RTB Working Papers

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/81007

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 47

Gendered mapping and consumer testing of steamed matooke in urban areas of Uganda
(Working Paper, 2022-01) Ajambo, S.; Tinyiro, E.S.; Kikulwe, Enoch Mutebi
Cooking banana or matooke is a key staple food for Ugandans, usually consumed in steamed form. Breeding interventions over the years have focused on increasing productivity for farmers especially in lieu of resolving constraints such as pests and diseases and adverse weather (drought). However, despite gains in productivity due to improved or superior cultivars, end-user uptake remained lukewarm. As a result, it was important to understand the underlying reasons for this leading to the studies that sought to investigate end-user preferences for the matooke consumed along the value chain beyond farmer fields. The current study focused on exploring the attributes of steamed matooke that are desirable or undesirable for urban consumers segregated by gender, age and income status. This approach is a useful precursor for targeted breeding of cultivars possessing consumers' preferred characteristics. The study was conducted in Kampala and Wakiso. First, a gendered food mapping involving use of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Individual Interviews (IDIs) was conducted. This was followed by a consumer test with 381 consumers where four steamed matooke samples/cultivars were evaluated namely, Nakitembe, Kibuzi, Ntika and Mpologoma. Steamed-mashed matooke was the most consumed form (97%) and with the highest frequency of consumption (83%). Of the cultivars assessed Kibuzi was most-preferred during the FGDs and also had the highest mean overall liking in the consumer test (7.2). Ntika was least-preferred (5.9). However, differences were observed among income classes and gender groups (sex and age). High- and low-income consumers gravitate towards steamed Kibuzi while for the middle income it was Mpologoma. The females (adult and youth) showed more preference for Mpologoma while the males liked Nakitembe more. The mapping of sensory characteristics showed that the key drivers of overall liking were a yellow color; a nice aroma; attractive looking; sweet (delicious, not sweet like sugar); Homogeneous (one color); good taste and soft. Matooke taste proved a key determinant for the preference of steamed Kibuzi over the other steamed matooke. It is therefore important to unlock this attribute in terms of sensory quantitative descriptive analysis and physico-chemical characterization, to guide breeding efforts geared towards improving sensory acceptability of matooke cultivars. Differences were observed in preference among different income and gender categories. Therefore, breeders need to package appropriate products based on the preferences of the various socio-demographic segments, including by gender and income class groupings to enhance new cultivar adoption.
Integrating gender into Kenya’s evolving seed policies and regulations for roots and tubers
(Working Paper, 2021-12) Sulle, E.; Mudege, Netsayi N.
In many developing countries where farmers grow vegetatively propagated crops (VPCs), they are often unable to increase on-farm productivity partly due to limited access to quality seeds. Yet, seed policy and legal frameworks for VPCs in many countries show a limited consideration of the specific characteristics of the seed systems for root, tuber and banana crops. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding of how the implementation of current seed policy frameworks affect participation by men and women as either seed producers or seed users. This paper examines the Kenyan seed policy processes and discusses the gender-sensitivity of how seed policy decisions are made in order to understand how these can be made gender sensitive. It unpacks the context in which seed policies are implemented; how the content of seed policies can differently affect men and women farmers’ participation in seed production and access to seed; and provides recommendations on how seed policy can be made more inclusive. In many developing countries where farmers grow vegetatively propagated crops (VPCs), they are often unable to increase on-farm productivity partly due to limited access to quality seeds. Yet, seed policy and legal frameworks for VPCs in many countries show a limited consideration of the specific characteristics of the seed systems for root, tuber and banana crops. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding of how the implementation of current seed policy frameworks affect participation by men and women as either seed producers or seed users. This paper examines the Kenyan seed policy processes and discusses the gender-sensitivity of how seed policy decisions are made in order to understand how these can be made gender sensitive. It unpacks the context in which seed policies are implemented; how the content of seed policies can differently affect men and women farmers’ participation in seed production and access to seed; and provides recommendations on how seed policy can be made more inclusive.
