Innovative Tools and Approaches for Vegetable Cultivar and Technology

Dissemination in West Africa

Afari-Sefa Victor, Sokona Dagnoko, Theresa Endres , Sanjeet Kumar,

Paul A. Gniffke and Abdou Tenkouano

AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center, Regional Center for Africa, Arusha, Tanzania

Yet need to address the double burden of malnutrition in Africa

Perennial problem Emerging problem

Low Emphasis on Agric. Research & Extension on Vegetables in Africa

“Alleviate poverty and malnutrition in the developing world through increased production and

consumption of nutritious, health-promoting vegetables”

AVRDC’s roleAVRDC’s role

http://www.avrdc.org

Four R & D Themes

Germplasm conservation, evaluation and gene discovery

Genetic enhancement, varietal development, selection of indigenous lines, seed production

Safe and sustainable vegetableproduction systems

Postharvest management and market opportunities; nutritional security, diet diversification and human health

Germplasm

Breeding

Consumption

Production

http://www.avrdc.org

Preliminary breeding

Evaluation and selection

Farmer Participatory Selection

Purification/DUSNational performance trials

Release/Commercialization

Participatory Breeding & Varietal Selection Workflow

Core competencies Critical resources and techniques

Home garden production and nutrition education

•Nutrition seed kits with brochure, training manual and production and nutrition information.

•Training courses, teaching materials, farmers’ field school, field demonstrations.

•Participatory recipe design to improve nutrient retention and absorption, and recipe demonstration and promotion .

Training & Technology Dissemination

•Field days•Seed fairs•On farm demonstrations•Farmer field schools

Awareness & Demand Creation Activities

Promotion through National Agricultural Shows

Summary of Key AVRDC Activities

Since 1992, its Regional Center for Africa has been instrumental in:• Breeding improved exotic and IVs from Africa varieties for uptake

and commercialization by private seed companies.• Train farmers, representatives of NGOs, NARES in GAP and seed

systems that exhibit desirable nutritional attributes.• Engaged in activities to increase productivity, availability and

consumption including genetic improvement (for biotic and abiotic stresses),GAP to improve yield and reduce chemical inputs, postharvest technologies to reduce losses, and promotion of vegetable consumption through school and home gardening,

• Nutrition education, and distribution of nutrition seed kits for home gardens and disaster relief.

• Enhancing the bioavailability of nutrients, optimum food preparation methods through recipe development and dissemination.

• Over 60 improved vegetable varieties have so far been developed, released, and in some cases, commercialized.

Case Study Promotion of 3 New Chili

Varieties in Mali3 Hot pepper varieties may have potential to reduce poverty in W. Africa

• Capsicum annum chili pepper almost unknown to Malian consumers who by far prefer chinense or frutescens HP.

• AVRDC and its partner ICRISAT/WASA have introduced C. annuum hot pepper in the country including 3 high yielding, early maturing, and adapted varieties.

•The three varieties can be harvested many times and have high, medium, and low pungency respectively.

Nafama

Bafarima

Nisondia

Map of Mali Showing Study

Action Sites  

Action site

Action site

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Variety On-farm Average Yield for New Chili Variety

FAO Average Yield for Standard chili in Mali

% Yield increase

AVPP9905(Nisondia)

7.97 t/ha (5.42 t/ha) 47%

AVPP0002(Bafarima)

9.40 t/ha (5.42 t/ha) 73%

AVPP0105(Nafama)

10.56 t/ha (5.42 t/ha) 95%

Yield data for 3 New Chili Varieties Promoted in Mali

• Fruits harvested from 2008 trials with Capsicum annum varieties were almost totally not preferred by consumers.

•Were thus sun dried and kept in a storage room inside an unoccupied building (formerly housing of ICRISAT’s farm manager) at Samanko station in Mali

• Capsicum annum was later introduced to end-users through a series of field visits, farmers’ PVS, discussions with farmers, and sensory quality testing.

Dry Capsicum

annuum hot pepper

Lessons Learned from new Chili Variety Promotion in Mali

Experiences with Promotion of 3 New Chili Varieties in Mali

• 2010 harvested fruits from demonstrations and on-farm trials at Bafarima, Nisondia, & Nafama were introduced to consumers and local markets by day laborers and farmers.

• Fruits were sold between $0.023-0.055 per 5g fruit ($4.60-11.00 per kg of fruit) in local markets in Bamako.

• New chili varieties were recently introduced to Kirina farmers and tested by those at Koni (N’gouraba) who are now requesting seeds for planting large areas.

• The 3 new released varieties are suitable for higher income generation for both fresh market and processing.

• However, availability of high quality seed and the need for staking during the rainy season may be challenging.

Nisondia•22 t/ha, •long shelf life

Demon F1•10 t/ha, uniform shape, colour and size

Beibeihong 695 F1•10 t/ha, •moderate resistance to PMV.

Nafama•25t/ha, resistant to PVMV and CMV.

Bafarima•10t/ha, •heat tolerant

Chili Varieties Reg. in 2011 Official Seed Catalogue of Mali

• This intervention has shown that it is possible to create excitement and interest in new varieties through targeted promotion and participation.

• Close collaboration and thoughtful exchange of information and opinion between partners and beneficiaries can enhance technology adoption.

• Holistic and multi-disciplinary approach via public private partnerships in research and development program intervention efforts.

• Need for long-term investment in promotion of dietary diversity to increase vegetable production and consumption

• Change in policy direction by adequate integration of nutrition security in all food security intervention efforts by increasing production and consumption of TAVs and nutrient-rich vegetables ,e.g., .Beta-carotene tomato.

Policy and Future and Perspectives

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