Egerton: Egerton University, with support from the United Nations, has launched new drought-resistant, fast-maturing, high-yield legume seed varieties and technologies aimed at tackling food insecurity in the region. The University’s Agro-Science Park Seeds Unit introduced these improved varieties, which include groundnuts, beans, pigeon peas, and chickpeas.
According to Kenya News Agency, Professor Paul Kimurto, Director of Agro-Science Park and part of GOK’s Vision 2030 Flagship Project, stated that these varieties were developed as part of a four-year Food Safety for Africa (FS4Africa) project. This initiative, supported by the European Union, aims to address food insecurity, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas.
Prof. Kimurto emphasized that due to the unpredictable realities of climate change, there is a pressing need for research that produces seed varieties adaptable to environmental challenges. He assured that Egerton University’s Agro-Science Park Seeds Unit remains committed to enhancing farming productivity, citing ongoing field trials in Baringo County to test new drought-tolerant seeds for local farmers.
The primary goal of this seed initiative is to reduce poverty in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) by increasing farmers’ income through the development and use of suitable agricultural technologies. The project includes a participatory evaluation and selection process led by Dr. Maurice Oyoo, a biotechnology specialist at Egerton University, ensuring farmers are actively involved in selecting the most suitable seed varieties.
Professor Kimurto highlighted that this participatory plant breeding approach empowers farmers, enabling them to choose high-yield, disease-resistant varieties suited to their local conditions, thus boosting crop productivity. He noted the introduction of the Ndovu groundnut variety, which is expected to double farmers’ yields and income due to its versatility in producing food, oils, biofuels, and animal feeds, maturing in just four to five months.
The Ndovu variety, developed by crossbreeding local groundnuts, offers a higher yield of 1.5 tonnes per acre compared to the average 800 kg per acre. Egerton University has contracted and trained groundnut farmers in Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Turkana counties on best practices to minimize aflatoxins, which are toxic compounds that contaminate crops and pose health risks.
The university’s program, according to Professor Kimurto, also offers high-yielding, drought-resistant pigeon pea and bean varieties like Egerton Mbaazi series and Tasha, Ciankui, and Chelalang beans, suitable for warm areas. These varieties, initially distributed to 100 farmers in Nyandarua, Uasin Gishu, and Nakuru counties, are a response to climate change.
Additionally, Egerton University’s just-concluded Cassava Value Chain Upgrading project incorporated 6,000 smallholder farmers in Nakuru County. Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Richard Mulwa reported the development of 29 cassava varieties, with seven maturing within six months, and highlighted progress against Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD).
In the fight against CBSD, the university has identified a Tanzanian cassava variety resistant to the disease and plans to transfer its resistance genes to local breeds. By partnering with organizations like ICRISAT, KEPHIS, and KALRO, among others, Egerton University is advancing its research and development of climate-smart seeds.