice per capita per year has oscillated for many years between 60 and 65 kg. The idea of convincing some of the 353,000 households in Reunion to consume pei rice once a month therefore does not seem out of reach., as soon as a production will meet the needs in quality and quantity. After the success of several test sales on fairground markets, the “Dimanche mi riz péi” operation of the Riz Réunion Association intends to give the first impetus to the virtuous circuit of supply and demand feeding each other, which would gradually make it possible to relaunch structured rice production in Reunion. Working for four years on this sector project, the Riz Réunion association has set up training and acquired the necessary basic tools and equipment. Its director, Nicolas Florence, was able to convince a first group of farmers, market gardeners for the most part, the opportunity for a small rice diversification. This first core of farmers shares the desire to bring back to life a historic product anchored in food, but also the pleasure of being able to integrate this rice into their personal consumption.
The Department financed various materials, including a complete system of bird protection nets, sine qua non condition of rice cultivation. Crédit Agricole de La Réunion offered a thresher for the mechanized winnowing of rice grains at harvest. The Réunion Rice Association provides its members with a rice growing kit including the anticyclonic structure, the protective net and 2 kg of rice seed. It provides them with manual tools for planting and maintaining the crop. (furrower, seeder, market garden weeding hoe, etc.). Associative milling equipment includes rice huller and rice blancher.
A network of rice producers
The Riz Réunion Association is therefore in working order to tackle the rest of the plan. Nicolas Florence himself provides training and support for candidates for rainfed rice farming. Rice farmers undertake to plant a plot of rice with a minimum surface area of 240 m2 on their farm and to market 60% of their production. (i.e. a little more than 80 kg for this minimum surface). The rainfed rice cycle extends over four months, the harvest will take place towards the end of March 2023. The cultivated rice variety is Early Dourado. Originally from Brazil, this variety had been used during the previous attempt to revive Reunion rice production, which failed in the 1980s. The association is currently looking for a place to set up a rice processing unit.. The current machining equipment could be supplemented by a sorter and a bagger. The year 2023 will also see the implementation of a Réunion Rice Quality commitment charter (QRR) guaranteeing consumers the agroecological cultivation method of rice (without chemical inputs). The logo of the Association Riz Réunion will appear on the 1 kg bags of rice, the format chosen for direct sales to the consumer.
La distribution s’organise
October 16, 2021, during the first public sale at the Saint-Paul fairground market, the Réunion Rice Association sold 150 kg of rice in 45 minutes. This positive reception was confirmed by three other market sales in 2022. To trigger demand and increase product awareness, the association is now banking on the “Sunday mi riz péi” operation. The idea is to encourage consumers to consume Reunionese rice once a month. It is also the start of a digital approach to marketing through the association’s Facebook page where customers register.. Sold 8,50 euros, the kilo of péi rice is sent to your home or collected at relay points. The Association Riz Réunion had no trouble finding the first thirty families to test the formula at the end of the year (more than 250 requests were received). The operation will have to show its strength in 2023 to stimulate a real need for production, which will result in the training of a greater number of Reunion rice farmers. And so on…
THREE QUESTIONS TO NICOLAS FLORENCE, DIRECTOR OF THE RIZ REUNION ASSOCIATION
The revival of Reunion rice production failed in the 1980s. What has changed since then ?
In the 1980's, the attempt to revive Reunion rice production came up against a lack of training, management and strategy. In 2022, both farmers and consumers have changed. Cultivation methods and consumption patterns have evolved. The advantages of the short circuit, guaranteeing food security, the benefit of brown rice in the face of diabetes, are all arguments in favor of local rice production which did not exist at the time. They add to the natural sympathy for such a popular local product.
What is the objective of the “Sunday mi riz péi” operation? ?
L’ambition, in the more or less long term, is to allow each Reunionese family who wishes to consume péi rice once a month. Some figures to situate the issue : Reunion has 353,000 households. If each of these households consumed Reunionese rice one Sunday per month, or 1 kg of rice, the monthly expense would be 8,50 euros, and this would represent 4,000 tonnes of péi rice to be produced per year, or around 10% of the volume of rice currently imported.
Agronomic conditions are different from one region to another in Reunion. How to ensure product homogeneity across the island ?
With the help of the Department, we are working on a study which will allow us to know how the early Dourado variety behaves depending on the region and altitude. We must fill our lack of knowledge about rice cultivation in Reunion. In total, 18 rice farmers participate in the study which, among other data, will make known at what time of year to plant rice depending on the location of the plot.
Everything you need to know about Rice Reunion Training : formationrizreunion@gmail.com. Registration for “Sunday mi riz péi” : dimancherizpei@gmail.com
