Articles

The PBR is to acknowledges the achievement of breeders of new plant varieties by making available to them an exclusive property right over a period not exceeding 25 years, based on a set of uniform and clearly defined principles. A variety to be protected should be distinct, uniform and stable. An example of a distinctiveness trait is shown in maize silks below.

Crop Registration and Inspection

All crop varieties for seed production must be registered with Seed Services. The authority carries out field inspections at vegetative, flowering and pre-harvest stages of the seed crop.

Certification Process…….

Sampling, Sealing and Seed Testing

Sampling and seed testing for purity and germination is conducted for the issuance of local and Orange International Certificates (OICs) to facilitate trade in quality seed.

Seed Licensing

Local certificates are issued for domestic seed trade while OICs are issued for international seed trade. All seed lots traded internationally are sampled and sealed by the Certifying Authority.

The seed certifying authority issues different types of licences to seed traders and carry out regular spot checks to manage compliance to seed quality standards. Licences issued include:

  • “A” (Laboratories) – for entities in seed production and marketing
  • “B” (Wholesalers) – may re-pack seed into different size packages
  • “C” (Retailers) – these must sell seed in original bags/ packages

“Certifying Agencies” –for companies involved in seed production

Post Control Evaluations

The objective of post control is to check the effectiveness of the Seed Certification Scheme in producing high quality and true-to-type seed.

The field evaluation is a monitoring tool to check the efficiency of the seed production process and in maintenance of variety purity from individual seed lots.

Imported sorghum variety Macia

Seed Technology Research

Research is done to support regulatory functions. Research projects are mainly in the following areas:

  • Seed policy, e.g. in relation to regional seed policy harmonization
  • Compliance to quality standards
  • Variety identification and differentiation
  • Seed testing method validation

  

Conduct research on the biology, ecology and management of plant pests (insects, diseases and nematodes) of crops of economic importance

to Zimbabwe`s agriculture industry with the exception of tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea and coffee.

Department of Research and Specialist Services (DR&SS)

Robert Mugabe Award for outstanding Research to a team or individual

  • The Research Council of Zimbabwe awarded the National Maize Breeding Team in Crop Breeding Institute the “Robert Gabriel Mugabe Award for Outstanding Research” at the 10th Zimbabwe International Research Symposium, held from the 12th to the 13th of February 2015 in Harare. The Award was in recognition of the team’s efforts in improving maize production in Zimbabwe through availing high yielding drought tolerant varieties.
  • Some of the team’s outstanding achievements cited for the decade 2005-2015 included seven white, early to medium maturity maize hybrids, which combine tolerance to drought and low soil nitrogen. The hybrid ZS261 (released in 2006) is a quality protein maize (QPM) variety, bio-fortified with high lysine and tryptophan and was contracted for production to one seed company. Hybrids ZS263 and ZS265 (both released in 2011), are drought tolerant. ZS263 was commercialized by one seed company and the current market mover, ZS265 from the breeding programme was commercialized by two seed companies contracted by Government. Hybrids ZS269, ZS271, ZS273 and ZS275 were released in April 2014 and are still at the Breeder’s and Foundation seed bulking stages.
  • The national maize breeding team partnered with CIMMYT-Kenya to use conventional breeding methods to develop insect (stem borer) resistant varieties for the country and already two commercial insect resistant varieties have been identified for release consideration by the end of 2015 or early 2016.
  • The maize breeding team is currently cooperating with another CG centre - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) located in Nigeria and HarvestPlus in Mexico – to develop Provitamin A (ProA) maize aimed at addressing nutrition security in the country.
  • In recognition of the team’s sterling effort in using plant breeding to address low maize productivity on smallholder farms, the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) Project spearheaded by CIMMYT, bestowed the “Best Maize Breeding Team in Southern Africa” Award to the team, a record five times in the period 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2013/14 and in 2012/13, the team was second runner up.

Scientific papers presented by DR&SS staff at the Zimbabwe International Research Symposium

The Department presented 12 scientific papers at the 10th Zimbabwe International Research Symposium on Science and Technology. These included:

  1. Poultry litter as nitrogen supplement to hay fed to indigenous Sabi sheep by T. S. Senda, J. L. N. Sikosana, G. Sisito and M. Musasira.
  1. The role and adoption of forage legumes in small scale crop-livestock enterprises in the Wedza District by C. S. Kapembeza, C. P. Mudzengi, S. Mushapaidze, L. Taderera, A. Tigere, G. Mufugami and I. Makani.
  1. Assessing environmental suitability for Livingstone potato (Plectranthus esculentus) and Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) production in Zimbabwe by D. Kutywayo, D. Hikwa and A. Chemura.
  1. Evaluation of benefits of maize/bean intercrops in Zimbabwe by J. Hodzi and B. Mutari.
  3. Timing of spray application for the management of cotton bollworms in Zimbabwe by R. Mapuranga, F. Jimu and W. Mubvekeri.
  1. The effect of different bending intensities on growth characteristics, yield and quality of roses (Rosa hybrida l.) by F. S. Chihobvu, T. O. Nyarumbu, V. Chingwara, C. Mahoya and D. Kutywayo.
  1. Efficacy of new conventional insecticide, Cartap Hydrochloride 50 SP, on the control of cotton red bollworm (Diparopsis castanea) in Zimbabwe by F. Jimu, R. Mapuranga and W. Mubvekeri.
  1. Effect of different nitrogen levels on protein content of upland rice and influence of grain moisture content on milling recovery under Lowveld conditions of Zimbabwe by G. Mtetwa, Z. Muchingami and N. Chirinze.
  1. Evaluation of advanced common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes under rain-fed multi-environment conditions in Zimbabwe by B. Mutari and J. Hodzi.
  3. Efficacy of Carica papaya leaf extracts on growth of Fusarium lateritium In vitro by P. Chidoko, N. Mwatsiya, A. Chemura and D. Kutywayo.
  1. Agronomic and economic performance of coffee-banana intercropping systems in smallholder coffee sector of Zimbabwe by D. Kutywayo, C. Mahoya and A. Chemura.
  1. Characterisation and biodiversity conservation of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea): Experiences from Mutoko District of Zimbabwe by D. Mwenye, O. Chipfunde and R. Musango.

Strengthening controls of food safety threats, plant and animal pests and diseases for agricultural

productivity and trade in Southern Africa (SFS-ASTF) Project Inception Workshop

  • The inception workshop for this project was held at the Holiday Inn, Harare on 12-13 February 2015. A plan of action was agreed upon and will be implemented from March 2015.

Current and Planned Research Programs

Livestock Research projects

Project # 1

Project Title:Effect of diets based on velvet bean hay on length and shape of the lactation curve of Jersey cows.

Funding:Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)

Duration:2010-2014

Objective: To establish the length and shape of lactation curve of Jersey cows eating diets based on velvet beanhay based diet over a period of 305 days under minimum requirements for commercial dairy production.

Expected Output:diets based on velvet bean developed for dairy production.

Project # 2

Project Title:Least cost maintenance and production feeding packages for ruminant livestock based on crop residues, Industrial by-products, agro forestry, and home grown and non-conventional resources.

Funding:Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)

Duration:2010-2015

Objective: To developleast cost maintenance and production feeding packages for ruminant livestock based on crop residues, Industrial by-products, agro forestry, home grown and non-conventional resources.

Expected Output: Least costdiets developed for livestock production.

Project # 3

Project Title:Utilization of fungal treated or mushroom spent wheat straw, corncobs and veld hay in diets of sheep.

Funding:Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)

Duration:2010-2013

Objective: Investigate the nutritive value of fungal treated or mushroom spent wheat straw, corncobs and veld hay in diets of sheep.

Expected output: information on potential use of mushroom spent in ruminant diets.

Project # 4

Project Title:Evaluation of antihelminthic properties of neorautanenia brachypas (Zhombwe).

Funding:Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)

Duration:On Going

Objective: To investigate the antihelminthic properties of neorautanenia brachypas (Zhombwe).

Expected output: Information on potential use of Zhombwe as an antihelminthic.

Project # 5

Project Title:Evaluation of cassva leaf silage as a protein supplement for dairy cows, it utilization and milk quality.

Funding:Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)

Duration:2010-2016

Objective: To developa cassava based protein supplement for smallholder farmers.

Expected Output: Least costdiets developed for smallholder livestock production.

Project # 6

Project Title:Evaluation of Richardia Scabra as feed for sheep.

Funding:Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)

Duration:2011-2014

Objective: To developa cassava based protein supplement for smallholder farmers.

Expected Output: Least costdiets developed for small ruminant livestock production.

Pasture Research projects

Project # 1

Project Title:Screening and evaluation of Lucerne (Medicago sativa) varieties grown under irrigation and dryland conditions at high-altitude sandveld site in Zimbabwe.

Funding:Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)

Duration:2008-2011

Objective:To identify most suitable Lucerne (Medicago sativa) varieties for dairy fodder production under irrigation and dry-land conditions at a high-altitude sandveld site in Zimbabwe.

Expected Output: Identification of Lucerne varieties suitable for dairy fodder production under irrigation and dryland conditions at a high-altitude sandveld site in Zimbabwe.

Project # 2

Project Title:    Dry-land Grass-legume pastures for sheep

Project Officers:          X. Poshiwa , R. Muza and M. Zimondi

Funding:                     Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)

Duration:                     2008 to 2012

Objective:                   To determine weight gains of sheep on dry-land grass-legume pastures

Project # 3

Project Title:        A preliminary evaluation of five tropical forage grasses for foggage grazing in the high veld of Zimbabwe.

Duration:                     2005 to 2011

Funding:                     Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)

Objective:                    To evaluate and screen five tropical grasses for growth, herbage yield and nutritive value.

Expected output:Identification of tropical grass species that are suitable as foggage in the high veld of Zimbabwe.

Project # 4

Project Title: Determining optimum harvesting time ofChloris gayanaseed in the high veld of Zimbabwe.

Duration:2008-2011

Funding:Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)

Objectives:To determine the optimum time of seed harvesting for aChloris gayanaseed crop seed.

Expected output:Identify the optimum time of seed harvesting for aChloris gayanaseed crop in order to avoid early or late harvesting of seed and optimize financial returns from seed sales.

Project # 5

Project Title: Effect of staking height on seed yield and quality characteristics of Macroptilium atropurpureum cv Siratro in the high veld of Zimbabwe.

Duration: 2008-2011

Funding:Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)

Objectives:To determine the effect of induction of erectophilic support to a planophilic species on yield and quality characteristics of the seed.

Expected outputs:The trial is expected to generate information that will encourage local production of pasture seed to boost up domestic seed supply and subsequently

the livestock industry in the country.

Project # 6

Project Title:Introduction Nursery

Duration:Recurrent

Funding:Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)

Objective:To characterize recently bred or selected germplasm.

Expected output:Elite species will be selected for secondary evaluation and seed multiplication.

The

The Head

Makoholi Research Institute

Private bag 9182

Masvingo, Zimbabwe

PHONE: +263 39 263 255

Mobile: +263 773 897 853

Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. orThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More Articles...

  1. Contactme
  2. Agricultural Revolving Fund
  3. Advisory Services And Outreach Programs

Subcategories

Popular Articles