Cassava Seed Multiplication and Distribution of Improved New Varieties: ASARECA

Regional Experience

Presented at the COMESA Experts Meeting on Increased Cassava Production, 12th – 13th May 2015, Lusaka-Zambia

Brian E. Isabirye, Ivan Rwomushana, Anthony Bua, T. Munga, Tesfaye Tadesse, E. Warinda and Edward Kanju

Eastern and Central Africa (ECA)

……

• Countries in the region are facing similar challenges to improve agriculture’s performance.

• Food production in the region is consistently lower than population growth.

• Agro-ecological zones cut across political boundaries, and therefore, technologies developed in one country frequently find application in similar environments of other countries.

• Great opportunities to promote agricultural led growth through sharing of Agricultural research results as a result of regional collective action, collaboration and specialization exist but these yet to be tapped into.

ASARECA

……

VisionRegional leader in agricultural research and development for improved livelihoods in Eastern and Central Africa

MissionEnhance regional collective action in agricultural research for development, extension and agricultural training and education to promote economic growth, fight poverty, eradicate hunger and enhance sustainable use of resources in Eastern and Central Africa. GoalEnhanced sustainable productivity, value added and competitiveness of the sub- regional agricultural system

Facilitate the generation of appropriate technologies, innovations and management practices for the sub-region.

Disseminate and up-scaling of appropriate TIMPs across borders.

Ensure an enabling policy environment for agricultural transformation.

Enhance institutional and stakeholder capacities for innovation generation

A regional hub and think tank for agric knowledge, information and learning.

ASARECA does

Cassava in ASARECA

Multiple benefits

CASSAVA STARCH

CASSAVA CHIPS / PELLETS

FOODFOOD

TEXTILETEXTILE

MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE

(MSG)

MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE

(MSG)

PAPERPAPER

PLYWOODPLYWOOD

BIO-DEGRADABLE PRODUCTS

BIO-DEGRADABLE PRODUCTS

SWEETENERSWEETENER

MEDICINE

MEDICINE

GLUEGLUE

ALCOHOLALCOHOL

Cassava is also used to produce liquor, industrial and medical alcohol.

ANIMAL FEED

ANIMAL FEED

Cassava is a prime raw material in making MSG.

Cassava is used to make glucose, fructose, lactose, substitute for sucrose in making beverages, jams and canned fruits.

Cassava is used in paper pressing, flattening and polishing.

Good-quality glue for plywood binding is made from cassava

Cassava is used to mix with active pharmaceutical materials to make capsules and tablets.

Cassava Starch can be mixed with biodegradable polymer to produce a packaging material.

Cassava is an important material in making quality glues.

Cassava is one of the ingredients for animal compounding.

Cassava starch is widely used in food production, such as instant noodle, tapioca pearl and seasoning sauce.

Cassava is used in yarn sizing and material printing.

Current constraints to cassava production in ECA

CGM: since 1970s; 1st report

in Africa

CM: since 1970s; from

DRC

CMD: since 1928

CBB: since 1970s

CBSD, since 2004

B. Tabaci (whitefly) : high #,

since early 1990s

Drought, since 2000(Alfredo et al.)

Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD)

Losses 74%

Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD)

Losses 25-100%

Cassava Green Mite (CGM) + others

Losses 25-50%

The big three….

Our Cassava Research themes

1. Identification and management of (Germplasm) information and technology of regional importance on cassava; knowledge management, utilization and learning.

2. Addressing regional threats to sustainable improvement in the productivity and competitiveness of cassava in ECA; frameworks for response, and strategic agricultural research to address the region’s agricultural production threats.

3. Enhancing productivity, value addition and improving access to regional and global markets of cassava in ECA; Support to regional trade and value chains

PAST: 1994-2006 Worked in networks based in CGIAR: East and Central

African Root Crops Research Network (EARRNET-IITA).Transform cassava from a “poor man’s crop” ……….

1.Technologies and innovations: Improved cassava varieties, pre-and post harvest technologies and germplasm developed through regional collaboration

2.Facilitated policy options for cassava transformation: 15 draft policies on different aspects of cassava value addition for Kenya, Uganda and Madagascar. Standards for Uganda were gazetted (2011).

3.Strengthened regional and national human and infrastructural capacities for the NARS.

