CIMMYT and IITA training on management of seed production and maize field trials
During 27 August – 1 September 2012, the Drought Tolerant Maize in Africa (DTMA) project held a training course on management of field trials and nurseries and seed production of open pollinated and hybrid maize varieties. The course took place at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria, and was attended by 30 participants from Ghana and Nigeria, including CIMMYT scientists Peter Setimela and John MacRobert. The resource persons were drawn from Nigerian universities, the National Agriculture Research System, IITA, and CIMMYT.
The training session was opened by Nteranya Sanginga, IITA director general, who commended the collaboration between IITA and CIMMYT in implementing DTMA and working towards its vision of producing more than 70,000 tons of drought tolerant maize seed. Sanginga also spoke of the importance of training to empower maize technicians from the national maize programs and seed companies to manage field trials and produce quality seed needed by smallholder farmers in Ghana and Nigeria.
The training course emphasized the importance of good trial management, advanced experimental designs, management of maize nurseries and variety trials, and key aspects of seed production. Training included practical field sessions during which participants applied appropriate experimental designs for various fields and learnt how to lay out a field trial. They also tried various pollinating techniques used in maize breeding and variety maintenance.
Tags: DTMA, Ghana, IITA, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria
Trackback from your site.
Comments (6)
daniel otunge
| #
This was a timely training that would a long way in solving some of the challenges facing production of quality seeds in Nigeria and Ghana.
There is need for like-minded organizations to team out to promote adoption of improved seeds by farmers in these countries. Currently they stigmatize improved seeds referring to the as ‘Agric’ and they have no confidence in such seeds mainly due to lack mistrust of seed companies and lack of awareness on the benefits of improved seeds.
Who were the participants? Were they from seed companies, NGOs, farmer groups, NARIs etc. This is not clear from the story
Reply
Dr. Grégoire Bani
| #
This training is important for more countries included Congo. So, I’d like to congratulate anyone implicated to reach main objectives. Also, I’d like to know if this course is available online? If Yes please let me know the link.
Best regards
Reply
Barbora Nemcova
| #
Dear Dr. Bani, thank you very much for your message. Unfortunately, the training is currently not available online. If we have any online options, we will definitely share those here. Best regards.
Reply
Arega
| #
i am agriculture teacher in east Africa in dilla university.i need such training in agriculture specifically on maize because, maize is our major food which must be improved to meet the food requirement of my people and knowledge requirement of my mind and my student.
Reply
Barbora Nemcova
| #
Dear Daniel, thank you very much for your question. The participants were from research institutes, seed companies, universities, and government organizations. Best regards.
Reply
Barbora Nemcova
| #
Dear Arega, thank you for your interest. Please contact IITA about future training sessions in your area (http://www.iita.org/training). Best regards.
Reply