Uganda’s Dr. Godfrey Asea of NaCRRI was recognized for developing over 20 maize varieties, including drought-tolerant hybrids that support food security. His work has earned multiple breeding and technology awards from CIMMYT, reflecting CIMMYT’s commitment to advancing climate-resilient maize in Africa. As Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture warns against counterfeit seeds, CIMMYT’s efforts in supporting national research institutions remain crucial in ensuring farmers have access to high-quality, stress-tolerant seeds.
CIMMYT, in partnership with the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI), is transforming dryland farming by giving farmers access to drought-tolerant and disease-resistant crop varieties. Through the Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Systems in Africa (AVISA) project, many farmers have not only improved their yields but also built resilience to the challenges of unpredictable rainfall. Dennis Obua, a farmer who has benefited from these research advances, shares his inspiring journey to promote improved finger millet and groundnut seed varieties within his community.
“My name is Dennis Obua, a farmer from Tewayo village in Lira district. I began my farming journey back in 2018, inspired by the local farmers I met while visiting a nearby region. As I spent time with them, observing how they tilled the land, I felt a strong urge to get involved in farming myself—especially focusing on drought-tolerant cereals, which are crucial in our region due to inconsistent rainfall.
It all started with a small amount of finger millet seeds—just a handful that I obtained from NaSARRI. At the time, some visitors from NaSARRI had planted a few experimental plots nearby. One of my friends was conducting his own trials, so I approached him and asked for a small sample of seeds to plant on my farm. That was how I started growing improved finger millet varieties NAROMIL 2 and SEREMI 2 (U15). Now, I not only grow millet, but I am also actively promoting it in my community.
Dennis, a farmer from Teyawo village, has embraced improved, drought-tolerant varieties of ground nuts and finger millet (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
If you look around today, you will see that many people here have started growing finger millet here too. It’s becoming quite popular. In fact, recently, some researchers from Makerere University came to our village to look for finger millet, and I took them to a nearby home where they’re doing their own research on finger millet and sorghum.
More and more people are getting into farming now, especially finger millet, because it’s proving to be profitable. I’m really grateful for the way things have turned out. It’s incredible to see that something that started with just a small handful of seeds has grown into something so significant for our community.
Alongside finger millet, I also plant groundnuts. Currently, I have three different varieties planted in neat rows: SERENUT 8R, SERENUT 11, and SERENUT 14. Before these varieties were introduced to my farm, I used to grow a local variety called Red Beauty. We would get the seeds from our local market or sometimes travel to town to buy thembut often these seeds didn’t germinate well, so we started relying more on local farmers who save seeds from one season to the next. That’s how we accessed it. That’s how we got access to them. We also have auctions here at the beginning of the season where farmers bring seeds to sell.
Dennis showcases one of the groundnut varieties planted in his demonstration plot (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
However, since switching to these new varieties— SERENUT 8R, SERENUT 11, and SERENUT 14 —I’ve seen a significant difference. Among the three, SERENUT 14 is my favorite. I’ve been growing it for several seasons now. It’s drought tolerant, disease resistant, and produces a good yield. It also has a good number of pods. When I plant it, I can usually harvest 14 to 16 bags per acre, with each bag weighing between 42 to 46 kilograms. Compared to SERENUT 8R, which yields slightly less—around 12 to 14 bags per acre— SERENUT 14 performs better in our soil conditions.
What I appreciate most about SERENUT 14 is that it’s also more resistant to rot and rosette disease. While SERENUT 11 and SERENUT 8R varieties are also drought tolerant, SERENUT 14 has proven to be the most reliable, making it my preferred choice. When you consider yield, disease tolerance, and quality, SERENUT 14 stands out.
I am proud to say that I’m not the only one growing these improved varieties anymore. Many farmers in my village have adopted them because I’ve been giving them seeds, and they’ve seen the benefits for themselves. Now, they too are switching to these improved varieties of groundnut and finger millet. The two finger millet varieties I have been growing are NAROMIL 2 and SEREMI 2 (U15) and they are also catching up. Among them, NAROMIL 2 is my preferred variety because it yields well, is drought tolerant, and has a great taste — perfect for food. Before this, we only grew our local finger millet varieties. This is the first time we’ve been introduced to these improved varieties.
Dennis, displays a freshly harvested groundnut plant from his demonstration plot, showcasing the success of improved, drought-tolerant groundnut varieties (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Farming has allowed me to give back to my community. It’s amazing to see how the success of one farmer can affect an entire village. More farmers now understand the importance of using quality seeds that are not only drought-tolerant but also disease-resistant. They come to me for seeds because they trust the results they’ve seen.
That’s not to say there haven’t been challenges. There was one week where we had heavy rains after a long dry spell, which caused some of the groundnut plants to rot. Before that, there had been no rain after planting, although we had managed to do the initial weeding. I’m sure the yield would have been even better if the rains had been more consistent. Despite the challenges, the yield has still been great. That’s one of the reasons I like these varieties—they’re resilient.
I am grateful for the knowledge and experience I have gained. By sharing what I’ve learned, I hope to help more farmers in my community succeed, just as I have. I’ve seen first-hand how improved varieties of both finger millet and groundnuts can transform farming practices. The combination of drought tolerance, disease resistance, and high yield has made a significant difference to my farm’s production, and I’m hopeful that more farmers will continue to adopt these crops.”
In Kasoka village of Bukedea District in Uganda, Nelson Ekurutu, a dedicated farmer, is leading the way in agricultural experimentation. With support from the Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Systems in Africa (AVISA) project—funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and implemented in partnership with CIMMYT and the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI)—Nelson has embarked on a journey to test three new groundnut varieties: SERENUT 8, SERENUT 11, and SERENUT 14. The demonstration plots provide him with a platform to test new varieties, helping him and others understand what works best in their locality.
While Nelson is drawn to the SERENUT 11 variety for its attractive leaves, he remains cautious, knowing that the real test will come only after the harvest. “This is my first time planting these varieties,” he says. As curious neighbors pass by and inquire about the varieties, he explains, ‘We are testing new varieties, and we’ll know more about their performance and yields after the harvest.”
