BPAT highlights - WCA Groundnut Improvement

Program

PIP Workshop, 1-2 September 2016, Nairobi

H Desmae & B Motagi

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

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

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

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

BPAT

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)

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Thank You