Key Points:
- Egerton University, in collaboration with industry partners, has developed an array of high-yielding, drought and disease-resistant crop varieties to combat climate change effects on agriculture.
- The new varieties include pigeon pea, cassava, beans, groundnuts, sorghum, and finger millet seeds, designed to thrive in challenging environmental conditions..
- This initiative is part of the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP), supported by the World Bank, which has trained over 100 farmer groups in community seed systems.
- The project aims to increase average cassava production from 2.5 to 7 metric tonnes per acre for subsistence farmers and from 5 to 10 metric tonnes for pre-commercial farmers.
Innovative Seeds for a Changing Climate
In response to the growing threat of climate change to food security, Egerton University has taken a leading role in developing climate-smart seed varieties. Professor Paul Kimurto, Director of Egerton University’s Agro-Science Park, emphasizes the urgency of this work: “Climate change has become a threat to food security the world over. Its effects include unpredictable rains, leading to decreased yields and increased production costs. Unless we help our farmers embrace climate-smart agriculture, production will continue to dwindle, leading to decreased incomes, job losses and hunger.”
The university’s efforts have resulted in an impressive array of new crop varieties. These include four high-yielding, disease and drought-resistant pigeon pea seeds (Egerton Mbaazi M1, M2, M3, and M4), 29 new cassava varieties, and bean varieties (Tasha, Ciankui, and Chelalang) suitable for warm areas. Additionally, they’ve developed new groundnut seeds (Nyota and Mwangaza), sorghum varieties (EUS 130, EUS1, EU-SS-10, and EU-SS-11), finger millets, and chickpeas.
Explainer: What Are Climate-Smart Seeds?
Climate-smart seeds are specially developed crop varieties designed to thrive in the face of climate change challenges. These seeds typically possess one or more of the following characteristics:
Drought Resistance: Ability to grow with minimal water, crucial in areas experiencing reduced rainfall.
Heat Tolerance: Can withstand higher temperatures without significant yield loss.
Disease Resistance: Engineered to resist diseases that may become more prevalent due to changing climate conditions.
Short Growing Seasons: Mature faster, allowing for harvests before extreme weather events.
Increased Yield: Produce more crop per plant, enhancing food security even in difficult conditions.
Nutrient Efficiency: Able to grow in poor soil conditions, requiring less fertilizer.
Flood Tolerance: Can survive short periods of flooding, important in areas seeing increased rainfall.
Climate-smart seeds are developed through various methods, including selective breeding and genetic modification. They play a crucial role in adapting agriculture to climate change, helping to ensure food security in vulnerable regions. However, they are just one part of a broader climate-smart agriculture approach, which also includes improved farming practices and technologies.
Collaboration for Impact
This ambitious project is the result of extensive collaboration between Egerton University and various partners. These include the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), East African Breweries Limited (EABL), and several international agricultural research organizations.
The impact of these new varieties is already being felt. Over 2,000 farmers in Makueni County have adopted the Egerton Mbaazi 1, 2, and 3 improved pigeon pea seed varieties through ICRISAT. Bernard Towett, a senior agronomist and seed system specialist working with Egerton University, notes: “So far we have contracted over 50 farmers, each with between 0 to 10 acres of land, to grow the pigeon pea varieties developed by Egerton University. After the harvest, we buy back the seeds at Ksh 100 per kilogram.”
Beyond Food Security: Economic Opportunities
The development of these climate-smart seeds goes beyond just ensuring food security. It’s opening up new economic opportunities for farmers and industries alike. For instance, the new sorghum varieties are designed to yield industrial raw materials for the manufacture of alcoholic beverages, bakery products, animal feeds, and ethanol.
Professor Erick Cheruiyot, lead researcher in the development of the sorghum seeds, explains: “One of the new sorghum varieties ‘EUS 130’ is now being used in the manufacture of value-added sorghum baked food products. Sorghum does not contain gluten, hence blending it with other materials yields highly nutritious and healthy bakery products.”
Community Engagement and Empowerment
A crucial aspect of this project is its focus on community engagement and empowerment. Through the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP), Egerton University has been actively involved in supporting farmers through various training and extension services.
Lilian Samoei, a trainer involved in the program, highlights the project’s impact: “We have prepared the farmers in the community seed system production. They have now formed themselves into cooperatives where they aggregate their produce and sell to the market at the prices they regulate. Through the SACCOs, they are able to retain the seeds for the next planting season.”
By The Numbers: Egerton University's Climate-Smart Seed Impact
| Statistic | Data |
|---|---|
|
New pigeon pea varieties developed |
4
|
|
New cassava varieties developed |
29 |
|
Farmers adopting new pigeon pea varieties in Makueni |
Over 2,000 |
|
Farmer groups trained in bean production |
107 |
|
Target cassava yield increase for subsistence farmers |
From 2.5 to 7 metric tonnes per acre |
|
Target cassava yield increase for pre-commercial farmers |
From 5 to 10 metric tonnes per acre |
As climate change continues to pose significant challenges to agriculture in Africa, initiatives like Egerton University’s climate-smart seed development offer a beacon of hope. By combining scientific innovation with community engagement and industry collaboration, this project is not just developing seeds – it’s cultivating a more resilient and prosperous future for African agriculture.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Climate-smart seeds are crop varieties developed to thrive in challenging environmental conditions, such as drought or high temperatures, while maintaining high yields.
These varieties can increase crop yields and resistance to pests and diseases, potentially leading to higher incomes and improved food security for farmers.
While developed for Kenyan conditions, many of these varieties could potentially be adapted for use in other African countries with similar climatic challenges.
In this system, farmers are trained to produce, store, and distribute seeds within their communities, ensuring local access to high-quality, climate-adapted seeds.
Universities like Egerton are crucial in developing new agricultural technologies, training farmers, and collaborating with industry to bring innovations to market.
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