Integrating legumes into Maize Systems………

By George Achia, Staff Science Writer

Agricultural researchers
from five African countries and Australia
recently gathered in Nairobi to review the
progress of Australian Government initiative
to improve food security in eastern and southern
Africa.
The institutions involved in
the programme are the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT),
the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA),
the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Australian Centre for
Agricultural Research (ACIAR), and the national agricultural research
systems of the five target countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and
Tanzania. The four-year Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume
cropping systems for food security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA)’ began in March
2010 and is expected to reach at least 100,000 farm families per country.
“This project is intended to contribute to increased food security by introducing improved technologies
for sustainable growth in productivity of maize-legume
based farming systems,” said Dr. Mulugetta Mekuria, SIMLESA
program coordinator. He explained that the 3I Approach-
which stands for Integration of technologies; Innovation
platforms and Impact orientationis being used in implementing the
program. Dr. Mekuria emphasized the
need for concerted efforts of partners for SIMLESA to generate
and deliver integrated production technologies for the maize-legume based farming systems of eastern
and southern Africa. The SIMLESA initiative is being implemented through national
partnerships led by the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research
(EIAR), the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), the
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Department of Agricultural
Research Services (DARS) in Malawi, the Mozambique National
Institute of Agronomic Research (IIAM), and the Ministry
of Agriculture and Food Security, Department of Research and Development
(DRD) in Tanzania. KARI Director Dr. Ephraim
Mukisira applauded the initiative as one which responds to farmers’
needs and partnership is the only way to help solve one of the greatest
challenges for the developing countries – eliminating hunger
and poverty in the region. “As a programme focusing on
maize-legume intensification, this will contribute to economic development
in the region from more resilient and sustainable maize
based systems,” said Dr. Mukisira in his official opening address.
He said that KARI scientists will be working to improve the
resilience and profitability of African farms, provide access to
better seeds and fertilizers to raise productivity of local maize-legume
farming systems. Dr. Said Silim the director of
ICRISAT Eastern and Southern Africa noted that ICRISAT as a
partner in the project brings in legume component which provides
protein besides improving soil fertility by fixing atmospheric
nitrogen into the soil. Australian high commissioner
Mr. Geoff Tooth reiterated the Australian government commitments
in contributing to international efforts to tackle the global food
crisis. He says his government has developed a comprehensive approach
including emergency food assistance, increased funding for
rural development and investment in climate change adaptation and
mitigation efforts. “The Australian government
is particularly concerned about
the impact that ongoing food insecurity and price volatility is having on the poor in developing
countries,” he said. About 150 agricultural graduates
and technicians have already been trained and field trials established
in eleven maize-legume farming systems in the five countries