ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

Sorghum and Millet Variety evaluation, release and seed multiplication in Eritrea: ICRISAT’s research
collaboration in Eritrea started in earnest in 1995 when over 600 sorghum and 98 pearl millet lines were introduced
from ICRISAT-Nairobi and evaluated at Shambuko (western lowlands), Halhale (mid-highlands) and Shieb (eastern
lowlands). On-farm testing of farmer selections from these trials began in 1997 and one pearl millet variety [ICMV
221(Kona)], 5 sorghum varieties [ICSV 210 (Bushuka) and PP 290 (Shambuko) for western lowlands; 89 MW 5003
(Laba) and 89 MW 89 5056 for eastern lowlands; IS 29415(Shiketi) for mid-highlands] were released in the year
2000.
During the 2004/05 season the Ministry of Agriculture and NARI produced: 163 t of PP 290, 63 t of ICSV 210, 119
t of Gadam Hamam, 15.8 t of ICMV 221 and 6.6 t of Hagaz. All of this seed was distributed to farmers in the
western lowlands in 2005. In the western lowlands, 57 farmers had been contracted to produce seed and were
growing over 110 ha of sorghum variety ICSV 111 IN. One farmer by the name Ato Mebrahtu Asfaha grows 2000
ha of both seed and grain sorghum under irrigation at Tesseney. Farmers in Eritrea have adopted released varieties
and a number of new lines are being multiplied in readiness for release and distribution to farmers during the
2006/07 season. With these new varieties, farmers are now achieving grain yields of over 1.5 t/ha compared to 0.8
t/ha from local varieties
In the mid-highlands of Eritrea, IESV 92029 DL (bred at ICRISAT-Nairobi) has been earmarked for release and
over 7 ha were under seed crop at Halhale. In the western lowlands, ICSV 111 IN has been earmarked for release
and over 110 ha were under seed crop at Shambuko. The ICRISAT ESA breeding program have plans to carry out a
Sorghum and millets adoption and impact study in Eritrea during the 2007 season.
MA Mgonja, B Mitaru and E Manyasa
Activity A4.3: Develop and use alternative seed delivery models to efficiently disseminate improved sorghum
and millet cultivars for adoption
Milestone: A4.3.3: Business plans developed for establishment of Seed Enterprise Enhancement and Development
Services [SEEDS] in at least three countries of ESA by 2007
Seed Enterprise Enhancement and Development Services: Farmers in many countries in Africa are unable to
obtain high quality seed of improved publicly developed varieties due to a lack of effective commercial seed
production distribution networks. There is a need to facilitate the introduction of both commercial and publicly
developed varieties through distribution networks in a sustainable manner. This will expand farmers’ selection and
allow them to choose what best suits their requirements.
The African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) and the ICRISAT program for the Sustainable Commercialization of
Seeds in Africa (SCOSA) have proposed the establishment of Seed Enterprise Enhancement and Development
Services (SEEDS) to support the development of small and medium-sized seed companies. These will include
independently run and financially sustainable foundation seed enterprises (FSEs) that will market foundation seed of
publicly developed varieties for use by seed companies without their own breeding programs. They will also provide
access to seed storage and processing facilities to existing and emerging seed entrepreneurs. SEEDS will provide
technical and business development support to seed entrepreneurs who will become the customers of the FSEs,
ensuring their sustainability.
In 2006 national teams from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Botswana and Angola were trained in business plan development and then supported to hold national consultation
meetings needed to solicit input into their respective business plans. An Excel template was developed to assist in
the preparation of financial projections, and these will be used to solicit for funding from interested development
investors in 2007.
RB Jones
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