Farmers’ demand for quality and nutritionally enhanced sweetpotato planting material: Evidence from experimental auctions in Rwanda
(Working Paper, 2021-12) Okumu, O.O.; Rajendran, S.; Okello, J.J.; Ward, Patrick S.; Gatto, M.; Kilwinger, Fleur B.M.; Maredia, M.; Kirimi, S.; Nshimiyimana, J.C.; Ndirigwe, J.; Uzamuschaka, S.; Munyabarame, D.; Shumbusha, D.; Hareau, G.; Spielman, David J.
Most farmers source sweetpotato vines from neighboring farmers or from cuttings taken from their own plots during the previous season. In the absence of “clean” vines prepared with more attentive production practices, farmer-to-farmer vine exchanges and own-saved vines tends to encourage the accumulation of pests and diseases that ultimately affect yields. In addition, the perishability and bulkiness of its primary propagation material – vines – there is relatively little articulated demand for vines through either market or non-market exchanges. In addition, demand for nutritionally rich variety and biofortified crop orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is limited because of multiple factors including farmers’ unfamiliarity with the product and its novel attributes such as its high beta carotene content, the search costs incurred in locating the product, and information asymmetries between buyer and seller about the quality and performance of the product. We investigate demand for quality vine and nutritional attribute of the crop using a second price experimental auction approach by determine the premium price farmers are willing to pay for these attributes and investigate drivers of demand. In the absence of information on the source of vines, maturity and resistance to diseases, farmers are willing to pay a premium of about 35 Rwandan Francs for high quality vines sourced from decentralized vine multipliers. However, on provision of information on the source of vines, maturity and resistance to diseases of the vines, the premium price increases significantly to 133.71 Rwandan francs and to 107.22 Rwandan Francs after provision of visual information depicting the performance of the vines in demonstration plots. The premium price also increases significantly for vines sourced from neighbors to about 74.35 Rwandan francs, which further increases to 151.53 Rwandan francs when nutrition information is provided to the farmers. The study also revealed that demand for high quality vines is correlated with sex of household head, sex of the respondent, age of the respondent in years, household size, membership in a farmer organization, information from neighbors/other farmers, access to marshland, females make agriculture decisions in the household among other factors. In terms of policy, there is need to promote importance of quality vine and nutritional value of OFSP through sensitization on the field demonstration and nutritional values.
Collective action for inclusive value-chain innovation: Implementation and results of the Participatory Market Chain Approach
(Working Paper, 2020) Horton, D.; Devaux, A.; Thiele, Graham; Hareau, Guy; Ordinola, M.; López, G.; Mayanja, S.; Bernet, T.
Research and development approaches that incorporate elements of collective action, agricultural innovation systems, and value-chain development (VCD) are increasingly popular, but there has been little systematic analysis of their use and results. In this paper, we analyze experiences with a participatory approach for stimulating inclusive innovation in agricultural value chains, known as the Participatory Market Chain Approach (PMCA). Guided by a conceptual framework for analyzing PMCA interventions, we examine cases where the PMCA was applied in value chains for aquaculture, coffee, organic and typical regional products, potatoes and vegetables in Albania, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Indonesia, Nepal, Peru and Uganda. We find that the uses and results of the PMCA were strongly influenced by attributes of the external environment, the targeted value chain and the intervention in which the PMCA was applied. The PMCA has generally produced the most significant results where: (a) the agricultural and policy environment favored agricultural innovation and VCD; (b) the value chain offered significant potential for value addition or cost reduction; and (c) the PMCA was implemented with a high degree of fidelity to its basic principles in the context of a broader development effort. The active involvement of diverse stakeholders – not only smallholder producers but entrepreneurs along the value chain and relevant service providers – was crucial for stimulating innovation. Because innovation processes are complex and emergent in nature, local teams needed to develop flexible implementation plans and procedures that were adjusted over time in response to emerging opportunities and results. And because the PMCA requires the active engagement of value-chain actors and service providers with diverse, sometimes conflicting, interests, effective facilitation was crucial to the success of PMCA interventions. We found significant benefits of the PMCA frequently emerged long after the intervention had been implemented. This finding highlights the value of assessing interventions that support inclusive innovation several years after project funding ends. Notwithstanding the demonstrated utility of the PMCA in stimulating inclusive innovation in agricultural value chains, the approach has only achieved limited use beyond its original developers. This finding also reflects the both the lack of institutional support and an effective scaling strategy for the PMCA and the enduring challenges to mainstreaming participatory systems approaches in agricultural research and development organizations.
