Seeds2B Project Malawi Soybean Evaluation Update

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1 Seeds2B Project Malawi Soybean Evaluation Update Soybean Innovation Laboratory Variety Trialing Network Webinar Series: Establishing the network 15 June 2017 Edgar Wavomba Project Coordinator, Seeds2B African Agricultural Technology Foundation

2 Outline Soybean in Malawi About the Seeds2B Project and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation Update on Soybean Evaluation Trials in Malawi Concluding remarks

3 Soybean In Malawi Approx. 75,000 Ha dedicated to soybean production Smallholder driven rain-fed production characterized by low use of inputs and low yields Soybean production, 2010, '000 MT (TechnoServe, 2011) Production by farmer type, 2010, '000 MT (TechnoServe, 2011)

4 Current Market Context Production driven by growing demand for soybean oil over soybean cake Projected demand, 2020, K MT (TechnoServe, 2011)

5 Future Market Context Demand for soybeans expected to grow to 131K MT by 2020 driven by demand for soybean cake Human nutrition market key source of future growth Projected demand, 2020, K MT (TechnoServe, 2011)

6 Seeds2B Project The Seeds2B initiative facilitates smallholder access to new better-performing, locally adapted and market-appropriate crop cultivars. Addresses limited smallholder farmer access to quality seed of a range of new improved varieties of key cash and subsistence crops presents a major bottleneck to food security in SSA. Seeds2B is part of Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture s (SFSA) program on access to seeds. In 2013, SFSA provided a grant to the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) to establish Seeds2B pilot projects in 2 countries in SSA 6 crops in Malawi and 8 crops in Zimbabwe targeted by AATF Crop Category Malawi Zimbabwe Vegetables Tomato Tomato Root and tubers N/A Irish potato Legumes Beans, cowpea, soybean, groundnuts and pigeon pea Beans, soybean and groundnuts Small grains N/A Sorghum, pearl millet and wheat

7 About The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) AATF is a not-for-profit organisation designed to access, develop, adapt and deliver appropriate agricultural technologies for sustainable use by smallholder farmers in SSA AATF has negotiated technologies and other applications estimated at US$ 110 million Expected to impact about 14.5 million smallholders in 13 countries in SSA AATF also coordinates several enabling initiatives to support the Foundation s overall work and help inform policy and decision-making in the region.

8 Seeds2B Project Impact Pathway Market analyses and technology scouting Pre-screening trials Number of varieties Screening (registration) trials Commercial trials (Demos) and local production/distribution Seed volumes required and farmers reached Market growth

9 Entry 1 st small scale trials implemented in Flower color Hair color Hilum color Malawi (2015/2016) Soybean Rust (Score) 50% flowering Physiological Maturity Plant height (cm) Grain Yield (Tons/Ha) 100 Grain Weight (g) Oil and Protein Yield (% [m/m]) Bvum Chita Chite Av. Av. Av. Av. Av. Oil Protein SOY1 Purple Grey d 120 g 68 d 1.4 a 13 a SOY2 Purple Grey d 116 f 66 cd 1.6 ab 13 a SOY3 White Grey b 111 cde 68 d 2.1 c 13 a SOY4 Purple Grey d 109 cd 58 ab 1.9 bc 13 a SOY5 Purple Grey c 113 ef 66 cd 1.7 abc 13 a SOY6 Purple Brown c 112 def 67 d 1.7 abc 14 a Serenade / Purple Brown (SOY9) White b 101 b 59 ab 1.5 ab 20 b Makwacha Purple Brown (SOY7) a 107 c 60 bc 1.8 abc 19 b Tikolore (SOY8) White Brown Black bc 92 a 53 a 1.9 bc 14 a Grand Mean N/A C.V N/A (%) Soybean rust score key 1 = highly resistant 2 = resistant 3 = moderately susceptible 4 = susceptible 5 = highly susceptible *Full potential of the trial entries may have not been achieved during the evaluations due to unprecedented drought and elevated temperatures (moisture and heat stress)

10 2nd small scale trials implemented in Malawi (2016/2017) Second season trials established at 4 diverse sites in Malawi finalized Data verification and analysis ongoing 6 local seed enterprises engaged to take up products for their own testing Other technical and commercial partners engaged as well as media One Acre Fund Farmer Field Day in Zomba, Malawi Field Visit by SIL and IITA in Chitedze, Malawi Local media coverage of Seeds2B soybean trials

11 Way forward 30 additional conventional soybean varieties in the pipeline for evaluation in Malawi and Zimbabwe additional entries sought Investment in training of technical staff required in the following broad areas: Planning trials Establishing trials Evaluating the trial Making sense of the data Seed multiplication Engagement of soybean off-takers for facilitated technology uptake Explore product registration in harmonised variety catalogues for effective impact scaling

12 Thank you