tl iii genetic gains program improvement plan_icrisat_chickpea esa

TL III Program Improvement Plans Chickpea ESA Chris Ojiewo & Pooran Gaur

Trends in the area and productivity of chickpea in Ethiopia

Distribution of chickpea growing areas in Ethiopia

Major Challenges limiting full exploitation

• fusarium wilt, ascochyta blight, pod borers, • limited availability of quality seed, • role and limited use of rhizobia inoculation, • water and micro-nutrient stresses and • limited application of ICM/IPM practices. • presence of too many middle men, • lack of standards, • high post-harvest losses and • poor storage facilities

Enabling environment

• access to financial services; limited presence of financial institutions in rural areas,

• low human and institutional capacity in research, • extension and development, • gender inequity in the access to resources, participation in decision

making and sharing benefits, • negative attitude of young men and women towards agriculture • underutilization of electronic media in providing up to date

information and access to support services.

Chickpea production and productivity targets to 2020.

Target Chickpea

Production Baseline (t) 458,682

Proposed (t) 690,000

Change (%) 50.4

Productivity Baseline (kg/ha) 1,913

Proposed (kg/ha) 2,800

Change (%) 46.4

Area Baseline (ha) 239,751

Proposed (ha) 246,429

Change (%) 2.8

Value Chain Approach to Program Improvement

Discovery Research Intervention Priority Time-line

Genomic studies to identify genes, genetic markers or

group of genes that confer resistance to key stresses and

quality traits

H MT-LT

Improved understanding and utilization of rhizobial

symbiosis

H ST

Strengthen the collection and characterization of genetic

resources

M LT

Adapt and apply chickpea crop simulation models to

simulate site specific crop growth and yield and formulate

management strategies

H ST

Crop Improvement

Develop varieties with resistance to multiple constraints

(fusarium, ascochyta and drought) and market preferred

traits

H ST-MT

Develop breeding line and varieties with superior

nodulation and nitrogen fixing efficiency (GxSxE)

M LT

Develop Kabuli varieties with bold seed size (>55g/100

seed) and high yield for export market

H ST-MT

Intervention Priority Time-line

Agronomic Research

Generate better understanding of interactions between

variety, climate and soil on growth, pest and disease

incidence

H ST

New knowledge and information on role of nutrient

including micronutrients and water stresses growth,

performance, nodulation and nitrogen fixation of different

genotypes

M MT

Develop package of practices with integrated crop and pest

management practices for chickpea production under

rainfed and irrigated systems

H ST

Develop appropriate tools for mechanization of chickpea

cultivation

M MT

Seed Systems

Develop viable models with public-private

partnership that support continuous production

and availing of quality breeder, foundation and

certified seed

H ST

Priority H=high; M=Medium; L=low Timeline: ST= short term 2-3 yrs, MT=Medium term 3-5 yrs; LT=Long term >5 yrs

Intervention Priority Time-line

Soil health

Intervention Priority Time-line

Map the target domains for yield limiting soil

nutrient and other constraints and

recommendations

M MT

Promote crop rotations and cropping systems for

sustainable use of soil and water resources and

break pest and disease cycles

H ST

Watershed

Intervention Priority Time-line

Promote land and water management practices

including irrigation to minimize degradation and

enhance stability

H ST

Farm management

Intervention Priority Time-line

Characterize chickpea production domains and

identify opportunities for integrating chickpea

into various farming systems

H ST

Quantify risks and opportunities created by

variable climate and formulate management

options that reduce risk and capitalize on

opportunities

H ST

Understand and quantify the changes in climate

and their impacts on chickpea production and

develop appropriate management options

M ST-MT

Knowledge sharing

Intervention Priority Time-line

Promote dissemination of extension information

using ICT tools including internet and mobiles

H ST

Develop an integrated platform for sharing

information to all stakeholders from farmers to

policy makers

M MT

Conditioning, Storage & Aggregation

Intervention Priority Time-line

Develop and promote grading/quality control

measures by quality linked pricing

M MT

Improve storage facilities and reduce post-

harvest losses

M MT-LT

Processing and value addition

Intervention Priority Time-line

Develop and promote alternate food products

that create demand for chickpea

M LT

Promote farmer-processor linkages for improved

market access

H ST

End User Demand Projections and Trends

Intervention Priority Time-line

Understand consumer needs and preferences for

chickpea and its products

H ST

Develop and disseminate production and demand

outlooks from time to time

M MT

Crop-Livestock Interactions

Intervention Priority Time-line

Understand the feed quality of chickpea varieties

and develop options to optimal use of chickpea

residue

H ST

Financial services (microcredits/insurance)