The AVISA project, which aims to improve the productivity of dryland crops such as groundnut, finger millet, and sorghum, plays a crucial role in Nelson’s work. With funding and technical support from CIMMYT and NaSARRI, farmers like Nelson are given the opportunity to test improved, drought-tolerant, and disease-resistant varieties. These varieties are designed to increase yields and help farmers become more resilient to climate change while enhancing production systems.
Nelson is trialing new varieties of ground nut, finger millet, and sorghum (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Nelson’s demonstration plots, using seed supplied by NaSARRI, are part of this initiative. CIMMYT has been instrumental in ensuring that these varieties are adapted to the local environment, while also working with NaSARRI to build farmers’ capacity through hands-on training and technical assistance.
In addition to groundnut, Nelson is also experimenting with finger millet and sorghum. He values the red finger millet variety SEREMI 2 for its quick maturity and larger heads. “I planted the finger millet on April 10th, and by July this year (2024), it was ready for harvest,” he says proudly. In addition to finger millet, he is also testing several sorghum varieties—NAROSORG 2, which is red, and SESO 1, which is white. Although he likes them all, Nelson has a clear preference: “I prefer the red sorghum because birds don’t eat it as much. When mixed with cassava, it makes a good atapa.” Atapa is a staple food in Uganda made by mixing cassava and sorghum flour and cooking it with water until it forms a firm, dough-like consistency. It is typically served as a side dish with stews, vegetables, or meat. Similar dishes are known by different names across the region—Ugali in Kenya, Sadza in Zimbabwe, and Pap in South Africa—underlining its importance in African cuisine.
Nelson showcases the SESO 1 sorghum variety that is white in color (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Nelson notes that although the white sorghum produces larger heads, it attracts more birds, requiring him to cover the heads to prevent damage. These trials represent Nelson’s first experience with these varieties, and he acknowledges the learning process involved. “The seed was sourced from NaSARRI specifically for these demonstration plots,” he explains. He believes that by seeing the results first-hand, other local farmers will be able to make informed decisions about adopting the new varieties for improved seed production.
Nelson’s demonstration plots serve as valuable learning sites for the wider farming community. By bridging the gap between research and farmers’ needs, the AVISA project ensures that scientific innovations reach those who need them most. Reflecting on his journey, Nelson describes the testing of these new varieties as a continuous learning experience. “I’ve been growing sorghum for a long time, and when people see how I grow it, they often ask about the variety and where they can get seeds,” he says. After his harvest, Nelson plans to share the seeds with nearby farmers while keeping some for his own future planting.
Although he hasn’t been involved in large-scale seed distribution before, Nelson sees potential for future collaboration. “There’s a group of sunflower and groundnut farmers who have organized themselves into a SACCO to access funding,” he says, referring to the Parish Development Model (PDM) initiative. This model could offer Nelson the opportunity to expand seed distribution and help more farmers access improved varieties.
Committed to helping local farmers adopt best practices, Nelson is eager to share his knowledge. “When people see how I grow the crops, they often ask for advice or seeds,” he says. He believes that organizing field days to showcase the new varieties would be an excellent way to engage more farmers and demonstrate the value of improved seeds.
Nelson prefers the NAROSORG 2 sorghum variety known for its resilience and red grain colour (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
One of the challenges Nelson frequently encounters is farmer’s poor planting practices. “Some farmers broadcast the seeds instead of planting them properly in rows,” he notes, stressing the importance of correct planting techniques. Despite this, he continues to share seeds and farming knowledge to help his fellow farmers to improve their yields.
Another key issue Nelson highlights is seed recycling, a crucial aspect of sustainable farming. “When you recycle seeds too much, they get tired,” he explains. For improved varieties, Nelson recommends recycling seeds no more than three times to maintain the health of the crop. “I recycle mine only twice. The local seeds can be recycled up to 20 times, but improved varieties don’t perform as well after a few cycles.”
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges for Nelson’s farming practices, but he remains hopeful. He believes that installing an irrigation system would help mitigate the effects of erratic rainfall and improve his yields. His willingness to try new techniques and experiment with new varieties shows his determination to find solutions in the face of adversity.
Nelson is optimistic that his trials with ground nut, sorghum, and millet will encourage other farmers to adopt improved varieties, increase seed production and lead to greater productivity in his village and beyond. Through programs like the AVISA project—supported by CIMMYT and NaSARRI—farmers like Nelson are gaining access to better seeds, growing more resilient crops, and improving food security in their communities.
At the heart of the agricultural sector, grain off-takers/processors play a crucial role in ensuring that farmers have access to quality seeds that can increase productivity and improve livelihoods. One such processor, AgriNet in Uganda, led by Paul Nyande is deeply involved in managing the complex dynamics of seed and grain production, market demand and variety turnover making a significant impact on both the farming community and the wider agricultural market.
AgriNet is known for its role in grain and legume markets. The company buys a range of grains and legumes, including sorghum, finger millet, soybeans, and maize. After buying these commodities from farmers, the company adds value by processing and packaging them for a diverse market. Their customers range from markets that demand raw grain to high-end consumers who buy blended flour for products such as porridge. AgriNet operates its own milling facility, enabling it to efficiently meet the needs of these different markets efficiently.
Variety turnover is central to the processor’s work. Over time, crop varieties that have been in use for 30 or 40 years become less relevant as new research leads to the development of improved varieties. These newer varieties are better suited to evolving market needs, offering traits that align with current preferences for drought tolerance, disease resistance, and higher yields.
Paul Nyande leads AgriNet, a company involved in managing seed and grain production (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
“We have definitely seen situations where the market asked for a particular variety, and we have worked with research institutions such as National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI) to fulfill that demand. This collaboration has led to shifts in what seed companies produce to keep pace with changing agricultural conditions and market needs,” explains the processor.
For example, through stakeholders’ interactions, AgriNet worked with NaSARRI, to communicate the market’s needs for crops such as maize and sorghum. NaSARRI produced foundation seeds based on these requirements, which the processor then marketed and distributed to specific farmers for production of certified seed that was given to grain producers. However, managing seed demand isn’t always straightforward, especially since the market can change rapidly.