Agriculture in intergenerational relations: Ethnic Thai youth in northern Vietnam
(Working Paper, 2021-05) Kawarazuka, Nozomi; Nguyen Thi Van Anh; Vu Xuan Thai
Ethnic minority youth are deeply embedded in reciprocal support with their parents through farming, even though young men are often absent, looking for casual labor work outside the village. Drawing on the concept of intergenerational relations, this study illustrates gendered experiences of a youth transition period with a specific focus on the interactions of youth with parents and parents-in-law through agriculture. Findings show that young men and women access cash, goods and services from their kin in exchange for unpaid labor in farming and domestic work. The economic focus of research on agriculture as a source of income masks this important aspect of agriculture within ethnic minority communities. Although married young men and women in their 20s are not the formal owners of farmlands and livestock, they actively negotiate with their parents and in-laws to utilize agricultural resources to their benefits. Unpaid youth labor in agriculture should be viewed as more than a simple problem of unemployment, a lack of formal access to farmland, or a lack of individual skills. Instead, gendered experiences of ethnically marginalized youth should be reflected in relevant policies and agenda settings to support youth agriculture embedded in intergenerational reciprocal relations.
Adoption and Effects of Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato Varieties in Malawi
(Working Paper, 2021) Gatto, M.; Okello, J.J.; Pradel, W.; Kwikiriza, N.; Mgomezulu, W.; Nyirenda, Z.; Okuku, H.; Suarez, V.; Vugt, D. van; Chipungu, Felistus P.; Kapalasa, E.; Kumwenda, W.; Hareau, Guy; Heck, S.
The tricot citizen science approach applied to on-farm variety evaluation: methodological progress and perspectives
(Working Paper, 2020-12) Etten, Jacob van; Abidin, E.; Arnaud, Elizabeth; Brown, D.; Carey, E.; Laporte, Marie-Angélique; López Noriega, Isabel; Madriz, Brandon; Manners, Rhys; Ortíz Crespo, Berta; Quirós, C.; Sousa, K. de; Teeken, Béla; Tufan, Hale Ann; Ulzen, J.; Valle-Soto, J. F.
Tricot (triadic comparisons of technologies) is a citizen science approach for testing technology options in their use environments, which is being applied to on-farm testing of crop varieties. Over the last years, important progress has been made on the tricot methodology of which an overview is given. Trial dimensions depend on several factors but tricot implies that plot size is as small as possible to include farmers with small plots (yet avoiding excessive interplot competition) while many locations are included to ensure representativeness of trials. Gender and socio-economic work is focused on better household characterization and recruitment strategies that move beyond sex-aggregation to address aspects of intersectionality. Ethics, privacy and traditional knowledge aspects will be addressed through expanding digital support in this direction. Genetic gain estimates need to be addressed by yield measurements, which can be generated by farmers themselves. There is conceptual clarity about the needs for documentation of trials and publishing data but this aspect requires further digital development. Much progress has been made on the ClimMob digital platform already, which is user friendly and supports trials in the main steps and includes open-source data analytics packages. Further improvements need to be made to ensure better integration with other tools. A next step will be the development of scaling strategies that involve business development. An important input into these strategies are economic studies, which are ongoing.
