Plant breeding programs in El Salvador
El Salvador has a tropical climate with pronounced wet and dry seasons. Arable land in El Salvador accounts for more than 40% of the total area. Coffee and sugar cane are the most important crops of the country in terms of both surface area and employment.
In El Salvador, there are four public and private centres devoted to plant breeding. The work on plant breeding has been done since 1950 while biotechnology began in 1990. The work of improving crops has been conducted mostly in basic grains, coffee and sugar cane. These research centers have been supported with germplasm from other international centers of research such as: ICRISAT, CIAT, CIMMYT, CIRAD, CIFC and CANAL POINT.
Up to 2005, the allocations to the different research areas gave priority to line evaluation and development while lower allocations were given to germplasm enhancement. Current work is breeding for favorable environments and for improving resistance/tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses and quality traits.
The major constraints that face El Salvador plant breeding programmes are the inadequate number of breeders for each crop and the lack of support from the international community.
Research and education institutes with activities in plant breeding
Public Institutes
National Center for Agricultural Technolog - Centro Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria y Forestal (CENTA)
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Private Institutes
PROCAFE Foundation
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Sugar Cane Company of El Salvador - Compañia Azucarera Salvadoreña S.A.
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Ingenio El Angel S.A.
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Information by Lauro Antonio Del Cid (2008) - Information based on the El Salvador's full report from the PBBC survey. Last revised 27-07-2009, Lauro Antonio Del Cid