“We’ve had instances where the market suddenly surged with high demand for sorghum seeds, but we couldn’t meet it,” says Paul. “Sometimes these opportunities arrive unexpectedly, and we’re not fully prepared to supply the required volumes.” Paul notes that they still need to promote and improve productivity, as there are gaps in farming practices that hinder maximum yields. One persistent challenge is Striga, a parasitic weed that significantly reduces cereal yields. To tackle this, Paul promotes crop rotation and integration, to help farmers manage such issues.
Despite these challenges, AgriNet has made strategic efforts to manage the risks associated with seed production. By working closely with partners like NaSARRI and using foundation seed, they have been able to balance supply and demand. The processor typically manages seed for one or two generations before reintroducing new varieties to keep up with changing market conditions.
Paul with the CIMMYT and NaSARRI team at his office during their visit to learn more about AgriNet (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
The role of technology and partnerships
A key part of AgriNet’s work is maintaining a robust supply chain. Using digital platforms, they have developed a system to profile farmers, track training sessions, monitor input distribution and communicate with farmers in real time via SMS. “We can send out information about market prices, weather updates, or available seeds. It’s a great tool, but maintaining the platform requires significant resourcesto maintain the platform,” says the processor.
AgriNet currently works with around 2,000 farmers groups and have also developed an agent network to engage with these groups more effectively. Each agent works with multiple farmer groups, facilitating sales, input distribution, and grain purchases. This structure not only ensures efficient operations but also creates accountability by holding agents responsible for managing the process.
However, one of the biggest challenges facing processors is capacity. They need to expand their storage and processing facilities to take in more grain, especially during the rainy season. Without sufficient storage and drying facilities, their ability to process large volumes of grain is limited, which in turn affects their ability to meet market demand.
Balancing seed and grain markets
Paul emphasizes the difference between seed and grain. “For grain, we don’t face many issues. We can store it for a long time by fumigating it and keeping it safe. But seeds are different—you can’t keep them for long. They need to be used within a specific timeframe.” This dynamic adds complexity to the seed business, especially when the market shows a sudden spike in demand.
Pricing is another challenge. “We used to think about getting seeds cheaply—from research and then to farmers. But there are costs involved, and you have to consider the seed market carefully and how it compares with others,” he says. It’s important to find the right balance between affordable prices for farmers and maintaining sustainable business operations.
The way forward: Expanding capacity and supporting farmers
Paul is focused on expanding AgriNet’s storage and processing capabilities to better manage the supply chain and take in more grain during peak seasons. Increasing their capacity would allow them to meet the growing market demand more effectively.
There’s also a strong need to support smallholder farmers, particularly in terms of access to quality seed. “We need to ensure that farmers have access to quality inputs at affordable prices,” he emphasizes. “Subsidizing seeds or finding sustainable ways to produce them for the most vulnerable farmers could encourage the adoption of improved varieties, which would increase yields and incomes.”
Paul also acknowledges that improving farming practices is critical to achieving higher productivity. While they have good seed varieties available, the challenge lies in ensuring that farmers follow the correct management practices to fully realize the potential of these seeds.
AgriNet’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. The company has been recognized as one of Uganda’s top 100 medium enterprises for 2017/2018 and 2018/2019, a testament to its commitment to quality, innovation, and market responsiveness. This recognition highlights AgriNet’s ability to navigate the complex agricultural landscape while continuously striving to improve its operations and support the farming community.
In its mission to boost agricultural productivity, AgriNet benefits from key partnerships with NaSARRI, which works in collaboration with CIMMYT, through the Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Systems in Africa (AVISA) project, to ensure farmers have access to improved seed varieties. By aligning research with market demands and processor capacity, CIMMYT and NaSARRI are helping to bridge the gap between innovation and practical solutions that directly benefit farmers.
On the lush soils of Uganda, four farmers are using awareness creation demonstration plots to showcase the performance of improved varieties of groundnut, sorghum, and finger millet and their impact on transforming transform livelihoods.
Not only are these farmers improving their yields, but they are also inspiring their neighbours to adopt more resilient and climate-smart crops as part of a larger collaboration initiative between the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI) and CIMMYT through the Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Systems in Africa (AVISA) project. The AVISA project, funded by BMGF, aims to improve food security and resilience in the drylands of Uganda and other eight countries in eastern and southern Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, South Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). The efforts of these four farmers in Uganda highlight the importance of demonstration plots as a powerful tool for creating awareness and promoting transformational agricultural technologies like improved crop varieties and other recommended agronomic practices.
Dennis Obua, a farmer from Teyawo village, has embraced improved, drought-tolerant varieties of ground nuts and finger millet (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Demonstration plots serve as practical, hands-on learning sites, where farmers can observe the performance of improved crop varieties under farming conditions in their localities. Apart fromdemonstrating crop performance, these demonstration plotsalso serve as sources of seed for the farmers, which when selected can be grown in bigger plots in subsequent seasons targeting seed production. This ensures that seed of the target crop varieties are available to local farmers. Through these demonstration plots, farmers not only witness firsthandimproved yields,but farmersalso make informed decisions for adoption of specific varieties for their environments toimproveproductivity, food security and resilience, especially in regions vulnerable to climate change. They also providea platform for knowledgesharing, as farmers can interact with other farmers, researchers and extension agentsto enhance uptake of practices that lead to success.
Farmers Driving Variety Adoption through Demonstration Plots
In Lira District, Dennis Obua, a farmer from Teyawo village, has embraced improved varieties of drought-tolerant crops. His journey into farming began in 2018 after observing the challenges faced by local farmers due to inconsistent rainfall. He started small, with a handful of finger millet seed obtained from NaSSARI, which he multiplied and shared with neighbouring farmers. With support from the seed systems unit at NaSSARI, Dennis now manages demonstration plots of groundnut, sorghum, and finger millet and promotes these crops in his community.
In the current season of 2024 (Mar-Jul), Dennis planted three improved groundnut varieties — SERENUT 8R, SERENUT 11 and SERENUT 14, which were released in 2011. In his assessment, his preferred variety is SERENUT 14 as it yields about 14 to 16 bags per acre. The variety is drought tolerant, disease resistant, especially rot and rosette, produces a good yield and also has a good number of pods. Under demonstration are two finger millet varieties, NAROMIL 2 and SEREMI 2 (U15) though he prefers NAROMIL 2 (released in 2017) for its drought tolerance, high yield and red colour of the grain. His success has inspired many local farmers to adopt these improved varieties, with many seeking seeds to grow on their own plots. The seed demand generated from these demonstration plots is communicated by the host farmer to the research institute, which works on making the seed available through local entities. The host farmer keeps records of seed requests and preferred varieties from farmers visiting the demonstrations.
