| Abstract |
The New Seed Initiative for Maize in Southern Africa (NSlMA) Project has completed the first year of the second phase of funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. This phase of the project supported a number of activities to meet the outcome challenges in each major component of the seed value chain in order to stimulate the seed sector in southern Africa for the benefit of small-holder farmers. The project is principally working with multi-stakeholder committees to enable collaborators to carry out relevant and priority projects in maize germplasm development, variety testing and registration, seed production and, to a small extent, seed marketing and distribution. Ten countries participated in NSlMA in 2008, namely, Angola, D.R. Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. A summary of the key outputs and outcomes of NSIMA in 2008 are presented (Table A). The starting point for stimulating the seed value chain in southern Africa is to ensure that stress tolerant, more nutritious maize varieties with good performance and acceptance under resource-poor farmers' conditions are produced. Hence, germplasm development activities form a significant component of NSlMA. In 2008, alongside the plant breeding efforts of CIMMYT at the Harare Maize Research Station, National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and private seed companies received seed of segregating populations, parental lines, open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) and hybrids from CIMMYT. This enabled collaborators to conduct appropriate in-country development and testing work. Furthermore, in order to facilitate human resource development, NSIMA sponsored seven participants from NARS and seed companies to attend a CIMMYT Maize Breeding Course, and held training sessions in Angola and Malawi for technicians on trial management, breeding and seed production. Variety testing IS a crucial stage in the seed value chain for it enables the identification and selection of improved, adapted and appropriate varieties. These may then be advanced for registration with National Seed Authorities. Annually, CIMMYT conducts Regional Variety Trials and varieties from these trials are grown by collaborators in SADC and elsewhere. Data generated from these activities in 2007/8 enabled NARS and seed companies to select new, improved varieties and make application for registration of some. During 2008, a total of 118 varieties were registered, of which 72 were registered in South Africa, and the rest spread amongst seven other SADC countries. Fifteen varieties registered in 2008 originated from CIMMYT, of which seven were registered by NARS and eight by private seed companies. A total of 11 "ZM" CIMMYT OPVs are registered in SADC, of which the most widely registered are ZM421, ZM521 and ZM623. Since there are numerous varieties available on the market, information about these varieties needs to be made available to farmers, non-governmental organizations and the seed sector to facilitate informed decision making. On-farm variety testing and demonstrations form the basis of this information. In the 2007/8 season, mother-baby trials and demonstrations were conducted in most collaborating countries, and field days with farmers were held at many of the locations. In addition, brochures describing improved varieties were produced by CIMMYT and by partners in southern Africa. Seed production of improved varieties is mostly carried out by the private sector, but for those varieties registered by NARS, an important step in scale-up is to produce sufficient breeder and basic seed to enable large-scale certified seed production by collaborating private companies and community based seed schemes. In 2007/8, NSIMA facilitated the production of a total of 47.6 t of basic seed from 28 OPVs and the parents of one hybrid in seven countries. Theoretically, this is sufficient to produce over 5000 t of certified seed. Efficient and effective seed business management is critical to the development of the seed sector. In recognition of this, NSIMA contributed towards organizing and conducting a Seed Business Management Course for senior managers of private seed companies. Through a four-module course covering all aspects of the seed value chain, 28 participants were trained. In addition, localized seed production and management training of members of Community Based Seed Schemes was carried out in Swaziland and South Africa. The multi-stakeholder National Coordinating Committees (NCUs) of collaborating countries were active in managing the projects of NSIMA. The Annual Collaborators' Meeting was held in Lilongwe, Malawi, in August, 2008, at which each NCU presented progress reports on NSIMA activities. Keynote addresses were also given on topics such as maize breeding, seed sector development and outcome mapping. The implementation of outcome mapping by the NCUs requires continued attention, and needs to become thoroughly institutionalized to ensure that real positive change occurs in the seed value chain. In conclusion, this report shows that the NSIMA activities of 2008 were numerous and generally successful in meeting outcome challenges. Progress was made in variety development; new varieties were tested and registered, while efforts were made to promote improved varieties amongst farmers and the seed sector. This project therefore remains critical and relevant to the stimulation of a comprehensive seed value chain that functions with strong public-private partnerships for the benefit of rural farmers in southern Africa. |
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