HIV/AIDS AND RYMV INFECTION COMPLEX: IMPLICATION FOR NUTRITION AND SUSTAINABLE RICE PRODUCTION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), especially, West Africa, rice is the single largest source of calories in the diet of low income groups. In 2003, rice provided daily 342 kcal per capita compared to 277 kcal from millet, 275 kcal from sorghum, 247 from cassava and 216 kcal from maize. Agriculture, nutrition and human health are interlinked in many ways. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes AIDS disease in human, while rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) is a devastating disease in rice for which farmers in French speaking countries of West Africa ‘Sida du riz’ meaning AIDS of rice. HIV/AIDS is a world wide pandemic, with 70% infected person living in SSA, while RYMV is restricted to African rice fields. The diseases are both devastating and infectious and are of economic significance to nutrition and rice productivity. This paper highlight the nature of the viruses, effects, management practices and the implication of the combined effects on nutrition and rice productivity in SSA and its consequences on smallholder, resource poor rice farming families.