January - June 2008 - Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

New Research now focus on Water efficient Maize for the African region
James Gethi, KARI Katumani
Anew partnership involving Kenya Agricultural
Research Institute (KARI), AAFT, CIMMYT, and
Monsanto Company has been formed with the
objective of developing maize varieties that are drought
tolerant. This was revealed by the Agriculture Secretary,
Dr. Wilson Songa, while speaking to partners in the project
and other stakeholders attending a two-day planning
meeting (28 th -29 th April, 2008) for the project in KARI
Headquarters. The partnership, in a project known as
Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) plans to make
use of the vast experience of the key players to develop
varieties which will not attract royalties and hence will be
freely made available to the participating African countries.
According to Dr. Wilson Songa, this project will go a long
way in enhancing food security. He noted that WEMA
project is welcome because it is tackling an important
problem and asked that it be restructured to involve farmers
from the beginning. He said this public–private partnership
should allow for equal say in the administration of the
project with a clear focus on the major priority of the
project. The leadership of the project is crucial, and AAFT
should ensure that all key partners are involved right from
the start. He however, observed that the royalty free
technologies will be very useful to the small scale farmers.
Dr. Songa was speaking during that launch of the Kenya
part of the project at the KARI headquarters.
While welcoming guests the Director KARI, Dr.
Ephraim Mukisira, told the participants that KARI values
new initiatives aimed at addressing food problems in
Kenya. He emphasized that food crisis being witnessed
currently can have far reaching effects, since maize is
Kenya’s stable food crop. He noted that through
partnerships and collaboration KARI had embraced
projects like Insect Resistant Maize for Africa (IRMA),
Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) which had
developed technologies that addressed the problems
faced by Kenyan farmers. He welcomed Water Efficient
Maize for Africa (WEMA) Project and advised the project
team to work together to make headway in addressing
food security in Kenya.
The Director noted that maize is cultivated on
estimated 100,000 hectares in the semi-arid lands, which
have less potential for growing maize. These areas receive
an annual rainfall of 300-400mm and suggested that every
drop should be used for production. Varieties released for
these areas are early maturing varieties and drought
escaping but even with these efforts, there is a gap of two
tons per hectare, with over 200,000 tons lost per annum
due to drought alone. Posed Dr. Mukisira, if 80% of this
loss is saved, then food sufficiency will be enhanced. He
challenged the participants to work hard, and reminded
them to consider other challenges bedevilling this vital
crop such as the larger grain borer, climatic change and
expensive inputs.
WEMA maize varieties will be royalty-free
In his speech Dr Mugo of CIMMYT noted that WEMA
has come when there is increased demand for maize in
the sub Saharan Africa. He said CIMMYT is charged
with the responsibility of improving maize and wheat
in the world has 60–70% of the resources available
maize in SSA. He pledge his organisations’ support to
the WEMA project. WEMA will work hand in hand
with DTMA utilising technologies developed by
DTMA. DTMA uses mostly conventional breeding to
address drought tolerance, while WEMA will combine
both biotechnology and conventional breeding to
improve drought tolerance in maize.
Dr Cook of Mosanto Company praised the
partnership of the various institutions. She said WEMA
is setting standards for the future, and acknowledged
Monsanto’s willingness to share their technology with
the public institutions in order to address food security.
The purpose of this meeting was to introduce the
Kenya Project Team to the project partners, develop
workplans and project activities and budget for WEMA-
Kenya in addition to internalising the objectives of
WEMA project. The project will be coordinated by Dr.
James Gethi of KARI Katumani under the auspices of
AATF. During the meeting three committees were
formed to handle various issues. These are: Regulatory
Team comprising Dr. Simon Gichuki and Ms Jane
Otadoh; Communications Team comprising Ms Grace
Agili, Ms Rachael Rege and Ms Josephine Mogere and
the Product Development Team comprising Ms Regina
Tende, Mr. Murenga Mwimali and Mr. Isaac Mzera
Uzel.
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