Crop improvement impact in SADC and future research approach

1. ICRISAT’s Crop Improvement Impact in SADC
and Future Research Approach
Sep 2010
McDonald Jumbo, Isaac Minde, Sakile Kudita and Nkazimulo Ngwenya, ICRISAT-Bulawayo
Introduction
More than 20 million smallholders farm the drought-prone semi-arid
zones of southern Africa.To date,23 improved sorghum varieties,12 pearl
millet,and 2 finger millet varieties developed jointly by ICRISAT and its
national program partners have been released in eight Southern African
Development Community (SADC countries) (Table 1).
Table 1. Sorghum and pearl millet varieties developed and released by
ICRISAT and national program partners in the SADC region
Country Variety/Hybrid
Sorghum Pearl millet
Botswana Phofu,Mahube,Mmabaitse,BSH1
Malawi Pilira 1,Pilira 2 Tupatupa,Nyankhombo
Mozambique Macia,Chokwe,Mamombe
Swaziland MRS 12,MRS 13,MRS 94
Tanzania Tegemeo,Pato Okoa,Shibe
Zambia Kunyuma,Sima,MMSH 375,
MMSH413,ZSV12,FSH22
WC-C75,Kaufela,Lubasi
Zimbabwe SV 1,SV 2,ZWSH 1 PMV1,PMV2,SDMV 93032
Namibia Okashana 1 (ICTP 8203),
Okashana 1(ICMV88908)
Adoption Rates of Improved Sorghum and
Millet Varieties in SADC
Although adoption of new sorghum and millet varieties still remains a
challenge,studies have revealed some progress since these new varieties
were released (Figures 1 and 2).In Zimbabwe,SV 2,released in 1987,is now
grown on 30% of the country’s sorghum area; PMV 2,released in 1992,
occupies 25% of the pearl millet area.In Namibia,Okashana 1 covers an
estimated 45-49% of the pearl millet area.In Zambia,four recently released
varieties cover 35% of the sorghum area.Several varieties released in
Botswana in 1994 now cover an estimated 20% of the national sorghum
area.Varieties released in Malawi are now grown on about 10% of Malawi’s
sorghum area and 7% of the country’s pearl millet area.Efforts to strengthen
national seed supply systems could further lift these adoption rates higher.
Foundation Seed Production
Seed quantity and quality as well as its availability are among the major
factors that contribute to successful farming.In Zimbabwe,the economic
slowdown not only affected the food supply but had also seriously
affected seed availability.Although the mandate of research centers is the
development of new varieties,ICRISAT’s role to produce foundation seed
to support farmers in Zimbabwe will help improve food security as well as
maintaining the genetic purity of the varieties.
With funding from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),ICRISAT in
Bulawayo has produced foundation seed for groundnuts,sorghum,cowpeas
and pearl millet,and from the 2009/2010 growing season,the following
quantities were produced; 10100kg of sorghum seed,9418kg of pearl millet
seed,and 4000kg of cowpea seed.Groundnuts quantities have not yet been
determined as the crop is still being processed.
Current and Future Plans
The current and future research strategy is to advance technology
development along side other systems such as seed delivery and market
systems in order to open reliable seed supply sources and market links for
surplus grain production.
Alongside market links,ICRISAT also plans to consider improving traits that
are preferred by the industry to attract commercial demand for dryland grain
crops.Figure 1. Adoption (% of National Sorghum Area) in SADC.
Figure 2. Adoption (% of National Pearl Millet Area) in SADC Region.
Figure 3. FAO/USAID representatives and ICRISAT staff in a sorghum
foundation seed field at Matopos Research Station in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.