Intervention Priority Time-line

Develop guidelines and promote formation and

operation of self-help and thrift groups especially

by women

H MT

Develop appropriate mechanisms (e.g., voucher

systems, warehouse receipt system etc)for

financial institutions to support value chain actors

H MT

Develop and promote innovative insurance

products to cover risk from occasional crop

failures

M LT

Infrastructure (Human and Institutional Capacity)

Intervention Priority Time-line

Strengthen the infrastructure at research stations

to conduct basic and applied research using

advanced tools and methods

M LT

Enhance capacity of researchers and extension

agents in using cost effective modern techniques

in generating and disseminating knowledge and

information

H ST

Strengthen input and output market system H ST

Value chain policies

Intervention Priority Time-line

Facilitate policies that enhance efficient exchange

of germplasm between countries

M LT

Facilitate simple and effective policies that

simplify variety release and seed certification

process

M LT

Facilitate development of policies on use of

biopesticides and IPM products

M LT

Facilitate formulation of policies that improve

private sector engagement

H ST

Labor and mechanization Intervention Priority Timeline

Facilitate development and supply of locally suitable

equipment for land preparation and planting

H ST

Adapt to local conditions and promote ICRISAT and ICAR

developed multi-purpose tool bars and implements for timely

and efficient weeding and intercultural operations with

reduced drudgery

H

ST

Identify and test harvesting, threshing and winnowing

equipment and facilitate its local production

M

LT

Establish small scale rural enterprises to provide machines

and maintenance services

H

ST

Gender (Women and youth issues) Intervention Pri. Time

Identify and promote business oriented and technology-driven farming to provide self-employment opportunities and income generation to the youth

H ST

Improve understanding of the social structures, including gender, age and wealth dimensions that influence technology choices and uptake, resource use patterns and market access

M LT

Promote micro-processing and value addition to expand market and income generating opportunities for the youth

H ST

Provide better and equitable access to relevant information and technologies by developing appropriate ICT tools and applications

H ST

Develop adaptive models/agendas for ‘inclusive innovation systems’ as learning

and innovation platforms for women and youth in agriculture

H ST

Identify and promote appropriate mechanization interventions that help conduct farm operations with precision and less drudgery

S ST

Data Systems Intervention Pri. Time

Develop and implement big data systems that integrate and provide access to data from different sources

H ST

Develop and promote ICT tools and mobile apps that provide access to tailored information on climate, soil and water management

H ST

TL III Program Improvement Plans Strategic planning for capacity improvement for target breeding

Develop formal product concepts for varieties

identify potential product concepts

a minimum of 4 product concepts

evaluate the potential product concepts on the basis of market size,

scale and potential, farmer preference and economic value

conduct market research survey to rank identified product concepts

prioritize product concepts and subsequent breeding activities

select product concepts to focus breeding pipeline strategies

TL III Program Improvement Plans Strategic planning for capacity improvement for target breeding

Human capacity development

identify and implement formal training opportunities integral to improving the rate

of genetic gain

• identify skill gaps in relevant research areas

• identify 5-10 suitable post-graduate research projects

identify and implement gender equality strategies,

• create incentive scheme and affirmative action program to attract and employ

female graduates in plant breeding related disciplines

• provide research career development and planning training for female staff

TL III Program Improvement Plans Strategic planning for capacity improvement for target breeding

Human capacity development

develop performance management systems

• All teams to develop role descriptions

• develop a document detailing organizational goals

• develop a document that is goal customizable, including development needs,

for individuals but ultimately links to the common organizational goals

• put in place appropriate and competitive reward and promotion system linked

to personal performance

TL III Program Improvement Plans Enhanced varietal development pipelines Design product pipelines to efficiently develop varieties aligned with the product concepts a base-line status report of key components of the breeding programs • estimate the cost of breeding activities (e.g. land costs, planting harvesting)

• estimate land and facility limitations

• Estimate an annual budget for efficient breeding

• list of existing equipment and infrastructure aligned to breeding programs (e.g.

planting and harvesting equipment, cold stores, glasshouses, freezers).

• document current product pipeline (numbers of lines at each stage, selection

methods, testing and locations).

