Wheat Research and Development in Kenya: Current Status and Trends in Productivity
1. Wheat Research and Development in Kenya :
Current Status and Trends in Productivity
Mukisira E., Gethi M., Wanyera R. and Njau P.
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)
E mail njaupnn@yahoo.com
09/10/012
2. Introduction
•Kenya is among the 47
countries that constitute the
sub-Saharan Africa
•About 850 million people are
undernourished, according to
the Food and Agriculture
Organization.
•Sub-Saharan Africa has the
highest proportion of
undernourished people in the
world (200 million).
•In January 2008, the World
Economic Forum predicted that
food insecurity would be among
the top potential threats to the
world economy.
3. Introduction
Factors that contribute to food insecurity
in SSA
– low agricultural productivity
– limited rural development
– government policy disincentives
– impact of poor health on the agricultural
workforce
– rising global commodity prices
– climate change
4. Introduction
Agricultural productivity
– During the Green Revolution food production
in Asia and Latin America increased
No uptake in SSA
– Diverse agroecological zones
– Traditional farming systems
– Mode of cultivation
5. Introduction
One remarkable way in which crop
productivity has increased is through
breeding
– High yields
– Fast maturing
– Semidwarf growth habits
– Disease resistance
– Adapted to the local conditions
6. WHEAT RESEARCH IN KENYA
Wheat is 2nd most important cereal crop after maize
Only bread wheat is cultivated, currently
Current area- 150,000 ha/year
20% of large scale farmers produce 80%
80% of small scale farmers produce 20%
• Production – 350,000 MT
• Demand > 900,000 MT
• Imports > 50%
9. Introduction
– Wheat produced in
three main
conditions
High rainfall areas
like Mau Narok and
Timau
Acid soil areas like
Uasin Gishu and
Trans Nzoia
Low rainfall areas
like lower Narok and
Laikipia
10. Introduction
Constraints
– Drought
– Diseases and pests
Rusts stem rust and yellow rust
Russian wheat aphids and BYDV
– Acid soil
– Lodging and sprouting
– Quality
11. Drought
80% of Kenya is
Arid or semi arid
– Characterised by
Low rainfall which
is unreliable
Terminal drought
Low yield of less
than 2 tons per ha
Flash floods
14. Objectives
• Develop wheat varieties that are widely adapted,
high yielding tolerant/resistant to both abiotic and
biotic stresses and with acceptable end use qualities
– Three main themes
Wheat improvement for
high rainfall environment
– Diseases
– Aphids
– Lodging and sprouting
Acid soil conditions
– Low yield
Low rainfall
– Drought and low yield
15. Variety Development
Commercial Name Attitude(masl) Yield potential Maturity
Pedigree t0ns/Ha Period(days)
Kenya Wren 1800-2400 8.5 120-130
THELIN # 2/TUKURU
Robin 1800-2700 8.1 110-120
BABAX/LR42//BABAX*2/3/TUKURU
Kenya Tai 1800-2100 6.5 100-110
ND643/2*WBLL1
Kenya Sunbird 1800-2100 6.5 100-110
ND643/2*WBLL1
Eagle10 1800-2100 6.5 100-110
EMB 16/CBRD//CBRD
Kenya Korongo 2100-2400 8.5 120-130
BABAX/LR42//BABAX*2/4/SNI/TRAP#1/
3/KAUZ*2/TRAP//KAUZ
Kenya Kingbird 1800-2400 6.0 90-110
TAM200/TUI/6/PVN//CAR422/ANA/5/BO
W/CROW//BUC/PVN/3/YR/4/TRAP#1
Kenya Hawk12 2100-2400 8.0 120-130
URES/JUN//KAUZ/3/BABAX/4/TILHI
19. Fabrication of Zero tillage wheat
planter for small scale farmers
Zero tillage wheat planter
Wheat planted by zero tillage planter in the field planting
21. Wheat seed system
Seed harvesting Wheat seed crop
Seed for new varieties being multiplied
200 tons of Robin to be distributed this year
Farmer groups growing and sharing seed of new varieties
22. Way forward
The new approach
– APVC
Cottage industries
Role of livestock industries
Natural resource management and climate
change
Collaboration and networking-
Partnerships strengthened
Training