Exploring the regulatory space for improving availability, access and quality of vegetatively propagated crop seed: potato in Kenya
(Working Paper, 2021-01) McEwan, M.; Spielman, David J.; Okello, J.J.; Hareau, Guy; Bartle, B.; Mbiri, D.; Atieno, E.; Omondi, Bonaventure Aman Oduor; Assfaw, T.; González, L.; Abdoulaye, Tahirou; Maredia, Mywish K.
Potato ranks second staple food crop in Kenya. The Government seeks rapid yield growth in the potato subsector, however with only 2% of potato seed planted currently certified there is a persistent shortage of quality seed. There is no consensus on an appropriate model for quality seed assurance which can ensure increased availability and access to quality seed by smallholder farmers, while minimizing risk of spread of plant diseases. This study addressed the question of whether the current seed regulatory framework in Kenya and its implementation meets the need for increased availability and access to quality seed potato, for who, and with what consequences? Secondary data and analysis were complemented by semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions involving 72 stakeholders from public, private and civil society conducted in the major potato production areas, and at national level. Our findings show a range of different actors have different and sometimes conflicting interests. Seed potato needs to be produced on a large-scale with enough land and resources to meet rotation and isolation standards and inspection costs. However, this has implications for equitable participation in the seed potato industry. Current regulatory and inspection procedures are perceived by small-scale seed producers as policing rather than facilitating quality seed production. This highlights compromises between achieving short term food security and managing risk of spread of plant diseases. The feasibility of different approaches to manage bacterial wilt and potato cyst nematode are discussed with implications for different scales of seed production. Several options are reviewed, with their trade-offs, emphasising the need to for inclusive stakeholder consultations to negotiate towards a common interest space.
The cassava seed system in Nigeria: Opportunities and challenges for policy and regulatory reform
(Working Paper, 2020-12) Wossen, T.; Spielman, David J.; Abdoulaye, Tahirou; Kumar, P. Lava
In many African countries south of the Sahara, farmers depend on the cultivation of vegetatively propagated crops (VPCs) for both consumption and commercial purposes. Yet yields for these crops remain at low levels due, in part, to seed market imperfections that constrain farmers' access to improved varieties and high-quality planting material. Efforts to improve the quality of planting material exchanged in markets or through other channels are often hampered by the unique biological and economic characteristics of vegetative propagation—characteristics that distinguish VPCs from the major cereal crops that drive and shape the policy and investment choices made in many of these countries. This suggests that continued investment in new technologies and systems to produce, package, and distribute VPC planting materials will require customized policies and policy support if these systems are to supply farmers with quality planting material at any significant and sustained scale. This paper explores these issues in the context of the cassava seed system in Nigeria by drawing on (1) prior research, public policy documents, and government statistics; (2) key informant interviews and focus group discussions with seed system actors; and (3) a unique dataset from the 2015 Cassava Monitoring Survey of Nigeria (CMS). The paper examines the production and supply of cassava planting material, the influence of various quality assurance systems on production and supply, and the implications for smallholder farmers in Nigeria. We describe the market, non-market, and regulatory systems that shape the cassava seed market in Nigeria, focusing on effectiveness, influence, and reach. We then explore the ground realities—how farmers actually acquire and use cassava planting material—given the (weak) state of markets and regulation. This is followed by a discussion of alternative policy and regulatory approaches to managing and expanding the cassava seed system, emphasizing a more decentralized approach that prioritizes investment in innovative capacity at the community and enterprise levels.
Integrating fish, roots, tubers and bananas in food systems: Opportunities and constraints.
