Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation taat Updates 2018 Issue 001 TAAT celebrates 143 Interventions in 132 Sites across Africa TAAT Approach to Combating Fall Armyworm Offers Hope to Millions of Smallholder Farmers in sub-Saharan Africa TAAT’s Business Platform approach boosts access to High Iron Beans in Zimbabwe How TAAT’s deployment of feed resources is meeting Ethiopia’s livestock needs TAAT records increased food production and income through maize technologies 1 taat Updates 2018 TAAT celebrates 143 Interventions in 132 Sites across Africa In this issue 3 From the Publisher 4 About TAAT 6 African Development Bank seeks partnerships to lift o ne billion people out of hunger 8 How TAAT is empowering women farmers through Urea Deep Placement Technology 10 Fertilizer Microdose Technology leads to higher yields among farmers in Mali 11 TAAT’s Business Platform approach boosts access to high iron beans in Zimbabwe 13 Farm to Fork: TAAT engages youth in growing beans 15 TAAT trains trainers on managing innovation platforms to amplify hotspots in local tech 17 How TAAT’s deployment of feed resources is meeting Ethiopia’s livestock needs 21 TAAT: Enabling the passion of African youth in Agriculture 22 Deployment of proven technologies leads to increased aquaculture productivity Published by Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation 25 New technologies and best management practices boost aquaculture (TAAT). Initiated by the African Development Bank (AfDB) as part 28 How TAAT Technologies are taking cassava to a new frontier in Africa of its Feed Africa Initiative, TAAT’s main objective is to improve the 31 TAAT: Steering Africa towards a water-secured wheat production business of agriculture across Africa by raising agricultural 35 Feed Africa: Stakeholders zero in on partnerships for tehcnology delivry productivity, mitigating risks and promoting diversification and 36 TAAT enhances adoption of improved pearl millet processing in 18 agricultural value chains within eight Priority 38 Crop residue trade leads to leads to increase in farmers’ income in Nigeria Intervention Areas (PIA). 40 TAAT approach to combating fall armyworm offers hope to millions Disclaimer: Mention of any proprietary product or commercial applications does 43 TAAT records increased food production and income through maize technologies not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation for its use by 45 TAAT supports harmonization of seed policy in Southern and Eastern Africa TAAT. 47 Democratic Republic of Congo:Implementing reforms for seed sector development 48 Sierra Leone: Stakeholder engagement for seed sector reform Cover photo: Nabintou Ouattara, 49 TAAT transforms Sudanese wheat seed sector with proven technologies in her inland valley rice field, transplanting rice, Kadiolo 53 Rwandan youth find self-employment in processing orange-fleshed sweet potato (Sikasso District), Mali. 55 How TAAT is rewriting the African rice story 58 Sights and VIsions of African Agricultural Tranformation 2 taat Updates 2018 From the TAAT Program Coordinator It is my pleasure to present to you the implement the activities of the first phase of the very first Corporate Annual Report of the program. Multinational Program “Technologies This first edition of this Annual Report highlights for African Agricultural Transformation some of the implementation achievements by way (TAAT)”. of selected success stories that we consider worth This Program is primarily funded by the African sharing with our audience. Development Bank (AfDB) with contributions from other donors. In this first Report, we Future editions of the Report shall continue to ELOP VE DEV NE DE DÉ M EN focus on some of the key achievements that focus on more ICsAIuccesLOs stories of tTCAN hFFR e Program have been attained during the first year of that highlight the outcomes and impacts in program implementation. selected compacts and locations. AF P RIC LO This has been mainly through the engagement The TAAT Program is giving A tI N E hDEeD É V implementing of our partners in the different Regional institutions a great opportunity to start taking their Membership Countries (RMCs) of the AfDB to proven technologies from several years of research decide on the program of work and linkages to the people who badly need them so that Africa Dr Chrys Akem, TAAT Program Coordinator with ongoing activities of the different value can finally ac chain compacts. We know that there are many challenges ahead of us in implementing a complex program such Thieve the agricultural transformation vision it has been chasinAg all this while. We look forward to the outcomes of tAhis Program in the years ahead and shall continue to update TWe will co’ntinuse to be guided in these efforts by our commitment to sustainably improve food and nutritional security on the target value chains to ensure the transformation of as TAAT, that currently involves nine Value chain and highlight achievements in future editions of African agriculture. compacts (Cassava, Rice, Maize, Aquaculture, this Report. Small Livestock, Sorghum/Millet, Wheat, Orange Flesh Sweet Potato, and High Iron Beans), The Program shafll also continue to btuild pon the rThiis we believe is the way to reduce individual poverty and increase national wealth by supported by six Enabler compacts (Water successes and achievements of each year as it reducing imptorts on w hat we can grow. We Management, Capacity Development, Policy, strengthens partnership with the RMCs while will ensure that the outcomes of our efforts Enable-TAAT, Soil Fertility, and Fall Armyworm). intensifying effor There are currently nine CGIAR Institutions its tno improve thAe livelihoods orf all our stakeholders, especially the smallholder farmers iarce freely avai lable to all as Regional Public Goods. of Africa. I wish you all an enjoyable reading of the Report. directly involved in the implementation of the program (IITA, AfricaRice, WorldFish, ILRI, ICRISAT, ICARDA, CIAT, CIP, IMMI) and three advanced institutions (FARA, AATF, and IFDC). 143 technology interventions TAAT is a country-focused program and is in 27 countries currently being implemented in 31 RMCs (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan have recently applied to join TAAT Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Burundi, Chad, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, South Sudan, Togo, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya). The Program Executing Agency is IITA and they are ready to take on the task of reporting at each step of the way on how far we have come, through this Annual Corporate Report. The first year of the Program implementation has focused on a couple of target areas—putting together the implementation teams in the nine Compacts and six Enablers and establishing linkages with the various RMCs through compact and country work plan launches. With this behind us, the compacts have now focused their attention on the full implementation of the Program activities. This began with ensuring that all essential goods and services are procured following the processes and procedures of the AfDB; recruiting all needed implementation staff to undertake the compact activities and agreeing on indicative budgets to With 143 interventions in 27 countries in its first year, TAAT has embarked on a continent-wide effort to modernise agriculture and promote agribusiness by scaling up proven 3 agricultural technologies to increase crop and livestock productivity; ensure food self-sufficiency; ctreaaatet joUbpsd aantdes 2018 wealth; and make Africa a net food exporter! In partnership with: R ce ica i Cen du riz pour l’A International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas Science with a human face BANQU E A AFRI Afr frique PEMENT UND ter Centr e S FON D MEN T E PP About TAAT The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation 3 Raising agricultural production (TAAT) program is funded by the African Development and productivity through the identification and deployment Bank (AfDB) to increase agricultural productivity in Africa of strategic interventions that through the deployment of proven and high-performance include improved crop varieties agricultural technologies. and animal breeds, accompanying good management practices, and vigorous farmer outreach It originated from the need “to execute The developmental objective of TAAT is campaigns at the country level. a bold plan to achieve rapid agricultural to rapidly expand access of smallholder transformation across Africa through farmers to high yielding agricultural The important roles of sound raising agricultural productivity” that technologies that improve their food policies, empowering women and was declared by participants in the Dakar production, assure food security, and raise youth, strengthening and innovating High-Level Conference in October 2015 rural incomes. This goal is achieved by extension systems, and engaging and led to the formulation by the AfDB in delivering regional public goods for rapidly with the private sector are implicit June 2016 of the Feed Africa: A Strategy scaling up agricultural technologies across within this strategy. for African Agricultural Transformation. similar agroecological zones. TAAT is aligned with the objectives of TAAT brings together research the Comprehensive African Agricultural This result is achieved through three institutes (national and international), Development Program (CAADP) of the principal mechanisms: public extension services, private African Union Commission’s NEPAD, 1 Creating an enabling sector suppliers and buyers, farmers namely to: environment for technology organizations and not-for-profit delivery to and adoption by organizations involved in agricultural 1 Eliminate extreme poverty. farmers. development. These institutions come 2 End hunger and malnutrition. 2 Facilitating effective delivery of together with specific objectives within 3 Turn Africa into a net food exporter. these technologies to farmers selected agricultural value chains and 4 Position Africa at the top of through a structured Regional form Commodity Technology Delivery agricultural value chains where it Technology Delivery Compacts (referred to simply as has a competitive advantage. Infrastructure. “Compacts”) for technology delivery to millions of agricultural producers. In its first year of implementation, the Creation of An Enabling TAAT program includes nine (9) Value Environment For Technology Chain Compacts organized around Adoption rice, maize, cassava, wheat, sorghum and millet, orange-flesh sweet potato, high-iron beans, small ruminants and Regional Technology Delivery poultry, and aquaculture, and six (6) Infrastructure Enabler Compacts providing support services for soil fertility management, water management, capacity building Deployment of Appropriate and development, advocating Technology supportive seed technology policy, mobilizing youth into agribusiness, and organizing a response to the fall army worm invasion. Programme Management The program has set the ambitious target of reaching 40 million farmers in the next five years (Table TAAT 1) and adding 120 million metric tons of additional foodstuffs to the African food basket (Table 2). OBJECTIVES 4 taat Updates 2018 TAAT has started implementation in Table 1. Numbers of farmers targeted by Commodity Technology 27 countries and four more are in Delivery Compacts. the process of joining the program (Fig. 1). Compact Compact Lead Target Beneficiaries Institution(s) farmers The overall goal of TAAT is to radically transform African agriculture into a competitive sector by deploying Commodity Maize AATF 4,300,000 productivity enhancing technologies Rice AfricaRice 2,260,000 and focusing on eight Priority Wheat ICARDA 850,000 Intervention Areas, namely: Self- sufficiency in Rice Production; Sorghum / Millet ICRISAT 2,350,000 Cassava Intensification; Food and Beans CIAT 1,220,000 Nutrition Security in the Sahel; Cassava IITA 3,380,000 Transforming African Savannahs