Bagonza Simon oversees demonstration plots, which serve as a hub for agricultural learning, showcasing groundnut, finger millet, and sorghum varieties (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
At the Kihola Demonstration Centre, the farm manager, Bagonza Simon oversees demonstration plots that serve as a hub for agricultural learning. Working with NaSARRI, Simon has introduced improved varieties of groundnut (SERENUT 8R, SERENUT 11, and SERENUT 14), sorghum (NAROSORGH 2 and SESO 1), and finger millet (NAROMIL 2 and SEREMI 2). Farmers visit the center to observe these varieties and learn about their benefits. The selection of preferred sorghum varieties by farmers appears to be influenced by the degree of bird damage observed across different types. For example, the white-grained sorghum (SESO 1) suffered significant bird damage, which led farmers to naturally favor the red-grained NAROSORG-2, released in 2017. In addition to being less susceptible to bird damage, NAROSORG-2 also demonstrates drought and striga tolerance, further enhancing its appeal among farmers.
Simon has been particularly impressed by the attributes of the groundnut variety SERENUT 8R, which has performed well despite the challenging weather conditions observed in the season characterized by very erratic rainfall patterns. His demonstration plots have become a beacon of hope and innovation, inspiring local farmers to adopt drought-tolerant crop varieties. Farmer to farmer seed exchanges are common in this locality due to seed shortages and he therefore plans to share seed from his plots to interested farmers and is working with NaSARRI to expand seed availability across the region.
Steven Odel from Kaloka village has drought-tolerant varieties of sorghum, finger millet, and groundnut in his demonstration plot (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
In Bukedea District, farmers Steven Odel from Kaloka village and Nelson Ekurutu from Kasoka village are also leading the way with their demonstration plots. Both are testing drought-tolerant varieties of sorghum, finger millet, and groundnut. While Steven encountered challenges with his sorghum crop due to midge attacks, he has had great success with NAROSORG-2, which he describes as having better germination and faster maturity, and therefore enabling the plants to escape midge attack.
Steven is also growing red finger millet variety SEREMI2, which is very popular for its early maturity and high market demand for making porridge and local beer. He regularly hosts farmers on his plots, sharing his knowledge and experience.
Nelson Ekurutu is trialling three new groundnut varieties—SERENUT 8, SERENUT 11, and SERENUT 14—and is optimistic about their performance. His experience with finger millet, particularly the red variety- SEREMI2, has been positive, noting its fast growth and high demand in local markets. Nelson also grows red sorghum (NAROSORG 2), which he prefers for its resistance to bird damage. These demonstration plots provide a platform for Steven and Nelson to test new varieties in their local context, helping them and others understand what works best in their locality.
Nelson Ekurutu is trialing new varieties of ground nut, finger millet, and sorghum (Photo: Marion Aluoch/CIMMYT)
Increasing awareness and seed availability
Utilizing these demonstrations to bring new varieties closer to farmers can further accelerate seed uptake and demand. Farmer-managed demonstrations in their own environments ensure that variety selections align with local preferences and adaptability. Farmers who consistently host these demonstrations build trust in the varieties within their communities, while also creating opportunities for local seed businesses to explore. Strengthening the linkages between research institutions, farmers, and seed producers is crucial for ensuring the rapid adoption of new and improved varieties. Additionally, the distribution of small seed packs at scale is essential to enable more farmers to test these varieties on their own farms, ensuring wider adoption and transforming livelihoods in these communities.
CIMMYT is collaborating in a major project in Uganda, led by NaSARRI, to fortify sorghum with the essential nutrients iron and zinc to combat malnutrition in East Africa. Over four years, this partnership, which includes universities and research organizations, aims to improve the nutritional value of sorghum for human and livestock consumption using conventional breeding. This effort reflects CIMMYT’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and food security, with a focus on improving crop quality and safety to support healthier communities and livestock.
Written by mcallejas on . Posted in Uncategorized.
Kelvin Mulungu is an Agricultural Economist whose main research interests lie at the intersection of natural resources, food, and climate change. He has extensive experience in development work in several African countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia, and some Asian countries. His current research at CIMMYT focuses on understanding social enablers and barriers to adoption, assessing the impact of different agricultural technologies, and testing social incentives to improve farmer adoption of agricultural technologies. He is interested in applying the latest econometric advances to provide rigorous evidence on development challenges in developing countries.
Prior to joining CIMMYT, Kelvin was a research manager at HarvestPlus Zambia, a postdoctoral researcher at AfricaRice, and most recently a postdoctoral fellow at the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Nairobi, Kenya. He holds a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from Colorado State University (USA), an MSc in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Egerton University (Kenya), and a BSc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Zambia.
CIMMYT and partners in Kenya recently marked the 10th anniversary of two major facilities that have been crucial for maize breeding in sub-Saharan Africa. The Maize Doubled-Haploid (DH) facility and the Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) screening facility at the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) centers in Naivasha and Kiboko, respectively, have made immense contributions to the rapid development of higher-yielding, climate-resilient and disease-resistant maize varieties for smallholder farmers across the continent.
An aerial photo of the Naivasha Research Center. (Photo: CIMMYT)
“These two facilities have been instrumental in furthering KALRO’s mission to utilize technology in the service of Kenya’s smallholder farmers,” said KALRO Director General/CEO, Eliud Kireger. “They also exhibit the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that is necessary for us to meet all the challenges to our food systems.”
“Deploying a higher yielding maize variety may not be impactful in eastern Africa if that variety does not have resistance to a devastating disease like MLN,” said CIMMYT’s Director General Bram Govaerts. “These two facilities demonstrate the holistic methods which are key to working towards a more productive, inclusive and resilient agrifood system.”
Maize DH facility
Hybrid maize varieties have much higher yields than open-pollinated varieties and are key to unlocking the agricultural potential of maize producing countries. The doubled haploid process is an innovative technology producing within a year genetically true-to-type maize lines that serve as building blocks for improved maize hybrids.