TL III Program Improvement Plans Enhanced varietal development pipelines Design product pipelines to efficiently develop varieties aligned with the product concepts

• Identify appropriate required rapid generation advance capacities in the

context of product concept focused pipelines (screen house facilities, bird proof

lath house, shuttle breeding, off-season nurseries, irrigation facilities, rearing

cage, DH facilities, green-house).

• Identify level and type of services required from supporting disciplines (IT,

pathology, nutrition quality, statistics and biometry, markers).

• Identify new equipment and infrastructure required

TL III Program Improvement Plans Enhanced varietal development pipelines

Design product pipelines to efficiently develop varieties aligned with the product

concepts

• redesign product pipelines to deliver varieties consistent with product concepts

making use of mechanization and off season capacities.

• include a seed roadmap to ensure timely seed availability for variety release

and popularization.

• document new product pipeline and timeline to full implementation.

TL III Program Improvement Plans Enhanced varietal development pipelines

Develop and implement relevant mechanization and efficiency measures

develop nomenclature and systems suitable for electronic data storage

• develop and document pedigree formats

• develop and document formats for trial naming, plot identification and seed

source

• develop and document formats for trait names

TL III Program Improvement Plans Enhanced varietal development pipelines

Develop and implement relevant mechanization and efficiency measures

develop a plan for training and implementation of mechanization and efficiency

measures identified in product pipelines including:

• enhanced statistical designs and analysis methods

• packet printing and barcode systems

• electronic data capture fieldbook/FieldScorer (tablets, scales etc)

• standardized description of all traits scored in the field in the program

• appropriate digital scales

• rapid generation advance

TL III Program Improvement Plans Enhanced varietal development pipelines

IT and associated equipment support

• providing support to breeding programs for the use of IT and devices.

• setting up appropriate server computers and devices that can be used across all

programs (barcode scanners, packet printers, electronic scales and tablets).

• suitable plant breeding database management system (BMS)

Statistical support for breeding pipelines

necessary skills in up to date analysis of breeding trials (mixed model, pedigree,

spatial)

TL III Program Improvement Plans Enhanced varietal development pipelines

Pathology support for breeding pipelines

• identify priority traits and screening methods for high throughput early

generation disease screening.

• estimate of number of genotypes and numbers of screens per genotype per

year based on optimized breeding pipeline.

• acquire or develop appropriate screening protocols and equipment.

TL III Program Improvement Plans Enhanced varietal development pipelines

Nutritional quality support for breeding pipelines

• Work with food specialists to identify priority traits and screening methods for

high throughput early generation nutritional quality screening.

• estimate of number of genotypes and numbers of assays per genotype per year

based on optimized breeding pipeline.

TL III Program Improvement Plans Enhanced varietal development pipelines

marker support for breeding pipelines

• Develop a plan for the implementation of DNA markers including suitable

marker platforms, equipment acquisition, sample preparation and tracking, and

provision of higher level of technical support to plant breeders.

• identify suitable diagnostic markers

TL III Program Improvement Plans Enhanced varietal development pipelines

implement optimised breeding pipelines

• technological advances to reduce generation intervals and to increase the

numbers of crosses made

• increase the numbers of lines/crosses included at each stage of testing in line

with optimized pipelines

• optimised selection processes, including the timing, the type and the intensity

annually review costings of major elements of optimized breeding pipeline

• ensure the availability of sufficient seed quantities and quality of advanced and

pre-commercial parent lines and varieties in line with the seed roadmap

TL III Program Improvement Plans Enhanced varietal development pipelines

Implement formal product advancement systems to ensure released varieties

are both superior to existing varieties and preferred by farmers and end-users

• Develop a formal product advancement process that identifies truly superior

products/varieties, incorporating feedback from farmers, seed producers and

end-users

• optimized seed roadmap procedures to ensure timely seed availability for variety

release and popularization

Identify bottlenecks or constraints to dissemination and adoption of new

varieties

• a survey and market research to identify the bottlenecks/constraints to the

dissemination and adoption of new varieties

• develop a product specific approach for the promotion and dissemination of

new varieties

TL III Program Improvement Plans Product support and market strategies

Implement product support processes, market plans and seed roadmaps

• seed increase, marketing and dissemination of new varieties arising from the

formal product advancement process,

• develop and implement dissemination plans for each new variety, interfacing

with extension and marketing department of MoA

TL III Program Improvement Plans Product support and market strategies