into Breadbaskets; Revitalizing Tree OFSP CIP 1 ,250,000 Plantations; Expanding Horticulture; Small livestock ILRI 1,650,000 Increasing Africa’s Wheat Production; Aquaculture WorldFish 1,150,000 and Achieving Self sufficiency in Inland Fish Production. Enablers Policy Support AATF/IITA/MMI 40,000,000 The TAAT Program recognizes that Capacity Development FARA 2,500,000 success in transforming African Soil Fertility Management IFDC 24,000 agriculture to reach the CAADP’s goals will come from interventions Water Management IWMI 650,000 at very large scale that require ENABLE-TAAT partnerships between research (Youth in Agribusiness) IYA-IITA 850,000 institutes, public institutions, farmer Fall Army Worm Control IITA 15,000,000 support organizations, and the private sector with the combined support of investors in agricultural Table 2. Additional food production targeted to be reached by 2015. development. Commodity The Program has therefore been 2016 2016 2025 Additional Average African Average Average designed as a Framework Program food production productivity productivity African that allows other development (Baseline) of lead producers productivity (metric tons/ha) partners (the World Bank, (metric tons/ha (metric tons/ha) (metric tons/ha) AGRA, BMGF, IFAD, EU, bilateral development assistance programs, etc.) to make use of it in their Maize 2 5 4 30 million investments in agricultural programs Lowland Rice 2 5.5 4 15 million to expand country coverage, to build synergy around common Wheat 1.5 3.5 3 25 million objectives, and to expand the reach and impact of individual initiatives. Sorghum 1 2.5 2 10 million African countries can rely on the Millet 1 2 2 5 million TAAT Program as the source of technical assistance to support their Cassava 12 24 20 20 million agricultural transformation initiatives at the design stage and during Small livestock 25 kg 60 kg 50 kg 10 million implementation with proven and (12 month live weight) productivity-enhancing technologies. Fish 3 kg 8 kg 5 kg 5 million (12 month live weight) 5 taat Updates 2018 African Development Bank seeks partnerships to lift one billion people out of hunger The African Development Bank has called on global partners to join hands to lift one billion people worldwide out of hunger and said it was leading the way by investing US$24 billion in African agriculture over the next 10 years in the largest such effort ever. Dr Akinwumi Adesina speaking at the 2018 Scale Up Conference at Purdue University. “We are not winning the war against While such technologies to deliver rapidly raise agricultural productivity global hunger,” Bank President Africa’s green revolution exist, they are and incomes for farmers and assure Akinwumi Adesina told an agriculture mostly just sitting on the shelves, he lower food prices for consumers.” conference at Purdue University in said. Indianapolis on Tuesday, 25 September The Bank has launched its Technologies 2018. “The release of water efficient maize for African Agricultural Transformation varieties now allows farmers to harvest (TAAT), a $1 billion initiative to extend “We must not get carried away,” good yields in the face of moderate the use of farm technologies. he added, referring to statistics showing drought,” he noted. a decline in the global population TAAT is currently engaging seed living on less than two dollars per “Today, rice varieties exist that can companies, public and private entities, day. In reality, the number of hungry give yields of 8 tonnes per ha. Cassava and financial institutions in 27 countries people in the world had increased varieties exist with yields of up to 80 to make technology available to a total from 777 million in 2015 to 815 tonnes per ha. Heat tolerant and disease of 40 million African farmers. million in 2016, he said citing the resistant livestock and technologies for latest World Food Security and Nutrition ramping up aquaculture exist.” Combining targeted subsidies for data. farmers with a market-based system for Bank experts put current comparative rapidly expanding access to financing Adesina told the audience that yields at 1.5-2 tonnes per ha for rice for farmers and agricultural value chains included researchers, implementing and 10-15 tonnes per ha for cassava. is the fastest way to get many people organizations, business leaders, out of poverty to a sustained pathway policymakers and donors that simple What was needed urgently was for economic growth, Adesina added. technical and scientific methods were deployment of supportive policies already making a whole difference to ensure technologies are cascaded The conference on “Scaling Up to farm yields and income in Africa. down to millions of farmers. “All Africa Agricultural Technologies for (Photo: Poverty in Sierra Leone’s slum needs to do is to harness the available Transformation” marked Adesina’s fond community). technologies with the right policies and return to his alma mater. 6 taat Updates 2018 “It was here, as a graduate student, that 2020 and beyond, while malnutrition technologies reach several millions of I began the journey of searching for will be on the rise over the next 20 farmers. ways to get technologies into the hands years. of millions of farmers,” he said. Adesina called for global partnerships The Bank’s ongoing initiatives had to establish Staple Crop Processing Adesina was to go on to make a the objectives of growing income for Zones across Africa. huge impact on the transformation farmers, stabilizing prices for staple of agriculture in Africa, including crops, reducing losses and stimulating “The SCPZs will provide several implementing game-changing policies multiplier effects in local economies. advantages for rural economies. They in his years as Nigeria’s Minister for will create markets for farm produce. Agriculture and Rural Development With its Staple Crop Processing Zones Raw materials will no longer be moved before taking up his post at the Bank in and other initiatives, the Bank is out of rural areas, but as finished value- September 2015. demonstrating how this can be done. added products. Post-harvest losses will be substantially reduced. Well Adesina said the situation in Sub- “The African Development Bank put integrated agricultural value chains Saharan Africa needed particularly feeding Africa as one of its topmost will develop, with supportive logistics, urgent intervention due to the ravages priorities when it launched its Feed especially warehousing and cold of climate change. Africa strategy in 2015 and is investing chains,” Adesina added. $ 24 billion in agriculture for Africa over The International Food Policy Research 10 years – the largest ever such effort,” The African Development Bank has Institute estimates that Africa will add the Bank President said. already started investments to develop 38 million to its number of hungry these SCPZs in a number of pioneering people by 2050 as a result of climate Across Africa, the Feed Africa Strategy is African countries, including Ethiopia, change. supporting the development of policies, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo and markets, infrastructure and institutions Mozambique. It expects the processing The Institute forecasts that Africa will that will ensure that agricultural value zones to be active in about 15 countries experience major food shortages by chains are well developed and that in the near-term. Dr Adesina flanked by selected participants at the Scale Up Conference. 7 taat Updates 2018 How TAAT is empowering women farmers through Urea Deep Placement Technology Kadiolo is a town in the Sikasso Region of southern Mali. Although geared by courage, they The town lies 85 km south of Sikasso, 13 km north of the were in a circle of poverty and food border with Ivory Coast and 30 km west of the border with insecurity. Burkino Faso. For example, Nabintou harvested not more than nine bags of paddy rice or The town is an agrarian community widow, and 65 other Kadiolo women 675 kg in 0.40 hectare of land over with nearly everyone engaging in decades. came together and established what agriculture at the subsistence level is now known as the ‘’Dabakala just to make ends meet. During the past 2018 cropping Association’’. season, the members of Dabakala Association were brought together Poverty drives innovation This farming association exploits the by the local agriculture sector of Faced with a family to feed Folona inland valley of 29 ha over years. Kadiolo for training and upscaling after the death of her husband, These women have a unique goal: to the Urea Deep Placement (UDP) Nabintou Ouattara, 57-year-old produce rice and feed their families. technology. Nabintou Ouattara, in her inland valley rice field, transplanting rice, Kadiolo (Sikasso District), Mali. 88 taat Updates 2018 This agricultural input-based technology, The compact is targeting at least More than 2 million farmers and promoted by the International Fertiliser 1,783,000 farmers with technologies retailers in Bangladesh are experiencing Development Centre (IFDC) under the materials and 3,070 agro-dealers in increased production and income using Technologies for African Agricultural 21 countries across Africa. Within the technology, and results are being Transformation (TAAT) program, uses less six months, the compact was able to replicated in several countries in sub- fertilizer and seeds per ha for better crop deploy their Urea Deep Placement Saharan Africa. harvest and income. (UDP) technology in Kadiolo. Working with farmers (particularly in Transforming African Changing lives through Bangladesh) for over 20 years, IFDC agriculture agricultural technology developed UDP as a more effective Technologies for African Agricultural As a volunteer through the Dabakala alternative to the traditional method Transformation (TAAT) is a program Association, Nabintou conducted a of applying fertilizer by surface initiated by the African Development demonstration plot to evaluate the UDP broadcasting (spreading, usually by Bank (AfDB) as part of its Feed Africa technology. hand) across a field or paddy. Initiative. “I used half of my field for the test. The program is implemented by IITA With less seed and less fertilizer, yields in close partnership with other CGIAR far exceeded the other half grown in Centers and specialized technical our traditional broadcasting fertilizer centers like the African Agricultural practice Nowadays, from 675 kg in the Technology Foundation (AATF), past, I harvest up to 1725 kg of paddy International Fertilizer Development rice in my small plot of 0.40 ha” she says. Centre (IFDC), Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), national With a smiling and proud face, Nabintou agricultural research and extension prides herself on the situation of systems, and private sector partners. women in Dabakala association after the adoption of the UDP. TAAT promotes and disseminates proven high-performance food production “We never thought of selling our rice technologies to millions of farmers in a one day. But since we adopted UDP, our commercially sustainable way through returns have increased so much that we a network of people and institutions are selling some of them for our cash forming a Regional Technology Delivery needs. Today, many of our women are Infrastructure (RTDI) within an enabling autonomous. They no longer depend environment. entirely on their husbands. Besides, we are mostly widows,’’ she added. Launched in 2018, the program is already increasing agricultural productivity in Africa Nabintou Ouattara and members of her through the deployment of proven and Dabakala Association are grateful to the high-performance agricultural technologies African Development Bank (AfDB)-funded at scale along selected value chains such as TAAT program which identified their rice, maize, cassava, wheat, sorghum and challenge with low yields and proffered millet, orange-flesh sweet potato, high-iron the appropriate technology (UDP) that is beans, livestock, aquaculture. putting smiles on their faces. Operating as a network of interacting Urea Deep Placement “compacts” with nine devoted to specific technology commodity value chains, and six others Designed for resource-poor farmers serving as “enablers” that provide needed cultivating lowland rice, urea deep placement specialist services such as soil fertility, (UDP) is a nutrient management technology water management, capacity building, that accomplishes what agriculture must do youth, policy, and Fall Armyworm control. in a changing climate: increase yields and profitability and reduce pollution. Just like other enabler compacts, the IFDC-led soil fertility compact works The deep point placement of urea in synergy with TAAT commodity crop briquettes delivers more nitrogen to compacts for effectiveness in scaling up the plant and reduces fertilizer use, agriculture input-based technologies water contamination, and greenhouse Demonstration of urea deep placement in for accelerated productivity growth, gas emissions. Additionally, farmers maize cropping at a training session held in Kara, Togo. Photo by Guillaume K.S. Ezui. resilience, and improved livelihoods. experience about 15‒20% higher yields. 