Unlike conventional breeding, which takes at least 7 to 8 generations or crop seasons to develop parental lines, DH lines are generated within two seasons, saving significant time, labor and other resources. DH maize lines are highly uniform, genetically stable, and are more amenable to the application of modern molecular tools, making them perfect resources for breeding elite maize hybrids.
Workers in the Kiboko Double Haploid facility. (Photo: CIMMYT)
The aim of CIMMYT’s maize DH facility is to empower the breeding programs throughout the low-and middle-income countries in Africa by offering a competitive, accessible, not-for-profit DH production service that will accelerate their rate of genetic gain and fast-track development of improved maize varieties for farming communities.
Since 2017, the DH facility has delivered 280,000 DH lines from 1,840 populations of which 20% were delivered to public and private sector partners. CIMMYT maize breeding programs and partner organizations have embraced the use of DH technology, with many of the newest maize hybrids released in Africa being derived from DH lines. The facility has also served as a training ground so far for over 60 scientists and hundreds of undergraduate students in modern breeding technologies.
“Before 2013, DH technology was mainly employed by private, multinational corporations in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America,” said CIMMYT’s DH Facility Manager, Vijay Chaikam. “But the DH facility operated by CIMMYT at the KALRO Kiboko research station is specifically targeted at strengthening the maize breeding programs by the public sector institutions as well as small-and medium-size enterprise seed companies in Africa.”
The maize DH facility at Kiboko, Kenya, was established with funding support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and inaugurated in September 2013. The facility includes an administrative building, seed quality laboratory, training resources, artificial seed dyer, a cold-storage seed room, a chromosome doubling laboratory, greenhouse and a state-of-the-art irrigation system to support year-round DH production in the 17-hectare nursery.
MLN screening facility
MLN is a devastating viral disease that can decimate farmers’ fields, causing premature plant death and unfilled, poorly formed maize ears, and can lead to up to 100 percent yield loss in farmers’ fields. Though known in other parts of the world for decades, the disease was first identified in eastern Africa in 2011. By 2015, MLN had rapidly spread across eastern Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia. CIMMYT scientists quickly discovered that almost all the commercial maize cultivars in eastern Africa were highly susceptible to the disease.
Against this backdrop, CIMMYT and KALRO recognized the urgent need for establishing a screening facility to provide MLN phenotyping service and effectively manage the risk of MLN on maize production through screening of germplasm and identifying MLN-resistant sources. The facility was built with funding support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, and inaugurated in September 2013.
Resistant and susceptible line at the Maize Lethal Necrosis facility. (Photo: CIMMYT)
“The MLN screening facility is a key regional resource in breeding for resistance to a devastating viral disease. The facility is indeed one of the key factors behind successful management of MLN and helping stem the tide of losses in eastern Africa,” said Director of the Global Maize Program at CIMMYT and One CGIAR Plant Health Initiative, B.M. Prasanna. “Fighting diseases like MLN, which do not respect political boundaries, requires strong regional and local collaboration. The successes achieved through the MLN Screening facility in the past 10 years embody that spirit of collaboration.” Indeed, farmers in the region now have access to over twenty genetically diverse, MLN-tolerant/resistant maize hybrids released in eastern and southern Africa.
The facility is the largest dedicated MLN screening facility in Africa and has evaluated over 230,000 accessions (over 330,000 rows of maize) from CIMMYT and partners, including over 15 national research programs, national and multinational seed companies. The facility covers 20 hectares, of which 17 hectares are used for field screening of germplasm. Dedicated laboratories and screen houses cover the remaining 3 hectares.
“MLN phenotyping service is conducted under stringent quarantine standards and the high-quality data is shared with all the CGIAR and public and private partners. The MLN screening service has helped breeding programs across the continent, aided in undertaking epidemiological research activities, and supported capacity building of students from diverse institutions, and regional stakeholders regarding MLN diagnosis and best management practices,” said CIMMYT’s Maize Pathologist in Africa, L.M. Suresh.
“The output of MLN resistant lines and hybrids has been remarkable,” said Director of Phytosanitary and Biosecurity at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), Isaac Macharia. “And the facility has strictly adhered to quarantine regulations.”
In Uganda, the MLN facility was crucial in the “release of the first-generation MLN tolerant hybrids and dissemination of MLN knowledge products that minimized the economic impact of MLN,” said the Director of Research of the National Crops Resources Research Institute, Godfrey Asea.
Peter Mbogo, maize breeder with Seed Co Group, said, “This is the only quarantine facility in the world where you can screen against MLN under artificial inoculation. It has been an excellent return on investment.”
East and Southern Africa is a climate hotspot, with more than US$45 billion in agricultural production at risk from higher temperatures, shorter growing seasons and more extreme droughts and floods. Maize, a staple crop covering up to 75% of cropland in parts of the region, is particularly vulnerable and is projected to face yield declines of 15%, among other climate impacts if no adaptation measures are taken. Many of the affected areas already have serious levels of hunger and malnutrition, with the highest burden experienced by women and youth from marginalized and vulnerable communities. If these systems are sustainably diversified, they can contribute to stabilizing regional and global agrifood systems.
The next decade will be critical for strengthening food, land and water systems in East and Southern Africa. The agribusiness ecosystem for both regions has been identified as a critical engine for agricultural and economic development, climate change adaptation and gender and youth empowerment. Investment in innovation, capabilities and supportive environments will be essential for driving sustainable growth.
Objective
This Initiative aims to support climate-resilient agriculture and livelihoods in 12 countries in East and Southern Africa by helping millions of smallholders intensify, diversify and reduce the risks in maize-based farming through improved extension services, small and medium enterprise development, supporting governance frameworks and increased investment with a gender and social inclusion lens.
Activities
This objective will be achieved through:
Diversifying and sustainably intensifying production by assessing needs and options for the introduction of crops, livestock, mechanization and irrigation, applying innovations in value chains and building capacity while scaling to larger farming communities.
Reducing risk and digitalizing value chains by co-designing and delivering “Innovation Package” bundles of digital agro-advisory systems and research management products — including mobile apps, TV programs and social media — to build resilience and improve productivity.
