Tracking Diffusion of Improved Wheat and Maize Varieties with DNA Finger Printing in Ethiopia: Pilot Project

Preliminary results 

Regional Dialogue on Strengthening African Seed

SystemJuly 14 – 25 2014

OutlineIntroduction

Some facts about wheat and maize production in Ethiopia

Wheat and maize varieties released to date

Farmer knowledge of wheat and maize varieties

Need for DNA finger printing assisted adoption study

MethodologySurvey instruments

DNA data application

ResultsPerceived adoption of wheat and maize varieties

Varietal adoption estimates based on DNA finger printing techniques

Comparison of adoption estimates from farmer recalls and DNA finger printing estimates

Implications

Introduction

Maize and Wheat has been recognized as a strategic food security crop in the country’s attempt to bridge the persistent food gap

Compared to other cereal crops grown:Maize is first in terms of volume of production- 6.1 million tons (CSA, 2012)

Second in terms of area – 2.1 million ha (CSA, 2012)

The highest in productivity – 2.9 tons/ha (CSA, 2012)

Produced in all regions of the country (but relatively less in Afar and Somali Regional States)

Wheat is the fourth important cereal crop in terms of area and volume of production – 1.4 million ha and 2.9 million tons

Introduction (cont…)

In view of the importance of maize and wheat on the country’s food security a lot of resources has been invested to generate and make available improved varieties and complementary technologies

Both maize and wheat research programs are relatively successful

Both have strong collaboration with CGIAR centers (CIMMYT, ICARDA)

Maize varieties released in Ethiopia, by decade

1970-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-20090

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

OPV

Hybrid

Decade

Num

ber

of m

aize

var

ieti

es r

e-le

ase

Source: MoA, 2012

Introduction (cont…)

Number of improved wheat varieties released by year of release, Ethiopia

Year Released Improved Wheat varieties (Number)

Bread wheat Durum wheat Total

Before 1981 3 - 3

1981-1990 3 1 4

1991-2000 15 8 23

2001-2010 25 20 45

Total 46 39 85

Source: MoA, 2012

Introduction (cont…)

Introduction (cont…)

These improved varieties with associated crop management practices have been made available to farmers

Sasakawa Global (SG 2000) initiative the participatory demonstration and training extension system- PADETESScaling up efforts of EIAR and RARIs

Hence, uptake of the improved varieties by farmers and their impact on HH welfare remained a concern to all involved in the generation and transfer of wheat technologies

Adoption studies before 1990

the first technology adoption studies conducted in the 1970s to assess the successes of the Comprehensive Integrated Rural Development Projects and the Minimum Package Program

Most of the early adoption studies reported rather low awareness and limited adoption of improved varieties

weak research-extension linkage were identified as a major bottleneck for the low awareness and adoption of improved agricultural technologies

Introduction (cont…)

Adoption studies 1990 to 2010 The studies reported quite variable adoption rates ranging from zero as high as 74% for improved maize varieties

Most of the adopting farmers relied on recycled seeds, and came from old varieties

Major drawback of the studies were • Highly location specific

• Around research centers

• Project intervention areas

Fail to allow generalizations indispensable for policy making at national and regional levels

Introduction (cont…)

Farmer knowledge of improved varieties is limited casting doubt on the level of precision of adoption estimates based on farmer recalls

The challenges inherent in identifying individual varieties by the farmers demanded exploring better approaches

Introduction (cont…)

Objective

Validate the application of DNA fingerprinting techniques in tracking varietal adoption for maize and wheat in Ethiopia

Technical feasibility

Logistical feasibility

Methodology

Conducted in three zones of Oromiya: East Wollega, West Shewa and West Arsi;

The pilot research had three main areas of data generation

The first is related with the collection of seed samples from CSA crop cuts

The second involved the collection of samples of reference materials from breeders and seed enterprises

The third is questionnaire based data collection from sample HHs from whom crop cut samples were taken

Completed questionnaires, collected reference materials and crop cuts (seed samples)

Wheat Maize Total

Reference library 75 39 114

Collected Samples 393 472 865

Questionnaires393 (368) 469

Methodology (cont…)

Survey Instrument

DNA data application

Correlation of sample DNA with reference material greater than 70% was considered as threshold for identification of varieties

Methodology (cont…)

Results: Wheat

Main findings - Wheat

Farmer response(recalls): 62% of the farmers adopted improved wheat varieties

DNA Finger Printing: 96% of the farmers used improved wheat

Only 9.3% of the farmers were able to correctly indentify the improved wheat varieties culitvated

Comparison of estimates of improved wheat variety adoption based on from farmer recalls and DNA finger printing

Name of wheat variety grown

Farmer Response  Correctly Predicted

(N=368) % N=33

% from farmer responses

% from DNA results

Digelu (SHA 7/KAUZ ) 85 23.10 18 21.18 18.8Kubsa (HAR-1685) 44 11.96 12 27.27 10.9Dashen (HAR 408) 25 6.79 0 0.00 0.0Pavon-76 20 5.43 3 15.00 14.3Kakaba 8 2.17 0 0.00 0.0Tusie (HAR-1407) 5 1.36 0 0.00 0.0Gasay (HAR-3730) 3 0.82 0 0.00 0.0Danda’a 3 0.82 0 0.00 0.0Galema (HAR-604) 2 0.54 0 0.00 0.0Mada-Walabu (HAR-1480) 2 0.54 0 0.00 0.0Dereselign 1 0.27 0 0.00 0.0Mitike (HAR-1709) 1 0.27 0 0.00 0.0Hawii (HAR-2501) 1 0.27 0 0.00 0.0Improved but unknown 28 7.61 0 0.00 0.0Total 228 61.96 33 14.47 9.3

Results: Maize

Main findings - Maize

Farmer response (recalls): 56% HHs used improved maize varieties

DNA results: 64% of the farmers used improved maize varieties

Only 47% of the farmers were able to correctly indentify the improved maize varieties they cultivated (all for hybrid users)

Implications - technical

Farmers report underestimate the use of improved varieties compared to DNA results:

62% 96% for wheat

56% 64% for maize

Very few farmers correctly know what type of varieties they grow

9.3% for wheat

47% for maize (all for hybrids)

Implications - TechnicalThe observed difference between farmer response and DNA fingerprinting results in reported/identified varieties suggest further investigation of agro-ecological targeting of varieties

High potential for wider application of the DNA fingerprinting technique for estimating more accurately varietal adoption rates, assessing seed demand, estimate impact of crop improvement programs by linking with

Agricultural Sample Survey (AgSS) including GIS information, respondents socioeconomic data etc.,

Ethiopian Soil Information System (EthioSIS)

The DNA capacity could also help in resolving seed quality disputes that has become common recently

Implications – Logistics The logistical arrangement for DNA sample and data collection was found to be relatively efficient

Linking the data collection efforts with CSA AgSS made the approach cost effective and nationally representative

The National Biotechnology Lab demonstrated commendable professional performance

Implications – Improvement Areas

Better alignment with CSA AgSS in terms of timing, adjustment of questionnaire contents, logistic of sample exchange, etc

Need further strengthen the capacity of the National Biotechnology Lab both in terms of physical facilities and human resources

Develop scaling strategy to guide the application of the approach

How to mainstream in the national programs (CSA, EIAR, partners etc)

How frequently to undertake

Crops to be included

THANK U ALL!