Quality of Products & Process Innovations: The Role Played by Research and Extension & Training Services

By: Tafa Jobie, Director for Crop Research, OARI

Tesfaye Letta (Ph.D), Director SARC Oromiya Agricultural Research Institute (OARI)

Hilton Hotel, Finfinne/Addis Ababa December, 2014

Outline

• Introduction

• Genetic & Agronomic Management of Durum Wheat for Quality

• The role of various actors in the implementation of Agricultural Value Chains Project in Oromiya (AVCPO), the case of durum wheat

Introduction

• Ethiopia is the major producer of wheat in Sub-Saharan Africa; wheat occupies nearly two million hectares of land.

• Durum wheat occupies about 40% of the area allotted to wheat.

• Wheat research in Ethiopia has come long way, beginning in the 1930s.

• So far, about 35 improved varieties of durum wheat have been officially released by the National Research System of Ethiopia.

• OARI has released nine durum wheat varieties mainly for Bale Zone, the major wheat producer and part of Ethiopia's wheat belt.

Introduction contd.

• In spite of the huge genetic diversity, suitable agroecologies, availability of agro-processors and many improved varieties, farmers and pasta industries have not been benefiting much from the durum industry.

• Thus, to produce pasta, the country has been importing increasingly huge volume of durum wheat/hard wheat.

• This happened because of poor linkage among stakeholders that could not ensure the production of desired volume and quality of grain to feed the domestic industries.

• And failure to establish a sustainable market to the mutual benefit of the two parties: grain producers & pasta industries.

Introduction contd.

• In the recent decade, farmers in some parts of the country

(eg. Bale) have been able to adopt high yielding durum

wheat cultivars to produced appreciable volume of seed and

grain, subsequently seeking for good market.

• This was the major driving force to design suitable

collaboration and alignment modality of existing

stakeholders in a functioning value chain from technology

generation to marketing.

Set of opportunities & key factors for the success in durum wheat value chain in Bale Zone, Ethiopia

– Production potential of Bale – Availability of improved

technologies – Level of durum wheat

technology adoption prior to the project

– Production of high quality EGS

production by SARC – Possibility of seed & grain

quality analysis by SARC durum lab

– Presence of multi-Stakeholders who can play roles along the value chain.

The successful transformation of the durum commodity attained in Bale heavily relies up on strong collaboration and alignment of stakeholders

acting in the entire value chain, from technology generation to marketing.

BoFED

BoA

CPA/Unions OTMDB

OARI/SARC Primary

Cooperatives/

Farmers

• Favourable policy

• Support from regional & Federal govt.

Enabling environment

• Positively aligned with stakeholders; shared objective

• Full support

Local administration

(Zone –wereda-keble)

Industries

Fig 1. Major durum wheat value chain stakeholders

Genetic & Agronomic Management of Durum Wheat for Quality

Selection of high quality gentotypes for major quality parameters

Management of fertilizer application: timing & amount

Control of weeds & diseases

Genetic & Agronomic Management contd..

• In durum wheat grain production, the choice of genotype and N fertilization are crucial for grain yield and quality.

• Major features of durum wheat grain for pasta products are: – intense yellow color, – high vitreousness, – hard grain texture – High protein

- Milling qualities suitable for producing semolina and good cooking qualities of the pasta.

• Durum wheat grain protein is appreciably influenced by N fertilization

– flour protein content,

– flour yield,

– hectoliter weight,

– thousand kernel weight

– grain yield, etc.

Genetic & Agronomic Management contd..

• Correct nitrogen application timing is

essential.

• Too much application of nitrogen is not desirable

• Spilt application of urea, 1/3 at planting; 1/3at tillering; and 1/3 at flowering is recommended

Genetic & Agronomic Management contd..

Percentage of nitrogen content in wheat grain and straw at different N rates (Woyema et al., 2012)

Percentage of nitrogen content in wheat grain and straw for different durum wheat cultivars (Woyema et al., 2012)

Control of weeds & diseases

• The management of weeds, particularly grass types, is becoming very important in wheat production, especially in the cereal belt areas.

• Herbicides like 2-4-D (for broad-leaved weeds; Topic for grass weeds have been in use.

• Recently, a non-selective

herbicide known as Pallas 45 OD is in use to protect wheat against all weeds, especially Bromus and other grass species.

Control of weeds & ….

• The major foliar wheat diseases in Ethiopia are yellow rust, stem rust, leaf rust and septoria. These diseases are increasingly becoming important in recent years, where many popular varieties are loosing their resistance.

• These diseases could certainly damage grain quality;

• All durum wheat cultivars under

cultivation are resistant to these diseases, and of course, are considered as good resorts where popular bread wheat cultivars are being threatened by rusts these days.

The role of various actors in the implementation of AVCPO- durum wheat

• The project Agricultural Value Chains in Oromiya (AVCPO) is a self-contained one, embracing various public and private institutions with different roles & responsibilities; grain & seed production.

– In technology generation, initial seed supply, training

– Grain production

– Seed production

– The analysis of grain and seed quality

– Grain supply & contract agreement

– Facilitation of informal seed production & movement

– Joint ventures: planning, reviews, field days etc..

Major stakeholders & their roles

Key Roles Responsible Actors

Governance of finance & logistics; procurement & financial disbursement

Oromiya BoFED

Supply of proven production technologies, initial seed, independent grain & seed quality test etc.

OARI/SARC

Technical collaboration, study tour organization & facilitation

IAO

Financial support Ethio-Italian Development Cooperation

Coordination & facilitation AVCPO

Informal seed multiplication BoA/CPA/PC/Unions

Training on Agronomy, seed production, grain & seed quality issues, crop protection etc.