(Working Paper, 2020-06-05) Atkins, M.; Byrd, K.A.; Pincus, L.; Naziri, D.; Thilsted, Shakuntala H.; Yossa, Rodrigue
This working paper is a collaboration between two CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs): Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH) and Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB). It documents linkages between fish, roots, tubers and bananas (RTB crops) within food systems; identifies opportunities for strengthened integration in production systems, animal feed and nutritional products; and identifies constraints and research gaps, and provides policy recommendations that support nutrition-sensitive food systems. It also looks into integrated aquaculture—agriculture (IAA) food systems globally, before focusing on two specific countries: Bangladesh and Nigeria. The research is mostly based on peer-reviewed publications, though it is complemented with illustrative accounts from academic professionals, farmers and consumers.
Policy options for advancing seed systems for vegetatively propagated crops in Vietnam
(Working Paper, 2020-04) Gatto, M.; Le, Dung Phuong; Pacillo, Grazia; Maredia, Mywish K.; Hareau, Guy; Spielman, David J.; Labarta, Ricardo Antonio
Seed systems for vegetatively propagated crops (VPCs) are frequently governed by a regulatory blueprint designed for major cereal crops. This approach tends to disregard the distinct biological characteristics of VPCs, in turn limiting farmers’ access to high-quality planting material and increasing the risk of pest and disease transmission. In this paper, we ask what type of regulatory framework is appropriate for improving farmers’ access to quality VPC planting material, and what the costs, benefits, risks, and unintended consequences are of alternative regulations. We explore this in the context of cassava and potato in Vietnam through secondary data and document analysis, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Findings indicate that despite a regulatory regime that imposes strict rules on the production and trade of planting material for VPCs, the market is largely unregulated due to weak enforcement capacity. In the absence of regulatory enforcement, however, producers and traders of VPC planting material signal quality to farmers through trust, reputation, and long-term relationships. Though effective at a small and localized scale, these informal systems are unlikely to accommodate the plans for rapid expansion of the cassava and potato sectors outlined in the Government of Vietnam’s strategy for growth and development. Nor are they likely to prove effective in managing increases in pest and disease pressures that result from cross-border trade, climate change, or other factors. We discuss alternative policy approaches and argue that the most appropriate policy regime requires that a careful balance be struck between a permissive regime at the local level and strict regulatory surveillance and enforcement at the national and regional level.
Characterizing Nigeria’s cassava seed system and the use of planting material in three farming communities
(Working Paper, 2019-12-01) Pircher, T.; Obisesan, D.; Nitturkar, H.; Asumugha, G.N.; Ewuziem, J.; Anyaegbunam, H.; Azaino, E.; Akinmosin, B.; Ioryina, A.; Walsh, S.; Almekinders, Conny J.M.
To archive a larger impact of seed interventions, we need to understand root, tuber and banana seed systems better. In the context of the intervention “Building an Economically Sustainable, Integrated Seed System for Cassava in Nigeria” (BASICS), there was a need to better understand the seed-sourcing behavior of cassava farmers and identify entry points for decentralized stem multipliers (DSMs). To this end a multi-stakeholder workshop provided insights into the wider landscape of Nigeria’s cassava seed system. In an explorative study we collected qualitative data via focus group discussions and complemented them with quantitative data from a survey of 90 cassava farmers in three study sites with different agro-ecological conditions. Our findings show that the cassava seed system is largely informal with vibrant stem trade within and between communities. Farmers in all study sites maintain a mix of varieties with multiple traits that is adapted to agro-ecological conditions and farmers’ preferences for use of roots. They value short maturity for early harvest, long storage of roots in the soil, bitterness as a protection against rodents, and high starch content for preparation of fufu. Although farmers in Nigeria’s South South region used only local landraces, farmers in other study sites dynamically combine those with new germplasm from the formal system. Because of a longer dry season, not all farmers are able to cover their need of planting material from their own fields alone. Despite using technologies for storage of cassava stems, there is still a demand for stems from relatives, friends, and neighbors; local traders and seed markets; and agricultural development programs. Differentiation of farmer categories by the size of their cassava fields showed no explainable pattern of different seed-sourcing behavior. Across the study population, the shortage of planting material and farmers’ interest in trying out new varieties were identified as entry points for the DSMs of the BASICS project. Further research on seed-sourcing dynamics, however, is needed to create a clear profile of stem buyers. We emphasize the importance of understanding the dynamics and the involvement of various actors in informal seed exchange to harmonize the work of DSMs in a seed system.