9 9 taat Updates 2018 Fertilizer Microdose Technology leads to higher yields among farmers in Mali SAKAREL is a cosmopolitan Mamadou can’t stop thinking of the in 1 ha of millet so that those who had village located at 9 km from huge loss of fertilizer and money in past doubts could see better and adopt the years. technology. Before the harvest, many the city of Mopti in Mali. people came to ask me for my secret. I “We used to give the bags of fertilizer told them there is no secret, I just applied Mamadou Nadio, 60 years old, is one of to the children who spread it on the the microdose. At harvest, my yield was the leaders in this village. For decades, fly in our fields. Without knowing that 1500 kg; while I had never exceeded 800 the traditional practice of broadcasting in this way, a large part was lost either kg in this field’’. fertilizer was a job left to the care of by evaporation or by rainwater runoff. children. Our millet plants received only a small This success will make Mamadou the portion of the fertilizer applied. But custodian of all the knowledge on the It then took only 15 minutes for them to thanks to the training by the TAAT Soil microdose technology. apply 100 kg of diammonium phosphate Fertility compact, we finally understood (DAP) fertilizer on 1 hectare of millet. that 35 kg of fertilizer could be enough But it does not stop in such a good way. Low productivity and chronic hunger for 1 ha of millet and the yield was were a burden and problem to solve. high,’’ Mamadou said. Mamadou transmits to his children the microdose technique by saying: “In my The microdose technology uses less He became a custodian of the microdose lifetime or after my death, do not give fertilizer at the hill of millet plant. technology for cereal farmers in his up this practice; because the microdose This saves fertilizer and money and community after the training. “After is probably the technology that can significantly increases yield. the training, I applied the microdose emerge from poverty.” Mamadou, a 60-year-old farmer and custodian of microdose technology posing with his son Allaye Nadio. Sakarel, Mali. Photo by Moussa Koumaré. 10 taat Updates 2018 TAAT’s Business Platform approach boosts access to high iron beans in Zimbabwe The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) High Iron Bean (HIB) Project is implemented using the novel bean corridor approach, developed and fronted by CIAT’s Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA). The approach is operationalized trade, thus enhancing incomes for through innovation platforms (IPs) with value chain actors. the aim of eliminating bottlenecks in the bean value chain. The target is to Briefly, the corridor approach is a increase access of farmers to better market-driven transformation of rural seed of improved nutrient-rich bean agriculture that focuses on “bean varieties for the ultimate nutritional flow” activities (research, production well-being of consumers. and productivity, distribution of grain, value addition, and nutrition). The approach also helps improve the business environment, linkages In Zimbabwe, implementation of the between bean farmers and buyers TAAT HIB project is a classic example of how impactful the bean corridor (off-takers), and engagement with approach can be in enhancing bean policy makers to support investment businesses along the whole value in bean value chains and cross-border chain. High iron bean cultivar Cherry mixed with orange maize (cherry & orange maize samp). Hon. Vangelis Peter Haritatos, Deputy Minister and Director, Crop Research tasting various high iron bean-based products 11 taat Updates 2018 The TAAT HIB project in Zimbabwe aims has attracted several enthusiastic together seed companies, farm at scaling up three HIB varieties: NUA45, partners (actors) along the HIB value input suppliers, bean processors, Cherry, and NUA674 (released in 2018) and chain led by private sector actors (seed NGOs, schools, and Government complementary good agricultural practices companies, processors, aggregators, departments to showcase the (GAPs) and value-added technologies and agro-dealers). For example, in partnerships and create awareness (bean flour and canned beans). the North Eastern Corridor there are among farmers, school children, Nyamaropa and Mutasa IPs. women, and youth groups with Working through five innovation regards to the GAPs for productivity platforms within the framework of In November 2018, the IPs hosted enhancement and nutritious HIBs bean corridors, the TAAT HIB project several on-farm field days, bringing and value-added HIB products. Mr R. Chitsiko the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture Lands and Rural Resettlement and Dr D. Kutywayo the Director, Crops Research Division of DR&SS and others sharing light moments around processed bean products. Hon. Vangelis Peter Haritatos appreciating some of the packaged HIB varieties on display. 12 taat Updates 2018 Farm to Fork: TAAT engages Ugandan youth in growing beans Somewhere in Central Uganda, Wakiso District sits St Mary’s adopting agricultural skills to enhance College Kisubi (SMACK) where teachers are doing amazing food supply in the school (especially for the students who realized the work by introducing practical agricultural lessons to their need to embrace agriculture in the students. school in order to feed students in the community who cannot meet Most of these young students need to who explained the value of high iron the school’s meal costs) to engage be guided and molded to realize that beans and how to cultivate the beans. youth in practical agricultural skills agriculture has a greater potential for The students are keen on adopting from the lessons at school as well as their economic and nutritional well- agriculture not only as an address to engage parents, students and youth, being. food security but as a source of income and teachers in the fight against hunger. once they finish college. In November last year, SMACK hosted a According to Uganda’s Demographic team from the Technologies for African Through their school club known and Health Survey of 2016, about Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) as “feed the child” where they are 2.2 million (29 percent) of Ugandan The students planting bean seeds. 13 taat Updates 2018 children under the age of five are stunted, meaning they are too short for their age. About 850,000 (11 percent) of Ugandan children under the age of five are underweight and a further 300,000 (4 percent) are too thin for their height. “If we are to do something about such ugly statistics, then we need to involve the youth in agribusiness. When we get these educated and energetic youth in the production processes, then we shall be able to increase science in production and grow food that feed our people and export the excess for higher income,” said Mr Ronald Ddungu, the Deputy Head teacher who guides the students in the agriculture program at the school. He is also a member and the contact person of the High Iron Bean (HIB) compact, TAAT platform in Uganda. With the help from the visiting TAAT team, SMACK students were able to set up demonstration gardens of HIB and trained a few of the students who will teach the rest of the students. Dr Stanley Nkalubo, head of Bean program at the National Crop Resources Research Institute (NACCRI) who accompanied the TAAT team to the farms at SMACK, confirmed the institution’s support in setting up bean Students measuring the field as they prepare for bean planting. gardens in schools and to teach the students the business of beans. On the business side, it is approximated that an average 500 kg per acre of seed multiplied by the school’s 168,370 acres will yield 84,185 tons of beans. Each home that producers approximately 500 kg of beans is likely to earn UGX 1,250,000 for each kilo of beans sold at UGX 2,500. This paints a very great picture as the students will be able to make money out of beans as well as help feed the other students in the school from the surplus. “This is the very reason why as teachers we need to relate what we teach to the real-world scenario and allow the students to help come up with solutions especially on food security gaps,”Mr Ddungu added. Dr Stanley Nkalubo (white hat) explaining details of bean production to some of the students. Their teacher accompanies the students. 14 taat Updates 2018 TAAT trains trainers on managing Innovation Platforms to amplify hotspots in local technology adoption While the proof of concept for adoption and scaling proven developed training materials based innovative technologies is demonstrated in the tier one on its decade-long experience with innovation platforms. cohort of countries under TAAT, very soon, there will be a need for human resource capacity for broad scaling in these As part of TAAT, FARA, in 2018, countries. targeted 150 experienced extension specialists as Trainers on how to establish and facilitate innovation The Capacity Development and value chain stakeholder; instead it is more platforms. The Trainers, a third of Technology Outreach (CTDO) enabler frequent within organized communities. whom are women, cover a range of compact is already preparing local regions within the eight countries. capacity to meet such demands for As mentioned by the National They also have experience in a facilitation of technology adoption. Small Holder Farmers of Malawi (NASFAM) range of value chains and are well In the last quarter of 2018, over 150 during the opening remarks to the positioned to identify potential Trainers from eight countries were training for the Southern African region, facilitators of Innovation Platforms trained on management of Innovation “The future belongs to the organized”. in the local areas where the platforms to enable rapid localization Innovation Platforms (IPs) have been TAAT Commodity compacts are and scaling of TAAT technologies. recognized within the TAAT program as operating. the preferred mode of introducing and “The future belongs to the mentoring a community of practice or These trainers will also be able value chain to adopt proven technologies. to train other trainers in their organized” country as well as local facilitators of innovation platforms. Thus, Technology adoption does not happen Thus, the Forum for Agricultural through this approach, the CDTO in isolation at the level of the farmer or Research in Africa (FARA) has enabler compact has produced a An entire group work and plenary session chaired by women participants, leading the debate on plans to establish and manage Innovation Platforms at the Training of Trainers session in Abuja, Nigeria (Photo by Benjamin Abugri, FARA). 