Person:
De Groote, H.

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De Groote
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De Groote, H.

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Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
  • Perspective article: Food security in tropical Africa through climate-smart plant health management
    (Elsevier B.V., 2023) Neuenschwander, P.; Borgemeister, C.; De Groote, H.; Sæthre, M.G.; Tamo, M.
    Publication
  • Maize crop nutrient input requirements for food security in sub-Saharan Africa
    (Elsevier, 2019) Berge, H.F.M. ten; Hijbeek, R.; Van Loon, M.P.; Rurinda, J.; Tesfaye, K.; Shamie Zingore; Craufurd, P.; Heerwaarden, J. van; Brentrup, F.; Schröder, J.J.; Boogaard, H.; De Groote, H.; Ittersum, M.K. van
    Nutrient limitation is a major constraint in crop production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Here, we propose a generic and simple equilibrium model to estimate minimum input requirements of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for target yields in cereal crops under highly efficient management. The model was combined with Global Yield Gap Atlas data to explore minimum input requirements for self-sufficiency in 2050 for maize in nine countries in SSA. We estimate that yields have to increase from the current ca. 20% of water-limited yield potential to approximately 50–75% of the potential depending on the scenario investigated. Minimum nutrient input requirements must rise disproportionately more, with N input increasing 9-fold or 15-fold, because current production largely relies on soil nutrient mining, which cannot be sustained into the future.
    Publication
  • Metal silo grain storage technology and household food security in Kenya
    (Academic Journals, 2015) Gitonga, Z.; De Groote, H.; Tadele Tefera
    A treatment effect and ordered logit models were used to evaluate the impact of metal silo storage technology on household food security and factors influencing adoption of metal silo. Farmers’ perception of the effectiveness of metal silo against larger grain borer and maize weevil was also analyzed. The most important factor households considered when choosing a storage facility was effectiveness against storage pests followed by security of the stored grain and durability of the storage facility. Metal silo adopters had 1.8 months more of adequate food provisioning than non-adopters. Compared to non-adopting households, metal silo adopters only sold a little portion of their maize initially to meet immediate cash needs and kept the bulk of it until the fifth month after harvest. Consumption was stable throughout the year for the metal silo adopters. Non-adopters sold most of their maize immediately after harvest and consumption was higher than sales. Household size, literacy of the household head and land size increased the likelihood of adopting the metal silo technology. Households with access to financial services (bank account and/or mobile money) were more likely to adopt metal silo. Distance to the nearest passable road reduced odds of adopting metal silo technology. The use of metal silos prevented damage by larger grain borer (LGB) and maize weevil for 98% and 94% of adopters, respectively. This study finds evidence that metal silo technology is effective against main maize storage pests and its adoption can significantly improve food security in rural households.
    Publication
  • Can sub-Saharan Africa feed itself?
    (National Academy of Sciences, 2016) Ittersum, M.K. van; Bussel, L.G.J. Van; Wolf, J.; Grassini, P.; Wart, J. van; Guilpart, N.; Claessens, L.; De Groote, H.; Wiebe, K.; Mason-D'croz, D.; Haishun Yang; Boogaard, H.; Van Oort, P.; Van Loon, M.P.; Saito, K.; Adimo, O.; Adjei-Nsiah, S.; Agali, A.; Bala, A.; Chikowo, R.; Kaizzi, K.; Kouressy, M.; Makoi, J.H.; Ouattara, K.; Tesfaye, K.; Cassman, K.G.
    Although global food demand is expected to increase 60% by 2050 compared with 2005/2007, the rise will be much greater in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Indeed, SSA is the region at greatest food security risk because by 2050 its population will increase 2.5-fold and demand for cereals approximately triple, whereas current levels of cereal consumption already depend on substantial imports. At issue is whether SSA can meet this vast increase in cereal demand without greater reliance on cereal imports or major expansion of agricultural area and associated biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions. Recent studies indicate that the global increase in food demand by 2050 can be met through closing the gap between current farm yield and yield potential on existing cropland. Here, however, we estimate it will not be feasible to meet future SSA cereal demand on existing production area by yield gap closure alone. Our agronomically robust yield gap analysis for 10 countries in SSA using location-specific data and a spatial upscaling approach reveals that, in addition to yield gap closure, other more complex and uncertain components of intensification are also needed, i.e., increasing cropping intensity (the number of crops grown per 12 mo on the same field) and sustainable expansion of irrigated production area. If intensification is not successful and massive cropland land expansion is to be avoided, SSA will depend much more on imports of cereals than it does today.
    Publication
  • Insect resistant maize for Africa (IRMA) project: creating awareness on biotechnology based technologies: report on a workshop
    (KARI, 2001) Mugo, S.N.; Poland, D.; Kimani, G.; De Groote, H.
