Farmers in Kenya and Uganda could soon start growing
conventional drought-tolerant maize once they are approved for
commercialisation by the respective regulatory authorities.
This follows several advanced field trials that have been
held to test the non-GM maize varieties in Embu, Machakos, Naivasha, and
Kakamega in Kenya and Kasese in Uganda.
Counter the effects
Dr Sylvester Oikeh, the project manager, Water Efficient Maize for Africa (Wema) , said one line of the crop is at the final stage of approval and more than 25 others are at different stages of the national performance trials in Kenya compared with eight lines in Uganda.
Dr Sylvester Oikeh, the project manager, Water Efficient Maize for Africa (Wema) , said one line of the crop is at the final stage of approval and more than 25 others are at different stages of the national performance trials in Kenya compared with eight lines in Uganda.
“The varieties have been undergoing field trials in
various parts of Kenya since 2009 and will be available to farmers during the
2013 short-rains season subject to final approvals from the Kenya Plant Health
Inspectorate Service,” he said.
He added that like many other countries in Africa, Kenya
and Uganda are affected by drought conditions and thus the new maize varieties
will help farmers counter the effects that affect their yields.
Maize is the most widely grown staple crop in East Africa.
Maize is the most widely grown staple crop in East Africa.
It is also an important animal feed.
According to the National Agricultural Research Organisation (Naro), per capita
total maize consumption ranges from 28 kilogrammes a year in Uganda to 125
kilogrammes a year in Kenya.
However, the yields remain low,
fluctuating around 1.5 tonnes per hectare in Uganda and 2.3 tonnes per hectare
in Kenya, due to a combination of factors including drought, pests and
diseases.
Made progress
Dr Godfrey Asea, team leader of Cereals Programme at the National Crops Resources Research Institute, said the drought-tolerant maize in Uganda will either be released to farmers at the end of this year or early next year.
Dr Godfrey Asea, team leader of Cereals Programme at the National Crops Resources Research Institute, said the drought-tolerant maize in Uganda will either be released to farmers at the end of this year or early next year.
“So far, we have made progress
because we now have a number of crops (maize) in the pipeline for release of
about eight hybrids lines. They are in the final stages of testing and we hope
that the exercise will be completed this year and apply for the release either
late this year or early next year,” Dr Asea said.
Release varieties
He added that the release of the new maize variety to the farmers will solve the effects of drought that affects the crops during flowering. Uganda’s Agriculture Seeds and Plant Act requires research institutions to apply for a release of planting materials to the National Plant Variety Committee.
He added that the release of the new maize variety to the farmers will solve the effects of drought that affects the crops during flowering. Uganda’s Agriculture Seeds and Plant Act requires research institutions to apply for a release of planting materials to the National Plant Variety Committee.
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ABOUT WEMA
ABOUT WEMA
The Water Efficient Maize for Africa
project aims to address effects of drought and insect pressure in a
cost-effective way for smallholder farmers. The goal is to make these varieties
available royalty-free through seed companies, with African Agricultural
Technology Foundation as the coordinating agency.
CIMMYT and Monsanto are the other
partners, working with the Kari and Naro. Kenya produces about 2.7m tonnes per
year compared to Uganda’s 1.9m tonnes
The development of
drought tolerant maize by WEMA is also being implemented in Tanzania,
Mozambique and South Africa