Supporting and accelerating value chain business enablers in maize mixed systems by using CGIAR’s expertise and partner network to unlock access to funding, investment and tailored technical assistance.
Promoting the governing and enabling of multifunctional landscapes for sustainable diversification and intensification with a focus on strengthening the evidence base for decision-makers.
Empowering and engaging women and youth in agribusiness ecosystems by mapping challenges and opportunities to address gender and social inequality and applying inclusive and coordinated interventions for transformative change.
Scaling innovations and coordinating CGIAR and partner activities in the region through a scaling hub that uses the “scaling readiness” approach to inform, activate and bring to scale innovations that respond to regional or country demand.
Inadequate seed supply and delivery systems, sometimes also misaligned with user and market demand, mean that smallholders often recycle seed or use older varieties, leaving them more vulnerable to pests and diseases. Small-scale farmers, especially women and other disadvantaged groups, are particularly vulnerable to climate-related challenges, such as more frequent and severe droughts and erratic rainfall. Additionally, farmers may not be well informed about varietal options available to them or may be reluctant to experiment with new varieties. These challenges threaten agricultural production and can compromise their ability to meet their own food, nutrition and income needs.
Improved varieties, innovations and approaches developed and promoted by CGIAR and partners could transform agrifood systems and reduce yield gaps, “hunger months” and other disparities. However, limited access to and use of affordable, quality seed of well-adapted varieties with desired traits, means these bottlenecks remain.
This Initiative aims to support the delivery of seed of improved, climate-resilient, market-preferred and nutritious varieties of priority crops, embodying a high rate of genetic gain to farmers, ensuring equitable access for women and other disadvantaged groups.
This objective will be achieved through:
Supporting demand-driven cereal seed systems for more effective delivery of genetic gains from One CGIAR cereal breeding, as well as improving government, private sector and farmer-based capacity to deliver productive, resilient and preferred varieties to smallholders.
Boosting legume seed through a demand-led approach that builds on growing demand for grain legumes. This multistakeholder approach will strengthen partnerships to provide efficient, more predictable and demand-led access to quality seed of new varieties.
Scaling and delivering vegetatively propagated crop seed through sustainable enhanced delivery pathways that efficiently target different market segments and farmer preferences.
Supporting partnerships (including with smallholders), capacity building and coordination to ensure uptake of public-bred varieties and other innovations by providing technical assistance for national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES) and foundation seed organizations in early-generation seed production and on-farm demonstrations.
Developing and implementing policies for varietal turnover, seed quality assurance and trade in seeds by leveraging global expertise and experience to generate both the evidence and engagement necessary to advance efficient, sustainable, and inclusive seed markets that promote varietal turnover and wider adoption.
Scaling equitable access to quality seed and traits in order to reach the unreached and provide inclusive accesswhile addressing gender and social constraints and the digital divide.
Engagement
This Initiative will work in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania as a priority,followed by other countries in Latin America, South and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Outcomes
Proposed 3-year outcomes include:
Robust tools developed and used by funders, developers, researchers and extension staff to sustainably measure and monitor key seed system metrics.
Increase of 10% in the quantity of quality seed of improved “best-fit” and farmer-preferred varieties available to farmers in representative crops and geographies due to increased capacity of seed companies and other seed multipliers (including farm-based seed actors).
Public and private seed enterprises adopting innovative and transformative models for accessing, disseminating and multiplying quality early-generation seed, reducing cost and increasing output.
Reduction of 5% in weighted average varietal age for priority crops in selected countries.
Government partners in policy design and implementation actively promote policy solutions to accelerate varietal turnover, adoption and quality seed use.
Resource-poor farmers in low-income and middle-income countries will hugely benefit from improved crop varieties that perform better in terms of nutritional quality, income generation, water and nutrient use, stability of yields under climate change, and the needs of both women and men as farmers and as consumers.
However, many smallholder farmers still grow old varieties, in part because they derive inadequate benefits from recent breeding efforts. To trigger timely adoption, new varieties must be widely available and affordable to farmers, and offer a step-change in performance through higher rates of genetic gain. A faster pace of varietal turnover is critical – to enable farmers to adapt and advance rapidly as climatic and market conditions change.
Breeding programs also need a greater focus on developing farmer- and consumer- preferred varieties adapted to distinct production environments, markets and end uses. This can be facilitated by smarter design of breeding programs; stronger partnerships between CGIAR, National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs); and strengthened organizational capacity.
This Initiative aims to develop better-performing, farmer-preferred crop varieties and to decrease the average age of varieties in farmers’ fields, providing real-time adaptation to climate change, evolving markets and production systems.
The objective will be achieved through:
Re-focusing breeding teams and objectives on farmers’ needs, in particular the needs of women, through achievable product profiles and breeding pipelines targeting prioritized regions and market segments.
Reorganizingbreeding teams to drive efficiency gains through the coordinated engagement of specialists and processes using a common organizational framework, stage gates, key performance indicators and handover criteria.
Transforming towards inclusive, impactful CGIAR-NARES-SME breeding networks with empowered partners, along with customized capacity building, standardized key performance indicators, and by dividing labor and resources across partners according to comparative advantage and aligned with national priorities.
Discovering optimum traits and deployments through agile, demand-driven and effective trait discovery and deployment pipelines, and development of elite donor lines with novel and highly valuable traits.
Acceleratingpopulation improvement and variety identification through optimizing breeding pipelines (trailing, parent selection, cycle time, use of Breeding Resources tools and services, etc.), with the goal of assuring all programs deliver market-demanded varieties that deliver greater rates of genetic gain per dollar invested.
Engagement
This Initiative will work with breeding programs serving countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia, along with Asia and Latin America.Priority countries for the Initiative includeGhana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa, and Bangladesh and India in South Asia.
Outcomes
Proposed 3-year outcomes include:
At least 75% of breeding pipelines are oriented towards specific market segments, enabling greater focus on farmers’ needs, drivers of adoption, distinct impact areas and the strategic allocation of resources.
At least 70% of breeding pipelines use a revised organizational framework that provides operational clarity and effectiveness for specialized teams pursuing breeding outputs.
At least 80% of the breeding networks have implemented documented steps toward stronger partnership models where NARES and SMEs have increased breeding capacity, and make greater scientific, operational and decision-making contributions to the breeding process.
