Multiplication and distribution of new improved varieties

All member countries are implementing multiplication and distribution of improved planting material to accelerate impact at farm levels. In Madagascar three selected clones H63, H43 and H59 are being multiplied in collaboration with CARE International.
A total of 200 persons have been trained in rapid multiplication techniques and over 41 multiplication plots have been established at different sites. In Rwanda, five secondary sites have been planted to two varieties, Creolina and Gakiza, in collaboration with World Vision.
An effective multiplication and distribution network system has been developed in Uganda. Farmer sensitization campaigns and training of extension agents were conducted. About 80,000 hectares are planted to at least four improved cassava varieties throughout the country. In Kenya the African Medical Research and Environmental Foundation (AMREF) collaborates with the national cassava program in training, multiplication and distribution.
In western Kenya, varieties SS4 and Migyeera officially released from Uganda are being multiplied at three primary sites in collaboration with OFPEP for feeding into secondary sites. In Burundi a total of 12 ha were planted and distribution is ongoing.

Rapid multiplication and distribution of improved planting material

Objectives
· Establish and improve cassava multiplication systems
· Develop effective and sustainable systems of delivery of improved varieties to farmers

Background information and methodology
Many national programs have identified improved cassava lines over the last 5 years. However, the system of multiplication and distribution of planting material is often inefficient either due to non-existence of national seed production schemes or the low priority on cassava. Certified or high quality seed supply is an important factor for achieving high grain crop yields. Vegetatively propagated crops need the same high quality planting material for the same reason and production of large amount of planting materials is required. The multiplication of cassava is a slow process. However, this can be improved using rapid techniques that farmers would not ordinarily practice. The growth cycle determines the number of crops that can be obtained in a year. Cassava stems under ambient conditions easily lose germination ability and vigor due to drying out. They are also more fragile and the nodes suffer mechanical damage during shoot pruning, carriage, packing, and transport. The volume of cassava stems makes the use of lorries obligatory for mass transportation of stems over long distances.

Production of planting materials is indispensable in the overall structure of research for conservation of variety purity and supply of planting materials of preferred high yielding cultivars to stem multipliers and producers. While the rapid multiplication of plantable stems of cassava does not strictly constitute a research activity per se, it is difficult to dissociate it from the expensive outlay of funds used in research and development of these superior and high yielding clones. The bulkiness, slow multiplication rate and perishability of planting materials and weak definition of multiplication responsibilities among national institutions that engage in the promotion of agricultural production greatly limit availability of cassava propagules. Routine multiplication and distribution of root crops is thus fundamental to the acceleration of impact at farm level. In the absence of a suitable system for doing this, very productive varieties remain largely at research stations.

Primary multiplication centers will be established at 3-4 sites in each member country. These sites will be located in cassava growing areas with enough resources to meet the needs for cost-effective rapid multiplication so as to provide stems to several secondary or satellite multiplication centers. Strong linkages will be made with various stakeholders for distribution and further establishment of tertiary or satellite multiplication centers. The transportation of cassava cuttings should preferably be 50-80 Km on earth roads from the source of stem cuttings to minimize node damage from desiccation or mechanical injury.

The multiplication and distribution of cassava planting material has often not been accorded the technicality it demands. Even with the use of local varieties, root yields have been tripled where healthy planting materials were selected, treated, and adequately planted at optimum density on well-prepared soil with good control of weeds. Consequently, good production of cassava begins with the adequate provision of stem cuttings that are healthy and 6-8 months old. It should be over 20 cm long; with over 5 nodes per cutting; of a diameter that is at least half the maximum thickness of the stem of the variety; undamaged during preparation, transit or planting and cut so that the surface is even and transverse. Plantable units are therefore assumed to possess an acceptable level of quality characteristics for each cassava variety such as health, weight, maturity (age), color, diameter, length, and number of nodes.

