Deployment of IR-maize technology for reduction of Striga infestation

Published on 9 April 2010

Research Areas

Crops, Market Access, Seed Systems

Countries

Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda

Timeline

Start Date: 1 January 2008 | End Date: 31 December 2010

Overview

The Project will participate in the empowerment of key stakeholders to handle and deploy a recently developed Striga control method, IR (imidazolinone resistance)-maize herbicide seed coating technology.

The  project intends to bring the IR-maize technology to the point where a greater number of IR-maize varieties (OPVs and hybrids) have been released and a wider range of seed companies are engaged in IR-maize seed production, essentially for the technology to successfully be devolved to in-country capacities of selected target countries, in particular Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda (IR-maize pilot countries).

Objective 1: Support interested NARS and seed company breeders to evaluate and register adapted IR-maize varieties and hybrids in SSA countries where Striga is endemic, leading to their commercialization

Objective 2: Develop, package and disseminate information on Striga management using IR-maize technology for use by seed producers, farmers and farmers support groups (stockists, NGOs, extension, community based organizations)

Objective 3: backstop NARS and seed companies on handling, quality control and general management of IR-maize technology.

Research Partners

• ARI - Advanced Research Institute
• African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)
• Syngeta
• NGO - international or developed-country based non-governmental institution
• Seed Trade Association Of Malawi(STAM)
• Private sector
• Kenya seed company

Tags

extention, herbicide, hybrids, imidazolinone resistance, infestation, IR-maize, Maize, NARS, NGO, Seed, stokist, Striga, technology