At least 50% of breeding pipelines are supported by a dedicated trait discovery and deployment program that delivers high-impact traits in the form of elite parental lines.
At least 70% of breeding pipelines have increased the rate of genetic gain in the form of farmer-preferred varieties, with at least 50% providing significantly improved varieties delivered to seed system recipients.
Members of Umoja, Tuaminiane, Upendo and Ukombozi groundnut farming groups in Naliendele, Tanzania showing their groundnut harvests in May 2022. (Photo: Susan Otieno/CIMMYT)
The Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Cereals in Africa (AVISA) project has developed draft national groundnut target product profiles in Malawi, Mozambique, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Groundnut is grown in eastern and southern Africa, where it remains an important food and oil crop from small holder farmers.
The new findings from the project are a result of work from groundnut crop breeding and improvement teams from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES) representatives from the six largest groundnut producing countries in the eastern and southern Africa region.
Their important research was carried out with the support of representatives from the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) and CGIAR.
Developing target product profiles for groundnut
For the first time, through the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)-led AVISA program, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, groundnut breeding teams discussed and documented country level priorities at a meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Their findings were developed using a standard target product profile template recently developed by CGIAR Excellence in Breeding (EiB) in conjunction with CGIAR’s Market Intelligence Initiative. The template serves as a tool to capture market segments and develop targeted product profiles.
The groundnut breeding teams also shared information on current groundnut production metrics and trends in the six national programs. This also helped to establish a common understanding of countries’ level research priorities.
Futhi Magagula from CCARDESA and Elailani Abdalla, Mohamed Ahmed and Abdelrazeg Badadi from ARC-Sudan deliberate on groundnut market segments for Sudan. (Photo: Biswanath Das/CIMMYT)
Agnes Gitonga, market strategist at CGIAR Genetic Innovations Action Area, who led the team in understanding and applying the template, explained that the quality of a target product profile (TPP) is dependent on how well market segments are defined. “To ensure target product profiles are an accurate reflection of customer needs, who include farmers, consumers, and processors,” she said.
“National groundnut teams nominated Country Product Design Teams that will meet nationally before the end of 2022 to review and update country TPPs. These multi-stakeholder teams will ensure that the needs of diverse groups are captured and that breeding efforts are accurately focused.”.
Harish Gandhi, Breeding Lead, Dryland Legumes and Cereals (DLC) at CIMMYT, further explained that a bottom-up approach for defining country and regional priorities was used, where each country defined market segments and target product profile based on the use of the produce and growing conditions of farmers. This strategy involved each country defining its market segments and TPP, which was based on the use of the produce and growing conditions of farmers.
Building on the draft national target product profiles that were defined at the meeting, participants went on to prioritize traits such as diseases, nutrition and stress tolerance. These factors can be critical at regional level and important in identifying potential locations for conducting phenotyping. The phenotyping locations are distributed based on capacity of stations in different countries to screen for traits, such as late leaf spot disease screening in Msekera in Zambia, which is a known hotspot for the disease.
“We had a good opportunity to consider grower needs as well as consumer needs in each country for purposes of defining the relevant groundnuts market segments. I believe this will have a positive impact on future work in groundnuts in the East and Southern Africa region,” reflected Gitonga.
The collaboration of the teams involved was a key factor for the project’s success so far and will be crucial in working towards its goals in the future.
“Involving different stakeholders in designing target product profile was an effective way of enabling transformation of individual preferences (area of interest) to collective preferences (targeted product) with consumer needs and markets in mind,” said Happy Daudi, Groundnut Breeding lead at the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI).
Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) Naliendele Station Groundnut Research Team ((L-R) Bakari Kidunda, Gerald Lukurugu, Anthony Bujiku and Dr. Happy Daudi) deliberate on national groundnut breeding priorities. (Photo: Biswanath Das/CIMMYT)
Strengthening groundnut breeding programs in east and southern Africa
The project’s first meeting will provide an important foundation for future research, which will use the new findings as a blueprint.
Biswanath Das, Plant Breeder, Groundnut for East and Southern Africa region and NARES Coordinator and Programming lead for EiB said, “Defining national TPPs, identifying regionally important traits and mapping a testing network are fundamental building blocks of a modern breeding program.”
At the meeting, a schedule was laid out for peer-to-peer assessments of breeding programs within the regional network to take stock of current efforts and gaps. This step helps to develop customized capacity development plans for each network partner.
“Through targeted and demand led capacity development, the East and Southern Africa groundnut crop improvement network aspires to strengthen the role of each network member in collaborative, regional breeding efforts,” Das said.
The meeting laid the ground for coordinated regional groundnut breeding and took steps towards formalizing a regional NARES-CGIAR-SME groundnut crop improvement network. By building on excellent connections that already exist among national groundnut breeding teams. Das underscored that the move will strengthen alignment of NARES, CGIAR and regional research efforts around a common vision of success.
In addition, David Okello who leads groundnut research at National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) Uganda, noted that the meeting provided a good opportunity for consolidating the existing network. He also looked forward to welcoming more groundnut improvement programs in the region on board.
Smallholdings represent over 80% of the world’s farms, mostly located in the Global South, and supply 50% of global food. Enhanced agronomy management has a great potential to increase productivity, sustainability, efficiency and competitiveness of these smallholdings, which is characterized by low and variable yields and profitability, smallholder farming challenges include water scarcity, climate change, low resource use efficiencies and declining soil health. These result in negative impacts on food and nutrition security, equitable livelihoods and ecosystem health.
Smallholder farmers seasonally make critical agronomic decisions regarding crop choice, planting dates and pest, disease, weed, soil fertility and water management, often based on suboptimal practices and information. Traditional agronomic research enhances our understanding of basic processes, but with limited connection to stakeholder demand and often based on outdated approaches. The development, deployment and uptake of interventions is hampered by social, economic and institutional constraints, further confounded by adherence to conventional supply-driven innovation strategies.
Objective
This Initiative aims to deliveran increase in productivity and quality per unit of input (agronomic gain) for millions of smallholder farming households in prioritized farming systems by 2030, with an emphasis on women and young farmers, showing a measurable impact on food and nutrition security, income, resource use, soil health, climate resilience and climate change mitigation.
