Three years in Eastern and Southern Africa... What's next?

IRRI Seminar

R.K. Singh
Senior scientist
Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology Division
IRRI

1315-1415 H, Thursday, 29 November 2012
Havener Auditorium, IRRI
Abstract:

In 2009, IRRI and AfricaRice jointly decided that IRRI will lead research on the irrigated and rainfed lowland ecologies in ESA. In this seminar, Dr. Singh will share highlights of IRRI-mediated rice breeding activities that took place in ESA since then.

A network of breeding activities was quickly established in 6 ESA countries (Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Mozambique) and a few more bordering countries (Malawi and Ethiopia). To hasten the release of long-awaited rice varieties for the region, existing improved genotypes from IRRI, AR, CIAT, and NARES partners were evaluated first, through a systematic breeding pipeline, instead of germplasm development de novo.

The region is beginning to reap dividends, with the much-awaited release of high-yielding and disease-resistant new rice varieties in Mozambique and Burundi, and similar varieties to be released soon in Tanzania (possibly before 2012 ends) and Kenya.

Dr. Singh will also discuss IRRI’s modified breeding strategy that will guide future efforts around product-oriented breeding for specific market segments. A case study of Philippines and Vietnam will be presented for the development of product profile.