Journal Article

Induced plant mutagenesis is a powerful technique to create genetic variation for agronomic traits and drought tolerance selection programs. The objective of this study was to determine the response of elite sorghum (Sor- ghum bicolor [L.] Moench) lines developed via gamma-radiation for grain yield, component traits, and drought tolerance to select best performing lines for cultivation in water-stressed environments. Ten newly developed mutant lines and four check varieties were evaluated in two growing seasons under drought-stressed (DS) and non-stressed (NS) conditions in Namibia. Mutant lines were evaluated using a factorial experiment laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in custom-made rainout-shelter facility. Data on grain yield and yield-related traits were collected and drought tolerance selection indices were computed using mean genotype yield under non-stressed condition and drought-stressed condition. Data were subjected to standard analysis of variance, correlation and principal component analyses. The interaction effect of genotype × drought stress × season was non-significant for most assessed traits suggesting the relatively stable performance of the test lines for selection. Grain yield response of test genotypes varied from 0.55 to 2.27 t/ha under DS and 1.84 to 4.05 t/ha in NS conditions. Grain yield positively and significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with harvest index (r = 0.79), panicle weight (r = 0.75) and panicle length (r = 0.37), and negatively correlated with days to flowering (r = − 0.35) under DS condition. Principal component (PC) analysis identified two PCs accounting for 96.35 % of total genotypic variation based on drought tolerance selection indices. Biplot analysis using a combination assessed traits allowed selection of drought tolerant mutant lines designated as ML4, ML10, ML6, and ML5 with mean grain yield of 2.27, 2.05, 1.89 and 1.67 t/ha under DS conditions, in that order. The selected lines are recommended for further multi-environment evaluations for release and large-scale production in Namibia or other related agro-ecologies.

This article focuses on the results from trials developed to monitor the short-term effects of conventionally tilled systems versus CA on soil quality and crop productivity under conditions of the major cropping systems in central, north-central and north-eastern regions of Namibia. Conventional tillage (CT), Minimum tillage (MT), Minimum tillage, mulch (MT-M), Minimum tillage, rotation (MT-R) and Minimum tillage, mulch and rotation (MT-MR) were the primary treatments tested. Significant differences (p≤0.000) among the treatments were observed in the 0-60 cm soil profiles where MT-M plots had the highest soil moisture content (39.8 mm, Standard Error of Mean 0.2815) over the study period. A significant difference (p=0.0206) in grain yield was observed in the second season with CT plots yielding the highest grain yield (3852.3 kg ha-1, standard error of mean 240.35). Results suggest that CA has the potential to increase water conservation and contribute to reduction of the risk of crop failure. Climate change driven degradation under conventional tillage necessitate alternative sustainable tillage methods. Conservation tillage methods and conservation agricultural practices that minimize soil disturbance while maintaining soil cover need to be adopted more locally as viable alternatives to conventional tillage.

Bemisia tabaci is an important vector of cassava brown streak viruses and cassava mosaic begomoviruses, the causal agents of cassava brown streak disease and cassava mosaic disease (CMD), respectively. A study was carried out to determine the genetic variability of B. tabaci associated with cassava and the occurrence of CMD in Zambia in 2013 and 2015. Phylogenetic analysis showed the presence of only the sub-Saharan Africa 1 (SSA1) genetic group in Zambia. The SSA1 population had three population subgroups (SGs): SSA1-SG1, SSA1-SG2 and SSA1-SG3. All three SSA1 population subgroups occurred in Western Province. However, only SSA1-SG3 occurred in Eastern Province, while only SSA1-SG1 occurred in North Western and Luapula Provinces. Adult B. tabaci were most abundant in Western Province in 2013 (11.1/plant) and 2015 (10.8/plant), and least abundant (0.2/plant) in Northern Province in both 2013 and 2015. CMD was prevalent in all seven provinces surveyed, with the highest incidence recorded in Lusaka Province in both 2013 (78%) and 2015 (83.6%), and the lowest in Northern Province in both 2013 (26.6%) and 2015 (29.3%). Although SSA1-SG1 occurred at greater abundances than the other subgroups, there was no direct association demonstrated between whitefly subgroup and incidence of CMD. Establishing which B. tabaci genetic groups and populations are associated with CMD and their distribution in the country is a key factor in guiding the development of CMD control strategies for cassava-dependent households.

This article is about the team building exercise that the Managment of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition undertook to "self introspect". The reasoning behind this training was the lack of coorination between the Ministry's Departments and its Donor Funded Projects which has led to the Minstry's clients suffering due to limitted and sometimes poorly provided services. The engaged consultant was able to creat awareness to the Managers on the dangers of the "silo mentality" and encouraged them to work together for the benefit of Basotho farmers. The participation of the Minister, PS and DPS gave participants moral and encouragement that the decisions and plans made during this traning will be implemented with full supoort from these three offices. 

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is an important food crop across subSaharan Africa, where production is severely inhibited by two viral diseases, cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), both propagated by a whitefly vector and via human-mediated movement of infected cassava stems. There is limited information on growers’ behavior related to movement of planting material, as well as growers’ perception and awareness of cassava diseases, despite the importance of these factors for disease control. This study surveyed a total of 96 cassava subsistence growers and their fields across five provinces in Zambia between 2015 and 2017 to address these knowledge gaps. CMD symptoms were observed in 81.6% of the fields, with an average incidence of 52% across the infected fields. No CBSD symptoms were observed. Most growers used planting materials from their own (94%) or nearby (<10 km) fields of family and friends, although several large transactions. over longer distances (10 to 350 km) occurred with friends (15 transactions), markets (1), middlemen (5), and nongovernmental organizations (6). Information related to cassava diseases and certified clean (diseasefree) seed reached only 48% of growers. The most frequent sources of information related to cassava diseases included nearby friends, family, and neighbors, while extension workers were the most highly preferred source of information. These data provide a benchmark on which to plan management approaches to controlling CMD and CBSD, which should include clean propagation material, increasing growers’ awareness of the diseases, and increasing information provided to farmers (specifically disease symptom recognition and disease management options).