Post-harvest use of banana in Uganda and Tanzania: Product characteristics and cultivar preferences of male and female farmers
(Working Paper, 2019-12) Marimo, Pricilla; Karamura, D.; Tumuhimbise, Robooni; Shimwela, M.M.; Bergh, Inge van den; Batte, M.; Massawe, C.; Okurut, A.W.; Mbongo, D.B.; Crichton, R.
Understanding user preferred traits is important for the successful development and adoption of improved banana cultivars. This article provides an overview of different banana products, cultivars used to make those products and the preferred characteristics as reported by men and women farmers in different regions of Uganda and Tanzania. Qualitative data from 23 focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted in six districts (Mbarara and Luwero in Uganda; and Bukoba, Meru, Moshi and Rungwe in Tanzania) were coded and analysed. Results show that farmers process banana to make a range of products that include staple foods such as steamed matooke, mbalaga and machalari; alcoholic beverages and snacks. Different cultivars are preferred for an assortment of products. There are minimal differences in the cultivar preferences for specific products and product utilization patterns by men and women farmers. Differences only occurred when men and women described reasons why products are important or preferred, and in the roles of men, women and children in the preparation and processing of products from different banana types. Both men and women mentioned socio-economic, cultural, consumption and health-related attributes of the different products. However, women (73% of women only FGDs) specifically highlighted health benefits attached to women, for example after giving birth, during pregnancy, during lactation and for children; compared to 44% for men. Men pointed out more the socio-cultural importance of the products and provided detailed descriptions on market-related traits and the corresponding value chain actors (88.9% of men only FGDs). A myriad of factors that include variety of products, cultivar attributes before processing, characteristics of the processed product and location differences are identified, highlighting the need for further assessments and physicochemical characterisation of the traits to gauge the feasibility of considering this valuable information in the product development process. Some of the products and attributes of cultivars cited by farmers are generalized descriptions lacking sufficient detail (e.g. ‘tastes nice’, ‘good flavour’, ‘long shelf life’). Farmers have tacit knowledge of these attributes. Hence, researchers need to probe further and use a range of methods to extract this knowledge. There is a need for social scientists to collect data on trait prioritisation and for food scientists to do biochemical analyses to ensure information collected is well defined, comprehensive, quantifiable and measurable to effectively guide breeding and other agricultural research and development.
A comparative study on banana seed systems in Mbarara district, western Uganda and Mukono district, central Uganda
(Working Paper, 2019-12) Kilwinger, Fleur B.M.; Rietveld, Anne M.; Almekinders, Conny J.M.
Seed system interventions aim to provide farmers with clean, high yielding planting material. In order to make such interventions successful it is important to understand the traditional seed systems in which the interventions are made. This report describes the results of a comparative study between the banana seed system in Central and Western Uganda. These regions differ in cultivation history, production objectives and previous seed system intervention. These characteristics result in a difference in management practices, seed sourcing strategies and selection processes of banana planting material. In both areas, on-farm cultivar diversity is high, and maintained to fulfill multiple end-uses as well as to spread risk. In Central Uganda some cultivars are maintained due to cultural beliefs and their use in rituals. In the western region such motivations for cultivar maintenance were not mentioned. In Western Uganda farmers kept their banana mats small by regular de-suckering, which makes uprooting and replacing a mat easier. Selection of planting material in the western region is much focused on keeping existing mats healthy, whereas in the central region farmers focused mainly on the distinction between sword and water suckers. These insights into differences in preferences and motivations behind the selection of planting material and seed sourcing strategies can facilitate future seed system interventions and facilitate adaptation to farmers’ needs.
