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Building Resilient Sorghum Seed Systems in Semi-Arid Areas of Zimbabwe through Partnerships
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Building Resilient Sorghum Seed Systems in Semi-Arid Areas of Zimbabwe through Partnerships

  1. Building Resilient Sorghum Seed Systems in Semi-Arid Areas of Zimbabwe through Partnerships Thabani Dube1, Martin Moyo1, Conrad Murendo1, Kizito Mazvimavi1 and Moses Siambi2 Background • Sorghum productivity is low mainly due to reliance on retained seed from low yielding local varieties. • However sorghum is resilient in semi-arid regions than maize. • Developing a resilient sorghum seed multiplication system is crucial for improving access to quality seed. Problem Statement • Failure to access quality sorghum seed, poses a threat to the livelihood of smallholder farmers. • Widespread sorghum seed shortages experienced in 2015/16 season, Figure 2. • Is there scope to increase seed access through offseason production? Figure 3: Off-season seed production, Lungwalala Irrigation Scheme, Binga district Outputs • A total of 13,500kg of quality declared seed was produced at a rate of 2000kgs/ha. • Seed distributed locally and in the region (Malawi and Tanzania) • Increased farm income. Average gross margin /ha of $1,153 and a return on investment of 1.36, Table 1. Intervention • ICRISAT, working in partnership with SNV,CAFOD, Public Extension (AGRITEX) and smallholder farmers ventured into multiplication of high quality seed to address seed shortages. • Seed production was carried out by 25 farmers, on 5.4ha, at Lungwalala irrigation scheme located in the semi-arid are of Binga District, Figure 3. Figure 4: Pathway from seed multiplication to grain production • Breakeven analysis showed that the enterprise would remain profitable up to more than 55% decline in current yield and price., Table 2. Success factors • Transparency in the roles and responsibilities of actors, regular extension contact and local leadership support, were identified by most as having had strongest influence on success of the project. Figure 5. Opportunities • Scope to increase off-season production exist due to availability of irrigable land and willingness of farmers to participate. • Public-Private Partnerships to strengthen the seed production. Threats • Pests and diseases, particularly quelea birds. • Shortage of labour. Conclusion • Off-season seed production enhances access to good quality seeds. • Smallholder farmers have capacity to produce quality sorghum seed • Offseason seed production increased farmers income • Off-season seed production through irrigation provides for a resilient systems to climate variability • Investments in irrigation infrastructure crucial • Farmer training on seed production to be strengthened References 1. AGRITEX Crop Production Statistics 1980-2014 2. http://www.fnc.org.zw/downloads/zimvac%20rep orts/ZimVac%202016/zimvac%202016%20detaile d%20report.pdf Sorghum Trends • Area under sorghum is expanding, but productivity is low and exhibits a downward trend, Figure 1. Figure 1: Sorghum production trends, Source: AGRITEX, 2015 Figure 2: Small grain condition as of January 2016, Source: ZIMVAC, 2016 • The partnership ensured seed multiplication and distribution of seed for grain production in areas severely affected by drought, Figure 4. Table 1: Gross margin budget Table 2: Breakeven analysis Figure 5: Ranking of factors credited with success of the initiative 1International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Zimbabwe 2International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Kenya T.Dube@cgiar.org, M.Moyo@cgiar.org, C.Murendo@cgiar.org, K.Mazvimavi@cgiar.org, M.Siambi@cgiar.org 0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 300000 350000 400000 450000 Yield(t/ha) Area(ha) Year Area Yield Linear (Area) Linear (Yield) Income Unit Price ($)/Unit Quantity/ha Income ($)/ha Seed output kgs 1 2000 2,000.00 Gross Income (GI) 2,000.00 Unit Price ($)/Unit Quantity/ha Cost ($)/ha Variable Costs (VC) Tillage ha 82.00 1 82.00 Seed kgs 3.00 10 30.00 Fertilisers Basal fertiliser 50kg 30.00 7 210.00 Top dressing fertiliser 50kg 34.00 5 170.00 Agro-chemicals Carbaryl g 0.02 922 20.75 Lambda ml 0.02 922 17.70 Dimethoate ml 0.45 184 82.48 Labour Hired Labour l/days 12.50 16 200.00 Harvesting Packaging 50kg bags 0.50 40 20.00 Irrigation month 3.30 4 13.20 Total Variable Costs (TVC) 846.13 Gross Margin (GM) 1,153.87 GM per $ invested 1.36 Variable Yield (kgs/ha) Prices/kg Achieved 2000 1 Breakeven 850 0.42 Margin of Safety 57.5% 58.00% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Responses Very Strong Strong Average Weak Acknowledgements This work was done in partnership by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Department of Agricultural, Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX), Department of Research and Specialist Services (DR&SS), Integrated Food, Nutrition and Incomes Security Program (FNI), European Union, Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), CARITAS, CAFOD and farmers at Lungwalala Irrigation Scheme in Kariyangwe, Binga District. Foundation seed for multiplication • ICRISAT produced and provided macia foundation seed to smallholder farmers under a contract arrangement for seed multiplication. • SNV/CAFOD/AGRITEX mobilised and built capacity of farmers in farming as a business. • Partners provided technical support on seed production Quality Declared Seed Production Distribution of seed for grain production • Development agencies played role of off-takers and distributors of quality seed affected smallholder farmers. • Opportunities for emerging small-seed houses to participate in the sorghum seed value chain. April 2018
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