Drought resilient crops: unapt techno-mix or indeed key to drought resilience?
May 11, 2017 | 17:00 h - 19:00 h
As part of the lecture series (Ringveranstaltung) on „Drought resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa: Research meets Development”
ZEF cordially invites you to participate in a panel discussion on:
Drought resilient crops: unapt techno-mix or indeed key to drought resilience?
Date: Thursday, May 11, 2017, 5:00 PM
Venue: <link 2316>Center of Development Research</link> (ZEF), Walter Flex-Str. 3, 53113 Bonn, ZEF conference rooms, ground floor.
Panel members:
<link www.iita.org/iita-staff/abdoulaye-tahirou/>Tahirou Abdoulaye</link> (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (<link www.iita.org/>IITA</link>), Ibadan, Nigeria
David Millar (Vice-Chancellor/Rector of <link www.coursesghana.com/colleges/1831-millar-institute-for-transdisciplinary-and-development-studies.aspx>Millar Institute for Transdisciplinary and Development Studies</link> / Millar Open University, Bolgatanga, Ghana),
<link www.giz.de/de/weltweit/25765.html>Ernst Mill</link> (Deutsche Gesellschaft für international Zusammenarbeit, <link www.giz.de/de/html/index.html>GIZ</link>)
Moderator: Gerd Fleischer (GIZ)
The Panel discussion will be held in English.
Summary:
Predicted global warming for West Africa (plus 1.5 to 6.5° C) is likely to trigger shorter rainy seasons, generally more arid and semi-arid conditions, longer dry spells and more extreme events such as droughts. Unless actions are taken by policymakers and researchers to boost production in the agricultural-based economies in West Africa, food and water security and poverty alleviation are goals difficult to achieve. An analysis by the International Institute of Tropical Agricultures underlined that farmers in Northern Ghana consider drought and floods as most important challenges to secure income and food security. Maize, one of the principle food crops in West Africa, has been subject to many research efforts including the development of drought–resilient maize varieties. Recently released varieties include open pollinated and hybrid varieties that were released through the national seeds systems. Research efforts to reach high-yielding varieties that are concurrently drought resilient and tolerant against major pests and diseases also included the development of GMOs, but this is not without critics. Using the endeavours of the “Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa”- project as an example, best practises, lessons learned and existing controversies are discussed to help developing advices for research and praxis.
Please register with Amir Housseinpour at <link hosseinpour(at)uni-bonn.de>hosseinpour(at)uni-bonn.de</link> before May 7, 2017.
Please note that pictures will be taken and video recording is envisaged. Unless notified at the registration it is assumed that participants agree to this.
John Lamers (ZEF) and Marlis Lindecke (GIZ)
Contact:
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University of Bonn
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