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New Seed Initiative for
Maize in Southern Africa (NSIMA)
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Activities & Outputs >
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NSIMA Workshop Papers
Summary of
Activities and Outputs in 2006
Objective 1:
Continue the development of stress tolerant maize, more nutritious
varieties that address the needs of resource-poor farmers in
southern Africa.
Activities and Outputs
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Maize breeding projects (normal and QPM
maize) supported in NARES of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania,
Zambia, South Africa and Zimababwe.
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CIMMYT-Harare Breeding released eight
mid-altitude early/intermediate inbred lines (CML504 to CML511),
of which one, CML511, is QPM.
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CIMMYT-Harare released four improved
maize OPVs - ZM307, ZM309, ZM501 and ZM725, ranging in maturity
from very early to late.
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Drought screening conducted in Zimbabwe;
Low N trials conducted in Malawi and Swaziland; Low pH trials
conducted in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia
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QPM breeding effort at CIMMYT-Harare.
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CIMMYT-Harare distributed 160 seed
shipments for Trials, Germplasm and Breeder’s Seed.
Objective 2:
Develop data that stimulate the release of, and knowledge of farmers
about maize varieties that perform well under resource-poor farmers’
conditions
Activities and Outputs
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336 Regional Trials disseminated in SADC
for 2006/7.
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117 improved maize varieties entered
into the 2006/7 Regional Trials.
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2005 Regional Trials Report disseminated
in August 2005.
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2006 Preliminary Regional Trial Report
disseminated in October 2006.
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95 maize varieties released during 2006
in Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Swaziland, South
Africa and Zimbabwe.
Objective 3:
Increase the availability of quality seed particularly in outlying
areas
Activities and Outputs
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Breeder’s seed production of improved
OPVs carried out in Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, South
Africa, and Zimbabwe.
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Supporting projects in Zimbabwe, Zambia
and Zimbabwe to disseminate information on Seed Regulations and
Varieties to seed houses and NGOs.
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Seed Production Training conducted in
Zimbabwe, Kenya and Ethiopia.
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Numerous interactions conducted with
Seed Houses on issues of breeding, seed production and marketing.
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Attended the AFSTA meeting in Uganda
where CIMMYT’s potential to provide improved varieties to Seed
Houses was displayed.
Objective 4:
Actively support the implementation of regionalized seed laws and
regulations
Activities and Outputs
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Contributed to two Workshops in South
Africa at which a “Procedures Manual” for Regional Variety Release
was developed.
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Contributed to the SADC SSSN meeting
with Ministries of Agriculture. Three Seed Regulation
Harmonisation documents were ratified at the meeting.
Objective 5:
Strengthen NARES in the face of high staff turn-over and a more
liberalized seed sector
Activities and Outputs
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Received four NARES technicians and one
scientist at CIMMYT-Harare for training and discussions.
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Visits made by CIMMYT-Harare Breeders to
NARES in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, South
Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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Supporting, through supervision of four
M.Sc. students at University of Zambia, three M.Sc. students at
University of Zimbabwe and three Ph.D. students at University of
KwaZulu Natal and University of Free State.
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A CD-based practical breeding manual
prepared.
Objective 6:
Strengthen collaboration among partners
Activities and Outputs
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NSIMA activities established in Angola,
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Swaziland, South
Africa and Zimbabwe.
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Annual Collaborators’ Meeting held in
South Africa brought together public, private and NGO personnel,
and covered key topics on the seed sector.
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