Integrated Breeding: Impact and challenges on crop productivity in African

poor farmers fields

James G. Gethi KARI Katumani

P.O. Box 340-90100 Machakos, Kenya

Tel. +254 202413436 Email: jgethi@wananchi.com

What is integrated breeding?

Conventional Biotechnology

Bioinformatics

Transgenics

Molecular breeding

Products to end Users

Sub Saharan Africa

• Land sizes

• Many crops

• Rain fed agriculture

• Large population growth rates

Characteristics

Consequences

• Under investment in agriculture

• Access to technology hampered

• Over regulation

• Lack of facilities

• Food insecurity and Poverty

What do the farmers in SSA really need?

• Improved crop varieties that address their needs, in the shortest time possible, with minimal cost

• Support from their service providers in diagnostics for diseases

How can molecular tools assist?

Marker based selection

Marker Assisted selection

Marker Assisted Backcrossing

Marker Assisted Backcrossing

Marker Assisted Recurrent selection

Genome wide selection

Crop improvement

Molecular tools…

•Diversity studies

•Quality control in seed production

•Cultivar identity and characterization by regulators (DUS & VCU)

•Disease diagnostics

Molecular tools…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GloFish.jpg

Transgenic technologies • Drought • Disease • Nitrogen Use Efficiency • Food Quality

Bioinformatics

Challenges

•Drought •Soil fertility •Diseases •Food quality •Food Safety •Capacity

•$$$ •Personnel

Challenges beyond our control

• Communications and connectivity

• Policies

Photo: Dibanzilua Nginamau, Angola

Thank you! Asante!

Obrigado! Tatenda!

Siyabonga!