OARI, BoA, CPA,

Market issues: Grain supply, contract agreement OTMDB

Organizing Joint ventures: planning, reviews, training, field days and others etc.

SARC , administration

Field level M & E SARC, BoA, CPA,BoFED & others

The release of Superior Varieties: Major targets

High yield

Resistance to major biological stresses

Quality aspects

• Stability

• Genetic uniformity

• Major diseases

• Insect pests

• Conform to industrial quality requirements

• Protein and others

Agricultural Research Centers are primarily responsible for the adaptation/release of high yielding and disease resistant superior crop varieties.

The release of superior varieties: Major steps

Introduction of germplasm:

quarantine

Preliminary screening of 100s of genotypes: culling inferior ones

Preliminary yield trials of selected

genotypes: culling inferiors

Continued multi-location yield

trials: NVT, RVT

VVT: release/registration of superior cultivars by

NVRC

Variety maintenance & EGS multiplication

Adaptation of Durum Wheat Variety

• Three durum wheat varieties were imported from PSB, Italy, now Syngenta, in 2012 for adaptation in Bale Zone, Oromiya Region.

• After two years’ evaluation in

multi-location adaptation trial, two varieties were found to perform very well in terms of yield and quality. It is now under VVT and will be registered after evaluation by the NVRC in this season.

Variety demonstration, pre-scaling up and wider scaling up of technologies

• Newly released superior varieties are demonstrated through on-farm multi-location trials, comprising all or some of the following treatments for comparison:

– New varieties

– Older varieties

– Local varieties

– Farmers’ practices

• Once varieties are accepted by farmers, they will be promoted and scaled up for wider use

• This requires the participation of multiple stakeholders: research centers, Offices of agriculture, Cooperative promotion agency, Farmers’ Primary Cooperatives & Unions, Seed Enterprises, credit organizations etc is crucial

• For seed multiplication, training, seed quality control, market issues etc…

Supporting Grain & Seed Production with Training & Quality Analysis

93 Quintals of

•Variety Ejersa

370 Quintals of

•Variety Bakkalcha

Enabling Farmers Produce Seed & Grain

Before hand: in-house training & planning for season

• Land preparation

• The choice of varieties, fertilizers (DAP, Urea), splitting

• Seed distribution

• Management of diseases, weeds, insects

Field level practical training:

• Practical training for producers, experts & DAs

• joint evaluation of overall field performance at different crop stages

Field level: grain & Seed Purity,

• Roughing out off types & mixtures

• Avoiding mixture of different varieties up on harvesting & storing

• Post harvest: seed inspection at lab (testing physical purity, mixture, germination % etc) & statement of confirmation for use

Pre-basic/basic seed distribution by SARC: eg. In 2014: Sustaining informal seed production

District Varieties Amount No of Farmers

Gololcha Ejersa, Bakkalcha, Obsa, Tate

90 120

Gasara Tate, Toltu 30 45

Ginner Ejersa, Obsa, Toltu 45 60

Seed Quality Analysis

Seed produced by Primary Cooperatives & Quality Analysis: 2000 Quintals, 2012

Producer Union/Farmers

Germination %

TKW (gm)

Purity (%)

HLW (kg/hl)

Dureti Tulu 92.23 45.34 96.88 82.93

Salka 90.20 42.44 93.70 80.88

Dire Gudo 94.75 45.85 96.89 82.72

Doyo 96.60 41.14 98.08 81.04

Kebena 91.17 41.70 97.00 83.33

Ebisa 96.08 42.27 97.18 82.13

Meliyu-Burka 95.90 42.18 96.66 82.34

Ali Kajawa 94.15 41.45 96.75 82.60

Sambitu 91.50 39.04 96.20 82.11

Fankal 97.90 44.00 97.90 83.00

Acceptable if : Germination ≥ 85%; TKW ≥ 35 gm; Purity ≥ 90 %; HLW ≥ 78 kg/hl

Following quality analysis, seed exchange among Primary Cooperatives has been effected.

Seed supplier for particular season

• Dureti Tulu Seed Coop

• Wute Seed Coop

• Wute Seed Coop

Seed recipient for particular season

• Salka MP Coop received 100 quintals of seed from Dureti Tulu

• Oda Roba Union received 120 quintals

• Gasara Nake MC received 50 quintals

Seed recipient for particular season

• Agarfa Kajawa Union received 300 quintals of seed from Oda Roba Union

Independent Quality Analysis of Durum grain

• The goal is to attain high quality durum of :

– Protein (10-13)

– Hectolitre weight (≥ 78

– Moisture (12%)

Contract drafting & awareness

• Awareness creation & training on draft contract

• Views of coops/unions & industries included in the contract document

Contract agreement signatures

• After consensus is reached on the terms & conditions of the contract document, it will be signed by the two parties: industries & PC/their unions

Grain Quality Analysis

• Following harvesting, grain samples will be collected from PCs

• The sample will be subjected to analysis in SARC lab with high-speed and user-friendly instrument meant to analyse large no of samples in short time.

• Data generated thereof will be used as independent source to be used for premium price determination, in addition to the data generated at the lab of industries

Conclusion

• Ethiopia has huge untapped potential for durum wheat production; if smallholders get access to production technologies, training and market, the volume of production can feed the existing agroindustries.

• No new organization was created but the existing ones have

revitalized modalities of relationships and working together for the benefit of farmers.

• Smallholder farmers can produce appreciable quantity and

quality of grain for agro-industries if they are clustred, well supported with technologies & training and then get access to market & premium price for their produce.

THANK YOU

THANK YOU