APPSA Strengthens the Capacity of Young Scientists, Extension Officers and Agricultural Students on Maize Breeding Techniques in Angola

The Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA) in the Republic of Angola is conducting a four-day training on maize breeding techniques from April 26 to 29, 2022, in Huambo. This activity will benefit about 31  young scientists, extension officers and seed growers from Benguela, Cabinda, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Huíla, Lunda, Malanje, Namibe and Uige as well as students from the Agricultural Sciences Faculty  of the José Eduardo dos Santos University.

According to Dr Amílcar Salumbo, Deputy Director of the Instituto de Investigação Agronómica (IIA), there is need for continuous training of young agricultural technicians in Angola given the strong potential they have to transform the agricultural landscape and improve food and nutrition security. Dr Salumbo was speaking during his opening remarks of the training, which was held under the APPSA Research and Development (R&D) Subproject titled “Breeding of maize tolerant to acid soils and other biotic and abiotic stress conditions in Angola and Lesotho using DH technology”, led by Dr Dibanzilua Nginamau.

APPSA is a six-year World bank funded initiative currently implemented by Angola and Lesotho regionally coordinated by the Center for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA). APPSA has the mandate to increase the availability of improved agricultural technologies in participating countries in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. For Dr Salumbo, well-trained young scientists and agricultural technicians have the potential to fast-track the accomplishment of the stated APPSA development objective. “This training will tackle the challenges and limitations that we usually encounter in maize production and plant nursery management so that our young technicians can have all elements to improve productivity in maize with huge impact on food security”, added Dr Salumbo.

Among the topics under discussion are the following: Botany, plant and maize physiology; Maize production in Angola; Maize breeding objectives and procedures; Data preparation; and Data analysis procedures and interpretation.