Curated Content

Este é o 2o volume de uma coleção de histórias do Secretariado da SADC informando os cidadãos da SADC e criando consciência sobre impactos positivos dos protocolos, acordos, políticas e estrategias. A ambição é de ilustrar precisamente como os programmas de integração regional da SADC mudam as vidas dos cidadãos da SADC para o melhor. Para destacar alguns, no rio Zambezi, está em construção a Ponte Kazungula que vai em breve formar uma maior ligação no coração da região SADC. Em Malawi tem o tomate Bvumbwe, evoluído para responder às condições específicas da região e às demandas da população da SADC. Em Walvis Bay, Namibia, e Nacala, Mozambique, existem dois pontos de entrada para a rede crescendo de corridores de desenvolvimento, justapostos, qual a região SADC quer desenvolver na próximas decadas. 

Il s'agit du deuxième volume d'un recueil d'histoires du Secrétariat de la SADC visant à informer les citoyens de la SADC et à les sensibiliser davantage aux impacts positifs des protocoles, accords, politiques et stratégies de la SADC.  Il cherche à brosser un tableau précis de la manière dont les programmes d'intégration régionale de la SADC changent pour le mieux la vie des citoyens de la SADC. Pour n'en citer que quelques-uns, au Zambèze, il y a la construction du pont de Kazungula, qui constituera bientôt une importante liaison de transport au cœur de la région de la SADC. Au Malawi, il y a la tomate de Bvumbwe, qui a été développée pour répondre aux conditions spécifiques de cette région et aux besoins de la population de la SADC.  Et dans la baie de Walvis en Namibie et à Nacala au Mozambique, il y a deux points d'entrée au réseau croissant de corridors de développement le long desquels la région SADC se développera dans les décennies à venir.

This is the 2nd volume of a collection of stories by SADC Secretariat to inform SADC citizens and enhance awareness about the positive impacts of SADC  protocols, agreements, policies and strategies.  It seeks to paint an accurate picture of how SADC regional integration programmes are changing the lives of SADC citizens for the better. Just to highlight a few, at the Zambezi River, there is the construction of the Kazungula Bridge that will soon form a major transport link in the heart of the SADC region. In Malawi, there is the Bvumbwe tomato, which was developed to address the specific conditions of this region and the needs of the SADC population.  And in Namibia’s Walvis Bay and Mozambique’s Nacala, there are two entry points to the growing network of development corridors alongside which the SADC region will develop in the coming decades.

North-central Namibia is more vulnerable to effects of climate change and variability. Combined effects of environmental degradation, social vulnerability to poverty and a changing climate will compromise subsistence farming in north-central Namibia (NCN). This will make subsistence and small-scale farmers in the region more vulnerable to projected changes in the climate system. Thus, the aim of this article was to examine factors contributing to subsistence farmers’ vulnerability to impacts of climate change. The article further discusses different aspects of human vulnerability and existing adaptation strategies in response to impacts of climate related disasters experienced over the past three to four decades in NCN. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches and methodology were employed to obtain information from subsistence farmers in north-central Namibia. The sociodemographic characteristics of Ohangwena, Oshana and Omusati Region reveals high levels of unemployment, high adult and elderly population and high dependency on agricultural livelihood system. These indicators help understand levels of household vulnerability. The study concludes that households interviewed revealed low levels of adaptive capacity due to exposure to climate risks and combined effects of social, political and cultural factors. This article provided an understanding that is required to inform the adaptation pathways relevant for NCN.

This folder explores the issue of food loss in more detail and presents current experiences, challenges and areas of action.

Pour accompagner le développement actuel de la culture des ignames à Madagascar, l’estimation de la prévalence et la caractérisation partielle des viroses présentes sur les ignames cultivées de parcelles paysannes de certaines régions productrices du pays ont été réalisées. Des tests PCR ont permis de détecter le Dioscorea bacilliform virus (badnavirus) sur les trois espèces d’ignames les plus fréquemment rencontrées, Dioscorea alata, D. bulbifera et D. esculenta. Le séquençage partiel de ces virus a permis de révéler la présence d’au moins dix souches distinctes réparties dans six des treize groupes génétiques de DBV. Plus problématique pour ses effets sur le rendement, une souche originale de Yam mild mosaic virus (potyvirus) a également été mise en évidence par RT-PCR sur une plante D. alata. Compte tenu de la présence constatée de virus, des mesures de sélection sanitaire, incluant destruction des plants infectés, sélection et indexation des plants-mères, mise en place de pépinières de multiplication sécurisées et schéma de quarantaine, sont proposées avant toute diffusion de maté

