Universities/Colleges

This report presents the proceedings of the Climate Proofing and CSA Training in Cape Town in October 2016.

AquaCrop is a crop model that simulates yield response to water developed by FAO and is appropriate to consider effects where water is the limiting factor for crop production. AquaCrop was calibrated for amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus L. ex Arusha), a leafy vegetable, and taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott.), a wetland perennial, with an edible starchy corm as a tuber crop. The weather datasets were obtained from the climate database at Agricultural Research Council-Institute of Soil, Climate and Water in Pretoria for specific sites and years of the trials. The first step in the model is to select the correct type of crop, create a new crop and name it. Observed soil parameters from the experimental sites were used to create soil files in AquaCrop; the model is sensitive to amount of water available in the soil between field capacity and permanent wilting point. The crop parameters under optimal water availability were adjusted according to observations from field trials conducted for each crop. The first parameter checked was canopy cover, representing the expansion of the leaf canopy under non-limiting conditions, where the maximum value, CCx, (90% for amaranthus and 78% for taro) and the time take to reach CCx were needed. The total length of the cropping season should be checked and also time to the start of senescence. However, for the leafy vegetable this was not necessary as the crop was harvested while the leaves were green. The effect of water stress must be included via the Ks factor for water stress according to stomatal closure at a specific soil water availability, as measured in the field trials. The water productivity normalised for ETo and CO2 concentration (32 g m-2 for amaranthus and 15 g m-2 for taro) was calculated from field data of biomass accumulation and transpiration standardised for ETo. The reference harvest index (HIo) was 85% for amaranthus and 83% taro, respectively. Once the model is calibrated with data from single sites, it must be verified with independent data from different sites and/or series of experiments. The calibrated AquaCrop model will be used to promote the introduction of these underutilised vegetables on irrigation schemes since optimal irrigation strategies can be developed. Best management practices, soil types, sowing dates and locations can be selected from model runs at a range of sites.

A review of pesticide regulations and a summary of registered pesticides. Key findings:

• There are 158 registered active ingredients, incl. 49 HHP
• In the groundnut and soybean value chain best practice approaches to pest managements are already being practiced
• Increased pest monitoring, biopesiticides, improved and resistant varieties can support more effective pest management
• Need for awareness-raising among farmers and advisers on pest identification
• Policy-level support to incentivise the use of less toxic pesticides and increase availability and use of safer alternatives

Este é o 2o volume de uma coleção de histórias do Secretariado da SADC informando os cidadãos da SADC e criando consciência sobre impactos positivos dos protocolos, acordos, políticas e estrategias. A ambição é de ilustrar precisamente como os programmas de integração regional da SADC mudam as vidas dos cidadãos da SADC para o melhor. Para destacar alguns, no rio Zambezi, está em construção a Ponte Kazungula que vai em breve formar uma maior ligação no coração da região SADC. Em Malawi tem o tomate Bvumbwe, evoluído para responder às condições específicas da região e às demandas da população da SADC. Em Walvis Bay, Namibia, e Nacala, Mozambique, existem dois pontos de entrada para a rede crescendo de corridores de desenvolvimento, justapostos, qual a região SADC quer desenvolver na próximas decadas. 

Il s'agit du deuxième volume d'un recueil d'histoires du Secrétariat de la SADC visant à informer les citoyens de la SADC et à les sensibiliser davantage aux impacts positifs des protocoles, accords, politiques et stratégies de la SADC.  Il cherche à brosser un tableau précis de la manière dont les programmes d'intégration régionale de la SADC changent pour le mieux la vie des citoyens de la SADC. Pour n'en citer que quelques-uns, au Zambèze, il y a la construction du pont de Kazungula, qui constituera bientôt une importante liaison de transport au cœur de la région de la SADC. Au Malawi, il y a la tomate de Bvumbwe, qui a été développée pour répondre aux conditions spécifiques de cette région et aux besoins de la population de la SADC.  Et dans la baie de Walvis en Namibie et à Nacala au Mozambique, il y a deux points d'entrée au réseau croissant de corridors de développement le long desquels la région SADC se développera dans les décennies à venir.

This is the 2nd volume of a collection of stories by SADC Secretariat to inform SADC citizens and enhance awareness about the positive impacts of SADC  protocols, agreements, policies and strategies.  It seeks to paint an accurate picture of how SADC regional integration programmes are changing the lives of SADC citizens for the better. Just to highlight a few, at the Zambezi River, there is the construction of the Kazungula Bridge that will soon form a major transport link in the heart of the SADC region. In Malawi, there is the Bvumbwe tomato, which was developed to address the specific conditions of this region and the needs of the SADC population.  And in Namibia’s Walvis Bay and Mozambique’s Nacala, there are two entry points to the growing network of development corridors alongside which the SADC region will develop in the coming decades.

This folder explores the issue of food loss in more detail and presents current experiences, challenges and areas of action.

Pour accompagner le développement actuel de la culture des ignames à Madagascar, l’estimation de la prévalence et la caractérisation partielle des viroses présentes sur les ignames cultivées de parcelles paysannes de certaines régions productrices du pays ont été réalisées. Des tests PCR ont permis de détecter le Dioscorea bacilliform virus (badnavirus) sur les trois espèces d’ignames les plus fréquemment rencontrées, Dioscorea alata, D. bulbifera et D. esculenta. Le séquençage partiel de ces virus a permis de révéler la présence d’au moins dix souches distinctes réparties dans six des treize groupes génétiques de DBV. Plus problématique pour ses effets sur le rendement, une souche originale de Yam mild mosaic virus (potyvirus) a également été mise en évidence par RT-PCR sur une plante D. alata. Compte tenu de la présence constatée de virus, des mesures de sélection sanitaire, incluant destruction des plants infectés, sélection et indexation des plants-mères, mise en place de pépinières de multiplication sécurisées et schéma de quarantaine, sont proposées avant toute diffusion de maté

This report analyses the status of incorporation of climate change adaptation and climate-smart agriculture (CSA) measures in the SADC Member States’ agriculture and food security frameworks and policies. It details the current situation in the SADC member states with respect to the existence of policies, strategies and programmes that were primarily designed to build resilience to climate change among famers.

An advert to engage a wheat consultant in southern Africa