This review is the first part of a DFID-funded research project on how the concept of Multi-Agency Partnerships (M-APs) can be implemented in West Africa to bring about increased crop output through the rapid adoption of improved seeds and similar technologies or innovations; techniques; production, processing, storage and handling implements etc. Three countries namely Mali, Ghana and Nigeria were selected for the research. A key aim of M-APs is to effectively bridge the gap between dissemination of research findings to farmers and the feedback mechanism so that research and extension services are seen to be meeting true needs of farmers. The second part will be a Case Study Report on what farmers themselves are saying. To state that rice production in Nigeria is plagued by problems seems to be an understatement. Yields have been consistently low on farmers' fields in the face of ever increasing cost of inputs as fertilisers, tractorisation, herbicides, insecticides, manual labour and transportation of produce. It is not uncommon for adulterated chemical inputs find their way into the local market and even official farm service centres and are still sold to farmers at very high costs. A good use of inputs will make it impossible for farmers to break-even in production. WARDA is spearheading research on finding low-input varieties, even when such a technology becomes available, no formal extension system exists for its rapid dissemination to farmers. These are issues raised in this report. An increase in area under rice cultivation without a corresponding increase in yield is an indictment of the NARS and NAERLS.