Problem Statement
African countries continue to face shortages of vegetables and fruits, leading to high importation. To reduce this importation, intensified domestic production is essential to cushion fruit and vegetable prices during the post-COVID-19 pandemic. This project addresses the high costs of high-value vegetable crops incurred by small-scale agripreneurs. It also focuses on contributing to the availability of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes in the Kingdom of Eswatini. Plant tissue culture is used as a tool to address the problems mentioned above.
Progress Highlights
The project has trained 2 master’s and 2 PhD students on plant tissue culture. The plant biotechnology research laboratory has been renovated, upgraded, and equipped. Technological Tunnel has been constructed for research and 2 new master students have been recruited for training on plant tissue culture.
Key Findings
Micropropagation of pepper and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes has been responsive to a formulated plant-growing medium developed using agro-waste from Rhodes Food Group in Eswatini.
Potential Impact
This project will produce competent postgraduates in Horticulture hired by biotechnology companies outside the Kingdom of Eswatini. It also aims to promote the commercialization of agro waste from Rhodes Food Group as a plant-growing medium. Through the project, the Eswatini population will adopt orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.
Summary
African countries continue to face shortages of vegetables and fruits leading to high importation. In order to reduce this importation, intensified domestic production is essential to cushion prices of fruits and vegetables during the post Covid-19 pandemic. The subsistent low technology mode of fruit and vegetable production can be stimulated through the application of plant biotechnology production techniques to enhance smallholder agriculture productivity. Dr. Celimphilo’s research will investigate how plant biotechnology techniques can be harnessed to enhance smallholder agripreneurs.
Grantee Description
Dr. Celimphilo Shakes Mavuso is a Lecturer in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Eswatini in the Kingdom of Eswatini. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Plant Science from National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST), Taiwan in 2017 after successfully conducting field and laboratory experiments focusing on genetic diversity analysis of Jatropha curcas L. and improvement using plant tissue culture techniques to support the productivity initiatives of the biodiesel industry in Taiwan.
The plant biotechnology project by Dr. Celimphilo Shakes Mavuso aims to fully utilize plant tissue culture and available equipment from the University of Eswatini, Horticulture Department in integrating its activities to boost rural production of clean planting materials of clonally propagated and micro propagated plants. In the long term the project aims to support and encourage Eswatini’s smallholder farmers participation commercially through reduced high quality seedlings costs.
Project: Harnessing Plant Biotechnology Techniques for the Upliftment of Smallholder Agripreneurs in Eswatini
The seedling production project will delve into the prioritization and promotion of plant tissue cultured vegetable seedling production and supply to Eswatini smallholder vegetable and fruit farmers. The Principal Investigator (PI) will promote the adoption and use of technological tunnel production which uses smart agriculture practices like automated scheduled irrigation. In the long term the project will also focus on development of science of both genetic reserve and on in situ conservation while ensuring that its implementation is sensitive to the needs of local communities and is also linked to the requirements of the germplasm user community specifically in native seed supply and re-introduction of endangered and extinct plant species that support human and animal health. The project will also look into floriculture improvement in Eswatini and focus on micro propagation of local flower species for commercial production and export. Through the project, UNESWA will promote establishment of certified commercial plant tissue culture laboratories in Eswatini.
