Project Outputs

 

ACTIVITY 1: SYNTHETIC DEVELOPMENT, EVALUATION AND RELEASE.

 

Hybrid and Synthetic development

Trials for the design II crosses have reached grain filling stage and will be harvested in due course. The data will be analysed using SAS soon after harvesting and processing. The final set of the design II single crosses will be planted under managed drought stress at Save Valley Experiment Station by mid May 2006. Single crosses with similar maturity, disease reaction and agronomic performance will be pooled to generate synthetics using the half sib method during summer 2006/07 season at Harare Research Station basing on results from the biotic and abiotic stress evaluations. Single crosses with good combining ability will also be crossed to third parents to generate three way hybrids. 

 

Inbred line development

Seed for the F1s generated using the NCII design will be divided into two sets and planted under drought stress by mid May at Save Valley Experiment Station during the winter 2006 season. One set will be evaluated as a yield trial whilst the second set will be used for advancing promising materials to the F2.  Four rows each per cross will be planted at Save Valley to generate F2 populations for generating biotic and abiotic stress tolerant inbred lines using the pedigree method. The resultant inbreds will feed into the national hybrid and synthetic development programmes.

 

Given the relative importance of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) in both human and animal nutrition in Zimbabwe, the national program is starting QPM projects initially focusing on converting current commercial hybrids for easy adoption. A double pronged approach will be adopted for converting national program materials to QPM using both the pedigree and backcross breeding approaches. Elite national inbred program inbred lines that constitute commercial hybrids will be crossed to ten QPM donor lines from CIMMYT both in the field and in the greenhouses during winter 2006.

 

A total of 864, S2 and S3 lines are being evaluated for general plant type under natural disease infestation and random stress at Harare Research Station. Two selections (pre flowering and flowering) have since been done within and between rows. The resulting S3s and S4s will be test crossed to N3 and SC testers at Gwebi VTC in August 2006.  The resultant hybrids will be put under optimal, disease and low N stress at Harare Research Station and optimal conditions at Gwebi VTC during summer 06/07 and drought stress at Save Valley Experiment Station during winter 2007 for assessing general and specific combining ability.

 

Hybrid and Synthetic evaluation

Most on farm OPV trials are at the grain filling stage and harvesting is expected in due course. Data analysis will be done soon after harvesting and processing. The trial at Wedza was destroyed by animals whilst that in Tsholotsho was destroyed by the heavy floods that occurred in the area. The trial in Domboshava was late planted resulting in plants failing to express full vigour such that it was difficult to separate farmer practice from recommended practices. At Save Valley, the on farm trial was initially affected by the dry spell that prevailed in the area between January and February but the crop has since recovered such that meaningful yields are expected for data analysis.

 

Field days for Mother/ Baby trials, on farm OPV trials and variety demonstrations were conducted in various districts of the country. 19 field days were held for Mother/ Baby trials in Nkayi, Buhera, Nembudziya, Gokwe, Chivi, Zvishavane, Mutoko, Wedza, Guruve, Zvimba, Chimanimani, Bikita, Rusape, Murehwa, Mutasa, Muzarabani and Masvingo. Four field days for variety demonstrations were held in Zvishavane, Mutoko, Chivi and Karoi. The field days were attended by AREX staff, partner organisations, around 300 farmers and local leadership. In Zvishavane, the field day was held on the 28^th of March in Mazviwa area. It was jointly hosted with the Crop Breeding Institute and was attended by the AREX directorate. The field day show cased a Mother/ Baby trial, an on farm OPV trial, maize variety demonstrations and other Crop Breeding Institute products. The project contributed towards the purchase of prizes for giving to outstanding farmers in the ward.  Photograph 1 shows the presentation of the prizes by the local leadership and AREX director, Dr Mlambo. Photographs 1-3 show some of the proceedings at the field day that was held in Zvishavane. Photographs 4 and 5 show some of the proceedings of a field day that was held in Wedza on the 16^th of April, 2006.

 

In Chivi the field day was held at Chongogwe Secondary School on the 7^th of April, and show cased a Mother/ baby trial, an OPV on farm trial and three variety demonstrations. The field day was attended by AREX staff, Care International, local leadership and more than 500 farmers from the various wards surrounding the trials and demonstrations. Photographs 6- 11 show some of the proceedings at the field day that was held in Chivi.

