Rice Breeder Seed Production

START DATE: 2010                                    ESTIMATED DURATION: Three years

SPONSORS: Joint support by AFD & WB  (Under the Rice Sector Support Project (RSSP) and the West African seed Program)

LOCATION: Nyankpala

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Wilson Dogbe

PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS: Samuel Abebrese, Michael Mawunya, and Alhassan Danaa

COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS: GGLDB, GSID-MoFA, SEEDPAG NR, Seed Companies, ATTP.

OBJECTIVES: To produce at least 50kg breeder seed for each of the released varieties (CSIR-AGRA Rice, Gbewaa, Nabogo, Katanga, Degang, Tox 3107, and GR 18)

METHODOLOGY: Nucleus seed produced from single panicles was used to plant between 0.01 and 0.5 hectare each Breeder seed of the following varieties table 1.  The acreage planted was based on demand for that variety. Seed was dibbled at 25cm x 25cm row spacing at Nyankpala under rainfed condition and Golinga under irrigation. For easy monitoring and management, 50cm alley was left after every eight rows. Recommended weed, water and fertilizer management practices will be used. Panicles will be harvested, threshed and cleaned. Inspectors from the Ghana Seed Inspection unit of MoFa were invited two times to inspect the fields and after harvest they are to sample seeds for lab testing.

ACTIVITY/PROGRESS MADE SINCE PREVIOUS REPORT

All planned breeder seed fields were planted. Weed, irrigation and fertilizer management as well as regular rouging of off types are on going.  Preparations are being made for harvesting and storage. Inspected from the Ghana Seed Inspection unit (GSIU) of MoFA were invited to do inspection of the seed fields.

WAY FORWARD:

Final Field inspection by the GSIU will be done followed by harvesting, processing quality testing and storage.