15 taat Updates 2018 core pool of resource persons to help Lagos State being a maritime State has closely with the Commodity compacts, the Commodity compacts amplify the comparative advantage in aquaculture; will be targeting trainers and facilitators outreach of TAAT technologies in the hence the emphasis of Agricultural IP to among the specific communities target countries. spread TAAT Aquaculture technologies. involved with TAAT. A capacity audit Having trained extensionists involved in currently under way will help identify Promoting local interactions the management of Innovation platforms further capacity development needs. builds upon their experience in facilitation Furthermore, the CDTO will organize between extension and of rural communities of practice and their the systematic review of packaging Commodity Compacts proximity to the stakeholders involved of information and knowledge on the Combined with the training sessions in the locality. Moreover, they can assist proven technologies, for the purpose were half-day interactions with in packaging and sharing of knowledge of outreach. This will facilitate the commodity compacts operating in about technologies. network of extension and knowledge the host country of the workshop. management specialists to doubly Thus, presentations were made by The francophone countries will benefit enhance the packaging, outreach, and seven commodity compacts and from the Training of Trainers in early facilitation of adoption of technologies two enabler compacts during these 2019. As the process continues the within local communities grouped training sessions. Each group of country CDTO enabler compact, working within innovation platforms. representatives returned home with a plan on how to engage the commodity compacts already operational in their country and demonstrate the value of the compacts working with them as facilitators of innovation platforms. Paul Fatch, Focal Point of the Malawi Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (MaFAAS) proposes that Innovation Platforms will also be useful beyond TAAT interventions in Malawi. The TAAT CDTO enabler compact has also established a Community of Practice of Innovation Platform facilitators to learn from their experiences. Early harvest from the Aquaculture Compact and technology adoption hotspot in Nigeria The first location for the Training of Trainers was in Nigeria, given that there is the highest concentration of TAAT Networking at one of the Train the trainers sessions. Photo by FARA. compacts operational in that country. This ensured that the commodity and enabler compacts in Nigeria had early exposure to the benefits of establishing innovation platforms at community level to enhance the adoption of proven technologies by the value chains at local level. The aquaculture compact, which had already involved extension specialists in its work, was able to send five of their representatives to the Training of Trainers (ToT) session in Abuja. Within two weeks of the ToT, Dr Isaiah Oladipo Opadokun, Head of Fisheries, Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA) reported on the next level of step-down training with 45 staff and field officers from the LSADA. A cross-section of participants at one of the TAAT training sessions. Phota by FARA. 16 taat Updates 2018 ea How TAAT’s deployment of feed resources and sheep fattening technologies is meeting Ethiopia’s livestock needs The story of these two neighbors shows that combining soil and water conservation and fodder production may lead to rapid and significant changes at farm level, by addressing through a single innovation, the acute shortage of fodder for livestock and the severe problem of erosion in these mountainous landscapes. Small ruminants in Ethiopia. Photo by ILRI. 17 taat Updates 2018 In these farming systems of southern such as tree Lucerne or Sesbania sesban, ETB. He then bought another new Ethiopia, animals play a vital role in land as additional fodder resources for ox in August at 9.000 ETB, also for preparation and income generation livestock. fattening, that he sold 4 months from dairy products or fattening, but after at the price of 13.500 ETB. This also as a cash reserve in case of a hard Ato Tesfay and his family live in the Kebele sole operation of animal fattening blow. of Suticho 3 in the district (Woreda) of generated a gross profit of 10.500 Doyo Gena. His 0.5 ha farm corresponds ETB (~US$380, 230 net profit) for But the way to bring these changes is not to the average surface of farms found the family. that simple. There is important social in this area of Southern Ethiopia. It is work to be conducted beforehand, located in a steep slope of the mountain. This is equivalent to the national with several constraints that need to be Ato Tesfay explains that erosion control average of three and half month’s tackled. was his main concern, as well as the wages of around US$65/month, or depletion of feeding sources for his 5 months factory workers wages at First there was the problem of open animals. “I have decided to intercrop US$45.00/month. The TAAT–Inter- grazing that discourages any investment the grass fodder grown on anti-erosive Aide project is building the resilience in fodder production. The integration structures with alfalfa. This association of families like Ato Tesfay to adopt of fodder resource may only work if is very interesting for animal feeding”. proven livestock technologies the whole community succeeds to He also developed vetch, another fodder like fodder production and feed define and apply rules to control open specie, for fodder and green manure. resource utilization to address the grazing, and to switch to cut and carry Integrated with land conservation. The problem of feed shortage in the or zero-grazing practices. To assure development of permanent fodder dry season, increase family income this, the project worked with the Iddir, resources in the farm had a considerable and protect the environment at the a traditional community group that impact on the economy of the family, same time. holds tremendous influence because as shown by the elements of answer it has a strong legitimacy from the provided below. On her side, Ato Tesfay’s wife, Wazero community. Abanesh, is producing and selling For instance, late last year, Ato Tesfay dairy products: she processes butter The Iddir, was used to galvanize the bought an ox at the price of 7000 ETB and cheese that she sells three times community to make and enforce a ban (~US$250), for fattening. After using a week on the local market. The on open grazing in the TAAT-Inter-Aide this ox to plough the family land, he sold production varies throughout the year project areas. The need to deal with the it in July 2018 at the price of 13.000 but on average, she is getting about problem of erosion comprehensively, by considering the whole sub-watersheds is another challenge. This is associated with the critical issue of poor access to planting materials. To overcome the latter, the livestock compact embarked on the use of farm-based backyard nursery. This was instrumental in increasing the capacity to multiply the fodder grass species starting from a few clumps. These changes are the precursors that paved the way to provide the solutions to two major constraints faced by the families: the issue of land fertility and the lack of diversified fodder for the livestock. The control of animal grazing made it possible gradually to diversify the fodder resources, and to introduce green manure cropping during the dry season, when parts of the land are laid bare without any cover crop. It also contributes to better utilization of wheat or other cereal straws that were hitherto left in the field to be pastured by other animals. A third benefit was the opportunity to encourage the integration of rich protein- rich, drought-tolerant fodder hedges, Sheep fatterning, Menz, Ethiopia. 18 taat Updates 2018 1,000 ETB/week (~US$38), thanks to the milk by-products. In the dry season, the quantity of milk usually decreases but it is compensated by the market price increase. In the rainy season, it is the opposite. Ato Tesfay is now extending alfalfa in his farm, mainly by cuttings. Tesfaye’s neighbor, Ato Tessema, also started to collaborate with the TAAT– Inter Aide Project. For him, the main concern was to conserve the land and preserve soil fertility. Access to fodder in the dry season was also a severe issue for the family. After having constructed 170 m of soil bunds planted with grass to stabilize the anti-erosive structures, Ato Tessema tested other solutions: “For the last 2 years, I have been testing the use of green manure to improve the fertility of the soil”. During the Belg season (dry season), part of his land is let for fallow. Farmers from highland areas have indeed no alternative than cropping Irish potatoe during the dry season. So, only part of his farm is used during this Ato Tesfaye (middle) and his neigbors. Photo by Inter-Aide 2018. season. In 2018, the project suggested he test improved fallow by using vetch and lupin as cover crops. He decided to focus on Vetch, planted the seeds in March and chopped the biomass at the beginning of June to incorporate it in the soil before ploughing it 3 weeks later. He observed “a very positive effect on wheat production following the green manure. I kept some seeds apart to use them for seed’ production, so I can continue to use green manure the next year”. He therefore allocated a small plot for this purpose. After harvesting the seed from this plot, he decided to plant “Portuguese cabbage”. That was when he noted the surprising effect of mixed fodder-cabbage production. As some left seed fell on the ground, vetch germinated inside his cabbage and, in the absence of any adverse visible reaction, “I decided to let the vetch grow. Looking at the adjacent plot, with cabbage only, I felt that it is a very good association”. This combination provides several benefits: soil cover and therefore decreasing weeding needs, providing additional source of fodder, up to 30% improved cabbage yields due to nitrogen fixing by the legume fodder. This amounts to double harvest according to Ato Tessema. Female youth members receive rams Dogoyena in Ethiopia. 19 taat Updates 2018 In 2018, thanks to his own vetch seed production, he extended the surface with green manure and also dedicated some plots for vetch whose leaves will be used for fodder. This year, he will decrease the use of urea in his wheat plot that follows vetch by 1/3rd. At ~US$75 U/50-kg bag, Ato, will be saving nearly 2,000 ETB on urea fertilizer/ ha of land planted to potato alone. He hopes to gain an additional benefit of nearly in fodder biomass harvest. “It is providing an additional source of well-appreciated fodder!” He is now extending his hedge and is currently in the process of multiplying additional seedlings to be transplanted. Youths Training at Addiyo Ethiopia, TAAT-ICARDA Photo by ICARDA. TAAT livestock feed, forages, and sheep fattening technologies: The big picture Since inception, the TAAT Small Livestock compact has engaged partners to deliver on the TAAT Feed and Forages for access to improved feeding to support the small ruminant fattening technology. In Mali and Ethiopia, five delivery partners have been identified to deliver different components of the feed technology. It is important to note that the forage technology does not stand in isolation; it links to the Small ruminant fattening activities. Chicken customers receiving 20-day-old chicks. Achievement so far 1.35 million chickens distributed to 100,000 households in Oromia region, Ethiopia. ~US$500,000 generated from sale of 2,000 sheep and 750 cattle fattened in Ethiopia. Sheep fattening youth business training on Ethiopia Regional television reach at least 2.5 million farmers. https://youtu.be/XCWj2gq- iEgo?t=129 Awaiting English translation. 25 Master Trainers (12 women) from eight East African countries trained on livestock technology scaling. Some of the training slides https://www.slideshare.net/ILRI/faoilri-niyi , https://www.slideshare.net/ILRI/faoilri-niyi2 At least 3.5 million Ugandan farmers sensitized on Livestock technology scaling via broadcast on Uganda Broadcasting corporation. FAO-TAAT Master trainers’ activities. Ongoing activities. 5,000 sqm nurseries and 150 fodder demonstration plots established. 1.5 tons of forage and dual-purpose seed distributed to farmers. 50,000 sq m of forages and dual-purpose legume plots established. 3,500 agropastoralists trained on harvesting, handling, and storing fodder feeds. 35 tons of dual-purpose forage biomass harvested (harvesting still in progress). 250 agropastoralists trained as trainers in Mali http://u.osmfr.org/m/240976/ 20 taat Updates 2018 T AA T: Enabling the passion of African youth in agriculture The ENABLE-TAAT compact is a veritable avenue for young Africans to lots of farmers requesting for planting supporting the dreams and create jobs for themselves through the materials especially the Pro Vitamin A proven technologies being promoted by variety. I am assisting in providing disease- aspirations of many African TAAT and linking with other compacts under free cassava stems and also making youth by creating a platform the project. money from the sales. I will not stop until I extend the benefit to other parts of the that encourages them to choose Led by the Youth in Agribusiness office of the community,” she said. a career path in agriculture. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the ENABLE-TAAT compact is providing Another young man that is creating economic The compact, which is one of the ‘ENABLERS’ Capacity Building and Technical Assistance opportunity out of the technologies promoted under the Technologies for African Agricultural for the establishment and expansion of by TAAT is Adedamola Murtalab. He was Transformation (TAAT) is targeted at guiding youth-led agribusiness enterprises across trained on the production of Orange Fleshed vibrant, energetic, young people to become five countries—DR Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Sweet Potato (OFSP) and now makes a living owners and co-owners of independent Tanzania, and Uganda in year 1. from the multiplication of the vines. agribusiness enterprises across all of TAAT’s The enterprises were selected after review, value chains. “The Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato is scarce grading, and recommendations based on key here in Nigeria but I had the opportunity Many of these young people who were business elements, perceived viability for of being enlightened on the health and unemployed graduates before their encounter sustainability, and technological impact. economic benefits of it by ENABLE-TAAT and with ENABLE-TAAT initially did not see One of such established agribusinesses is decided to be one of the agents of change. themselves creating a career path along F-Step Cassava enterprise owned by Seun I discovered that lots of people were yet to the agricultural value chains or embracing Ogidan. know about it, so I started making enquiries agriculture as a real business, but the compact and was linked by ENABLE-TAAT with the availed them the opportunity to unveil their After being trained through ENABLE-TAAT, International Potato Center (CIP) and their potentials in agriculture. F-Step acquired 15 hectares of land at Ago- registered out-growers where I was trained Owu in Osun State, Nigeria to establish a and got the vines. I started with 4 hectares It was also gathered that many of them had a cassava farm for root production and stem where I multiply the vines and train some negative perception about agriculture, but the multiplication. She started the business with farmers. I also sell the potato and the compact devised a means of changing their her savings but was supported by ENABLE- demand for it is encouraging so I will expand mindset by organizing trainings on agricultural TAAT to expand her capacity for production of my business soon,” he added. commodities, business management, and planting materials for famers. The business has leadership skills, and providing mentoring and created direct and indirect employment for an The opportunity will be extended to more facilities to explore available opportunities. additional ten young people. young people as the project expands its activities to other locations in Africa. The aim Within a short period of time, the initiative “I will expand my farm to about 25 hectares is to reach out to over 5,000 youth in the first is recording successes and is fast becoming in the next planting season because I have year of implementation. Seun Ogidan of is F-Step Cassava enterprise explaining a point at her farm. 21 taat Updates 2018 Deployment of proven technologies leads to increased aquaculture productivity in Africa Aquaculture is the world’s The technology dissemination accompanied new tilapia mass production facilities fastest growing food production Better Management Practices (BMP) such to produce 52 million genetically as, bio-security, water quality management, improved fast-growing fingerlings per industry and currently more feed and nutrition, fish handling techniques, annum. farmed seafood is consumed amongst several others. globally than captured fish. Under the AfDB-funded Zambia Mass production of Aquaculture Enterprise Development However, Africa has lagged fast-growing fingerlings Project (ZAEDP) project, which TAAT behind the rest of the world Following exposure to proven technolo- Aquaculture compact is leveraging on, in aquaculture development gies and BMP through the TAAT over 5,000 fish farmers and other 2,000 training at Abbassa, Zambia constructed aquaculture actors were engaged. contributing only about 2% of total global production. Stanley Mworia, one of the young entrepreneurs from Kenya, says: “In the training I attended in Egypt, I learnt about new technologies to increase aquaculture production in Kenya. I, particularly, got This is due to inadequate application of interested in In-Pond Raceway System. When I am back to Kenya, available technologies across the aquaculture I will lead the Aquacultural Association of Kenya in conducting value chain. Several challenges severely the trainings to the farmers across the country”. undermine aquaculture production, including stunted fish seed, high level of mortality and poor aquatic health management; high cost of fish feed—over 60‒70% of farming costs attributed to feed costs; high level of postharvest losses and low value addition. Although proven aquaculture technologies exist in some African countries like Egypt, which is the largest producer in Africa and third largest producer of farmed tilapia in the world, facilitating technology delivery to fish farmers, at scale still presents a challenge. To address this challenge, the TAAT Aquaculture Compact facilitated training and demonstration of proven Aquaculture technologies to participants from 10 pilot countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Initial activities focused on sensitization of partner countries on the available technologies in order to make them ready for early adoption. This was followed by training, attended by participants from across the 10 TAAT Aquaculture Compact countries, and conducted at the WorldFish Regional Aquaculture Training Center, Abbassa, Egypt. Technologies disseminated to Aquaculture value chain actors in Africa included: Fast growing fingerlings of catfish and tilapia, mono-sex tilapia, quality low-cost fish feed formulated using locally available raw materials, improved rearing systems, and postharvest techniques. 22 taat Updates 2018 These farmers are now accessing these This has greatly improved production seed at 5 weeks were 1.8 g and escapees technologies through training undertaken of fingerlings and table size fish. These (shooters) was 3.7 g. by the Zambian private sector and systems have greatly increased larval government partners who were trained at survival (from 5% to 30‒45%) and This is more than a 100% result. This Abbassa. This has increased the amount reduced cost of production of fingerlings work was in collaboration with Tilapia of fish seed for fish farmers by 41% and of 3‒5 g from 90 to about 25FCFA for a Aquaculture Developers Association of Nigeria (TADAN) who participated actively the supply of quality fish seed to improve profit margin ranging from 11% to about in the Abbassa training bringing with aquaculture growth in Zambia and reduce 300% in Cameroon. them the required hormones for mono- the current pressure on demand for fingerlings. In Nigeria, demonstration and sex production from Egypt. dissemination of fast-growing fish TAAT has collaborated with over 50 Through the TAAT Aquaculture Compact, seed has led to the use of separation, tilapia fish hatcheries producing about improved brood stock of catfish conditioning, and eventual pairing of 250,000,000 fingerlings of tilapia at (Clarias species) have already been tilapia broodstocks at a ratio of 1:2. This an average of 5 million fingerlings imported to Cameroon and the GIFT has increased fish seed production by per hatchery per year. The fingerling Tilapia is programmed for importation in over 50% and increased growth rate of technology is to be deployed to about 2019. the fries by 25%. Faster growth of fish 1,000 fish hatcheries. Genitors of fish imported to improve production of fingerlings and table fish. Example of IPRS in WorldFish Center, Abbassa, Egypt. 23 taat Updates 2018 Fingerlings produced will benefit This is a leading initiative for improved For example, after the training, Kenya 150,000 fish farmers to realize 87,500 rural nutrition, income generation and adopted the In-pond Raceway System tons of table size fish in the respective poverty alleviation. (IPRS). This technology will enable production cycle in target countries and adopting farmers in Kenya to increase In collaboration with the small livestock 75,000,000 of other value chain actors compact, over 400 fish farmers in their fish production 300-fold each year in the next production cycle. Nigeria were sensitized on the inclusion from the existing pond area. The mass production technology of cassava peel mash to produce quality, Leveraging on other projects, the deployed using TAAT is now producing low-cost fish feed. This technology Aquacultural Association of Kenya is an average of 6,000,000 fingerlings reduces the cost of fish feed by 30% and planning to up-scale this technology to per hatchery per annum against an has been adopted by over 2,000 fish feed over 5,000 fish farmers which will boost average of 3.5 million fingerlings producers to benefit 200,000 table size production to over 40,000 tons. previously. As the 68 catfish hatchery producers. TAAT is also engaging the private sector operator across the 10 countries The training has also immensely as the off-taker of the technologies to embrace this technology, it will lead impacted fish farmers across the target disseminate to other fish farmers and to production of 119,000 tons of countries through adoption of proven operate as a business to ensure the catfish in 2019. technologies. sustainability of the technologies. Trainees taught how to construct a fish cage. 24 taat Updates 2018 New technologies and best management practices boost aquaculture in Africa The absence of adequately of farming costs entailing fish feed; high aquaculture technologies and best trained personnel to undertake level of postharvest losses and low value management practices for representatives addition. of 10 African countries from National production programs is one of the Agricultural Research and Extension main constraints hindering the Despite these challenges, the African Systems (NARES) and aquaculture value continent has enormous potential for advancement of the aquaculture chain actors, to improve their skills in aquaculture production. running aquaculture production systems sector in the African continent. back in their countries. Therefore, the African Development Bank through Technologies for African The training took place in WorldFish-run Qualified employees are mainly enrolled Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Abbassa Research and Training Center, in research or administrative work: Sharkia, Egypt in October 2018. the majority of extension services and interventions has projected to increase production activities are carried out by fish production over the next 5 years that Abbassa Research and Training Center fisheries specialists who may not have will benefit 1,150,000 aquaculture value Regional Research and Training Center, the required practical orientation in fish chain actors through improved food also known as Regional Center of farming production. security and income. Excellence for Aquaculture provides necessary facilities for training. These Other major challenges confronting The African Development Bank funded include laboratories, ponds, halls, and aquaculture development in Africa are “Technologies for African Agricultural accommodation as well as qualified stunted fish seed, high level of mortality Transformation (TAAT) Aquaculture trainers. Over 100 countries across the and poor aquatic health management; Compact” organized a technology world have benefited in residential training high cost of fish feed with over 60‒70% demonstration training on proven courses in Aquaculture from the Center. 