the Symposium on Wheats for More Tropical Environments - cimmyt

130Wheat in West AfricaG. Varughese, Wheat Program, CIMMYT, MexicoAbstractAlthough wheat has been grown in small amounts in West Africafor manycenturies, it is only in <strong>the</strong> last 20 years that it has become an importantfoodsourcefor <strong>the</strong> increasing urban population. Because of this increasing demand.governments in <strong>the</strong> region are becoming interested in <strong>the</strong> possibility ofgrowingwheat, a crop that should be successful, dependent on <strong>the</strong> development ofadapted cultivars and appropriate agronomic practices. Also needed will betrained personnelfor research and extension, and improved transport andmarketing systems.Wheat came to West Mrica manycenturies ago through <strong>the</strong> salt traderoutes. Later on, it was also brought inby Muslim pilgrims. It used to be grownin very small areas in many Mricancountries, more for use in religiousceremonies than for human food. Thissituation, however, has changeddramatically dUring <strong>the</strong> past twentyyears, and today wheat is an importantsource of calories for many of <strong>the</strong> WestAfrican countries. In fact, Sub-SaharanMrica has one of <strong>the</strong> highest growth...ates in wheat consumption in <strong>the</strong>world, mainly utiliZing imported wheat.Most of <strong>the</strong> wheat is consumed in urbanareas and, since <strong>the</strong> urban populationin <strong>the</strong>se regions is continuing toexpand, <strong>the</strong> upward trend in wheatconsumption is also likely to increase.This rapid expansion in <strong>the</strong>consumption of wheat has promptedmany governments in <strong>the</strong> region toconsider <strong>the</strong> possibility of grOWingwheat.The countries In <strong>the</strong> region haVing atleast some potential for growing wheatare Senegal, Mali, Upper Volta, Niger,Nigeria and Chad. The socioeconomicdifficulties related to producing wheat isdifferent for each of <strong>the</strong>se countries.However, agroclimatic patterns andvarietal needs are similar for all of <strong>the</strong>countries of <strong>the</strong> region.Almost all of <strong>the</strong> wheat grown in WestAfrica is irrigated, and is planted aboutmid-November and harvested in earlyMarch. Most of <strong>the</strong> soils are heavy clayswith very low water infiltration.However. <strong>the</strong>re are also a few areaswith sandy soils in <strong>the</strong> region. Wintersin general are mild, with high rates ofevapotranspiration. thus necessitatingfrequent irrigation. Planting date andwater management are <strong>the</strong> two mostcritical factors for a successful crop.At present, Siete Cerros and itsderivatives are <strong>the</strong> best-adapted wheatvarieties for <strong>the</strong> region. Fortunately,disease is not a factor limiting wheatproduction.Country SituationsSenegalWith <strong>the</strong> exception of Mauritania.Senegal has <strong>the</strong> highest per capitawheat consumption in West Africa. In<strong>the</strong> 1975-1977 period, wheatconsumption was 23 kg per capita peryear. The government of Senegal, with<strong>the</strong> help of FAO/UNDP, had an excellentwheat research project in Guede in <strong>the</strong>Senegal River valley from 1976 to1982. Researchers at <strong>the</strong> station haveconsistently obtained yields of 3 to4 tons per hectare. The variety Mexipakhas yielded an average of 3.6 t/ha overfive years, with a maximum of 5 and aminimum of 3 t/ha. In farmers' fields.on commercial-sized plots. yields have