Gender situational analysis of the sweetpotato value chain in selected districts in Sidama and Gedeo Zones in southern Ethiopia
(Working Paper, 2019-10) Mudege, Netsayi N.; Temesgen, B.B.; Brouwer, A.R.
Improving food and nutrition security through the introduction of more nutritious orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) cultivars requires full understanding of the sweetpotato value chain, from seed production to root sales in local and urban markets. This study was conducted to understand how gender norms, roles and institutional contexts along the value chain influence the ability of men and women to participate and benefit from the sweetpotato value chain. Funded by the European Union, the study was implemented by the International Potato Center (CIP) as part of the "Quality Diets for Better Health" (QDBH) project in the Sidama and Gedeo Zones of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) in Ethiopia. Qualitative data was collected from 16 focus group discussions (eight with men and eight with women) and 61 in-depth individual interviews (39 with women) along the chain. The findings indicate that the shortage and fragmentation of land are key obstacles for men and women farmers to increase sweetpotato supply and adopt orange-fleshed varieties. At farm level, women are often regarded as helpers, not farmers. This view is an expression of the gender relations of power within the community because it is used to define the legitimate entitlements of men and women. The current rural extension system reinforces this image and reproduces the practice of inequality because normally men are invited to agricultural trainings and not women. In the production areas, women are generally engaged in low-volume marketing of food crops, including of sweetpotato, while men dominate higher volume and long-distance marketing and the sales of cash crops, such as coffee. The findings suggest that women dominate sweetpotato wholesaling and retailing in the zones' main cities (Hawassa and Dilla). This apparent dominance masks the systemic discrimination against women in market access. Sweetpotato has a low status compared to other crops. It is regarded as a poor person's food. This low status negatively affects demand in urban markets. The expansion of sweetpotato production and consumption requires training for both men and women farmers on sweetpotato farming, marketing, price negotiation and bargaining. Raising the social status of sweetpotato among male and female urban consumers should be part of the behavior change communication strategy to promote its production and consumption. The report provides concrete recommendations for measures to counteract the mechanisms that reproduce gender inequality. Although these recommendations have been formulated specifically for the QDBH project and SNNPR they can be a useful inspiration to gender sensitive project design in general.
Metabolomics in CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB)
(Working Paper, 2019-11-01) Friedmann, M.; Becerra López Lavelle, Luis Augusto; Fraser, Paul D.
The CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) is supporting investments in metabolomics in collaboration with the Fraser lab at Royal Holloway University London (RHUL). The metabolome is the global collection of all low molecular weight chemical compounds that are produced by cell metabolism in different sizes, polarity and quantities. It thus provides a direct functional readout of the cell’s physiological status and activity under specific environmental settings. Metabolomics research in RTB has involved metabolite profiling for making significant marker-trait associations, assessment of genetic diversity and varietal identification. Therefore, this has included screening young plantlets as proxies for mature end-product quality (roots, tubers and banana fruits), identifying potential biomarkers for abiotic stress tolerance and for product-quality traits. In this paper, we review the main findings of this work, and discuss the implications for breeding programs in the RTB Program.
Strategic assessment of banana fusarium wilt research priorities
(Working Paper, 2018-05) Scheerer, L.; Staver, Charles; Dita, M.; Pérez Vicente, L.; Pemsl, Diemuth E.
