| Breeding and evaluation one of SARRNET's
mandates is to develop new cassava and sweetpotato varieties
suitable for processing and commercial criteria. A remarkable
achievement has been made in breeding and evaluation work in
the past five years. More than 5,000 tissue culture plantlets
of up to 333 improved IITA clones were introduced to all participating
countries. About 250,000 true seeds from improved varieties
have been introduced. Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania |
have established successful
breeding programmes. To date, a total of 45 improved cultivars
consisting of 21 local best varieties have been recommended
to growers within the region, 11 improved clones from local
germplasm and 13 improved clones from exotic germplasm are in
on-farm evaluation or under multiplication for distribution
to growers. Malawi released 3 cassava and 3 sweetpotato improved
varieties in May 1999. |
