Pigeonpea in ESA: A story of two decades

Said Silim

In 1991: • Pigeonpea was not a crop of importance • Farmers growing traditional low yielding varieties as

intercrop • Preference was for bold seeded fast cooking varieties • National research systems and governments paid no

attention • Private sector had no interest • No awareness about the export potential

Initial approach: • Initial approach was to introduce varieties from HQ

through local testing but • They were not adapted to the region • Emphasis at HQ is on SD and MD types while

ESA demand is for MD and LD • Farmers and market demand white bold grain

that cook fast • Resistance to Fusarium wilt

Revised strategy: • Understand the influence of temp (T) and photoperiod

(P) and used for targeting developed varieties • Ensure resistance to diseases and pests • Fill germplasm gaps for posterity and use in the

breeding program • Include crop management to enhance systems

productivity • Market needs and opportunities • Develop varieties that exploit farmer and markets • Support seed systems • Enhance stakeholder capacity

Understanding modulation of T and P • Trials conducted across a transect

• 50 to 2500 m asl and T varied from 30 - 150C • Used artificial lighting P 12 h 20 min to 16 h 20 min

• Early flowering observed at 240C for SD, 220C for MD and at 180C for LD

• MD varieties matured early (150 days) at equator and late (200 days) away from equator

Filling germplasm gaps: • Additional germplasm was collected in Uganda,

Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique • Long duration varieties from the collections were

used to develop varieties for delayed matured under cooler temperatures

• Medium duration varieties from Uganda were used as sources for high temperature and pest tolerance

Grain characteristics used in breeding: • White/cream seed coat • Bold and round seeds • Aroma • Cook fast

Resistance to Fusarium wilt: • Losses from Fusarium wilt were estimated to be

about US$ 5 m per country • Varieties resistant to Fusarium in India were found to

be susceptible in the region • Wilt sick plots were developed in Kenya, Tanzania

and Malawi • Sources of resistance from local land races were

identified and used in the breeding program

Pest management: • Major pests in the region are

• Field: pod borers, pod suckers and pod flies

• Storage: Bruchids • Research was initiated to screen varieties

with resistance to these pests

Molecular tools: • Identifying and use of molecular markers speed up

the process of resistance breeding • A limiting factor in the region is lack of biosafety

regulations • One area for immediate research attention is risk

assessment including geneflows

Crop management: • Pigeonpea is mainly grown as intercrop • The best row ratios were found to be paired rows of

pigeonpea with 3 rows of maize or 6 rows of legumes such as groundnut, bean and soybean

• In both cases residual N was found to be >40 kg/ha

Agronomy

Pigeonpea Yield (t/ha) Maize Yield (t/ha)

Variety Mean

Variety Mean

Improved Farmer Improved Farmer

Improved 1.460 1.497 1.478 1.252 1.539 1.410

Farmer 0.811 1.091 0.951 1.231 1.459 1.345

Mean 1.136 1.294 1.257 1.499

Market information: • Coordinate and synchronize production and

marketing activities • Shorten the then existing long marketing channels • Reduce transaction costs along the value chain • Mainstream grades and standards in the value chain • Provide avenues for farmers to access improved

technologies

Pigeonpea Value Chains

Rural wholesaler

Small farmer

PMG/UnionMiddlemen/brokers

Urban wholesaler

Processing

Industry

Rural retailer (1)

Rural

consumer

Supermarkets

(3) Grain

Exporter (4)

Urban

retailer (2)

Urban consumer

Transporter

Processed

Exporter (5)

Foreign consumers

Seed systems: • Strategic partnerships to increase the availability of

improved seeds developed • The actors in these partnerships include NARS,

commercial seed companies, input suppliers and farmer associations

• Farmers and extension agents are trained in seed production

• Farmer cooperatives, local seed enterprises and input stockists were established and /or strengthened

Capacity building: • Capacity building activities covering all aspects from

production to marketing to consumption were implemented

• Now there are pigeonpea breeders in all countries • Farmers are aware about the pigeonpea potential • Private sector is actively pursuing the promotion of

pigeonpea • Policy makers are paying attention to promote

pigeonpea

Partnerships: • ICRISAT-ESA worked hard to develop meaningful

partnerships that add value • This was achieved by strategic choice of partners to

sustain future R&D efforts • We are now working with CIMMYT and CIAT • Number donors supporting pigeonpea also

increased during this period

On-farm demonstrations: • Potential varieties were evaluated on station and

on-farm in the target regions in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi

• Participatory on-farm evaluation followed involving farmers, market agents and agri-business enterprises

• The best bet varieties were promoted in collaboration with NARS, NGOs and private sector

Varietal Targeting: General preference for cream bold grains with fast cooking and aroma, Fusarium wilt resistance and

• MD and LD varieties that escape drought, with ratoonability in Eastern Kenya

• LD and MD in Northern and MD in Eastern and Southern Tanzania, suitable to cereal inter-cropping

• MD varieties and new pest tolerance populations developed crossing with local varieties in Uganda

• LD and MD varieties for Southern and MD with higher opt. temp. and insensitivity to Ppd for Central & Northern Malawi

• In Mozambique conditions are similar to Malawi and varieties released are the best bet

Impacts: • A total of 23 varieties released • Area increased from 450K ha in 1992 to 930K in 2012 • Adoption rate is high in Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi and

Mozambique • Productivity has increased • Increase in export results in three fold increase in price • Tanzania currently exports 100K t grain • Private seed companies in Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi are

investing is seed production

• Capacity of all partners strengthened

Country Area (‘000 ha) Yield (Kg/ha) Production (‘000 t) 90-92 00-02 2011 90-92 00-02 2011 90-92 00-02 2011

Kenya 160 167 182 409 465 608 65 77 111

Malawi 142 137 197 684 753 1103 97 103 217

Mozambique - 69 193 - 465 504 - 32 97

Tanzania 56 134 288 650 650 946 38 87 273

Uganda 61 80 93 827 1000 1025 51 80 95

Total 419 587 953 598 647 832 251 380 792

In 2012: • Pigeonpea is a food and cash crop for smallholder

farmers • Farmers growing medium-duration high yielding

varieties • Shifted to varieties that are attractive to Indian

markets • National research systems and governments are

making concerted efforts to promote the crop • Private sector entered in a big way • Policies are in place to exploit the export potential

Behind this: • Strong research and development agenda founded

on identified constraints and opportunities • Well planned research that addressed key constraints • An approach that integrated production with

markets • ICRISAT and donor support in operationalizing the

strategy • A champion in place for continuity and mobilising

necessary funding and other support

• Develop agronomy for inter-cropping that contributes to intensification and expansion

• Strengthen seed system

• Gain greater knowledge of markets and their structures

• Ensure in country value addition through processing

• Develop better adapted and high yielding varieties using conventional approach and use molecular tools to improve efficiency

• Be very cautious on hybrid technology

Future Direction

Thank you!

ICRISAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium