Report of the Africa RISING Ghana Stakeholders’ Workshop, Tamale, Ghana, 28-29 March 2012 Day One (March 28, 2012) 1.1 Opening The workshop was officially opened by Dr A.B. Saifu (Director General) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ghana. He stressed the importance of maize and legume based farming systems in the three northern regions for food security. He urged institutions represented to contribute effectively to deliberations and to future implementation once their respective roles have been defined in the Africa RISING project. He urged IITA as the lead institution in the implementation consortium to ensure that partnerships to be developed works well. He hoped to see an increased livestock-cereal based systems interaction working well during and after the project. Other speakers during the opening were the USAID representative – Dr. Nino Nadiradze and Isaac Gyamfi (Country Representative of IITA, Ghana). Dr. Nadiradze assured participants of USAID’s support under the “Feed the Future Initiative” to increase production and productivity of key crops in the sudano-sahelian zone. 1.2. Participation Table 1 shows the list of participants. The fifty (50) participants at the workshop came from national, international agricultural research institutes, universities, USAID mission in Ghana, local NGOs, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Women in Agriculture / Crops Services Units), Ghana Health Service and private sector. 1.3 Presentations and discussions 1.3.1 Morning Session 1.3.1.1 Background, context and objectives: Dr. Asamoah Larbi in a power point presentation provided the background to the workshop and set the context for the two day workshop. The main purpose of the workshop was to present and discuss the Africa RISING project with partners invited. Discuss and review the draft work plan for the project based on an initial concept note submitted to USAID, obtain insight into existing projects and programmes in the regions that could have linkages with the new project and discuss potential roles that could be played by various institutions operating in the regions. The workshop discussed tentatively selected target districts and communities for their suitability for the implementation of the proposed draft activities. 1.3.1.2 Overview of project concept note: Dr. Alpha Kamara highlighted the poverty situation in the three northern regions of Ghana, the bio-physical constraints such as poor soil fertility, striga infestation, drought, high gender inequalities and inadequate infrastructure to support agricultural production. He drew on his personal experiences from northern Nigeria to enrich the discussion on the challenges in maize-legume farming systems and their interaction with animal/livestock as the basis for designing the African RISING project. The focus of the Africa RISING project in providing path ways out of hunger and poverty for small holder farmers particularly women and children through sustainable intensification technologies were emphasized. 1.3.1.3 USAID Ghana and food security: Dr. Nadiradze from the USAID Ghana mission gave a broad overview of the mission’s food security objectives under the “Feed the Future Initiative” under which Africa RISING is funded. She confirmed USAID’s support for Ghana’s efforts in food security and was confident that Ghana possesses the human resource capacity to develop and implement effective food security projects and programmes. 1.3.1.4 Work plan presentation and review: Dr. Alpha Kamara presented the 2012 work plan . He indicated how similar projects have been successfully implemented in northern Nigeria. He stressed the need for effective partnerships in scaling up successful innovations in intensified cereal-based systems. 1.3.1.5 Partnerships and linkages: The IITA team assured participants that the success of Africa RISING depends on the identification and good partners and a strong commitment from these partners in the execution of planned activities. The workshop therefore would afford IITA and SARI the opportunity in identifying some potential public and private sector partners to be engaged during implementation. 1.3.1.6 Discussions/suggestions from participants: The participants raised concerns that ‘value- chain’ approach is not so prominent in the entire project design. Dr. Alpha Kamara and Asamoah took note of this concern and promised to give further consideration to this observation. Dr. Karbo suggested that the livestock-crop interaction should be further strengthened since to his mind this was weak in the design. Dr. Kanton recommended that the project consider including sorghum and millet systems given the fact that these two staples are key in household food security especially in Upper East region. The IITA team assured him that ICRISAT will work on these systems and could consider these crops as part of a mixed cropping system within the mandate crops for Ghana under the project, namely, maize and legumes 1.3.2 Afternoon session Presentations were done by the following institutions