Activities
This objective will be achieved through:
Facilitating the delivery of agronomy-at-scale solutions, including development and technical/user-experience validation and the co-creation and deployment of gender- and youth-responsive solutions to smallholder farmers via scaling partners.
Enabling the creation of value from big data and advanced analytics through the assembly and governance of data and tools; application of existing analytics and solutions for specific use cases; supply of information on climate impacts, inclusivity and sustainability of agronomic solutions; and national agricultural research system capacity strengthening.
Driving the next generation of agronomy-at-scale innovations by addressing key knowledge gaps and facilitating innovation in agronomy research through engagement with partners.
Nurturing internal efficiencies for an agile and demand-driven agronomy research and development community through internal organization and external partnerships for prioritization, demand mapping and foresight.
Effective plant health management is critical for improving the productivity, profitability, sustainability and resilience of agrifood systems. Yet, farming communities, especially in low- and middle-income countries, struggle to contain existing and emerging plant pests and diseases. Each year, these threats cause on average 10–40% losses to major food crops, costing the global economy around US$220 billion. The highest losses are associated with food-deficit regions with fast-growing populations.
Increasing international trade and travel, coupled with weak phytosanitary systems, are accelerating the global spread of pests and diseases. The situation is exacerbated by climate change, with agricultural intensification and diversification driving the emergence of new threats. These burdens fall disproportionately on poorly resourced communities, especially women and youth in rural areas.
Diagnostic capacity, global-scale surveillance data, risk prediction/forecasting and rapid response and management systems for major pests and diseases are still lacking. Inadequate information and knowledge of and access to climate-smart control options leave smallholders and marginalized communities ill-equipped to respond to biotic threats. Environmental and health effects of toxic pesticides, exposure to mycotoxins and acute unintentional pesticide poisoning are major concerns.
Objective
This Initiative aims to protect agriculture-based economies of low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America from devastating crop pest incursions and disease outbreaksby developing, validating and deploying inclusive innovations, and by leveraging and building viable networks across an array of national, regional and global institutions.
Activities
This objective will be achieved by:
Bridging knowledge gaps and networks for plant health threat identification and characterization, focusing on strengthening the diagnostic and surveillance capacity of national plant protection organizations and national agricultural research and extension systems, and facilitating knowledge exchange on pests and diseases.
Building capability of relevant national stakeholders for risk assessment, and data management and guiding preparedness for rapid response, focusing on controlling the introduction and spread of pests and diseases by developing and enhancing tools, standards and policies.
Improving integrated pest and disease management, focusing on designing and deploying approaches against prioritized plant health threats in targeted crops and cropping systems.
Designing and deploying tools and processes for protecting food chains from contamination, specifically,through innovations for reducing mycotoxin contamination to protect health, increase food/feed safety, enhance trade, diversify end-use and boost income.
Promoting gender-equitable and socially inclusive scaling of plant health innovations to achieve impacts through multistakeholder partnerships, inter-disciplinary research, effective communications and capacity development.
Participants of the kick-off meeting for the Ukama Ustawi Initiative stand for a group photo in Nairobi, Kenya. (Photo: Mwihaki Mundia/ILRI)
Partners of CGIAR’s new regional integrated Initiative in eastern and southern Africa held a kick-off meeting in Nairobi on March 2–3, 2022. Eighty-five people participated, including national agricultural research extension programs, government representatives, private sector actors, funders and national and regional agricultural research and development organizations.
Entitled Ukama Ustawi, the Initiative aims to support climate-smart agriculture and livelihoods in 12 countries in eastern and southern Africa: Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe (in Phase 1); Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda (in Phase 2); and Eswatini, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa (in Phase 3).
The Initiative aims to help millions of smallholders intensify, diversify and de-risk maize-mixed farming through improved extension services, institutional capacity strengthening, targeted farm management bundles, policy support, enterprise development and private investment.
Ukama Ustawi is a bilingual word derived from the Shona and Swahili languages. In Shona, Ukama refers to partnerships, and in Swahili, Ustawi means well-being and development. Together, they resemble the vision for the Initiative to achieve system-level development through innovative partnerships.
The meeting brought together partners to get to know each other, understand roles and responsibilities, identify priorities for 2022, and review the cross-cutting programmatic underpinnings of Ukama Ustawi — including gender and social inclusion, capacity strengthening and learning.
Baitsi Podisi, representing the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), said he is excited to be part of the Initiative: “CCARDESA, in its cooperation and coordination mandate, can learn a lot from CGIAR in restructuring to respond to the changing times.” Podisi supported the partnership with CGIAR in the Initiative’s embedded approach to policy dialogue, working with partners such as CCARDESA, the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) and the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN).
Similarly, FANRPAN’s Francis Hale emphasized the need not to re-invent the wheel but to work with partners who already have a convening power, to advance the policy agenda for diversification and sustainable intensification.
What were key issues discussed?
One of the features of Ukama Ustawi is the use of four interconnected platforms: a scaling hub, a policy hub, an accelerator program and a learning platform. These will provide spaces for exchange and learning with partners across all CGIAR Initiatives in the region. Partners conducted a series of ‘fishbowl’ interactions across work packages to review the planned activities and provide a clearer understanding of deliverables, identify synergies, potential overlaps, common partners and countries, and set timelines.
The Initiative will work with innovative multimedia platforms to change knowledge, attitudes and practices of millions of farmers in eastern and southern Africa. One key partner in this area is the Shamba Shape Up TV show and the iShamba digital platform. Sophie Rottman, Producer of Shamba Shape Up, said she is looking forward to the work with Initiative partners, that will help expand the show to Uganda and Zambia.
Jean Claude Rubyogo, representing the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) said: “It is time we move away from CGIAR-initiated to country-initiated development activities. This is what Ukama Ustawi is all about”.
Martin Kropff, Global Director of Resilient Agrifood Systems at CGIAR, explained CGIAR’s regional integrated initiatives are designed to respond to national/regional demands. “The initiatives will start by working with partners to assess the food and nutritional challenges in the region, and tackle them by bringing in innovative solutions.”
The event was concluded by agreeing on the implementation of the inception phase of the Ukama Ustawi Initiative, and follow-on discussions to finalize key activities in 2022.
