This document summarizes a workshop on groundnut improvement programs in West and Central Africa. It finds that while groundnut is an important cash crop, production and exports from the region have declined in recent decades due to problems like aflatoxin contamination, low yields, and biotic and abiotic stresses. The breeding program aims to develop improved varieties to boost productivity and incomes. Key findings note positive aspects like collaboration with national programs and technology transfer efforts, but also areas needing improvement such as increasing program scale, staffing, and use of tools like Breeding Management Systems. Recommendations include strengthening ties with other programs, hiring more specialized staff, and investing in seed processing infrastructure.

1. BPAT highlights - WCA
Groundnut Improvement
Program
PIP Workshop, 1-2 September 2016, Nairobi
H Desmae & B Motagi

2. Groundnut in WCA
• Africa accounts for 40% of groundnut area but contributes only
25% of world production
• WCA accounts for > 70% groundnut production in Africa
• Groundnut accounts for up 60% of cultivated area and
significant portion of export commodities in some countries
• Cash crop
• Up to 50 crop value
• 85% women in Mali
• WCA share in global groundnut production and market has
declined significantly in the last four decades
• production 27% to 20%
• oil export from 55% to 24%
• Confectionary groundnut export by 50%
• Contributing factors
• Aflatoxin
• Poor quality standard
• Low productivity (~1t/ha)
• Biotic and abiotic stress
• Socio-economic

3. Constraints
 Biotic & biotic
₋ Drought
₋ Diseases & pests
 Leaf spots
 Rosette
 Aphids
 Aflatoxin
₋ Soil fertility & natural
resources degradation
 Socioeconomic
₋ Lack of availability & poor
access to new varieties
₋ Access to inputs & credit
₋ Poorly developed market
& volatile price

4. Breeding
• Started in the 1980s
• Objective
 In partnership with NARS to develop improved
varieties to enhance productivity and production
of groundnut thereby improve income and
livelihood of farmers
• Focus Areas of Activities
 Genetic resources conservation & utilization
 Variety development
 Capacity building
 Seed systems

5. BPAT
• 2015
• To support organizations committed to continually
improving the rate of genetic gain of their newly
released varieties. The process is based on the key
elements that drive a public sector breeding
program's potential to achieve higher rates of
genetic gain, including
• Technical: Breeding-specific execution and
quantitative & qualitative impact factors
• Institutional: Enabler support factors on strategic
planning, budgeting, and performance management

6. BPAT

7. BPAT
• Technical (171 questions)
• program personnel,
• design,
• usage of technology,
• advancement process, and
• program impact
• Institutional (86 questions)
• breeding support systems (11 questions),
• Infrastructure (28 Questions),
• pre-breeding research (9 questions),
• strategic planning and management (13 questions),
• budget management (20 questions), and
• performance management (5 questions)

8. Key Findings - Positive
• Haile Desmae has worked with ICRISAT for less than
two years. He is an excellent scientist and should be a
very effective plant breeder.
• There are a number of excellent scientists that assist in
allied fields at Bamako that assist both groundnuts and
sorghum in these areas: Physiology (at Niamey),
Quality focusing on aflatoxin, Economics, Technology
Transfer and Diffusion, and Gender roles.
• A recently built meshhouse will assist the Bamako
groundnut staff in making cross pollinations and doing
pathology and entomology studies.

9. Key Findings - Positive
• Aggressive distribution for Advanced Breeding Lines
of groundnut in 2014 to National Programs in Mali,
Senegal, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Niger. They test
materials in PYTs and AYTs without financial
compensation/ TL-II project support.
• The Bamako team works closely with the OFT and
Demonstration Plot program. These assist greatly in
product diffusion.
• Two PhD students are currently working with the
groundnut program in Bamako. This aids the program
and assists in potentially building capacity for the
future.

10. Key Findings – Areas for Improvement
• Both the breeding program and performance
trialing process is too small. It should be tripled.
• The technical support staff for groundnuts is too
small. One additional Science officer and at least
one more technician is needed.
• The annual budget for groundnuts in Malawi is
$600,000 versus $290,000 for groundnut in Mali.
This is largely due to more successful processes to
get bilateral funding in Malawi.

11. Key Findings – Areas for Improvement
• BMS is NOT being utilized by groundnuts (or sorghum)
in Mali but is being utilized extensively by groundnuts
in ICRISAT Malawi.
• Mechanization is not being used in this program.
Simple shellers would greatly assist and improve
efficiency.
• Seed labs for processing and preparation are
inadequate. Much work is done under shade trees.
This must be improved

12. Recommendations
• Close working relationship with the Malawi
through cross training programs, short term
exchanges, and in obtaining bilateral funding.
• Mali and Nigeria need to reach the same
proficiency and usage of BMS as in Malawi.
• There is a great need for both a PhD
Pathologist and Agronomist in WCA to be
located in Bamako.

13. Recommendations
• An MSc scientist is needed at Bamako in Molecular
biology to lead tissue collection and processing for
groundnuts and sorghum. Marker based selection
must increase.
• An MSc Entomologist is needed in Kano Nigeria to
lead efforts in WCA.
• A Foundation Seed facility is needed like used by
groundnut in Malawi and Sorghum & Pearl Millet at
Niamey.
• Cold storage room efficiency needs to be improved
and temperature and humidity controls improved.

14. Thank You