25 taat Updates 2018 Egypt ranks first in aqua culture production among the African countries, surpassing 1.3 million metric tons per year in 2016. This is because of the country’s vast experience especially in Tilapia production. Egypt is the most appropriate country for African counter- parts to learn new technologies and best management practices for adoption for sustainable fish production. The training program includes on-field demonstrations, theoretical sessions, field visits to fish farms, fish feed millers, and fish market auctions in Egypt. Stanley Mworia, one of the young entrepreneurs from Kenya, says: “In the training I attended in Egypt, I learnt about new technologies to increase aquaculture production in Kenya. I, particularly, got interested in the In-Pond Raceway System. When I am back to Kenya, I will lead the Aquacultural Association Remi Ahmed, prominent fish farmer. of Kenya in conducting the trainings to the farmers across the country”. Training participants got acquainted with the IPRS that WorldFish recently introduced for the first time in Egypt and Africa.The new system improves production of farmed fish in 4 months, which is shorter than the common production system. Such new technologies will help African nations double their aquaculture production within a very short period. Participants are disseminating the knowledge and new technologies they learned through the training to surrounding farmers, feed miller owners, and aquaculture entrepreneurs, back in their countries. The first IPRS model in East Africa is now being implemented, specifically in Kenya, in the outskirts of the capital city, Nairobi assuring an adequate nearby market for the fish. Currently, other Construction of IPRS. 26 taat Updates 2018 less cost-efficient ponds dominate and training to other fish farmers in Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia as focal aquaculture production systems in Africa. Nigeria”. countries and the Republic of Benin, One of the trainees, Remi Ahmed, a Burundi, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, and WorldFish leads the Aquaculture Compact prominent fish farmer from Nigeria, Tanzania as satellite countries. among 9 agricultural value chains and president of Tilapia Developer under the Africa Development Bank More training programs will be organized Association of Nigeria and CEO of Choice (AFDB)-funded TAAT project and under the TAAT program to ensure Fisheries in Nigeria says: “I have learnt aims to increase fish production and actors of aquaculture production acquire Better Management Practices and new self-sufficiency through sustainable required knowledge to boost fish technologies specifically the addition intensification of existing aquaculture production in African countries. of probiotics in fish feed to boost fish enterprises. immunity (resistance to diseases) Apart from the knowledge sharing and achieve a shorter cycle of production The program builds resilient small/ and technologies transfer, the TAAT (fast growth rate) leading to a higher medium enterprises and large-scale aquaculture compact works on developing level of survival at the fingerlings stage. aquaculture businesses throughout a certification scheme to ensure quality The technologies learnt in WorldFish will ten African countries, including the fish and feed production for domestic be disseminated through demonstration Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, consumption and export. An integrated, multipurpose pond at a youth training site in Foumban. 27 taat Updates 2018 How TAAT technologies are taking cassava to a new frontier in Africa Cassava is a staple to about 350 million tested technologies to the farmers, processors, and other beneficiaries people in sub-Saharan Africa; in 2003, across the cassava value chain. cassava was declared a poverty fighter by Unlike previous dissemination efforts, Cassava Compact’s strategy African Heads of State. of technology delivery is managed by delivery and dissemination experts and backstopped by research institutions However, the crop is yet to prove its 10 tons per ha compared to Asia where that developed the improved mettle as millions of growers in sub- productivity is more than 20 tons technologies. Saharan Africa who depend on the crop per ha. for their livelihoods, still live below the Through the Bureau for Special poverty line. Since 2018, TAAT through the Cassava Projects of the Togolese Presidency Compact has begun addressing the and the Ministère de l’Agriculture de The poor performance of cassava and limiting factors to cassava transformation l’Elevage et de la Pêche, a Technology indeed several other crops are due to using a holistic and multi-stakeholder Delivery Consortium (TDC) comprising poor productivity, low value addition, approach that brings on board more than twelve institutions has inability of farmers to access improved researchers, extension service providers, been established to undertake nation- varieties, poor market access, and development practitioners, input dealers, wide delivery of modern cassava other factors. Consequently, Africa’s information service providers, and technologies offered by TAAT to cassava productivity per ha is less than other partners to deliver improved and farmers and other value chain actors. 28 taat Updates 2018 Similar arrangements have been made in from IITA Ibadan to Togo and Benin and By December 2018, nearly 1,500 cassava other countries. are being multiplied to provide 200,000 producers and about 6,500 non-cassava cuttings that will be distributed to seed farmers had been registered by MIFA and The Cassava Compact is targeting to produce 2.5 million stakes of high yield growers in the next 4 months to generate linked to financial institutions, including 1.0 million cuttings in the following insurance companies. and disease tolerant cassava varieties in Togo through a combination of season. The farmers were trained, and their field multiplication of cassava and the The government of Togo has provided farms monitored, they were guided on new laboratory-based technology for funding for the establishment of two making market contracts with other value rapid propagation of cassava, Semi- modern cassava processing plants to chain actors. A total of 11,768 farmers Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH™). produce high quality cassava flour were supported directly or indirectly (HQCF) for partial replacement out of which nearly 5,000 were linked to Capacity building program of ten technical personnel of national institutions and the of imported wheat for bread and insurance. private sector from Togo (Togo Institute confectionary. Twenty percent of these are women. of Agricultural Research), the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia (Zambia Cassava Compact has procured the An estimated 15,000 jobs have been generated or consolidated. About Agriculture Research Institute), Tanzania processing equipment to be installed 10,000 tons of cassava have been (Tanzania Agriculture Research Institute in the modern processing plants when traded. About 140 cooperatives with & KilimOrgano), and Sierra Leone (Sierra completed. Private sector owners of nearly 4000 members (40% women) Leone Agriculture Research Institute) on moribund cassava processing factories with nearly 5,000 hectares have been the use of the new technology has been have been engaged in Sierra Leone structured to cultivate cassava and completed. to receive technical expertise from other crops, especially rice, maize, TAAT Cassava Compact to resuscitate New laboratories to apply the SAH and soybean. their operations and engage smallholder technology are being established to farmers on outgrower schemes. Through many fairground meetings, MIFA produce sufficient planting materials for has reached about 6,000 people, including distribution to seed growers and farmers. TAAT Cassava Compact partner 44% women in nearly 120 villages. In To address the challenge of malnutrition, institutions in Togo continue to create an addition, through different information 40,000 stakes of three proVitamin A (pVA) enabling environment for the sustainable dissemination channels, an estimated cassava varieties have been transferred growth of the cassava sector. 450,000 farmers, processors, marketers, Group photograph at the Togolese Presidential Office. 29 taat Updates 2018 researchers, policy makers, and other value chain actors in the Cassava Compact countries were reached with information on available improved cassava technologies being scaled-out. In Nigeria, the Cassava Compact has established demonstration sites across three agroecologies— the Guinea savanna, derived savanna, and humid forest based on technology toolkits that combine improved varieties, correct tillage, optimum plant density, fertilization, and integrated weed control measures that guarantee farmers more than 24 tons per ha harvest. More than 200 extension agents have been trained on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in 2018. With extension an agent- farmer ratio of 1: 3000, the 200 extension agents will reach at least 600,000 farmers with knowledge and information on cassava GAPs. The training of farmers and extension agents is continuing across Africa. Digital extension materials were prepared to be used on radio and through videos with the goal of reaching millions of farmers across Africa through mobile phones. In Zambia, the Cassava Compact completed the evaluation of cassava seed quality and quantity managed by about 40 registered seed growers. About 2.1 million cuttings were assessed as clean planting materials for use to establish 84 ha multiplication farm technology demonstration sites targeting at least 25 t/ha yield. Increased productivity would increase average farm-level cassava outputs and incomes. The transfer of nutrient-dense cassava varieties to TAAT Cassava Compact countries would increase the nutritional status of the consumers of cassava products. Production of HQCF to substitute expensively imported wheat flour in bakeries would increase market access for cassava farmers, reduce foreign exchange expenditure on foods, boost the local economy, Bountiful and healthy cassava yield. and increase national GDP. 30 taat Updates 2018 TA AT : S teering Africa towards water-secure wheat production The International Water available on a massive scale to Crop cultivation in Africa is largely Management Institute (IWMI) lift smallholder farmers across rain fed. Small-scale farmers depend on rainfall, and climate variability and led Water Enabler Compact Africa out of poverty. change lead to reduced productivity (TAAT-WEC) stands uniquely as or entire crop loss. Securing water a pillar for meeting water needs resources for agriculture is key to TAAT-WEC presently enables five value in crop production systems. chains: Wheat, Rice, Sorghum, Maize, increasing the resilience of African and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato farmers. In irrigation schemes, over- IWMI, whose mandate is to (OFSP). Three groups of irrigation and irrigation leads to lower crop yields, ensure a water-secure world, water management technologies are to water scarcity and reduced crop has committed to making its being brought to scale: engineered yields elsewhere, and to environmental irrigation surfaces, efficient water lifting degradation. TAAT-WEC irrigation proven irrigation and water and application technologies, and technologies contribute to increased management technologies irrigation scheduling technologies. water productivity. We aim to optimize the use of scarce water resources to Wheat demonstration site in Alkamawa, Nigeria. 