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Kenya: Firm to Develop Maize That Resists Drought
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The Nation (Nairobi)
20 March 2008
Posted to the web 19 March 2008
Dave Opiyo
Nairobi
Crop failure in Kenya and other parts of Africa will soon be a thing of the past following the launch of an ambitious programme to develop a drought-resistant maize variety.
The project being undertaken by African Agricultural Technology Foundation will in the long-run help to alleviate hunger and guarantee food security.
It is estimated that the maize developed over the next 10 years could increase yields by 20 to 35 per cent under moderate drought, compared to current varieties.
This increase would translate into about two million additional tonnes of food during drought years in the participating countries, meaning 14 to 21 million people would have more to eat and sell.
Maize is the most widely grown crop in Africa, and a staple food for over 300 million people on the continent. It is however severely affected by frequent drought.
And Africa is a drought-prone continent, making farming risky for millions of small-scale farmers who rely on rainfall to water their crops.
The first conventional maize varieties could be available after six to seven years of research and development
The project, Water Efficient Maize for Africa, will include researchers from both private and public institutions in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa.
The researchers will use "marker-assisted breeding and biotechnology" to develop African maize varieties to be provided royalty-free to small-scale farmers.
The benefits and safety of these maize varieties will be assessed by national authorities according to the regulatory requirements in each of the four countries.
Received a boost
The project has already received a boost from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which has contributed $47 million.
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"This project fits into our mandate of bringing to small-holder farmers in Africa the tools needed to increase productivity for better food and income security," said Mpoko Bokanga, African Agricultural Technology's Executive Director.
Mr Bokanga said they will work with the non-profit International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre; Monsanto, a private agricultural company; and the national agricultural research systems in the participating countries.
Uganda's Director General of the National Agricultural Research Organisation, Dr Denis Kyetere, lauded the project, saying it will help create food security.
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