Post on 18-Oct-2014
description
transcript
Training Plant Breeders at WACCI to accelerate the Green Revolution in
West and Central Africa
Eric Y. DanquahDirector, WACCI
edanquah@wacci.edu.gh
“Developing Climate-Smart Crops for a 2030 World” Workshop, ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 6-8 December
2011
Greetings from the University of Ghana
Ghana’s Premier UniversityFounded 1948
Outline
Context The challenge
The PromiseThe West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) Conception & Establishment Vision Programme Structure Our Students & Facilities
Looking Ahead Linkages, Networking & Sustainability
The Challenge• No. of breeders below
critical level• Poor Institutional Structures• Brain Drain
• Land & Cultural Issues• Low Yielding Varieties• High Cost of Production• Biotic & Abiotic stresses• Climate Change
Low Productivity
Food Insecurity
Low Breeding Capacity
What do we need in Africa?Doubly Green Revolution
- The aim is to repeat the success of the Green Revolution in Africa for many
diverse localities
Increased productivity on the same land with a reduced footprint e.g. high yielding hybrid maize varieties (7+ t/ha) with tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses
“The Green Revolution in Africa need not be a mirage”
Gibesa Ejeta, October, 16, 2009
“Local solutions, not "blueprints" of ideas from outsiders, are needed if Africa is going to experience a green revolution”
Sir Gordon ConwayApril 15, 2010
Food Crops Development Project (2001-2007)Root and Tuber Improvement Programme (1999-2003)
t/ha
Yield increases in some food crops in Ghana following investments
Sorghum Hybrid Quadruple Yields in Mali
Sorghum hybrids developed in Mali to quadruple harvests following support from AGRA
Source: http://www.agraalliance.org/section/people/stories
Average Yields of Sorghum in Mali (t/ha)
Number of Plant Breeders in selected countries in West Africa
Source: GIPB (http://km.fao.org)
Sorghum Maize Millet Rice Yam GroundnutCowpea Soyabean
0.700000000000
001 0.93 0.79
0.710000000000
001 0.79 0.59 0.53
0.750000000000
0030.5871.024
0.494
0.437000000000
001
2.995
0.734000000000
0010.456 0.46
Farm Size (Ha) Average Yield (t/ha)
Average farm size and yields of eight major crops in northern Ghana (Quaye, 2008)
Number of plant breeders at CSIR, Ghana
Source: MIS, CSIR, 2011
A new generation of plant breeders trained in West & Central Africa
New varieties
An African Green
Revolution
to Spark
The Genesis of the Promise
Scoping Study (Rockefeller Foundation), Dr. Eugene Terry, Inception Director-General, WARDA (August 2006)
-to identify universities in West and Central Africa with potentials to become the nucleus of an Africa-wide plant breeding capacity program at the MSc. and PhD levels
Recommended a Centre for Plant Breeding at the University of Ghana as the ACCI for W. & C. Africa (EACI - PASS, AGRA funding)
Rockefeller Assessment Mission (January 2007)
- Dr. Eugene Terry, International Consultant- Prof. Ronnie Coffman, Cornell University- Prof. Vern Gracen, Cornell University- Prof. Mark Laing, ACCI, UKZN, SA- Mr. Stefan Einarson, Cornell University- Prof. Eric Danquah, University of Ghana- Prof. Samuel K. Offei, University of Ghana
West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement
Established in June, 2007 to train 40 plant breeders over a 10-year period (AGRA-PASS grant); additional GCP grant to train 4 students (2008)
UG
Inauguration of WACCI, 12th March 2008
Vision
To become the foremost Centre for the training of Plant Breeders for
Africa
THE WACCI PROGRAMME
An innovative 5-year PhD programme
First year
Foundation courses in plant breeding and related courses at the University of Ghana
Pre- Enrollment English Proficiency Course for Francophone Students
Listening and Speaking/Presentation skills class
Reading and Academic Writing
class
1
2
3 4
6
7
12
10 13
914
16
15
11
8
5
Year 2 - Visiting Scientists (Advanced Modules)
Cornell Faculty participate in proposal presentations as reviewers via Video Conferencing
Years III-V Relocation of students to
their home institutions for PhD research work
Students return to the WACCI 3-6 months before the end of 5th year to complete write-up, submit and defend thesis
Crop focus Cereals - Maize, Sorghum, Millet & Rice Roots and tubers - Cassava & Sweet potato Legumes - Cowpea & Groundnuts Vegetables - Tomato & Pepper
VegetablesLegumes
Roots and tubers Cereals
Enrollment: 36 PhD students
12 Female (33%)18 Francophone (50%)18 Anglophone (50%)
Kenya
8 students to enroll in Jan., 2012
AGRA-sponsored students in the field
Mamadou Coulibaly, Drought tolerance in hybrid maize (IER)