31 taat Updates 2018 maximize crop yields. Our interventions compact is scaling affordable water food security. In each target country, contribute to increased production, that lifting technologies for dry-season rice scaling activities, including selection contributes to increased income and cultivation in 2019 Q1, using shallow and equipping of demonstration sites, food security of the rural population. ground water resources. Preparations are implemented in consultation and for scaling of on-site water harvesting collaboration with ICARDA. Seven African countries are currently technologies to provide water security targeted: Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, for sorghum farmers are being made Established innovation platforms Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Malawi. during Q1. (IPs) play a crucial role in the scaling In Nigeria we enable the wheat, rice, trajectory in all demonstration sites. and sorghum compacts. In Mali and New partnerships were developed They contribute to defining challenges Burkina Faso sorghum and rice farmers with the Ethiopian Institute for that value chain actors face, and for will benefit. In Ethiopia and Sudan, TAAT- Agricultural Research (EIAR), the defining possible solutions. Through WEC aims to increase wheat productivity Agricultural Research Cooperation engagement with the IPs, the prevailing and production. Finally, in Malawi and (ARC) in Sudan, and the Institute of realities, water resource potential, Tanzania, TAAT-WEC enables the OFSP Agricultural Research (IAR) in Nigeria and challenges in the production and Maize compacts, respectively. to implement the scaling of irrigation environment were established. This and water management technologies allowed selection of appropriate sites The TAAT-WEC activities took off during for wheat. The institutes are mandated and matching of specific technologies the dry season starting in 2018 Q4 and for promoting irrigation development to local conditions. Based on analysis firstly focus on the wheat production in their respective countries; they of the information provided by the systems in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. maintain strong links with water user stakeholders and observations from The growing season for wheat is similar associations, farmer associations, the field, technologies were selected in the aforementioned countries extension services, private sector that have the potential to increase and planting is done in November. In organizations, and they contribute to wheat crop productivity or reduce the Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria, the national programs on agriculture and irrigation water applied. Wheat Demonstration field in Alkamawa, Kano, Nigeria Before Intervention Photo by IWMI WA. 32 taat Updates 2018 Boosting wheat production In total 38 farmers are directly involved in University, Micro-finance Foundation in Nigeria the demonstration of the technologies, (NGO), WUAs, Irrigation administration while approximately 200 farmers that of Gezira Scheme (MIWR), and the TAAT-WEC demonstrates irrigation are members of the IPs are targeted. Extension and technology transfer management technologies to boost However, the project partnered with the organization of the Gezira Scheme. wheat production in Kano State. Water Users Association in the Kadawa This agricultural seasonal water use Irrigation Scheme where 4,000 farmers Both demonstration sites are located is expected to decrease by 10‒15% can potentially adopt demonstrated within large irrigated schemes and and wheat productivity will increase technologies. In Alkamawa, some 2,000 TAAT-WEC scales three proven irrigation by 25%. Kano State is a major wheat farmers will be targeted. Wheat farmers technologies: 1) mechanized land producer in Nigeria that was selected in will be engaged in farmer field days levelling, 2) weirs for accurate water consultation with the Wheat compact. and receive trainings. Moreover, the application, and 3) optimized irrigation After identification missions to several project has partnered with the Kano scheduling for maximizing yields. The zones, two sites were selected: Agricultural Development Programme project currently engages 120 wheat in Kadawa irrigation scheme and to further scale the technologies within farmers. Moreover, ten extension agents Alkamawa village; the latter, meaning the two selected zones and beyond. from the Ministry of Agriculture were the Wheat village when translated from Their field agents, together with lead trained, ten researchers were trained, the local language. Farmer participation farmers, will be trained in 2019 Q1 in and 40 pioneer/lead farmers received and interest in irrigation technologies the aforementioned six technologies. training in irrigation scheduling. was found to be high and both are major wheat zones. Boosting wheat production Given the strong ties with a variety of The compact has linked with two in Sudan organizations, it expected that some 4,000 farmers will benefit from the innovation platforms that are active. TAAT-WEC established two irrigation technologies. ARC, the national After discussions it was decided to demonstration sites to increase partner, is involved in the national wheat scale three proven technologies in wheat productivity in Sudan: the development program and TAAT-WEC the Kadawa irrigation scheme in year Gezira Scheme and. Partnerships achievements will be potentially included 1: 1) mechanized land levelling, 2) were established with a wide range of in the national program. bed furrow irrigation, and 3) weirs organizations from research to private for accurate water management companies and include: Hudiebea application, and three technologies in Research Station, CTC (chemical and Boosting wheat production the Alkamawa area: 1) pressured water input supplier) River Nile and Gezira in Ethiopia lifting, 2) check basin, and 3) border Farmers IPs, Hydraulic Research Center Two wheat producing states are strip systems. The demonstration sites (HRC) of the Ministry of Irrigation targeted by TAAT-WEC in Ethiopia: are developed and supervised by IAR. and Water Resources (MIWR), Gezira Fentale and Amibira. EIAR is Training and awareness raising activities in Nigeria. 33 taat Updates 2018 coordinating the activities from its levelling, 2) furrow irrigation, and 3) Associations are directly involved research station in Were. Challenges optimized irrigation application with in the participatory demonstration of farmers in wheat cultivation were flumes. activities. The total number of identified during discussions with the farmers that are benefiting in year innovation platforms in the two zones. TAAT-WEC partnered with the 1 exceed 2,500. Improved irrigation Demonstration of three technologies national extension service and their management should lead to an to increase wheat productivity and development agents are being trained increase in wheat productivity of 25% production is currently implemented in the technologies. In total 36 farmers and similar increases in income are by TAAT-WEC: 1) mechanized land from three different Water User foreseen. Discussions with wheat farmers on suitable irrigation technologies for boosting wheat production. Major achievements For scaling of irrigation and water management technologies, TAAT-WEC achieved the following: • 6 wheat demonstration sites are operational in major wheat producing regions in three countries. • 194 wheat farmers are directly involved in demonstration activities. • 12,500 wheat farmers stand to benefit through capacity building activities, farmer field days, and technical support from extension agents. • Wheat productivity is expected to increase by 25% and beneficiaries benefit from a similar increase in income of 25%. • 24 new partnerships were established to facilitate scaling; these include private parties, not-for-profit organization, innovation platforms, and water user associations. TAAT-WEC has put all administrative procedures in place and national partners are preparing for further training of lead farmers and extensions agents in irrigation technologies for wheat, organizing scaling events such as farmer field days to reach the thousands of farmers, and organize stakeholder consultation to assess the enabling environment for wheat productivity and production increase, including policy recommendations. 34 taat Updates 2018 F ee d Af ric a : Stakeholders zero in on partnerships for technology delivery Key stakeholders in Africa’s Innovative approach in partnership between IITA as the executing agricultural sector have identified partnerships agency and the over 10 research institutes and centers driving the implementation partnerships for sustainable TAAT, according to Dr Bokanga, isn’t an of the TAAT program. addition to Africa’s long list of agricultural agricultural technology delivery initiatives but an innovative program that Also underscoring the imperatives of as a critical factor in Africa’s serves as a clearinghouse for sustainable partnerships for sustainable agricultural quest to “Feed Africa”. agricultural technology delivery. technology at the breakfast session were representatives of the International Fund Through its components, the program for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the will promote an enabling environment for Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa This came out strongly at a breakfast technology adoption; establish a regional (AGRA), and IITA. session that heralded the presidential technology delivery infrastructure to summit of the 2018 African Agricultural accelerate delivery; and raise Africa’s Technologies for Africa Revolution Forum (AGRF) which was held agricultural productivity by deploying proven agricultural technologies at the Technologies for African Agricultural in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city. agroecological and country levels in Transformation (TAAT) is a knowledge Organized by the Clearinghouse of the strengthened agricultural value chains. and innovation-based response to the Technologies for African Agricultural recognized need to scaling up proven The Togolese Minister for Agriculture, technologies across Africa. Transformation (TAAT), an initiative of Livestock and Fisheries, Ouro-Koura the African Development Bank’s Feed Agadazi was full of praises for the Already being implemented in 28 Africa Strategy that aims to achieve African Development Bank (AfDB) and low-income Regional Member Countries major agricultural transformation in the International Institute for Tropical of the AfDB, TAAT supports AfDB’s Feed Africa, the session had in attendance, Agriculture (IITA) for this well thought-out Africa Strategy for the continent to African Agriculture Ministers, Scientists, program, which according to him, “carries eliminate the current massive importation representatives of multilateral the prospects of transforming Africa’s of food and transform its economies development banks, donor partners, and agricultural landscape.” by targeting agriculture as a major the private sector. source of economic diversification and “Togo has benefited from several of IITA’s wealth, as well as a powerful engine for Mpoko Bokanga, Head of the TAAT path-breaking agricultural solutions and job creation. Clearinghouse, in his opening statements it is our hope that TAAT will not be any different,” Agadazi added. The initiative will implement 655 carefully traced the program’s history to the considered actions that should result in October 2015 Dakar High Level Conference Hon Joseph Mwanamvekha, Malawian almost 513 million tons of additional food on the Africa Agricultural Transformation Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and production and lift nearly 250 million Agenda, which led to the adoption of four Water Development, commended the Africans out of poverty by 2025. goals and 18 action points to transform African agriculture. With a focused approach on integrated development of agricultural value chains, Dr Bokanga highlighted the main objective of TAAT which is to “take proven agricultural technologies to scale in a commercially sustainable fashion through the establishment of a mechanism to facilitate partnerships.” “These partnerships will not only provide access to expertise required to design, implement, and monitor the progress of crop, animals, and aquaculture, they will also contribute to ending extreme poverty by eliminating hunger and malnutrition; and making Africa a net exporter of agricultural commodities,” Dr Bokanga said. IITA DDG, Dr Kenton Dashiell with others at the breakfast meeting. 