to highlight their on-going activities in order to enable the new project understand and identify potential linkage points as well as determine the potential role these institutions can play in Africa RISING. The organizations were  CSIR (SARI, Crops Research Institute, Food Research Institute, Animal Research Institute)  Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Women in Agriculture Development and Crop Services Divisions from the three regions),  Ministry of Health (Ghana Health Services – Northern Region),  Development projects (Northern Rural Growth, Nandom Agricultural Project, and Rice Sector Support Project),  Non-governmental organizations (Catholic Relief Services, Urban-Net, ACDEP, Cowpea Group, Seed PAG, Northern Guinea fowl Farmers’ Association, and Yara Company); and  Africa Rice on the rice-based systems. Though some potential partners could be identified after the presentations, Dr. Asamoah indicated that the identification, screening and selection of partners would be an on-going activity over the life of the project. He encouraged institutions present to continue to offer their support as they have done to date. Day Two (March 29, 2012) The day commenced at 9:00am with a recap of the previous day’s proceedings. Dr. Asamoah Larbi highlighted once more the key elements of the project work plan and how this would be expected to address the key challenges and problems in maize-legumel farming systems in the three northern regions. He indicated that the project will ensure a strong crop-livestock interaction in testing and validating a basket of options for improved household food security. Participants broke up into three working groups to discuss the implementation of 2012 work plan. The discussion included an agreement on the activities to be conducted, protocols, roles and responsibilities of partners, project sites and timelines. Some of the suggestion obtained at the group level fed into the continuous review of the work plan by Dr. Asamoah and other project staff. Some of the key suggestions coming out of the group work for consideration by project management were:  Intensify capacity building activities not only for SARI researchers but also staff of MoFA and NGOs that would be involved in the project.  Project should consider the use of US Peace Corp staff who may have specialized skills on specific subjects that have bearing on the project activities e.g. agronomists  Project should source its seed needs from SeedPAG for the first year.  Need for more visibility in the entire project design on livestock/animal-crop interaction at the household level The group did not come to consensus on the tentative selected target districts. The project team decided to end the discussion on district/community selection to be concluded during the regional level consultations planned by the project team. 3. Key recommendation Following the intensive group level discussions the participants recommended that round-table discussions with relevant partners in the various regions be held post-workshop to fine tune and firm up the region based activities within the framework of the broad work plan to ensure smooth project take off. 4. Closing The two day workshop ended on 29th March 2012 at 4:50 pm with closing remarks from Dr. James Kombiok who expressed thanks to all participants and institutions represented. Other key persons – Dr. Nadiradze and Mr. Gyamfi of IITA expressed similar gratitude to participants for the lively deliberations at the workshop for the past two days. Table 1. Participants’ list (Stakeholders Workshop, Africa RISING-Ghana, March 28-29, 2012) No Name Address Telephone E-mail 1 Salifu Abdulai Director General, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), P. O. Box M 32, Accra. 2 Nino Nadiradze Deputy Office Director, Economic Growth, USAID Mission, Accra Ghana nnadiradze@usaid.go 3 Kamara Alpha International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) – Kano, Sabo Barkin, Kano, Nigeria 02348020012 A.Kamara@cgiiar.org 4 Asamoah Larbi Africa RISING Project, IITA-Ghana, Accra 207055954 a.larbi@cgiar.org 5 Ajayi Olupomi Research Operations Coordinator, Africa Rice Centre, 01 BP 2031, Cotonou, Benin 02998481592 oijiajayi@cgiar.org 6 Kizito Fred Integrated Water Management Institute (IWMI), PMB CT 112, , Accra 0549579655 f.kizito@cgiar.org 7 Badu-Apraku Baffour IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria b.badu-apraku@cgiar.org 8 Abaidoo Robert Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), College Of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kumasi. 0208438958 r.abaidoo@cgiar.org 9 Charles Qunasah KNUST, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Crop Science Department, Kumasi. Cquansah2002@yahoo.co.uk 10 Oppong Samuel University of Development Studies (UDS), Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Nyankpala Campus, Tamale 0244 535692 kobbyoppong@yahoo.com 11 Martin Galaa Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Rice Sector Support Program (RSSP), P. O. Box ER 522, Tamale, Northern Region (NR) 0244838976 martingalaa@yahoo.co.uk 12 Parwar Bridget MoFA, Women in Agricultural Development (WAID), P. O. Box 14, Tamale 0246321144 bridgetnaandam@yahoo.com 13 Agbaah Paschal MOFA, Regional Agricultural Development Unit, P. O. Box 14 Tamale 0244 444227 agbaan@yahoo.co 14 Sandoh Pamela MoFA, Box 14 Tamale, NR. 0242 179268 sandohpamela@yahoo.com 15 Adams Charles MoFA, Regional Director of Agriculture, Regional Agricultural Development Unit P. O. Box 21, Wa, Upper West Region (UWR) 0201614941 Charles1218@hotmail.com 16 Kutina A. Elizabeth MoFA, WAID, Regional Agricultural Officer, P. O. Box 21 Wa, 0277864923 elizabethkutina@yahoo.co.uk 17 Abu Huudu MoFA, P. O. Box 21, Wa, UWR 0244027209 abuhuudu@yahoo.com 18 Eledi Emmanuel MoFA, Regional Director of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3, Bolgatanga, Upper East Region (UER). 0244296034 emmaeledi@yahoo.com 19 Beni Joseph Wallier MoFA, P. O. Box 3, Bolgatanga, UER. 0209193344 benjijosephwalier@yahoo.co m 20 Kogana Mary Paula MoFA, P. O. Box 3, Bolgatanga, UER. 0244122608 koganapaula@yahoo.com 21 Issifu Basideen Box 285 ER, Tamale, NR 0243906966 anibirdfarm@yahoo.com 22 Banka Francis Director, Upper West Agro Industries Ltd, P. O. Box 619, Wa, UWR 0244218106 Francis_bNK@hotmail.com 23 Nasaal Stanislaus Project Manager, Nandom Agricutural Project, P. O. Box 19, Nandom UWR 0208541415 stanislausnnasaal@yahoo.co m 24 Anafo Agnes Savanna Seed Services Company Limited, P. O. Box ER 42, Tamale 0246584789 aggienafo@yahoo.com 25 Abdulai A. Lukman ANTICA Company, P. O. Box 344, Wa, UWR 0243843048 antikuabdulai@yahoo.com 26 Zakaria Iddrisu Heritage Seeds Co. Ltd, P. O. Box 261, Tamale 0543370501 Heritage.zdd@gmail.com 27 Adimado Samuel Ghana Organic Agriculture Network (GOAN), Opposite Cadbury Hall, Lake Road. P. O. Box 6342, Kumasi O277776313 cc. ivysampa@yahoo.com 28 Salifu Mary Programme Office ACDEP, Box 1411, Tamale 0208 182695 marysalifu@acdep.org 29 Zakaria Abdul - Rashid Programme Coordinator UrbANET, P. O. Box 1595, Tamale 0244 407627 Zakaria.urbanetghana@gmail.com 30 Oladele Jeremiah c/o First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 1, Tamale 0546 203671 jerryolad@yahoo.com 31 Amadu Patricia Metro Nutrition Officers, Ghana Health Services, Ministry of Health, P. O. Box 1191, Tamale, NR. 0244 179346 amadupat@yahoo.com 32 Asambobilah Robert Program Officer, Catholic Relief Services, Box 334, Tamale 0205 762346 Robert.asambobillah@crs.org 33 Konlan David P. O. Box TL 2183, Tamale 0242 887233 Konlan2009@yahoo.com 34 Agbeko Etornyo CSIR, Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI), P. O. Box TL.695, Tamale, NR 0245 857063 etornyo@yahoo.co.uk 35 Naaminong Karbo CSIR, Animal Research Institute, Box AH 20, Achimota, Accra 0208 129300 minongkordam@yahoo.com 36 Avornyo Franklin CSIR-ARI , P. O. Box 52, Tamale, NR 0242179596 favornyo@yahoo.com 37 Konlan S. Pigangsoa CSIR-ARI, P. O. Box 52, Tamale, NR 0243330849 38 Vowotor Kwame CSIR, Food Research Institute (CSIR-FRI), P. O. Box M20, Accra 0208 200856 kavowotor@yahoo.com 39 Tengan Martin Luther CSIR, Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), P. O. Box 3385, Kumasi - Ghana 0244 677042 tenganbie@yahoo.com 40 Kombiok James CSIR, Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR- SARI), P. O. Box 52, Tamale 0244882731 kombiokjm@yahoo.com 41 Kanton Roger CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 46 Bawku,Upper East Region (UER) 0244 146005 ral_kanton@yahoo.co.uk 42 Yirzagla Julius CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 46 Bawku,Upper East Region (UER) 0244 433968 43 Sugri Issah CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 46 Bawku,Upper East Region (UER) 0243 850292 suguribia@yahoo.com 44 Buah Samuel Saaka. CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 494, Wa, UWR 0244 714217 ssbuah@yahoo.com 45 Haruna Alidu CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 52, Tamale +233 265922971 Alidu_h@hotmail.com 46 Inusaa Baba CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale 0244838574 iiybata@yahoo.com 47 Asante Michael CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale 0242 069031 Mkasante08@yahoo.co.uk 48 Osei Akjereko Beatrice CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale 0244478712 Obi.osei@yahoo.com 49 Abdulai Mashark CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale 0208 235584 msabdula@yahoo.com 50 Bidzakin John CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale 0208 489461 Bidzakin2@yahoo.com 51 Abdulai Mumuni CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale 0244 772209 mabdulai@yahoo.com 52 Haruna Mohammed CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale +233 243610847 Kmharuon67@yahoo.com 53 Aliyu Siise CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale 0244 379446 siisebamba@yahoo.com 54 Denwar Nicolas CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale 0209 369976 nicolasdenwar@yahoo.com 55 Dogbe Wilson CSIR-SARI, P. O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale 0244 603414 wilsondogbe@yahoo.com