Global banana production is seriously threatened by the emergence of a new, highly virulent strain of Fusarium Wilt (FW), caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). Foc (tropical race 4 - TR4) was first diagnosed in Cavendish banana in Taiwan in 1967, but has since reached Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, China, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Pakistan and Myanmar, the Middle East (Jordan, Oman) and most recently Mozambique in Africa in 2013. Recent estimates suggest that the disease is already affecting over 100,000 hectares and threatens millions of smallholders worldwide because many banana cultivars are susceptible. Projections based on the current distribution of cultivars suggest that TR4 could affect 80% of the global banana production. As the pathogen persists in the soil for many decades and many cultivars are susceptible, there has been a call to address the threat of TR4 with a mobilization of resources and plant quarantine initiatives globally to limit spread and losses. As part of a study to assess the economic returns to different banana research investments through the CGIAR Research Program focusing on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB), a set of banana research options has been formulated based on priorities identified through a large-scale online stakeholder survey. In this survey, Fusarium wilt was rated as the fourth most important constraint globally and ranked first in Asia. Since it has not yet or to a lesser extend spread in other geographies, rankings were lower in other regions: seventh most important constraint in East and Southern Africa and sixth in Latin America. Fusarium was not in the top ten constraints for West and Central Africa.
Strategic assessment of yam research priorities.
(Working Paper, 2014-03-21) Abdoulaye, Tahirou; Alene, Arega D.; Rusike, Joseph; Akinola, Adebayo A.
This paper documents the procedure and findings of an ex-ante assessment of key yam research options. Following the general methodology agreed for the RTB priority assessment, the economic surplus model was used to estimate benefits for the different scenarios. In the end, five research options were considered for analysis based on available data and methodological suitability. These were (1) improved yam varieties with complementary ICM options, (2) clean planting materials and agronomic practices, (3) postharvest innovations, (4) pest and disease management options, and (5) ICM interventions. Model results show that, under the low adoption scenario, the land area coverable by different technologies ranged 220,000–870,000 ha in all the yam-growing countries.
Characterization of cassava production systems in Vietnam
(Working Paper, 2019-08) Le, Dung Phuong; Labarta, Ricardo Antonio; Haan, Stef de; Maredia, Mywish K.; Becerra López Lavelle, Luis Augusto; Nhu, Lien Thi; Ovalle, Tatiana M.; Nguyen, Vu Anh; Pham, Nhan Thi; Nguyen, Hy Huu; Nguyen, Hien Trong; Le, Kha Quy; Le, Huy Ham
Using a nationally representative survey of cassava-growing households in Vietnam and a robust method of varietal identification based on DNA fingerprinting, this paper provides a broad picture of cassava production and socio-economic characteristics of cassava producers in the country. It presents a descriptive analysis of cassava production practices, varietal use, varietal preferences, as well as cassava utilization, and marketing. Results indicate that more than 85% of the cassava area in Vietnam is planted to improved varieties. The average yield at national level is 19 tons per hectare. About 69% of total cassava produced per household is sold as either fresh roots and/or dried chips. The remaining 31% is either for own consumption or for livestock feed. Of all the six regions surveyed, the Southeast is characterized by the most intensive cassava production practices. It also has the largest average cassava area per household, the highest percentage of tractor use, and a higher percentage of fertilizer application on cassava fields. The findings suggest that there are huge challenges for sustainable cassava intensification, specifically in identifying the needs for market diversification, dealing with emerging pests and diseases, and implementing adequate soil management practices. This is particularly challenging in a system that is driven by the need to maximize output with minimum investment. Future research and development should focus on integrated value chain development with multiple actors focusing attention on integrated pest and disease management, seed systems development, breeding for resistance and earliness, and climate change adaptation, among others.
National plan for improving seed potato in Georgia
(Working Paper, 2019-04-01) International Potato Center
The objective of the Plan for Improving Seed Potato in Georgia is to provide direction to appropriate Georgian authorities for addressing constraints related to quality seed production in Georgia, especially PSD, in the next five years, 2019-2024. This plan is based on the Integrated Seed Health (ISH) approach which describes three tactics to manage PSD (Thomas-S harma et al. 2015): the adoption of varieties that degenerate slowly due to their natural resistance to the organisms that cause PSD; onfarm practices to maintain or even improve seed quality at the farm level; and strategic use of certified seed (i.e. buying in quantities and at frequencies that correspond to farmers’ needs). Each of these tactics corresponds to a component in the current Seed Plan.

Browse

Recent Submissions