Hybrid Rice Development in Ghana

START DATE:  June, 2014  ESTIMATED DURATION:  December, 2016

SPONSORS: WACCI, WAAPP 2A     

LOCATION: Nyankpala

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:  Samuel Oppong Abebrese

PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS: Wilson Dogbe

COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS: WACCI, AfricaRice,

OBJECTIVES

·         Introduce high yielding hybrids for evaluation and release to farmers.

·         Identify maintainers and restorers from local germplasm that could be used for local hybrid development.

METHODOLOGY:

Evaluate introduced hybrids at multi-locations to identify hybrids with over 20% yield advantage over currently released inbreds. Screen local germplasm to identify potential restorers and maintainers. Carry out testcrosses to confirm maintainers and restorer for two introduced CMS lines.

ACTIVITY/PROGRESS MADE SINCE PREVIOUS REPORT:

 Seven (7) hybrids from private seed companies and 15 from AfricaRice are being evaluated at multi-locations (Nyankpala, Golinga and Navrongo). Data is being taken on yield, yield components and their reaction to local biotic stresses. One maintainer and 10 potential restorers were identified from  a testcross nursery comprising twenty-three (23) testcrosses carried out in 2014. The maintainer has been backrossed to its male parent to initiate its conversion into local CMS line. 

WAY FORWARD: Thirty testcrosses have been carried out in 2015. This will be evaluated in the dry season to identify more potential maintainers and restorers for local hybrid development.

Breeding For Drought Tolerant Rice in Northern Savanna Zones of Ghana

START DATE:  June, 2014.            ESTIMATED DURATION: 3 years

SPONSORS:  WAAPP   2A             

 

LOCATION: Nyankpala

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:  Mr. Samuel Oppong Abebrese

PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS: Dr. Wilson Dogbe

COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS:  IRRI, IER, Mali.

OBJECTIVES:

• Screen introduced drought tolerant lines to identify drought tolerant materials.
• Make crosses to improve the drought tolerance of 2 local farmer preferred varieties.

METHODOLOGY:

Screen introduced lines from IRRI and IER-Mali for drought tolerance in micro plots and also under field conditions. Cross-identified drought tolerant lines to two local farmer-preferred drought susceptible varieties to improve their drought tolerance.

ACTIVITY/PROGRESS MADE SINCE PREVIOUS REPORT:

Introduced drought tolerant lines are being evaluated in replicated yield trials under normal rainfall at Nyankpala to secure adequate seeds and also ascertain the potential yield of the materials in non drought years.

WAY FORWARD:

Drought tolerant lines will be screened under controlled drought in micro plots to identify suitable materials to be recommended for release directly or use as parents in our breeding program.

Africa Rice Breeders Task Force (ARBTF) Trial 2014

START DATE: June, 2013                           ESTIMATED DURATION: 3  years

SPONSORS: WAAPP                            

LOCATION:  Nyankpala, Libi and Manga

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:  Mr. Samuel Oppong Abrebrese

PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS: Dr Wilson Dogbe

 COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS:  Africa Rice Centre

OBJECTIVES: 

Evaluate Thirteen (13) genotypes selected from Africa Rice Breeding Taskforce in 2013 at the Northern Savanna agro-ecological zones of Ghana.

METHODOLOGY: 

RCBD Design with 4 replicates at Nyankpala, Libi and Manga. Data on yield, yield components and other important agronomic traits.

ACTIVITY/PROGRESS MADE SINCE PREVIOUS REPORT:

Trial has been harvested at Manga. Yet to be harvested at Nyankplala and Libi.

WAY FORWARD:  This is the third year of evaluations. Identify superior genotypes across locations, carry out milling and sensory evaluations on promising genotypes and advance to on-farm.

National Varietal Performance Trial (NVPT)

START DATE: April 2015                          ESTIMATED DURATION:  1 year

SPONSORS:    WAAPP 2A                                     

LOCATION:  CSIR-SARI, Nyankpala and Manga and Libi

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Mr. S. O. Abebrese

PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS:  Dr. Wilson Dogbe

COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS: AfricaRice, CSIR-CRI

OBJECTIVE:

Evaluate the performance of ten (10) promising genotypes against already released varieties (AGRA and Gbewaa).

METHODOLOGY:

The trials were laid out in a Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replicates at Nyankpala, Manga and Libi. Data were taken on yield, yield components and tolerance scores to local biotic stresses.

ACTIVITY/PROGRESS MADE SINCE PREVIOUS REPORT:

Trial has been harvested at Manga. Yet to be harvested at Nyankplala and Libi.

WAY FORWARD:

Analyze yield data across locations. This will inform  which of the promising genotypes to be proposed  for release.

Improvement and Scaling Up of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Ghana

START DATE: March 2015                                   ESTIMATED DURATION:  3 years

SPONSORS:  WAAP Ghana/CORAF                     

LOCATION:  Northern Region, Upper East Region, Ashanti Region, Volta Region, Greater Accra Region and Western Region

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Wilson Dogbe

PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS:  Inusah I.Y Baba,  George K Achampong, Edward Martey

Augustine Opong Danquah, Gina Odarteifio, Evans Sackey Teye, Richard Akoka, Abraham Menu Addae,

COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS: AfricaRice , CSIR-CRI, GRIB, AMSIG RESOURCES, ADVANCE, MoFA, Rice Innovation platforms, Rice Projects

OBJECTIVES:

The overall objective is to increase productivity and production rice of rice in Ghana. The specific objectives: is to scale up the adoption of System of Rice intensification in Ghana

METHODOLOGY:

·         Develop the human and institutional capacity for SRI trough training and exchange visits

·         Identification/development of appropriate practices and technologies for SRI

·         Development of knowledge products

·         Dissemination of Knowledge products and innovations

·         Creation of functional innovation platforms

Trainings and follow up support/assistance will focus on smallholder farmers producing under both rainfed and irrigated conditions to improve rice productivity and competitiveness. The actions will follow the general rainfed planting cycle, except in irrigation zones and will include classroom training, field demonstration, practical, field days and post training monitoring and to ensure adoption by trainees.

ACTIVITY/PROGRESS MADE SINCE PREVIOUS REPORT:

·          Facilitated the establishment of Champion/Implementing Partner SRI  demos in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions of Ghana

·         Second tranche of funding support together with rotary weeders delivered to all partners and champions.

·         Working  with partners: MoFA (UE/R and UW/R),  JICA, Amsig Resources, Quality Rice Development Project, DMC Project, Navrongo and Savelugu Rice Innovation Platforms (IPs),  to ensure that all demos are completed successfully.

·         Geo reference (GPS coordinates) of  all SRI  Demos sites completed

·         Trained and supported technical staff of partners, champions to use SRI guidelines in field data collection and sharing.

·         Networking with other SRI Projects/Implementors in the zone such as SNV in upscaling SRI (Training and Sharing of Data Collection Tools)

·         Identified, procured  and tested appropriate mechanization equipments for  SRI sites in Ghana (paddy or rotary weeders)

                                                    

WAY FORWARD:

Data collection for Demos is on going at all demo sites with the active back up of Project officers

Regional level Field Days planned for Wa and Golinga/Bontanga to educate and inform more stakeholders on SRI

The Communications team is compiling Project Success Stories while the M & E team is organising training sessions to strengthen the Navrongo and Savelugu Rice IPs