TL III Genetic Gains Workshop –Program

Improvement Plans

“Increasing the Genetic Gains of Project Partner Breeding Programs”

1st–2nd September 2016

Jacaranda Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

Mali Cowpea Breeding Program Improvement Plans

Introduction The cowpea breeding program was established around 1977 many years

after IER creation.

The program was initialy based at Sotuba Research Station but in 1994 the

institute decided to move it at Cinzana Research Station which is 250 mile

from Bamako.

From its creation to now the program has been supported by many

partners.

Many improved breeding lines have been released and these have

contributed to increase significantly cowpea production and productivity in

Mali.

The BPAT is a tool that can help us to identify areas of improvement and

then we can draw up a program improvement plan based on our own and

resources.

Breeding Staff

Actually we have only one cowpea breeder and

the necessity to have an additional breeder,

Entomologist and phytopathologist are a priority for

the cowpea program

There is need of more technicians because all the

techncians in the program retired and not replaced.

At the national level this retirement is becoming a

critical issue for the government

Fonction publique de l’État: la loi portant statut des

fonctionnaires modifiée ?

Les nombreux fonctionnaires qui s’apprêtaient à faire valoir leur droit à la

retraite ont désormais un sursis de deux années. C’est du moins, apprend-

on, la proposition faite par le ministère du Travail et de la fonction publique qui

aurait fait, selon les mêmes, une communication écrite dans ce sens au Conseil

des ministres pour approbation.

Son salut viendrait, rapporte notre source, du projet de modification de la Loi N° 02-053 du 16 décembre 2002, portant statut général des fonctionnaires, qui

aurait fait l’objet d’une communication écrite du ministère de la Fonction

publique, au Conseil des ministres, avec effet de proroger le départ à la

retraite de fonctionnaires des catégorie C, B1, B2, et A.

Mais, il n’en est de rien. Et pour cause, la loi de modification proposée, une fois

adoptée, va concerner tous les fonctionnaires des catégories C, B1, B2 et A,

âgés respectivement de 58, 59, 60, et 63 ans qui vont bénéficier d’une

prolongation de 2 ans. Ainsi l’âge à la retraite de ces fonctionnaires sera

respectivement de 60, 61, 62, et 65 ans.

Infrastructure Infrastructure

Screenhouse:

Actually in Mali we are using two screen houses for

crossing and striga screening at Cinzana Research Station.

What we need is one glasshouse with controlled

temperature at Cinzana Research Station and also

screenhouse at Koporo Research Station in Mopti region to

increase number of crosses and also start screening for aphid

resistance and seedling drought tolerance.

Irrigation facilities

There is a need to reinforce the capacity of irrigation of

our station. The cost of the activities conducted during the

Off-season in Niono Research Station is higher. The other

possibility is to conduct all activities at Sotuba. The distance

is much and the cost of travel is a major concern.

Seed Storage and Cold room:

At Cinzana Research Station we have small seed storage used for short

term which is not in good condition.

Room too small

- There is no constant electricity

- No freezer

We also don’t have any cold room which is very important in breeding

program

There is a need to build a new seed storage and cold room to keep our

germoplasm in good condition.

Biotechnology Laboratory

Very soon we will have a molecular lab from one of our partners. One of

the big constraints is electricity. We will spend 45 million CFA in Solar

Energy for the electricity. What we really need now is to renovate our lab in

order to meet international standards.

CAPACITY BUILDING

We are using BMS but still need some training to be more familiar with the

BMS tool

Training for our technician in the use of molecular tools in our breeding

program

THANK YOU

MERCI