The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
(AGRA) is collaborating with the government of Mozambique, to boost small
holder farmers with maize, sweet potato varieties through the Umbeluzi
Agriculture Research Centre in Maputo.
This was revealed during a field visit by
participants at the just ended 2013 African Green Revolution Forum organized by
the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
NaijaAgroNet
recalls that the forum was in collaboration with the Comprehensive Africa
Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of NEPAD with some staff joining in
the field visit penultimate Tuesday, September 3, 2013.
Also gathered by NaijaAgroNet was that the maize and
sweet potato breeding projects centre visited by were projects supported by
AGRA at Umbeluzi Agriculture Research Centre.
Leading the participants into the
project, Dr Pedro Fato, who has been breeding maize for over 20 years, said
that his work at Umbeluzi entails breeding maize that is tolerant to multiple
constraints such as down mildew, and pests that are prevalent both in the field
and in storage.
Dr Fato equally said that down mildew is
especially prevalent in low lying areas in Mozambique, hence the importance of
this project in Mozambique that has a high number of areas that often get water
logged.
Dr Fato further elucidated
that down mildew is carried on through seeds, and the maize breeding project
has so far produced twelve maize varieties.
According to
him, the focus of this breeding project is small scale farmers who make up 90
per cent of maize growers in Mozambique, even as the project has so far
released five hybrids into the market since 2002.
He stressed the
varieties are now producing better yields per hectare as testified by local
farmers.
Commenting, AGRA
representative, Mr Richard Mwanza, pointed out that AGRA supports programmes in
16 countries across the continent.
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Pix: Mr Richard Mwanza of AGRA