Biotechnology, Breeding and Seed Systems for African Crops
Seed Systems Research
Abstracts from the Biotechnology, Breeding and Seed Systems
Conference
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Use of simple technology (good seed and
cheap water) to boost food security and alleviate poverty A.M. Mwololo, T. Kambura &
D. Nzyuko Makueni District of Eastern
Province, Kenya is categorised ecologically as “Arid-Semi Arid Lands
zone 3”. This is a district of very poor smallholder farmers who rely
on small harvests of maize and beans for both their food and cash needs.
Rainfall range from 150mm to 670mm over two seasons and is mostly
on the lower side and poorly distributed.
The District has many permanent streams and underground water
resources whose utilization for food production is estimated at only 2%.
This represents a great deal of unutilised capacity and lost
opportunity. The project
involved use of green grams Line 26 developed by the Kenya Agricultural
Research Institute (KARI) at Katumani Dryland Farming Research Station
at Machakos. The variety is drought resistant, pest and disease
resistant, early maturing and high yielding.
Two-acre plots were used to demonstrate the value of irrigation.
Ploughing was done by oxen and hand planted. Six kg of seed was used for
each acre, planting being 50 cm between rows, 20 cm between plants in
the rows, Diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer was used at planting in
both irrigated and un-irrigated plots.
Thiophate (antifungal) and Bulldog (insecticide) were applied.
In Plot A 20 cubic metres per week of water was used to irrigate
the crop using drip irrigation system. Plot B was rainfed. Except for
the irrigation, all other variables were held constant. On plot B, the total cost of production was Kshs. 4,150 (US
$53.2) and yielded 5 (five) bags of 100 kg each. The current market price is Kshs. 35 per kilogram, giving a
total income of Kshs. 17,500 and a profit of Kshs. 13,350.
On plot A total production cost, including water, was Kshs.
14,150 and yielded 11 bags of 100 kg each, giving a profit of Kshs.
24,350. This was borehole
water, which is more expensive than other sources. The use of gravity or simple pumping systems would cut the
costs even more, increasing the profit margins. Comparative profits from maize are Kshs. 4,200 and Kshs.
8,400 under non-irrigated and irrigated conditions, respectively.
We conclude that green grams present better options for the
farmer and irrigation does double her income but a problem exists with
access to capital and quality seed.
BIDII Seeds wishes to expand this project and provide the seeds
as our contribution to food security and poverty eradication in Makueni
District. |
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