By Dorcas Kabuya, Jean Louis Tshisambu Mamba and Bongani Mvubu
Many countries in Africa and beyond are striving for sustainability in the agricultural space as the effects of climate change become evident more than ever before.
Pests and diseases are now perpetual challenges faced by farmers year in and year out as they struggle to feed the ever-growing population leading to significant economic losses and food shortages.
It is against this background that CCARDESA during the Research to Extension workshop held in Johannesburg exposed Agricultural Knowledge Managers from the member states to the different scientific work being done by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in South Africa.
One key facility that was visited was the Plant Tissue Culture laboratory where researchers are involved in the process of creating multiplying plants in a controlled environment usually in laboratories by taking small pieces of plant tissue like stem or leaf to produce new plants in a rich nutrient medium.
Zanele Nogobo a Commercial In-Vitro Laboratory Manager from ARC explained that starting with disease-free plant material was a game changer for farmers to reduce losses caused by pests and diseases.
Dr Zanele Nogobo
“Through Plant Tissue Culture, researchers can be assured that plants propagated and transferred to the farming community are free from pathogens. This reduces the need for chemical pesticides and promotes eco-friendly farming,” explained Ms. Noqobo.
She stated that tubers and bulbs grow underground where they are exposed to a lot of pests and diseases, thereby hampering the yields and economic income of farmers.
Sample of Tissue Culture
Plant Tissue Culture also has a significant role to play in the conservation of endangered plant species. preserving genetic diversity is crucial as the species can be banked in a controlled environment.
Ms. Noqobo hinted that ARC maintains a repository of the diverse genetic material of potatoes some of which were no longer on the market but still useful to researchers in the breeding programs.
With Plant Tissue Culture, farmers can access disease-resistant, climate-resistant crop varieties thereby contributing to food security and reducing the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change.
Its application in breeding, disease management, conservation, and rapid plant multiplication stands as a beacon of hope for farmers and the global population.
The authors are CCARDESA's Focal point person for CCARDESA for Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Eswatini.