4.Enhanced availability of information systeme for research and development.

Overall…raised the cassava profile in the region……..

PRESENT: 2007-DATE Cassava mega project: DRC, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Tanzania,

Uganda and IITA (IARC)1. Improved cassava varieties resistant to CBSD and CMD, BUT incorporating

root desired qualities in ECA: 1200 genotypes were evaluated and improved varieties evaluated for possible release. Rwanda and Madagascar also acquired some

2. Promote use of clean and quality planting materials: In Uganda 7 varieties (NASE 13-NASE 19) were released, in Kenya 3 varieties (KME2 – KME4) are released and in Tanzania 4 varieties (Pwani, Mkumba, Dodoma and Mukulupola) have been released.

3. Scaling up improved cassava technologies and marketing improved cassava technologies in the ECA sub-region.

4. Promote cassava product diversification technologies for business

5. Build capacity for enhancement, promotion and utilisation of cassava and products in the ECA sub-region.

6. Develop and support promote the formulation and implementation of policies and standards for cassava in ECA.

Follow-up efforts incorporated into EAAPP (2011) which ASARECA coordinates………….

1. Increase in turn out of scientific innovations resulting from increased research capacity.

1. Increase in cassava acreage and productivity resulting from adoption of elite varieties, good agronomic practices & effective management of pests & diseases.

1. Improvement in food & nutrition security and HH income.

1. Expanded cassava markets arising from production of novel cassava value added products.

1. Reduction in genetic erosion through sustainable conservation of cassava genetic material.

1. Increased research capacity through integration of best research tools and methods.

Key achievements, Uganda19 improved varieties released, CMD contained

Crossing blocks On-farm trials

Several candidate varieties in pipeline…

NASE 14 NASE 15NASE 3NASE 14

Varieties released in Kenya

ShibeTajirika

Siri Nzalauka

28 t acre-125 t acre-1

23 t acre-1 21 t acre-1

Officially released varieties, Tanzania…IITA

Clone Official name

Pedigree Yield (t/ha) Proposed area for cultivation

Year of release

HBL 95/05 Hombolo 18 Semi-arid 2002

KBH 2002/477

Kama Kiroba-HS 23 Zanzibar 2007

KBH 2002/482

Kizimbani Kiroba-HS 28 Zanzibar 2007

KBH 2002/494

Mahonda Kiroba-HS 19 Zanzibar 2007

KBH 2002/517

Machui Kiroba-HS 23 Zanzibar 2007

MM 96/4684 Mkombozi ? 20 Lake Zone 2009

Red font = CBSD tolerant

Officially released varieties, TanzaniaClone Official

namePedigree Yield (t/ha) Proposed

area for cultivation

Year of release

MM 96/4619 Meremeta ? 20 Lake Zone 2009

MM 96/3075B

Belinde ? 20 Lake Zone 2009

MM 96/8233 Rangi mbili ? 23 Lake Zone 2009

MM 96/5725 Nyakafulo ? 25 Lake Zone 2009

MM 96/8450 Kyaka ? 25 Lake Zone 2009

I91/0063 Kasala ? 25 Lake Zone 2009

Officially released varieties, Tanzania

Clone Official name

Pedigree Yield (t/ha) Proposed area for cultivation

Year of release

I92/0067 Suma ? 25 Lake Zone 2009

B2C80-42 Makutupora AR 11 x Namikonga

30 Semi-arid 2012

BC231-2 Dodoma Kiroba x AR 3x-1

36 Semi-arid 2012

3C20-10 Mkumba Namikonga x AR 42-4

23 Coastal lowlands

2012

B2C20-65 Pwani Namikonga x AR 42-4

50 Coastal lowlands

2012

Red font = CBSD tolerant

Variety Evaluation and promotion in Ethiopia.

