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Participatory crop breeding reaps benefits for Eritrea

author(s) Grando, Stefania
from CGIAR - Research Programs and Platforms
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themes
regions
  • Eastern Africa
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Africa
  • World
  • Northern Africa
citation

Grando, S. 2009. Research Highlight. Challenge Program on Water and Food, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Participatory crop breeding reaps benefits for Eritrea

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Abstract

Few countries are in such acute need of agricultural
development as Eritrea,a nation plagued by recurring
drought.Its soils are largely parched and
unproductive,leading to chronic hunger and poverty for
many of its people.Increasing the water productivity of
the country ’s most widely grown crops is a priority for
government and national researchers.
A CPWF project is building on previous work in this
field to do just that.Its focus is the Setit-Tekeze River
Basin in the western corner of Eritrea.(This is also
called the Atbara Basin,Atbara being the name for the
Tekeze Riveras it winds through Sudan before joining
the Nile).
The project,“Improving water productivity of
cereals and food legumes in the Atbara River
Basin of Eritrea ”,aims to develop and disseminate
varieties of barley,wheat,chickpea,lentil,faba
bean, cowpea and grass pea that combine
drought tolerance with good nutritional characteristics
and resistance to diseases and pests.It is
also exploring optimum blends for mixed
cropping,a risk avoidance strategy that mitigates
against the worst effects of drought.

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