Abstract:

This was my first visit to East Africa since 2005. I found renewed enthusiasm for the
Camcore program from representatives of NaFORRI, TAFORI and KEFRI which was
encouraging. My appreciation is expressed to Benson Kanyi, Tree Biotechnology Project,
for coordinating the visit and to all the representatives from the government agencies for
their wonderful hospitality. Appreciation is also expressed to the Kilimo Trust for
funding Camcore membership.
Camcore offers East Africa new technology developed by the private sector. The goal
is someday to be able to provide several different species of pines, eucalypts, and other
broadleaf species that have been derived from Camcore introductions to the small
growers in the region.
Much time was spent on going over Camcore trial designs and expectations. Pine trials
are 9 replications with 6 tree row plots and eucalypt trials are 6 replications with 6 tree
row plot designs. The first attempt of establishing Camcore trials in 2005 generally did
not go well. Designs were not always followed.
The greatest problem with Camcore test establishment in the 2005 trials was that the
local protocols to maintain good quality control in the nursery were not followed.
Seedlings were left in containers too long, or the type of nursery medium was
inappropriate for the species being planted. For the Camcore program to be successful in
East Africa, we must have tree survival > 80% in the field trials. Anything less than that
converts a Camcore planting with genetic structure into a demonstration plot. All three
government organizations promised that the quality control problem would be corrected
in the next round of trials.
It was decided that seeds will be sent to each member rather than trying to grow
seedlings in a common nursery in East Africa and then distributing plants across
international boundaries. This avoids delay in seedling distribution due to plant
quarantine issues.
TAFORI researchers have done a very good job in the Teak collection for Camcore.
Six countries will be involved in sharing germplasm to broaden the genetic base of this
species. The teak seed from Tanzania has already arrived in the US for repackaging into
trials. Camcore hopes to redistribute the Teak seed to Tanzania by June or July 2009 TAFORI and NaFORRI have received Camcore germplasm of E. urophylla. TAFOR1
has sown these seeds in Sao Hill and NaFORRI will sow their seeds at Kufi in the near
future. It was recommended that the E. urophylla trials be established in areas below
1200 m elevation. In the case of Tanzania, it was recommended that the E. urophylla
seedlings be moved from the Sao Hill nursery to a lower elevation to speed up the growth
of the plants. Furthermore, KEFRI was urged to make its own seed collection of E.
urophylla in an old planting on the coast and establish a new series of trials. Camcore
could send KEFRI several control lots of E. urophylla so that the KEFRI and Camcore
trials can be compared across sites when being analyzed.
A short Camcore technical meeting was held at Morogoro that included
representatives from all three government organizations. Future seed distribution was
outlined and a request for more seeds was made to Camcore over and above what is being
provided now. Camcore will do what is can, but the amount of seeds sent to East Africa
must be equivalent to one membership.
Bill Dvorak emphasized the need for East Africa to send representatives to the two
week tree improvement short course in South Africa that begins at the end of May. Bill
also said that Camcore was giving a data management (Microsoft Excel) shortcourse in
South Africa in August/September. This should be of great help to those trying to manage
research data from trials. These courses are only available to Camcore members so it is
hoped that East Africa takes advantage of the opportunities.
Bill also gave a short presentation to the Board of the Tree Biotechnology project at
the nursery on the last day of the visit. He talked generally about Camcore, but stressed
that East Africa needs additional sources of genetic material in case of disease or insect
problems coming into the region. As stated in the 2005 Camcore report, there is no need
for East Africa to start developing its genetic base from ground zero. It needs the
Camcore material, but also needs to take advantage of the remnant bits of genetic
material that still exist in the old tree breeding programs that were begun in the 1960s and
early 1970s. Possibly, what the group most needs now is to take advantage of the new
technologies that exist within the Camcore membership to move the East African
membership quickly along to develop stronger breeding & conservation programs.
Overall, there were many positive things to talk about during the visit. We simply
need to fine tune approaches to trial establishment while the government institutions
better define short, medium, and long term strategies for the development and distribution
of improved genetic material to small holders.