Clones Mean total root yield (t/ha)

Hawassa Amaro Sekota Grand Mean

2012 2013 Mean 2012 2013 Mean 2012 2013 Mean

AWC-1 46.04 45.63 45.83 41.67 44.45 43.06 23.80 21.08 22.44 37.11

AWC-2 29.92 36.75 33.33 28.92 50.79 39.85 24.10 27.43 25.76 32.98

AWC-3 32.08 32.79 32.44 25.79 47.46 36.63 19.04 21.07 20.08 29.71

AWC-4 28.13 25.04 26.58 26.92 41.08 34.00 23.23 22.58 28.91 27.83

AWC-5 35.21 43.13 38.38 23.67 39.63 31.65 24.70 19.62 22.16 30.75

Kello 31.88 34.79 33.33 32.63 30.29 31.46 18.26 20.23 19.25 28.01

Introductions at Jima-Ethiopia

MULTIPLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION INITIATIVES

The Regional Cassava Initiative (RCI) Purpose: To restore cassava yields by reinforcing the capacity of food insecure farmers to prevent, mitigate, prepare for and respond to CMD and CBSD.

Budget: € 4 761 046

Time frame: Nov 2009 – Oct 2013

Results:1) Improved cassava varieties made available to about 500,000 farmers in Eastern and Central Africa;2) Preventive capacity and interventions enhanced through availability of cassava-disease surveillance information to Government authorities, NGOs and Producers;3) Movement of cassava vegetative material better regulated through operational cassava commissions.

RCI- Multiplication & Promotion Burundi Distribution to vulnerable (returnees, IDPs, biotic and abiotic hazards, BXW): 5 new varieties: MM01/1641, MM96/1744, MM96/1666, MM97/2961,MM96/4463

Central African RepublicThree varieties (M61/033; C96/055 and ATU) promoted 654,000m linear healthy cuttings of 20 cm each distributed; 327 hectares planted;272 Groups and NGOs multipliers healthy cuttings trained and served;

DRC Five (5) varieties (Sawasawa, LIYAYI,

MAYOMBE AND BUTAMU) 300 Ha of seed planted and 18 million

linear meters of cuttings produced (72 million cuttings of 25-30 cm).

5,760 ha for production fields & 57,600 people as direct beneficiaries.

Tanzania.18 million cuttings distributed.established 3330 ha of cassava and 149FFS.

UgandaEstablished 3330 ha of cassava and 149FFS.

New Cassava Varieties and Clean Seed to Combat CBSD and CMD (5CP Project) – 4 Years

To improve cassava productivity and food security in Eastern and Southern African region by deploying new virus-free cassava varieties that have dual

resistance to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak disease (CBSD)

Country Variety name Fresh Root Yield (t/ha)

DM content (%)

Reaction to diseases Release statusCMD

resistanceCBSD

resistance

Tanzania KBH 2002/066 34.1 28.0 Moderate Moderate In pipeline

B2C20-65 50.8 29.2 Moderate Moderate In pipeline3C20-10 23.3 27 Weak Moderate In pipelineKBH 2006/026 30.0 29.0 Moderate Moderate In pipelineKizimbani 28.6 28.0 Moderate Moderate ReleasedKiroba* 20.0 32.0 Weak Moderate Released

Malawi Sangoja 35 33 Moderate Moderate ReleasedSauti 30 34 Moderate Moderate ReleasedYizaso 35 33 Moderate Moderate ReleasedKalawe 28 36 Moderate Moderate ReleasedCH 05/203 33 34 Moderate Moderate In pipelineMbundumali* 25 37 Susceptible Susceptible Recommended

Mozambique Colicanana 20.0 33.0 Weak Moderate ReleasedNziva 22.0 35.1 Weak Moderate ReleasedOkhumelela 20.0 32.8 Moderate Moderate ReleasedOrera 23.0 32.0 Weak Moderate ReleasedEyope 25.0 32.0 Moderate Moderate ReleasedTomo* 12.2 32.7 Weak Susceptible Not released

Kenya LM 08/363 69 27 Moderate Moderate In pipelineF19-NL 39.4 25 Moderate Moderate In pipelineTajirika 61 25.7 Moderate Moderate ReleasedShibe 68 26 Moderate Moderate ReleasedF10-30-R2 58 40 Moderate Moderate Adv. yield trialKibangameno* 26.1 40 Susceptible Susceptible Not released

Uganda TZ 130 - - Strong Moderate In pipelineMM 96/4271 31.2 35.0 Strong Moderate Released72-TME 14 26.9 31.5 Strong Moderate Released109-TME 14 38.6 35.5 Strong Moderate ReleasedNASE 1 14.9 32.5 Strong Moderate ReleasedNASE 3 <10 30.0 Moderate Moderate Released

  TME 204* 22.4 36.9 Strong Susceptible Not released

Multiplication at ASARECA-EAAPP

Number of cultivars for selected commodities registered in more than 1

EAAPP country

Σ = 41

Number of Cassava Cuttings produced & sold by farmers, seed companies, etc

Σ = 35% sold

NASE series and other (20) IITA improved varieties have been bulked and distributed to famers across major cassava states in South Sudan. Multiplication & Maintenance of two improved varieties in Alemata, Bako, Hawassa, Werer, Mytsebri, Arbaminch, Areka, Gog, Gode, Jima, Sokota, Assosa, Pawe-Ethiopia.