The importance of regular and prompt watering of cuttings in a rapid multiplication nursery requires provision of a stand-by irrigation system. This comprises a pump, pipes and sprinklers. The labor, cost and efficiency of manual watering are low for meeting the purposes of rapid multiplication. Rapid multiplication implies that plants must be growing continuously at approximately maximal rates. The success is measured as the number of plantable units produced per unit area per unit of time. Chemical treatment of cut stems will further enhance their protection against pests and diseases, reduce the effects of these microbes, and allow stem cuttings to perform close to their potential.

The use of various tissue culture methods for rapid multiplication of improved cassava clones is a good option because of their very high multiplication ratios. It is however often hampered by inadequate number of trained personnel and absence or inadequacy of a unit to immediately execute the multiplication. The method is quite expensive to establish and maintain in a short time, considering the current socio-economic status accorded root vis-a-vis grain crops. Plantlets arising from tissue culture multiplication will be more difficult to handle by most of the target collaborators and pilot farmers that will participate in the program of rapid multiplication. These would also require much more critical training.

The first two years are for a sequence of site multiplication from primary to secondary to tertiary sites. It is envisaged that farmers would begin to receive plantable stems only in the third year. The expected impact on farm output will be obtained after two to three full years of intensive delivery of stems directly from all multiplication sites to farmers. It is planned that in the fifth year, the national officers will continue with the program based on the use of revolving incomes from the sale of cassava stems.

The multiplication and distribution scheme is expected to attract the interest of several collaborators and partners. These could include government ministries, parastatals that are currently collaborating on cassava related activities with development oriented organizations, religious agencies, women groups, primary schools and farmers. Any interested body, person or group will be expected to participate in the project. An open, fair and effective placement of collaborators in the three-tiers will greatly influence the rate of increase with the expected time scheduled in the work plans.

Part of the stems produced from primary sites will be used to expand the are of most primary sites as well as plant the secondary sites. Similarly, stems from the secondary sites would be used to expand selected secondary sites. Portions of materials from tertiary sites will be used to maintain the area at such sites as well as provide stems for direct distribution to farmers. To sustain a high rate of multiplication in the shortest possible time, stems would not be distributed directly to farmers until after the first two years of the project. This is to enable the primary sites to produce enough stems to meet the needs of secondary and tertiary sites of multiplication. The essence of this restricted transfer is to enable the three-tier system to be well established before beginning to offer its services to farmers. Only in this way will a lasting system with a sufficiently robust structure remain to continue the multiplication and delivery of clean stems of cassava to growers, even after the life of the project.

Good, healthy stems of improved cassava varieties are known by many farmers to be a worthy investment. In some countries, sale of plantable stems of cassava is a normal practice. It is expected that the spread of high quality stems to cassava farmers will be sustained by minimum pricing policies. This will ensure that collected stems are well catered for and planted after purchase from the multiplication sites. The revenue from sale of stems will be used as a revolving fund to maintain the system of multiplication and distribution of clean stems of cassava. Exponential increases of stems will cause substantial and cumulative improvements in cassava's contribution of food and cash earnings in the short-term, but much more so in the long- term. Increased cassava output will spur new needs for processing to transform fresh roots into dry and other storable and more profitable products. An envisaged sequel to this is certain to be a huge demand for processing technologies. It is expected that gluts in output will result, but such excess output will then justify the establishment of secondary processing industries.

Sub-themes
¨ Development of capacity for rapid micropropagation of planting material
¨ Establishment of sustainable multiplication centers and distribution channels for accelerated delivery of improved varieties.

Expected output
¨ Functional micro-propagation laboratory facilities established/improved
¨ Low cost media for micro-propagation identified
¨ Improved skills in micro-propagation and post-flask management techniques
¨ Extension personnel and farmers conversant with and practicing rapid multiplication techniques
¨ Improved clones multiplied and distributed

Indicators for monitoring progress and impact
· At least 3 micro-propagation laboratories functioning in the region
· At least one low cost medium for micro-propagation identified
· At least 2 technicians per country trained on micro-propagation techniques
· At least 20 extension personnel and 100 farmers trained and practicing rapid multiplication
· A minimum of 5 primary, 20 secondary and 100 tertiary multiplication and distribution centers in member countries established and functioning
· Area under improved varieties increased 6-8 fold