Advancement of the Namibian agricultural production systems through inoculants for nutritious food practices using Bambara groundnut

Projektleitung

© B. Lammel | Bundesfoto GbR

Dr. Lydia N. Horn,
University of Namibia,
Windhoek, Namibia
in cooperation with

© B. Lammel | Bundesfoto GbR

Prof. Barbara Reinhold-Hurek,
Bremen University,
Bremen, Germany

Project description

Namibia is affected by a severe food crisis. In the northern regions of the country, the soil is not very fertile and the yields of local smallholders are low.

The Bambara groundnut is an indigenous African bean that is relatively drought-tolerant and also thrives on nutrient-poor soils. It is an inexpensive source of important nutrients such as carbohydrates, fibre and vegetable protein. However, it has hardly been researched to date and, despite its high potential, little has been cultivated.

The German-Namibian research project SPINOFFBam aims to close the existing research gap and specifically promote the cultivation of the Bambara groundnut. Among other things, plant-bacteria combinations in various areas of northern Namibia are being analysed and plant growth-promoting bacteria identified.

Sustainable production systems are to be promoted through regionally adapted biofertilisers (inoculants) and market chains for domestic consumption and export are to be further developed. To this end, microbiological expertise in Germany and breeding expertise in Namibia will be combined. Smallholder farming communities are involved as key players, e.g. in field days and training courses.

The co-operation project SPINOFFBam thus contributes to food security in rural regions of Namibia and creates local jobs in sustainable agriculture and food production. Dr Horn is one of the few modern breeders in Namibia with outstanding successes in plant mutation breeding and related biotechnologies with international training. She was one of the first breeders in Namibia to use X-rays for mutation breeding of local crops such as cowpea, millet and sorghum.

Dr Lydia N. Horn receives the German-African Innovation Advancement Award (GAIIA) for her excellent agronomic research in combination with a convincing proposal for a German-African cooperation project that further develops these research results into use-oriented solutions.

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