Africa produces over half of global cassava; however, the continent’s average yield is below the potential yields achieved under experimental conditions. Many factors contributing to low yield  include lack of quality varieties, poor soils, limited access to capital, competition for labour, as well  as pests and diseases. Plant diseases are the major biotic constraints to cassava production and have  caused considerable food insecurity in Africa. Although there has been some level of disease  management which has contributed to the increase in cassava production, the two viral diseases:  cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) still claim between 30- 16 40% and upto 70%, respectively of Africa’s cassava harvest. Given the importance of the two  diseases in Africa, we review the expansion of CBSD and CMD; impacts of the two diseases on food  security and how they can be managed. We provide insights in the spread of the two diseases,  management efforts, and future directions

Maize and groundnut are important crops for both commercial and smallholder farming in Zambia, whose production is being threatened by their susceptibility to aflatoxin contamination. Despite this threat, there is limited knowledge of household growers’ behaviour and applications related to suitable agricultural management practices, as well as growers’ perception and knowledge of aflatoxins and their effects. This limited knowledge has major implications for acute human health effects such as liver cirrhosis and death, cancer, stunting in children, immune system suppression, impaired food conversion, and reduced livestock productivity and/or increased livestock mortality. This cross-sectional survey of smallholder household growers in Zambia was conducted to identify the gaps in the knowledge and application of aflatoxin-associated agricultural management practices. A sample of 3865 maize- and groundnut-producing smallholder farm households were selected in 27 priority districts implementing the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN)/First 1000 Most Critical Days Programme (MCDP) Phase II. Among the five pre-harvest management practices for maize and groundnuts – namely, controlling weeds, timely planting, controlling pests, and applying basal and top-dressing fertilisers – few households (8%) reported practising all of them. Among the recommended techniques for harvesting and handling maize and groundnuts, the most common harvest-management practices under maize production were drying (95.2% of households) and sorting at harvest (72%). In contrast, very few households (2%) practised at least three of four maize harvest management practices. Similarly, very few households (10%) practised at least 4 of the 6 groundnut harvest-management measures. Comparatively, post-harvest and storage management practices were more commonly practised, although most households did not practise all six post-harvest and storage management measures. Overall, very few households (1% for maize and 4% for groundnuts) were observed to be practising at least 12 of the 14 recommended management practices, implying that there are considerable gaps in the implementation of aflatoxin-related management practices along all stages of maize and groundnut production, consequently posing a significant threat to health and contributing to malnutrition levels in Zambia. As such, there is a need to develop tailored interventions and trainings for farming households, extension officers, and frontline health workers to prevent and manage aflatoxin contamination at different stages of crop production. Furthermore, the elimination of policy constraints, practical barriers of affordability and consumer awareness, and the value attached to the commercial product of Aflasafe, noted to reduce aflatoxin contamination by 80–100%, are of utmost urgency.

The deep knowledge of genetic diversity in access, in the breeding program, and the contribution of genetic factors as well as the phenotypic expression is of extreme importance for the development of new cultivars and maintenance of the program. This research aimed to study the genetic diversity and selection of the best common bean genotypes with high agronomic performance in the Agrarian Station of Sussundenga-Mozambique. Twenty-two common bean genotypes were evaluated in a randomized block design with three repetitions in the 2021/2022 agricultural season. The agronomic characteristics evaluated were: the number of days to flowering, plant height, plant architecture, number of pods per plant, the weight of 100 seeds, and grain yield. The data obtained were submitted to individual variance analysis, followed by the Scott-Knott grouping test. For the effect of genetic divergence between the genotypes, multivariate analysis was used based on the generalized Mahalanobis distance and Tocher optimization method, UPGMA, and canonical variables for the projection of distance in the 2D plane. It was also verified by the Cophenetic Correlation Coefficient. The Singh criterion (1981) was used, indicating the characteristics Number of pods per plant (42.81%), the weight of 100 seeds (19.59%), and Plant height (16.08%) as the most important for the genetic divergence of bean genotypes.

To strengthen the institutional and enabling environment for technology adoption through upgrading and development of research infrastructure, APPSA engaged a design and supervision firm to undertake civil engineering designs for the proposed construction of infrastructure planned to enable enhancement of RCOL in Horticulture. This was followed by engagement of contractors who are to construct and build the infrastructure.

Five officials comprising of three (3) Information technology Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Nutrition (MAFSN); One Information technology Officer from DAR as well as the ITKM Specialist from APPSA Project Implementation Unit (PIU) attended the website training in Maseru, Lesotho from the 10^th – 11^th May, 2023. The training was designed to improve the skills on the customization and administration of the DAR website to respond to growing demands from external and internal stakeholders. Five officials comprising of three (3) Information technology Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Nutrition (MAFSN); One Information technology Officer from DAR as well as the ITKM Specialist from APPSA Project Implementation Unit (PIU) attended the website training in Maseru, Lesotho from the 10^th – 11^th May, 2023. The training was designed to improve the skills on the customization and administration of the DAR website to respond to growing demands from external and internal stakeholders.