Outcomes of Legume Breeders Network Meeting

January 11 - 13, 2009, Kigali Serena Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda

Summary

Legumes play a very important role in the nutrition and incomes of many African countries. They are largely grown in small scale farms for subsistence purposes but increased productions also generate surpluses for sale.  Legume seed is mainly distributed through farmer to farmer exchanges.  There is limited use of improved varieties and certified legume seed in many African economies. Most of the legume seed grown in many farms are recycled with the informal seed system comprising over 90% of the market. This worsens the situation and leads to very low yields on farms.  Most varieties grown by farmers are local landraces that are recycled, susceptible to pests and diseases, and low yielding (0.7 ton/ha) whereas there is potential to realize yields to 5 tons/ha whenever improved varieties are and good crop management is practiced. 

To reverse this AGRA intervention has been in the area of crop improvement with a target to increase the pool of trained legume breeders in Africa and support to develop high performing varieties.  In turn these programs are linked to seed production and dissemination activities.  AGRA programs in agro-dealer development program, is improving the capacities of rural stockists to supply quality seed to the farmers.  AGRA programs also increase farmer awareness through participatory breeding and on use of quality seed.  Besides AGRA is working with policy makers and government to improve farmer access of new disease resilient varieties by shortening the period to variety release and commercialization.  Delayed release of varieties inevitably delays commercialization and access by farmers of new crops.  

Thus, crop breeders, farmers and seed merchants from 12 countries met in Kigali, Rwanda to launch a network aimed to target high yielding, disease resilient beans and other major legumes that taste better and cook in a shorter time to respond to the household needs.  The discussions focused on the genetic improvement of legumes, improving the seed delivery systems in Africa through farmer groups or organizations and effective networking.  Crop breeders reported significant advances to breed for resistance to diseases and pests, and working with farmers and improve access to improved seed.  Five major legumes commonly grown by smallholders in Africa were the focus of discussions. These are, comon beans, cowpea, groundnuts., pigeon pea and soybean  A visit to farmers fields at Ruhengeri in Northern Rwanda, confirmed that have adopted of climbing beans to a scale has improved the food security status in northern Rwanda, which is really an unique feature not common in many other parts of Africa.  The meeting was also a perfect forum for networking among breeders and private entrepreneurs in seed business.  The meeting was convened by AGRA, hosted by the Rwanda National Research Institute (Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Rwanda -ISAR) in Kigali, Rwanda and officially opened by the Rwanda Minister of State for Agriculture, Hon. Agnes Matilda Kalibata.

Background

Grain Legumes are a very important food crop in sub-Saharan Africa because they provide one-third of the total dietary protein, lysine, and tryptophan for a population of 432M people who live in the rural areas.  Legume yields in Africa average 700kg per ha; which are very low compared to average yields of maize (4610kg/ha), wheat (2805 kg/ha) and rice (3970 kg/ha).  Grain legumes have a capacity to fix N from the atmosphere, and are therefore very important to sustain the soil health status of the soils and maintain the productivity systems.  The total area planted under legumes is found mostly in Africa (26 percent) and in Asia (46 percent).  Despite the importance of grain legumes the per capita consumption is declining in Africa due to the unavailability  and rising cost of the commodity.  To reverse this trend and improve food security situation in Africa there an increase in productivity of the most Common legumes is warranted.  These are common beans  (Phaseolus vulgaris), Soybean (glycine max),Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan),Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and Groundnut (Arachis hypogea). In the past one year AGRA has supported several legume breeding and seed initiatives to focus mainly on:

• Breeding new varieties through farmer participatory breeding

• ‘Fast track’ commercialization of released varieties by supporting breeder, foundation seed production initiatives

• Supporting variety promotion and dissemination activities

• Funding seed companies and farmer groups to produce quality seed of released varieties

The Legume Breeders Technical Exchange Network has been initiated as a forum to

• To share and Exchange of information on research in Africa

• To share the success stories of participatory breeding with farmers

• To receive feedback from our stakeholders; mainly farmers, farmer organizations; 

• To explore ways to create a sustainable link crop breeding, farmer awareness and seed delivery systems

• To explore ways to promote the Exchange of Germplasm among breeders

• Inspire breeders to breed, release new crop varieties adapted to local environments

• Identify and advise on policies needed by governments to support legume seed development and delivery of quality seed to farmers

Constraints to legume production in Africa

• Field and storage pests and disease infestation

• pests – aphids, thrips, pod sucking bugs, pod borers, seed weevils, leaf mining

• diseases are fusarium wilt, rust, nematodes, fungal, viral (mosaic virus), rosette, leaf spot, Anthracnose

