Strategies to avert entry of MLN in Ethiopia Berhanu Tadesse and Legess Wolde Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research Bako National Maize Research ASARECA strategic plan for MLN disease for eastern and central Africa Jacaranda hotel, Nairobi, Kenya, august, 2013

Maize Lethal Necrosis disease Appeared in East Africa in 2011 It is already in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and recently in south Sudan and Rwanda No report in Ethiopia With the current trend, it can be disseminate to other countries It is an potential danger in the region – Food security – Economy – Employment

Maize in Ethiopia CountryArea (Ha)Production (tons)Yield (t/ha Burundi 119, , Ethiopia 2,013, ,069, Kenya 2,159, ,600, Malawi 1,650, ,618, Rwanda 253, , Uganda 1,094, ,734, Tanzania 4,118, ,104, Zambia 1,074, ,852, Zimbabwe 960, ,000, South Africa 3,250, ,500, It is the most important food crop 1 st in production and second in areas More than 9 million house holds are growing maize

Arid dry land Moist dry land Potential areas Semi-arid dry land Water bodies Sub-moist dry land MoA, 2005

Possible entry points Source: Google maps The cropping system doesn’t favor The area is not well known for maize production Long dry season

Strategies Nationally no strategy developed But our institute has two strategies: 1.Prevention 2.control

Prevention strategy Difficult: because insect transmitted Prevent introduction by planting materials % of seed transmission is very – Grain importation: no data – Seed import No seed introduction except breeder seed (seed co and pioneer) – Trial Working in close collaboration with CIMMYT CIMMYT is producing seed in MLND free areas CIMMYT sends trials seed to non-MLND countries grown in CIMMYT-Zimbabwe We grow introduced materials only under quarantine fields

Control strategy These are strategies to minimize its effect if the disease happens – Elite inbred lines, popular hybrids and OPVs sent to CIMMYT for screening 84 elite lines including parents of popular hybrids 13 popular hybrids and OPVs – Requested CIMMYT’s promising inbred lines and pre-commercial hybrids We requested all hybrids, single crosses and parental lines We will make the crossing in the up-coming off-season starting in October, 2013 In the 2014 main season, we will go for release – Single cross parent of one of our released three way cross hybrid happened to be MT for MSV

Future plan We highly invest on research to develop MLN resistant varieties in collaboration with CIMMYT and other partners Conduct periodic survey in possible entry points Establish quarantine system for imported maize materials including trial seeds Training of researchers, seed producers and other relevant stakeholder to create awareness about the disease

Thank you!