Prospects for Wheat and Triticale in Katanga province (D.R. Congo)

by MUKOBO M. R-P. (rpmukobo@yahoo.com ; +243 997 029 013) [1 & 2], NGONGO L.M. [1], MAFUKA M.M. P. (mpmafuka@yahoo.fr) [2] & HAESAERT G. [3]

[1] University of Lubumbashi ; [2] INERA (DRC) ; [3] HOGESCHOOL GENT

ContextFood production in Katanga province is weak and involves food insecurity for

more than 400.000 people. The Katanga province imports more than 75 % of

its food from which wheat floor is the most imported resources for all the

country (over 32% of total imports).

State of Research on Small Grain cereals- Adaptation trials on 42 varieties of Elite Spring Wheat, 24 varieties of

High Rainfall Wheat and 40 varieties of Triticale from CIMMYT

- Assessment of their agronomic performances and agricultural practices

according to the agro-ecological conditions

- Assessment of their resistance level to Septoria Tritici Blotch and

Fusarium Head Blight and, their potential yield level

- Selection of best varieties and installation of a breeding program

Prospects for the Research� The Katanga province is a part of D.R. Congo with a potential of about 5.000.000 ha potential

available land for small grain cereals

� Experiments during 2 years a yield potential for wheat and triticale of 2.5 to 4.5 t/ha in rainy season

and 4.5 à 6 t/ha in dry season

� 18 varieties of ESW, 10 varieties of HRW and 9 varieties of triticale have been selected for their

performances

� Research continues and aim to popularize those varieties according to different agro-ecological

conditions

� Search for partners and funding to increase research impact on wheat and triticale to population

Constraints to the development of agricultural

production- Low-income farmers which limits the possibility of dry season irrigation

- Farming strongly attached to traditional food crops

- Lack of popularization of possibility of wheat production in rainy season

- High costs for agricultural inputs

- Poor quality of soils

- Difficulty for getting fund for research