Wheat Research and Development in Kenya : Current Status and Trends in Productivity

Mukisira E., Gethi M., Wanyera R. and Njau P.

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) E mail njaupnn@yahoo.com

09/10/012

•Kenya is among the 47

countries that constitute the

sub-Saharan Africa

•About 850 million people are

undernourished, according to

the Food and Agriculture

Organization.

•Sub-Saharan Africa has the

highest proportion of

undernourished people in the

world (200 million).

•In January 2008, the World

Economic Forum predicted that

food insecurity would be among

the top potential threats to the

world economy.

Introduction

Introduction

Factors that contribute to food insecurity in SSA – low agricultural productivity

– limited rural development

– government policy disincentives

– impact of poor health on the agricultural workforce

– rising global commodity prices

– climate change

Introduction

Agricultural productivity

– During the Green Revolution food production in Asia and Latin America increased

No uptake in SSA

– Diverse agroecological zones

– Traditional farming systems

– Mode of cultivation

Introduction

One remarkable way in which crop productivity has increased is through breeding

– High yields

– Fast maturing

– Semidwarf growth habits

– Disease resistance

– Adapted to the local conditions

Wheat is 2nd most important cereal crop after maize

Only bread wheat is cultivated, currently

Current area- 150,000 ha/year

20% of large scale farmers produce 80%

80% of small scale farmers produce 20%

• Production – 350,000 MT

• Demand > 900,000 MT

• Imports > 50%

WHEAT RESEARCH IN KENYA

Wheat growing regions

Wheat Production, Consumption and Import Trend

Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Area (Ha) 159,477 150,488 104,176 130,273 131,594 160043 165,445

Yield/ton/ha 2.3 2.3 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.5

Production

(tons)

365,696 358,061 354,249 336,688 315,826 400,107.5 413,612.5

Consumption

(tons)

893,120 903,120 927,956 942,803.3 957,888. 973,214. 988,785

Imports(tons) 621,839 545,059 573,707 606,115 642,063 573,107 575,173

Introduction –Wheat produced in

three main conditions High rainfall areas

like Mau Narok and Timau

Acid soil areas like Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia

Low rainfall areas like lower Narok and Laikipia

Introduction

Constraints

– Drought

– Diseases and pests

Rusts stem rust and yellow rust

Russian wheat aphids and BYDV

– Acid soil

– Lodging and sprouting

– Quality

Drought

80% of Kenya is Arid or semi arid

– Characterised by

Low rainfall which is unreliable

Terminal drought

Low yield of less than 2 tons per ha

Flash floods

Diseases

Acid soil condition and other soil related constraints

Objectives

– Three main themes

Wheat improvement for high rainfall environment

– Diseases

– Aphids

– Lodging and sprouting

Acid soil conditions

– Low yield

Low rainfall

– Drought and low yield

• Develop wheat varieties that are widely adapted, high yielding tolerant/resistant to both abiotic and biotic stresses and with acceptable end use qualities

Variety Development Commercial Name

Pedigree

Attitude(masl) Yield potential

t0ns/Ha

Maturity

Period(days)

Kenya Wren

THELIN # 2/TUKURU

1800-2400 8.5 120-130

Robin

BABAX/LR42//BABAX*2/3/TUKURU

1800-2700 8.1 110-120

Kenya Tai ND643/2*WBLL1

1800-2100 6.5 100-110

Kenya Sunbird ND643/2*WBLL1

1800-2100 6.5 100-110

Eagle10

EMB 16/CBRD//CBRD

1800-2100 6.5 100-110

Kenya Korongo

BABAX/LR42//BABAX*2/4/SNI/TRAP#1/

3/KAUZ*2/TRAP//KAUZ

2100-2400 8.5 120-130

Kenya Kingbird

TAM200/TUI/6/PVN//CAR422/ANA/5/BO

W/CROW//BUC/PVN/3/YR/4/TRAP#1

1800-2400 6.0 90-110

Kenya Hawk12

URES/JUN//KAUZ/3/BABAX/4/TILHI

2100-2400 8.0 120-130

Quality Aspects

Quality evaluation Biotechnology

Pests and disease

Small holder equipments

Fabrication of Zero tillage wheat planter for small scale farmers

Wheat planted by zero tillage planter

Zero tillage wheat planter in the field planting

Dissemination of technologies

Through field days Training

Wheat seed system

Seed harvesting Wheat seed crop

Seed for new varieties being multiplied 200 tons of Robin to be distributed this year Farmer groups growing and sharing seed of new varieties

Way forward

The new approach

– APVC

Cottage industries

Role of livestock industries

Natural resource management and climate change

Collaboration and networking- Partnerships strengthened

Training

THANK YOU