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Project
Outputs
Release
of the two synthetics, March 2002: ZM421 and ZM521 were the first two
open pollinated varieties to be approved for commercial production in
Zimbabwe after the Government ban of open pollinated varieties production
in the country in the 1970s. One-year data of the ecosystem evaluation was
used in supporting the release of these two varieties.
Regional
workshops, August 2002: Three regional workshops on open pollinated
maize varieties and OPV seed productions were held with farmers, NGOs,
seed companies and extension personnel. The workshops organized in Harare,
Masvingo and Bulawayo were attended by more than 200 stakeholders. A
discussion paper entitled ‘An Insight into Open Pollinated Varieties’
was presented by the breeder. These workshops mapped out the way forward
in OPV promotion and production in the country.
Trial
Management Training Workshop, November 2002: Ten host farmers, one
Farming System Research Unit officer, six Agritex Extension officers and
six ZIRRCON (NGO) staff were trained in Masvingo Province, to coordinate
trials and demonstrations in their respective districts.
Release
of Matuba OPV by a local seed company, February 2003: An input
of the national research evaluation was requested and supporting data for
the release of this OPV by a private seed company was obtained from the
OPV Ecosystem Trials Data, which was obtained from on-farm evaluations
across the country over the past two seasons.
Pilot
home gardens, March 2003: The gardens for the OPV Seed Growing
Program were established in Chivi Communal at Gomana Village. The village
with 125 households will embark on winter seed production of four open
pollinated varieties namely ZM421, ZM521, NTS88 and Matuba.
Pedigree
Inbred Development Program: The segregating populations were initiated in 2000/01
with the intentions of feeding into the national hybrid and ecosystem
breeding development program. The segregating populations are being
evaluated under managed drought stress, and artificial inoculation of
Maize Streak Virus and Grey
Leaf Spot diseases. Three hundred and sixty three segregating populations
have also been sent to Kakamega (Kenya) for Turcicum evaluation.
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