Towards an Integrated

Cassava Seed System

Seed Distribution Challenges…Tz Experience

• Persistent viral diseases – lowers progress towards genetic gains in other consumer-tagged traits

• Gap in human and infrastructural resources – should be filled to allow for increased specialization

• Lack Biosafety and Biotechnology Act and Limited general awareness on biotechnology

• Lack of a functional seed system for vegetatively propagated crops – limited supply of quality seed, low production

Weak farm-saved seed production and community based seed systems;

Weak seed producer community (low levels of local seed business development)

Weak and/ or poorly implemented seed policies and regulations for a functional, diverse, dynamic and integrated seed sector.

ECA seed systems

Informal Intermediary Formal

Cassava Seed system is predominantly informal (97% in Tanzania)!

Cassava ISSD

Integrate informal and formal systems

Recognize the relevance of informal seed systems

Recognize complementary roles of private and public sector

Build programmes upon a variation of seed systems and foster pluralism

Work according to structure of the seed value chain

Enabling and evolving policies supporting a dynamic seed sector

Promote entrepreneurship and market orientation

Promote seed sector innovation

Plant genetic resource conservation

Support participatory variety selection in collaboration with local seed businesses and community-based seed producers to respond to local demand.

Stimulate further recognition of local agro-biodiversity as a source for new varieties.

Develop a robust and cost effective system of local and central conservation of plant agro-biodiversity.

Variety development and screening

Longer term public-community-seed business collaboration in variety screening of the selected under-resourced crops

Support participatory variety selection in collaboration with local seed businesses and community-based seed producers to respond to local demand (see also plant genetic resource conservation).

Fast-track the registration of popular landraces as official varieties.

Performance based incentive structures for breeders in the public domain.

Improve facilities for variety selection of under-resourced crops.

Early generation seed production Improve the balance between public and private roles in the seed sector,

based on the principle that what the private sector is willing to invest in, the public sector can gradually withdraw from.

Support the development of private seed enterprises that produce early generation seed.

Improve the capacity of public institutions to produce early generation seed of cassava, to better respond to local demands.

Develop a pre-season order and payment system to allow for a better response to demands.

Develop the early generation seed production of vegetative propagated crops such as cassava

Seed multiplication Support seed producers’ investments in supplementary irrigation facilities to reduce the

risks to their business and ensure the availability of seed for peak demands

Support existing, emerging and new seed producers with seed extension, so that they have access to the most appropriate technologies

Provide existing and emerging seed producers with seed business support, so that they can improve their response to market demands

Support decentralisation of seed crop inspections to local level offices.

Seed health: indexing of tissue culture materials;

Build on the QDS system to ensure quality control of seed, and allow for marketing of seed beyond local boundaries.

Fast track the development and operationalization of QDS certification standards, protocols and quality control mechanisms

Marketing and distribution

Develop market information systems that make the availability of local businesses’ seed stocks known in real-time, to allow for the flow of quality seed to areas where high demand exists.

Help local seed businesses develop brands for their seed.

Promote the collaboration between local seed businesses and private seed enterprises, through contract farming and other means.

Promote seed fairs during times of peak demand and pilot marketing of QDS seed in open markets.

Investigate and pilot opportunities for seed source traceability to fight counterfeit seed.

Marketing and distribution… Provide seed advisory services to ordinary farmers to create a larger

market for quality seed and to promote locally produced quality seed.

Provide technical and business training to emerging seed businesses.

Develop suitable financial products for seed multipliers.

Develop quality control systems in seed marketing channels.

Fast-track the registration of popular landraces.

Train ordinary producers on seed quality maintenance and improve the quality of self-supply of seed through seed extension services to ordinary farmers.