Opening remarks
The opening remarks for the
meeting were jointly made by Dr. Joe DeVeries of the Rockefeller
Foundations and Dr. Anthon Bua of National Cassava Programme, Uganda.
Participants were welcomed to
the inauguration of the Cassava Breeders Network. It was high lightened
that cassava breeding is a deep subject, associated with overlapping
constraints across regions, and hence justifies the need for the formation
of a cassava breeders network to act as instrument to address challenges
that limit cassava productivity in the region. Participants were informed
that selection and evaluation is a superficial way of achieving true
genetic progress, and hence doesn’t equate to breeding. It was
illustrated that an ideal cassava breeding programme should have, but not
limited to, having specific breeding objectives, undertake agro-ecological
breeding strategy, and should at one stage involve land races in the
hybridisation process.
A question was posted; how
can cassava breeders make a contribution towards attainment of the MDG’s?
In Asia one scientist caused a revolution. In Africa, however, many
scientists are needed to make a similar revolution! Its time for African
breeders to wake up and respond to the needs of farmers and the various
end-uses to which cassava can be put to. Although current cassava breeding
programmes in region cannot be compared to advances made in maize
breeding, they are making good progress, and will make higher greater
progress, if the momentum is sustained. Dr. DeVeries indicated that the
Rockefeller Foundation would continue to interact, and possibly find ways
of supporting cassava breeding activities in the region. Again, we thank
all you participants who have managed to attend this inaugural cassava
breeders meeting, and its our sincere hope that all deliberations made
cassava a success in the region.
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