Bambara nut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) is a nutritious legume, however, its production is characterised by use of landraces, which have been maintained by farmers. Lack of improved varieties has contributed to low yields. This re– search was done to identify potentially high yielding and farmers’ preferred genotypes for improved production of Bambara in Malawi. A completely Randomised Block Design experiment with eight genotypes (181CR, 181RD, 194, 137CR, 137RD, 317, 2762 and 2768) and four replicates was implemented at Chitedze, Chitala and Mbawa Research Sta– tions to identify high yielding genotypes. In addition to the yield, farmers’ criteria based on plant vigour, ability to fully bury its pods in the ground (mounding), yield at harvest, maturity period, seed colour, grain size, taste of boiled dry grain and taste of fresh pods were used to identify farmers’ preferred genotypes. Significant yield differences were identified between genotypes (P < 0.0001), sites (P < 0.001) and interaction between genotypes and sites (environment) (P < 0.001). Yield means across sites show that genotype 181CR yielded highly (1322 kg/ha) followed by 2768 (1066 kg/ha), 181RD (1064 kg/ha) and 2762 (841 kg/ha). In contrast to the high yielding genotypes, genotype 137RD gave the lowest yield (485 kg/ha) followed by 194 (573 kg/ha), 317 (617 kg/ha) and 137CR (620 kg/ha). Mbawa Research Sta– tion showed significantly high yields with site mean of 1177 kg/ha compared with Chitedze and Chitala with site means of 703kg/ha and 530 kg/ha respectively. Farmers ranked the eight accessions in order of importance as follows: 181RD, 181CR, 2768, 137CR, 194, 137RD, 2762 and 317. Combination of yield and farmers’ preference identified three geno– types (181RD, 181CR and 2768) as potential varieties for production in Malawi. Accessions 181RD and 2768 were specifically selected for relish unlike 181CR, which has been selected for use as snack. However, further research on nutrition, value addition and marketing needs to be conducted on the identified genotypes.

The eggs are elliptical, and their colour varies from oyster-white to bright yellow, darkening in the embryonic phase and becoming almost black near eclosion.

The first-instar larvae are whitish soon after eclosion, becoming greenish or light pink in the second to fourth instars according to food (leaflet or ripe fruit, respectively). There are usually four instars.

A wide range of indigenous vegetables are consumed in Malawi. These contribute greatly to the nutritional well-being of rural people by providing the essential nutrients required for body growth and development and for prevention of diseases associated with nutritional deficiencies, such as blindness due to vitamin A deficiency. Rural families traditionally have made conscious efforts to preserve these plants around their homesteads, in crop fields and communal lands. In recent years, however, exotic vegetables have taken prominence over indigenous vegetables, in spite of their generally lower nutritive value. The availability of indigenous vegetables has declined drastically because of excessive cultivation of field crops and habitat change, including deforestation. This has been exacerbated by a lack of major research and extension efforts to improve their husbandry and promote these species. Thus, the plants must be gathered at increasing distances from human dwellings, and rural women spend more valuable time in search of them. There is also growing ignorance among young people about the existence of these nutritionally rich food plants. The decline in the use of indigenous vegetables by many rural people has resulted in poor diets and increased incidence of nutritional deficiency disorders and diseases in many parts of the country.

To improve the status of indigenous vegetables in Malawi, a long-term research project was implemented at Bunda College of Agriculture to collect and catalogue indigenous vegetable germplasm and to develop production technologies for smallholder adoption.

The Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service (PQPS) is the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of Zambia mandated to provide services that prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests into the country and facilitate local and international trade through Cap 231 and 233 of the Laws of Zambia. The Plant Pests and Diseases Act Cap 233 of the Laws of Zambia was established to provide for the eradication and prevention of the spread of plant pests in Zambia and for the prevention of the introduction into Zambia of exotic plant pests and diseases as such PQPS had a privilege to conduct a surveillance on tuta absoluta.

Tuta absoluta or tomato leaf miner is a major pest of processed and fresh tomatoes, both in greenhouse and open field crops. It also occurs on eggplants, sweet peppers as well as potatoes and various other cultivated plants and weeds of solanaceae family.

The pest has spread rapidly since its introduction to Europe in 2006 and within just a few years its global status has changed completely, from a South American tomato pest into a major threat to world tomato production. In tomatoes it can attack any plant crop stage and if it’s not managed at all, it can cause up to 100% crop destruction.