Cultivation of Tylosema esculentum (Marama bean) Trials

1. Cultivation of Tylosema esculentum (Marama bean) Trials A BBRIEF ACTIVITY MONITORING REPORT TO IPTT

2. Introduction and summary of project • Tylosema esculentum (marama bean) is an underutilized perennial legume crop native to the Kalahari Desert and neighboring sandy regions of Namibia and Botswana and northern South Africa. • The overall aim of the project is to cultivate marama bean and to carry out selective breeding for marama bean. • The long term impact of these objectives will be to improve and diversify livelihoods for beneficiaries, the people in Omaheke through sale of marama seeds. • Marama seeds were collected and some were treated with gamma ray irradiation in order to induce mutations. The mutant marama seeds will be selected for good or desirable mutations such as early ripening or many numbers of seed per pod, just as examples.

4. Objectives • The objectives are: 1. To cultivate marama in a well fenced prepared land and harvest seeds for sale. 2. To selectively breed marama bean to improve production /agronomic traits. • The medium to long-term objective is to improve the income base of the rural poor people in the Omaheke region.

6. Progress • Germplasm (seed) collection and banking: The seed collection and banking activity is underway with a doctoral student collecting seeds and soils to ascertain optimal marama growing soils. The full results are yet to be completed. • Establishment of a demonstration/ research Plot One 2-hectare field plot has been established at Otjovanatje Village about 400km from City of Windhoek, in Epukiro district. Seeds were planted on 20th November 2012. The seed that was used is a heterogeneous population that has a trait of early germination and flowering.

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9. Data Collection and Manipulations to be done: The following growth biostatistics will be monitored in a long term continuous way with the help of the field supervisor. These will be monitored over at least three seasons. • Days to seedling emergence (SE) • % Seedling emergence (% SE) • Number of leaves, vines and pods per plants (every 14 days after seedling emergence) • Vine length and colour (every 14 days) • Morphological characteristics (colour, shape, architecture, texture, structure, length, width, size) of plants, tuber, stem, leaf, vine and seed • Dry mass of plant, tuber, pod, seed (every 14 days after seedling emergence) • Number of pods per plant • Number of seeds per pod • Determine potential biomass (vegetative materials), tuber, pod and seed yield • Determine contribution of marama bean in enhancing or depleting soil nutrients (nutrients recycling)

10. Progress • Germination Tests on Gamma- irradiated seeds Laboratory assessments have shown that the gamma-irradiated treated seeds germinate earlier than the untreated seeds. This is despite the fact that the Marama seeds are known to take a long time to germinate, even three weeks in some cases. The data analysis also showed that there was no significant difference between the 50 Gy and the 100 Gy gamma irradiation. • COMMENTS & WAY FORWARD All the expected activities are ongoing and on course to the desired objectives. The next actions will be assessments for various agronomic characteristics.

11. Marama has potential for wider use and could significantly contribute to food security, agricultural diversification and income generation. Marama bean has been selected by UNCTAD as a trial product to enter the EU market as a product that has a long history of safe use. The products will be targeted for sale to niche markets initially in Namibia, Southern Africa as well as internationally (UNCTAD, 2011).