    The Insect Resistant Maize for Africa. (IRMA) Project is a joint venture between the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), with financial support from the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development. It responds to the need to feed Africa's rapidly increasing population by reducing the damage incurred by the region's major insect pest of maize, stem borer. IRMA is being implemented initially in Kenya, but the results and experiences gained through the project will be made available to other willing African countries. The overarching goals of the project are to develop insect resistant maize varieties for the major Kenyan maize growing environments and to establish procedures to provide insect resistant maize to resource poor farmers in Kenya. During the implementation of the IRMA project, relevant technologies will be transferred to KARI and continuously evaluated. The specific objectives of the project are as follows: (1) Product Development: Develop insect resistant maize varieties for the major insect pests found in Kenyan maize production systems. (2) Product Disseminotion: Establish procedures for providing insect resistant maize to resource poor farmers in Kenya. (3) Impoct Assessment: Assess the impact of insect resistant maize varieties in Kenyan agricultural systems. (4) Technology Tronsfer: Transfer technologies to KARI and Kenyo to develop, evaluate, disseminate, and monitor insect resistant maize varieties. (5) Project Documentotion ond Communicotion: Plan, monitor, and document processes and achievements for dissemination to the Kenyan public and developing countries. Considerable effort has been given to the communication orea mainly in creating dialogue and raising public awareness about Bt and insect resistant maize, ond obout biotechnology in general. A stakeholders meeting was held and print and electronic materials hove been created in addition to nurturing of good press relotions to assure balanced coverage. Participation and documentation of IRMA-related presentations in seminars and conferences have further contributed to public awareness about the project and the technologies it uses. However, in recognition that the project is not working in isolation, it was recognized that there are other groups that are reaching out to the farmers, consumers and general public with information on biotechnology. It was olso recognized that biotechnology processes and products hold much promise in alleviating food shortages in our society and that information on biotechnology needs to be handled properly to avoid scares about its products ond mistrust to scientists and institutions from the general society. C1MMYT and KARI decided to hold a one-day workshop to take stock of 1) institutions involved in raising awareness on biotechnology and 2) the methods and tools being used. The workshop was also to explore the possibilities of collaborating to fill gaps and needs to be identified during the meeting. The one-day informal meeting wos convened to appraise us on the efforts institutions are making to create awareness in biotechnology.
    Publication
  • Insect resistant maize for Africa (IRMA) project
    (KARI, 2000) Hoisington, D.A.; Mugo, S.N.; Poland, D.; De Groote, H.
    The Insect Resistant Maize for Africa (IRMA) Project was publicly launched on March 3 2000 with the convening of a Stakeholders Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. About seventy six people, representing different stakeholder groups - including fanners' associations, womens' groups, religious organizations, seed producers, regulatory agencies, NGOs, the media, and others - were in attendance. Representatives of the project collaborators, CIMMYT and the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), as well as the primary donor, the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development, were also on hand. The project is aimed at producing maize that is both adapted to various Kenyan agroecological zones and is resistant to key insect pests, primarily stem borers. Both conventional and novel sources of resistance will be examined for their effectiveness against the borers, which incur losses ranging from 15 to 45 percent, depending on the region. Transgenic maize containing Bacillus thuringenesis (Bt) is a focal point of the project, prompting project organizers to emphasize public involvement and awareness through events such as the Stakeholders Meeting. The specific objectives of the Stakeholders Meeting were to. Introduce the IRMA project to stakeholders. Create awareness on the economic importance of stem borers in Kenyan agriculture. Create awareness on the control options for stem borers, including conventional and novel approaches like the Bt-gene technology. Solicit responses from stakeholders on the need and processes of developing insect resistant maize for Kenya. The session was chaired by the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, and Director of Agriculture Prof. Wilfred Mwangi, and was officially opened by the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. Christopher M. Obure. Dr. Cyrus Ndiritu, Director of KARI and an outspoken proponent for biotechnology and genetic engineering for developing countries, provided some general remarks on the project, while CIMMYT IRMA Project Coordinator Dr. Stephen Mugo gave a more detailed account. A letter on CIMMYT's role in the project from Director General, Prof. Timothy Reeves was read by Dr. David Hoisington, and Dr. Klaus Leisinger gave a short speech on the role of the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development. Following the opening, the stakeholders readily engaged the expert panel in the question and answer period Because of their intense involvement, the session ran well over its allotted time and was extended to accommodate additional questions and comments. The stakeholders expressed the need to incorporate sound management strategies and to follow the national regulations strictly during introduction and testing of Bt genes in the country. The view shared by almost all was that we can only evaluate Bt genes if they are in the country. Importantly, Bt maize was viewed as having a high potential for closing the wide and increasing food deficit in Kenya. Media coverage of both the Stakeholders Meeting and the preceding Africa Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF) workshop (sponsored by CIMMYT and the Rockefeller Foundation) was extensive and generally positive.
    Publication
  • The seed industry for dryland crops in Eastern Kenya
    (CIMMYT, 2003) Muhammad, L.; Njoroge, K.; Bett, C.; Mwangi, W.M.; Verkuijl, H.; De Groote, H.
    The development and promotion of improved crop varieties as well as efficient seed production, distribution, and marketing systems have contributed significantly to increased agricultural production and food security in Kenya. However, these impacts have not been replicated in the semi-arid midlands due to climatic, soil, and institutional factors. Following the liberalization of agriculture in the late 1980s, there has been greater participation of the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and voluntary agencies in the area. This study examined the extent to which these developments affected farmers’ access to dryland crops. The study found that the low quantity of seed traded, high cost of production, and high seed supply prices constrained the development of local seed trade. It recommended developing and offering a range of varieties to farmers to increase demand, training to strengthen farmers’ capacity to manage seed onfarm, and reduction of high production and distribution costs through further research and institutional improvements. In addition, the “seed loans” model, which has been very effective in the area, should be strengthened.
    Publication