33 / 124
FOCUS
Seed
Special
Low-cost drought and low
nitrogen-
tolerant maize hybrids
for food security in South Africa
MARY JAMES,
ARC-Grain Crops Institute
S
outh Africa, in general, is not suitable for crop production
as only 13% of the country is arable due to low rainfall and
poor soils. Maize yields obtained by smallholder farmers are
very low because their crops are often subjected to mois-
ture stress and they use very little fertiliser due to lack of financial
resources.
Because of limited water resources, only an estimated 10% of the
maize crop is grown under irrigation (mostly by large-scale commer-
cial producers). Climate change is predicted to worsen the situation
with more variable rainfall and above-average temperatures. Identi-
fying ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change are fundamental
to realising food security and improved livelihoods in South Africa
and on the rest of the continent.
To address these challenges, the Agricultural Research Council
(ARC) is participating in two public-private partnerships namely the
Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project and the Improved
Maize for African Soils (IMAS) project. The WEMA project is aimed
at developing and deploying drought-tolerant maize hybrids roy-
alty-free to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The
WEMA project is co-ordinated by the African Agricultural Technol-
ogy Foundation (AATF) and involves national agricultural research
systems (NARS) in five countries (Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa,
Tanzania and Uganda).
The ARC in South Africa, the International Maize and Wheat Improve-
ment Centre (CIMMYT) and a private seed company, Monsanto, are
actively involved in this project which is funded by the Bill and Melin-
da Gates Foundation, the Howard G Buffett Foundation and USAID.
WEMA’s project is currently in Phase II (2013 to 2017). Two conven-
tional drought-tolerant maize hybrids with 20% to 30% higher yield
under moderate drought conditions. The low-cost hybrids will be
available under the trade name Drought TEGO
TM
, with TEGO being
the Latin word for shield.
In addition to conventional hybrids, more robust, high yielding GM
hybrids with drought tolerance and insect resistance transgenes are
expected to be released during 2017. Monsanto donated both the
drought tolerance (MON 87460) and insect resistance (MON 89034)
transgenes to the WEMA project in South Africa. MON 810 was do-
nated to the other four WEMA countries. There will be no technol-
ogy fee for these two traits for smallholder farmers and therefore the
seed price will be quite affordable.
The IMAS project is aimed at developing and deploying nitrogen-use
efficient (fertiliser-friendly) conventional and GM maize hybrids that
give at least 25% yield advantage with the same amount of fertiliser
application. The project partners are ARC, CIMMYT, DuPont Pioneer
and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and it is funded by
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and USAID. The pro-
ject is currently in its sixth year.
Significant progress has been made by the ARC and its partners in
the first years of the IMAS project. The IMAS project has the largest
nitrogen-stress testing network in the world with sites situated in,
among others, South Africa (Cedara, Potchefstroom and Taung),
Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Zambia.
The ARC plans to submit applications to DAFF for the registration
of three “fertiliser-friendly” (low nitrogen-tolerant), conventional
maize hybrids. Thereafter, an additional two to four new hybrids are
expected to be released and registered annually. Pioneer donated
transgenes for low nitrogen tolerance and the resultant GM hybrids
will be deployed royalty-free to smallholder farmers. Regulated GM
trials for low nitrogen tolerance are expected to begin in 2015/2016.
Seed of the drought and low nitrogen-tolerant maize
hybrids will be produced and marketed by local
seed companies. The ARC-GCI can be contacted for
more information on the abovementioned projects,
at 018 299 6100.
31