By DORCAS KABUYA
WHEAT production in Zambia has historically been low compared to other staple crops such as maize. The country has faced challenges in achieving self-sufficiency in wheat production, leading to a significant reliance on wheat imports to meet domestic demand.
Wheat contributes significantly to food security through a range of bakery products such as bread, chapatti, fritters, cakes, buns and also consumption of the whole grain.
This high value crop holds immense potential for Zambia’s agricultural sector, and recognising the importance of this cereal in ensuring food sufficiency is top on government’s agenda.
However, several factors have contributed to the challenges in wheat production, and some of these include climatic conditions, limited irrigation infrastructure, and the need for improved wheat varieties suited to local environments.
The Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), the country’s largest public agricultural research institution, has intensified its efforts in developing high-yielding and climate-resilient wheat varieties suitable for Zambia’s diverse agro-ecological zones.
With a passion for transforming the nation’s wheat landscape, Batiseba Tembo, a Principal Agricultural Research Officer at ZARI and also Lead Scientist in the Wheat Breeding Programme, has become a driving force behind efforts to enhance food security and elevate Zambia’s wheat production at a global scale.
Born and raised in Zambia, Dr Tembo’s journey to becoming a renowned wheat breeder is a testament to her resilience and passion for agriculture coupled with her commitment to addressing the specific challenges faced by local farmers.
“My passion for agriculture developed whilst at St. Monica’s Girls’ Secondary School in Chipata District. Agricultural Science was one of the subjects I took from grade 8 to 12. I further studied Crop Science at Bachelor, Master and Doctorate levels,” she explained.
Dr Tembo hinted that low production and productivity was one of the challenges faced by small scale farmers, adding that she delved into the space of wheat breeding after recognising the immense potential this crop held for Zambia’s agricultural fortunes.
Over the years, she has played a pivotal role in developing high-yielding and disease-resistant wheat varieties tailored to Zambia’s unique agro-climatic conditions.
“My role as a wheat scientist is to develop varieties that are adapted to irrigated and other rain-fed conditions. We are currently focusing on developing wheat varieties that are high yielding, disease resistance, drought and heat tolerant, days to heading and maturity, quality and plant height,” she disclosed.
Commenting on the notable achievements made by ZARI in wheat breeding, Dr Tembo indicated that the Institute released four irrigated wheat varieties that are high yielding, drought and heat tolerant in 2018, namely; Kakobe, Lumbe, Sisi and Timba.
“Currently, we have two rain-fed wheat varieties, which we released in September 2023, namely; Tyetye and Mpheta, that are also high yielding and resistant to wheat blast – a very devastating fungal disease which deforms the grain of wheat during rainy season in Zambia in less than a week leaving the farmer with no time to act,” she highlighted.
In 2018, Dr Tembo was also the first Scientist in Zambia and Africa as a whole to detect wheat blast disease during rainy season.
Dr Tembo’s impact extends beyond the borders of Zambia, as she has been a key collaborator in international initiatives aimed at addressing food security challenges. Key among these partners include Partners from Africa, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) as well as The International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).
This high level exposure and outstanding involvement has earned her a place as a respected figure in the global agricultural research community, and the award she scoped in 2021 speaks volumes about her contribution.
“My memorable moment was being a 2021 Jeanie Borlaug Laube Women in Triticum (WIT) Early Career awardee. I was among the five 2021 WIT award winners. I was so excited to see my contribution to wheat science being recognised. It was a joyous moment for me,” she shared.
The challenges confronting Dr Tembo in her quest to improve wheat varieties are as diverse as the fields she tends to. The primary obstacles she grapples with are the unpredictable climate that characterises much of the country and limited resources.
“Climate change has brought about issues of drought, flooding, destructive pest and new diseases making wheat production very unpredictable. In addition, wheat breeding requires a lot of resources to conduct research. Planting and harvesting is also a big challenge as they are done manually, plot planters and harvester can make our work a lot easier and faster,” she revealed.
Apart from her groundbreaking research, Dr. Tembo is actively involved in community outreach programmes. She is a passionate advocate for sustainable farming practices and regularly shares her knowledge and expertise through farmer trainings and field days.
Through her efforts, she aims to bridge the gap between scientific advancements and on-the-ground agricultural practices, ensuring that farmers across Zambia can benefit from the latest innovations.
Looking ahead, Dr Tembo envisions a future where Zambia becomes a self-sufficient hub for wheat production which is fortified with iron and zinc.
“My aim is to see smallholder wheat production at a higher level to help meet future wheat demands. Wheat is one of the most important and widely grown food crops in the world. There is also need to improve wheat as a source of zinc and iron as micronutrient deficiency is increasing globally,” she underscored.
According to the 2022/2023 Crop Forecasting Survey, the country recorded a deficit of 110, 000 tonnes of wheat production.
It is important to note that under the Comprehensive Agriculture Transformation Support Programme (CASTP), government is targeting to produce one million tonnes of wheat by 2027 as a priority commodity to address food and nutrition security.
This growing demand presents a lucrative opportunity for farmers to diversify their crops and tap into a market that rewards the cultivation of high value crops like wheat. – NAIS
