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Legume Varieties and Seed Systems for SSA and SA

E Monyo on behalf of TL-III Team and Partners

Presented at the Pan African Grain Legume Conference 29 Feb, 2016 Livingstone, Zambia

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TROPICAL LEGUMES A 10 year vision funded in 3 phases. • Improve the livelihoods of

smallholder farmers in drought-prone areas of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia through enhanced grain legume production and productivity

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TL-III is a major international initiative partnering ICRISAT, CIAT, IITA, Seven African countries, one country in Asia (India), and other partners to: Develop improved cultivars of common bean, cowpea,

chickpea and groundnut

Deliver seed at scale to small-holders in these geographies to reach 4 million smallholder farmers

Fundamentally strengthen the NARS and CG breeding programs and seed platforms

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TL III Focus Geographies and Crops

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We are already seven years old • Towards Enhancement of productivity of

legumes in the drought-prone areas of SSA and SA thro increasing availability and adoption of improved varieties and associated production packages

• specifically: – 20% increase in production and productivity; – 30% of total area to be covered with improved

varieties; – Annual aggregate value of >US$ 300 million

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KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: Adoption, Impacts and Partnerships

• Country strategies and seed road maps: – For each variety a clear road map to impact

• Impact model reveal increased demand and supply

of legume crops until 2050 – This positions legumes as a clear pathway to poverty

reduction, food and nutritional security

• Project has lead to ↑ adoption of improved varieties in target countries – Good progress is being achieved towards the 30%

area cover in project target geographies.

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LESSONS

• Varietal change is already impacting on smallholder legume productivity and incomes (Ethiopia/Malawi/India/Tanzania)

• Market opportunities have dramatic influence on input use and yields eg chickpea ylds Ethiopia from 1.3t/ha - 1.8t/ha

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Challenges

• Limited physical and economic access to seed of improved varieties – Weak seed production, delivery schemes and

awareness creation – Greater Intervention to bridge the formal/informal

seed systems

• Seed replacement rate still low / national yields still below ideal levels – Robust interventions in awareness creation and seed

production and distribution

The image part with relationship ID rId13 was not found in the file.Enhancing Production and Productivity (Breeding) Key Achievements

• 163 New varieties of all six legumes released

• Newly released varieties are fast replacing the old ruling

varieties in both SSA and SA

• Active legumes breeding programs are now operational in all target countries supporting crossing, nurseries, PVS trials needed to exploit genetic gain and deliver new varieties.

• 37 NARS scientists trained to MSc and PhD.

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LESSONS from Breeding

• FPVS have been instrumental for identification and adoption of new varieties by farmers.

• Centralized breeding effort by CGIAR and partners and subsequent evaluations at national level is an efficient way for quick progress. Materials popular in one country are also generally popular in the other of similar agro-ecology.

• Strengthened infrastructure and human skill instrumental for generation of accurate data and research success.

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Challenges Breeding

• How to increase efficiency in handling large breeding data sets (documentation, interpretation, use)

• Adoption of modern data handling tools and solutions. – Still not all breeders are using the tools to create and

populate their DB nor using the electronic fieldbook

• Integrated breeding by TL- breeders – Adoption of this approach by TL breeders in SSA is

still low.

The image part with relationship ID rId13 was not found in the file.Sustainable Seeds Systems Key Achievements

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Key Achievements cont

The image part with relationship ID rId13 was not found in the file.Seed (tons) produced across target countries, by crop and phase

Crop Phase I (2007-2010)

Phase II (2011-2014)

Total

Chickpea 99,877 294,308 394,185 Beans 11,355 49,401 60,756 Cowpea 2,495 9,665 12,160 Groundnut 21,927 70,235 92,162 Pigeonpea 1,086 6,612 7,698 Soybean 2,308 16,011 18,319 Total 139,048 446,232 585,280

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Lessons from Seed Systems

• New organizational arrangements are critical for up-scaling of seed production, as both formal and informal seed systems require partnerships with public agencies

• The revolving fund approach as practiced in Malawi can be used to build sustainable partnerships with private sector based on local small seed companies.

• Small seed packs is an efficient strategy for popularization of new varieties

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ICRISAT Seed Revolving Fund 2005 – 2012 (TL-II started during 2007/08 season).

-

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000

1,800,000

Basic Seed (kg)Certified Seed (kg)

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Seed Systems Challenges

• How to strengthen breeder/basic seed production outside the research stations

• How to leverage with other large seed investments outside TL-III for scaling up

• Not enough investment in Variety popularization

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Conclusion

• Based on achievements and lessons from the

past two phases, the Tropical Legumes Project is funded for another 4 years - TL-III (2015-2019) with a reduced but more targeted geographical and crop focus

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Thank you !

Legume Varieties and Seed Systems