 

The field day in Mutoko was held on the 5^th of April 2006 in Kushinga ward and was attended by the local leadership, AREX staff, agronomists from SEED Co, Cargill and more than 250 farmers. The field day show cased maize variety demonstrations. There were variety demonstrations in the area and farmers professed ignorance of the benefits of the quality protein maize hybrid (CZH01021) which was part of the demonstrations. Photographs 12- 18 show some of the proceedings at the field day that was held in Mutoko.

 

A QPM awareness workshop was held by the project jointly with CIMMYT at St Lucia Park on the 4^th of April 2006. The main objective of the workshop was to bring maize stakeholders (stock feed processors, livestock specialists, seed producers, farmer organisations and NGOs) together to discuss and map the way forward for QPM development and promotion in Zimbabwe. The proceedings of the QPM workshop will be availed before the end of June 2006. Livestock specialists from Makoholi Research Station (AREX) and the Pig Industry Board have shown commitment to working with the national program in order to generate feeding trial data required for the release of QPM materials in the country.

 

ACTIVITY 2: SEED MULTIPLICATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM

 

Breeders Seed Multiplication

The seed that was planted at ARDA Umritsur was heavily affected by Maize Streak Virus (MSV), such that yields will be significantly reduced. ZM421 and ZM521 seed that was planted at Gwebi VTC was harvested and processing is in progress. About 3t each are expected. The seed will be supplied to contracted seed companies giving priority to newly registered seed companies, Pristine Seeds, Agriseeds, FSI seeds and Prime Seeds. To boost both OPVs and hybrid seed stocks in the country the project also strongly collaborated with the new seed houses, Agriseeds, ARDA seeds, Pristine Seeds, FSI seeds. 

 

All the inbred parents that were being multiplied under isolation at both Harare and Gwebi VTC were harvested, processed and weighed. The quantities ranged from as low as 150kg (RA150P a very weak inbred) to 1.4t (EL77 a very vigorous yellow inbred), Table 1. The seed will be sold to seed houses Crop Breeding Institute has contracts with and the funds deposited in a revolving fund account for use by the Institute.

 

Table 1

Inbred line	Area (ha)	Yield (kg)
1. N3.2.3.3	0.3	300
2. SC5522	0.2	340
3. WCOBY1P	0.2	160
4. SV1P	0.2	250
5. RA150P	0.2	150
6. K64r	0.2	300
8. 2N3d	0.2	400
9. KMM31P	0.2	180
10. RL17P	0.3	840
11. EL77P	0.3	1400

 

Seed Production Training Workshops

One seed production training workshops was conducted in Chinhoyi Public Service Training Centre from 9- 13 April 2006. The training workshops meant for equipping extension agents (AREX and NGOs) with basic skills on seed multiplication and varietal maintenance saw the training of 20 extension personnel from Mashonaland West province. Mashonaland Central and West have been targeted because these are the areas where most seed production is done. Proceedings of the workshop are being compiled and will be made available before June 2006. The participants were tasked to come up with sustainable, inexpensive community based seed production schemes to benefit resource poor farmers in their areas. Kadoma has since drafted a framework for a community based seed production expected to commence during the off season. Photograph 19 shows participants doing group work at the Chinhoyi workshop. Photograph 20 shows the participants that attended the seed production workshop in Chinhoyi.

 

Comprehensive publications on OPV seed production were edited and distributed at field days that were conducted across the country.

 

The project will conduct a community based seed production scheme in Kadoma. Mr Mhaka (one of the participants from the Chinhoyi workshop) will be facilitating the implementation of the project in the area. Another community based seed production scheme will be done in Masvingo (Chivi, Jerera) with EFZIM (ecumenical Foundation of Zimbabwe (an NGO based in Masvingo). Mr Chagweda (one of the participants of the training workshop that was held in February 2004 in Harare), will facilitate the implementation of the project in his area. The main objective of the projects is to ensure household food security through ensuring seed security. The projects will also prepare farmers for commercial seed production with new seed houses currently operating in the country.