• Drought

• Soil fertility and toxicity

• Poor crop management

• Lack of adapted varieties

• Limited access to extension services

• Limited use of external inputs especially fertilizers and quality seed

• Limited value-addition opportunities especially processing of legumes into snacks and fortification with other foods,

• Lack of interest from private sector in legume seed production

• Lack of functional organized farmers' groups to undertake collective seed multiplication, distribution and marketing

• Poor seed selection or lack of quality seed

• Too few breeders for legumes in national research programs

Opportunities

In order to improve access to improved legume seed, AGRA is supporting seed companies, breeders, regulators and national research programs by:  

1. Increase in the scientific capacity to develop new and adapted legume varieties

2. Funding breeders to develop, multiply and disseminate released varieties to farmers and link with seed companies for commercialization.  The fund also covers production of breeders and foundation seed.

3. Support seed companies, farmer and non-governmental organizations to increase the production of quality seed.  AGRA has also established a fund to assist seed companies, farmer associations and cooperatives to increase production and disseminate seed to farmers through public events and programs. This fund provides grants and loans low interest rates, flexible terms and is repaid over long period of time.

4. Linking seed producers to public breeding programs to access improved varieties for commercialization.

5. Support seed stockist and agro-dealers to supply farmers with quality seed at close proximity to their farms. 

6. Close collaboration and support to seed regulators to streamline release procedures for new varieties. AGRA will also support the establishment of Seed Production Institute in East Africa to provide training to seed technicians, companies and regulators.

7. Dialogue with governments to enact policies that favor speedy access of quality seed to farmers.  This should  farmers selection criteria which is not presently captured in  in variety release laws

Emerging Issues for Research and Policy Interventions

Nutritional aspects of legumes:       This was extensively discussed. There is an  opportunity to access lines with extra nutrients for breeding.  This would enhance the nutrition levels of poor households:

 Variety Promotion:  The  extension system in most countries is weak and needs to be supported and strengthened.  In the meantime all AGRA supported promotion activities will complement extension services.  The group agreed that Scaling up is very key-since so many farmers are ignorant of new technologies.

Markets for Farmers:  There is a need to create markets for farmers.  This will also create demand.

Variety Release Procedures:  In many countries, the procedures for variety release are not streamlined  The breeders felt that farmers selection criteria need to be considered in the variety release rules.  Selection of improved varieties need to involve farmers and seed companies earlier enough to enhance adoption and commercialization of released varieties.

Access to Breeder and Foundation Seed:  The team felt that production of breeder and foundation seed takes too long and slows down commercialization.  Thus breeders, regulators and seed companies with the support of AGRA needs to explore ways to speed up breeder and foundation seed production.  

Germplasm: Germplasm characterization is very important so that we can capture varieties released in different countries.  Case of varieties developed in one country disseminated to neighboring countries under different names and later reported to the original country as a new variety do exist. Besides there is a lot of duplication of germplasm because same varieties have been released in different countries but with the different names.  There is also a need to improve the operations and interactions with national genebanks to minimize duplication of research efforts as well as expand parent materials available for further research.

Funding for Legume Research:  The governments need to be prompted to increase the investment in legume.   Legumes have not received similar funding and support as other food crops from national governments as well as international research and development organizations. There were discussions on the role of molecular breeding in legume improvement.  Whereas this is important the group felt the Africa lacked the capacity to effectively implement molecular breeding methods

Intellectual Property:  A number of researchers and organizations have developed research materials and varieties that can be used within the region. Intellectual property issues may emerge on regional sharing of materials by ensuring scientists involved in the development of new varieties also benefit from dissemination to other countries.

Access to inputs:  Many farmers tend to purchase inputs in small packages of less than 1 kg compared to the 50 kg bags many inputs are marketed. New legume varieties can be effectively promoted through the use of small starter packs that farmers use to test their performance and later purchase bigger packs when the results are positive

Germplasm for further research. Breeders has the opportunity to interact with other teams of experts on legumes. The two that were present in this meeting was a team from Michigan State University and CIAT.  Both have a pool of  legume germplasm that they are willing to share with breeders in Africa.   A close collaboration will be established within breeders and international centres so as to access the best germplasm for variety development

Information exchange and networking. AGRA supported website www.africancrops.net disseminates information on crop improvement, publications and extension materials. Users of the website include researchers, farmers, seed companies, extension agents and policymakers and thousands of other various users in Africa. The website can promote networking and information among legume breeders, seed companies and farmers and the larger development community.

For further Information on AGRA, contact Susan Mwachi, AGRA, email: smwachi@agra-alliance.org.