Oumarou Goita, Alkalinity tolerance in rice
(IER)
Mamadou Aissata, Hybrid Sorghum
(INRAN)
Issaka Ahmadou, Hybrid Pearl Millet resistant to downy
mildew(INRAN)
Adama Mamadou Coulibaly,Early maturity and drought
tolerance in groundnut(INRAN)
Oumarou SouleymaneSalinity tolerance in rice
(INRAN)
Laouali Nasser MahamaneDrought tolerant tropical
yellow maize(INRAN)
Moses A. Adebayo, Drought tolerance in
hybrid maize(IITA)
Ndubuisi D. Njoku,
Enhanced beta carotene in cassava (NRCRI)
Alhassan Usman,
Rosette virus resistance in groundnut
(ABU)
Beatrice OkororogriMolecular characterisation &
low soil N and striga tolerance in maize inbreds
IITA
Chizoba Uzoma Okechukwu, Drought tolerance in maize
(NIHORT)
Lawan Muhammad Umar
Genetic analysis of grain quality traits of cowpea
(ABU)
Some Koussao,Genetic improvement of sweet potato for beta carotene and yield (INERA)
Abdalla Dao, Earliness and drought tolerance in
maize hybrids (INERA)
Valentin Edgar Traore,Yellow mottle virus resistance
in rice (INERA)
Maxwell Asante,Grain Quality in rice
(CRI)
Solomon G. Ansah, Phosphorus use efficiency in
cowpea (MoFA)
Allen Oppong, Resistance to MSV in hybrid maize (CRI)
Ernest BaafiSelection gain in end-user
traits of sweet potato(CRI)
Vivian Oduro, Inheritance of sweetness in sweet
potato (BNARI)
Lilian Tandzi Aluminium tolerance in maize hybrids(IRAD)
Hortense Mafouasson Low soil nitrogen
tolerance in maize (IRAD)
KENYA
Alice Kosgei
Drought Tolerance in Chickpea
Embu Agricultural Staff Training College
GCP-Sponsored Students
Joseph Adjabeng-Danquah
Drought tolerance in cassava (SARI)
Joseph Batieno Drought tolerance and M. phaseolina resistance in cowpea
Ruth N. A. ThompsonPost-harvest Physiological Deterioration in Cassava
(CRI)
Sako Dramane QTL analysis of yield components & panicle
architecture in sorghum (IER)
Partnership with 15 Institutions
CSIR- PGRRI, Ghana
Crop Services, Ghana
GAEC – BNARI, Ghana
CSIR – SARI, Ghana
CSIR- CRI, Ghana
INERA, Burkina Faso
INRAN, Niger
IER, Mali
ABU, Nigeria
NRCRI, Nigeria
IITA, Nigeria
NIHORT, Nigeria
IRAD, Cameroon
Embu Agricultural Staff Training College, Kenya
LAUT, Nigeria
Supervisory visits(Research supervision by in-country and WACCI supervisors)
Mentoring
Dr. Jeffrey D. Ehlers, Cowpea Breeder/Geneticist,
University of California, Riverside.
Joseph Batieno GCP Sponsored Student, WACCI
Jefffrey and Joseph have met face-to-face at WACCI on two occasions
Platform for Networking
Maxwell Asante ,Ghana(Rice)
Mamadou Coulibaly (Maize)
Oppong Allen, Ghana
(Maize)
Edgar Traore, Burkina Faso(Rice)
2nd Cohort
1st Cohort
Facilities High speed internet access and a video
conferencing facilityAccess to electronic resources (TEEAL &
AGORA) and the Mann Library, Cornell University
Access to the Biotechnology Centre, CA&CS, UG
Maize breeding programme • 1,750 hybrids
under evaluation
• Arrangement with Seed Co, Zimbabwe to test hybrid varieties in multi-locational
trials Ghana & Nigeria)
Looking Ahead Exploring opportunities for win-win linkages
NARIs & other AIs
Partnership with CCAFS?
WACCI PHASE II
AGRA is committed to: 80% of see-out budget for 32 PhD
students (First cohort to complete in December 2012)
Funding to admit 15 additional students in three cohorts from July 2013 but we need to maintain class sizes
We need to urgently diversify our sources of funding to sustain WACCI.
Advisory Board
40
Dr. Eugene Terry, Senior Technical Advisor, TransFarm Africa, Washington DC
(Chairman)
Prof. E.Y. DanquahMember
Prof. S. K. OffeiMember
Prof. V. GracenMember
Dr. R. MadakadzeAGRA Rep.
Prof. R. CoffmanMember
Prof. M. LaingACCI Rep.
Management & Senior Staff
Eric DanquahDirector
Sam Offei Associate Director
(Research)
Vern GracenAssociate Director
(Teaching & Curriculum Development)
Martin YeboahPlant Breeder
Charles ThePlant Breeder
Naalamle Amissah Programme Coordinator
Frank Kumaga(Plant Physiology)
Jonathan Ayertey(Entomology)
Kwadwo Ofori (Plant Breeding)
Kwadwo Asante (Plant Genetics)
Essie Blay (Plant Genetics &
Breeding)
Edmund Darkwa(Plant Pathology)
Associate Faculty
Administrators & Support staff
Mr. Yaw Brako Osei-Tutu Finance Officer
Mr. Edward SalakpiAdministrative Officer
Mr. Richmond KyeiMessenger / Cleaner
Mr. Ebenezer AddoDriver
Mr. Philip AmegadzieDriver
Ms. Rita AyirebiAdministrative Assistant
working with farmers and seed enterprises to develop improved varieties to spark a Green Revolution in West and Central Africa
The inescapable conclusion
Thank you
Our first cohort, March 12, 2008
Completion deadline, November 2012
Without these human resources, W & C Africa will have little or no capacity to adapt to climate change