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

Milestone A8.3.2: Promote participatory community-based methods for seed production of farmer-preferred
pigeonpea cultivars in at least 3 countries in ESA by 2009
Farmer-training in the agronomy of pigeonpea is a continuous process as new farmers adopt the crop. During the
pre-season (in 2006), farmers in Makueni district (Kenya) were trained in various aspects of pigeonpea production
including the methods and techniques for improving seed quality. In Malawi, the on-farm demonstration plots
established for the 2006/07 season will be used also for training farmers in community based seed production. It is
anticipated that the farmers (particularly those new to the crop in the central and northern areas) will be trained in
basic seed production techniques such as rouging off-types using phenotypic characters at both vegetative and
reproductive phases, scouting for pests, crop isolation, seed cleaning and storage.
SN Silim and E Gwata
Output Target A9: High yielding and adapted chickpea germplasm for small-holder farmers identified and
disseminated in ESA [2011]
Activity A9.1: Identify genetically enhanced chickpea germplasm adapted for production in ESA
Milestone A9.1.1: At least 30-40 high-yielding advanced chickpea lines/breeding lines (from ICRISAT Patancheru)
evaluated in regional field trials in eastern and southern Africa by 2008
Evaluation of chickpea lines for adaptation to prevailing agro-ecological conditions in ESA was conducted in Kenya
and Mozambique. The field trials consisted of both desi and kabuli chickpea types. In Chokwe district
(Mozambique) three desi genotypes obtained high (>3.0 t/ha) grain yield. The highest (3.6 t/ha) grain yield was
observed for ICCV 97126. The control cultivar (Ngara Local) attained 2.5 t/ha. The grain size (as measured by 100-
grain weight) of the kabuli types ranged between 29.1 – 43.6 g. In contrast, the maximum grain size among the desi
types was 30.g. At Kabete Research Station (Kenya), the kabuli cultivar ICCV 92311 attained 4.2 t/ha compared
with 2.6 t/ha for Ngara Local. Eight desi and 12 kabuli cultivars achieved >3.0t/ha. It is desirable to extend the field
evaluation of chickpea to other countries in ESA (Malawi, Tanzania and Zimbabwe) partly because of the genotype
x location interaction observed in the trials.
SN Silim and E Gwata
Milestone A9.1.2: 10-15 high-yielding desi and kabuli type breeding lines identified in at least 2 ESA countries
(Kenya and Mozambique) by 2009
In Kenya, 5 kabuli cultivars showed consistently high (>3.0 t/ha) in the previous three consecutive cropping seasons.
In comparison with desi types, the kabuli types are more lucrative on the international markets. Nevertheless,
significantly more desi cultivars (in the current germplasm) performed equally well thus providing the local farmers
wider options. Similarly, in Mozambique, 80% of the high-yielding elite cultivars were of the desi type. There were
no significant differences in maturity duration between the two chickpea types at either location indicating that the
kabuli germplasm evaluated in these trials is adapted to tropical conditions in ESA. Historically, the kabuli types are
adapted to cool temperate conditions. Therefore kabuli types adapted to tropical conditions as represented by Kenya
and Mozambique were identified successfully. Probably, the next phase of the research effort should evaluate these
new cultivars on-farm in order to facilitate their adoption as well as seed dissemination.
SN Silim and E Gwata
Activity A9.2: Identify chickpea germplasm with drought avoidance traits
Milestone A9.2.1: A sub-set of chickpea reference collection (from ICRISAT Patancheru) with selected root traits
evaluated in regional field trials in at least 2 countries in eastern and southern Africa by 2010
The work under this activity is anticipated to begin in 2007 pending availability of funding. Preparation for the work
is in progress.
115