35 taat Updates 2018 TAAT enhances adoption of improved pearl millet and sorghum varieties in Burkina Faso Among the constraints to adoption of crop improved varieties by farmers, seed market availability close to farmers’ doors steps is on top of the list. To address this problem for millet 6200 kg of MISARI 1 and 3500 Kg of and sorghum in the NAYALA Province, Kapelga. Northwestern Burkina Faso, in 2017, under HOPE 2 project and with In 2018 before the rainy season, FEPA-B a the technical support of Institut de farmer federation in the country organized l’Environnement et de Recherches a seed fair in the Province, where the Agricoles (INERA) scientists, one seed seed produced by Mr Kombelem, producer in the province, Mr Kombelem a member of the organization was planted 3 ha of Kapelga (early maturing presented and sold. white grain sorghum variety) and 6 ha of The impact of the field day and the seed MISARI1 (new high yielding pearl millet fair was positive. Mr Kombelem reported variety release for the Sudanese zone in that he was able to sell in the region 95% Burkina Faso). of the seed he produced meaning that At maturity stage, a field day was those two varieties have been adopted. organized on the seed production field. Farmers who bought the seed (MISARI 1 Local media (radio) and farmers from all and Kapelga) were very satisfied and they the districts of the Province were invited. even invited Mr Kombelem to visit their This season, Mr Kombelem harvested field during the growing season. Visit during field day Millet filed in Burkina Faso. 36 taat Updates 2018 Six other farmers who were only producing cowpea and maize seed before also started producing MISARI 1 and Kapelga certified seed. Before 2017, these two varieties were unknown in the province of NAYALA. With the support of the TAAT sorghum and millet compact and HOPE 2 projects, certified seed production of MISARI 1 increased in the Province from 6 ha in 2017 to 21 ha in 2018, with six new producers. For Kapelga, it increased from 3 ha to 15 ha. Farmers of this province have been using a single improved millet variety for 33 years. With only 2 years of intervention, 2017 with HOPE 2 and 2018 with both HOPE 2 and TAAT, sorghum and millet compact, the older variety (IKMP5) was totally replaced by MISARI 1. This was made possible because of the confidence of farmers in the new variety At a Seed Fair. that they have seen in the production field. Manually chopped sorghum stalk. Farmer engagement. Sorghum floor factory in Khartoum. 37 taat Updates 2018 Crop Residue trade leads to increase in farmers’ income and investments in Nigeria Crop Residues (CRs) from into small pieces, which is laborious and ICRISAT Nigeria under the TAAT program coarse cereals such as sorghum time consuming. reached out to over 94 crop-livestock farmers and crop residue marketers and pearl millet grown on the While there is availability of cultivars in Kano and Jigawa states of Nigeria cropland as food and feed of sorghum and pearl millet for green through a solution-based technology forage that are juicy, an absence of feed are immensely important to demonstration. transformation technology constrains livestock feeding. However, urban and peri-urban livestock keeping This was done during the field days and increases the cost of feed. jointly organized by ICRISAT Kano and animals selectively eat leafy IAR/ABU Zaria under the Bill & Melinda parts of these two crops leaving Thus, to address the key challenges Gates Foundation (BMGF)-funded in feed cost, quantity, quality, and thick stems in abundance that project “Harnessing Opportunities for seasonality and inefficient utilization of Productivity Enhancement” (HOPE II) are not utilized properly; this crop-residues (CRs), and to stop stubble and TAAT projects. The field days were poses challenge in feeding burning, a simple method of mechanized conducted in Bichi and Ungogo Local chopping technology is introduced during the dry season. Government Areas (Kano State) and in the form of a mobile chopper, which Garki Local Government Area (Jigawa can cut green and coarse dry stover State). into small pieces leading to efficient Often, CRs are burnt which does not and optimum utilization of crop This opportunity was used by the only cause air pollution but also a loss residues. Sorghum/Millet Nigeria TAAT in of biomass that could be brought back collaboration with the HOPE project to the soil either by incorporating it in ICRISAT started this work in collaboration to conduct training on a stover the field or through manure. In urban with ILRI a few years ago under the crusher. areas men and women farmers practice a USAID-funded project Africa ARISING simple method of manually cutting stover project in Mali. Mr Sarki Ado (left) with Mr Sanusi Dankawu (EA). 38 taat Updates 2018 Many farmers showed interest in adopting and acquiring the machine for their use and as service providers within their communities. One of the beneficiaries of the trainings, Mr Sarki Ado Nauwani of Bichi was linked to the Fabricator in Kano and a service provider who can crush his stover for him for a fee. The cost of a stover chopper is about US$1000, so Mr Sarki Ado is using the service provider. According to him, “crushing the stover increases the price and utilization of the residues by livestock. The livestock keeper understands this, so they are willing to pay more for crushed residues. The crushed residues are also easier to transport and store as they consume less space and can Inefficient use of CRs (mixed with dung). be stored indoors. My profit has risen by at least 20%. I am saving money to buy my own crusher; I have also increased my livestock number”. A 6-kg bag of crushed sorghum stalk sells for N600‒1000 (US$2‒3) while a bag of crushed legume residue sells for N1500‒2500 (US$5‒3) depending on the quality. The equivalent weight of unthreshed sorghum stalk sells for N200‒300 (US$0.6 to 1). According to Mr Sarki Ado, it is a win-win situation for the marketers, the livestock keepers. and emerging service providers. The marketers increase their profits, the livestock keepers increase utilization of crop residues and livestock productivity, while the service provider gets employment. Training and demonstration on stover chopper. Mr Sarki Ado with crushed and bagged stalk. Piled sorghum stover for crushing. 39 taat Updates 2018 TAAT approach to combating Fall armyworm offers hope to millions of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa Since its advent in Africa in The fact that FAW is new to Africa FAW was a key pest, which came under early 2016, the Fall armyworm has not helped matters as a significant discussion during the meeting. This meeting amount of research has to be done first was followed by a technical meeting in (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, to come up with effective management Nairobi in April 2017 (25‒26) to discuss has become the most damaging strategies. SADC Member States’ strategic plans on insect pest of maize in sub- FAW, research needs, and comprehensive The current approach to FAW by the TAAT management strategies. This meeting was Saharan Africa and is a threat Program is a culmination of initiatives, organized back-to-back with the All Africa to national and regional food which were kick-started by FAO in early Stakeholder Consultative Meeting of FAW security particularly in regions 2017. in Africa (April 27‒28), which was convened where maize is the staple food In February 2017 (14‒16), FAO, in to review the status of the invasive pest crop. collaboration with SADC and the and discuss strategies for its effective International Red Locust Control management. Farmers’ attempts to reduce the pest Organization for Central and Southern From these two meetings, FAO populations to non-damaging levels have Africa (IRLCO-CSA) set the ball rolling came up with a 6-component not been successful owing to several by organizing a Southern and Eastern Programme of Action for Sustainable factors, e.g., FAW’s very wide host plant Africa Regional Technical Meeting in Manage ment of FAW in Africa: range, lack of a resting stage, migratory Harare, Zimbabwe, to discuss Regional behavior, propensity to develop resistance Member Countries’ preparedness and 1 Immediate recommendations and actions for FAW containment to conventional chemical pesticides, and response actions to emerging high impact and management. lack of a coordinated continent-wide pest transboundary crop and livestock pests 2 Short-term research priorities. response strategy. and diseases. 3 Communication and training. IITA CIMMYT, and USAID facilitators demonstrating how to scout assess for FAW to reps from different ECOWAS Member States at IITA Cotonou Station Photo by Peter Chinwada. 40 taat Updates 2018 come from on-going research—the FAW Compact is currently establishing a network of public and private sector partners, non-governmental organizations and regional partners to help in the upscaling and delivery of management technologies. Key activities of the approach will include robust monitoring/surveillance of FAW at the community level, development and dissemination of mass-awareness and extension materials, training in pest identification, field scouting/assessment, and identifying and addressing country- and region-specific technical and policy constraints hindering access and scaling- up of proven and/or promising FAW management technologies. To ensure national buy-in, the approach is aligned to ongoing national programs as well as initiatives of FAO, development partners, agro-input suppliers, and other public‒private sector partners. The TAAT Program’s immediate response strategy to FAW is anchored on three key activities: 1 Minimizing FAW damage to maize Typical fall armyworm injury symptoms in a heavily infested, during its first 4 weeks of post- late-planted maize crop (insert - partial view of a full-grown FAW larva) emergence growth through the Photo by Peter Chinwada, FAW Compact Leader. upscaling and deployment of maize seed treated with Fortenza™ 4 Surveillance and early warning. also followed up with three FAW regional ToTs: Southern Africa (Harare Duo: 5 Policy and regulatory support. 30 October‒1 November 2017), Eastern 6 Coordination. Africa (Addis Ababa 13‒15 November (cyantraniliprole + thiamethoxam) 2017), and West Africa (Cotonou 13‒15 FAO started implementing its Plan of February 2018). The TAAT program on 2 The use of integrated pest Action (PoA) by hosting a series of FAW kick-started its activities by holding management-compatible Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops in High Level Partnership Meetings firstly technology toolkit combinations 2017 starting with SADC Member States for Southern Africa in Lusaka, Zambia as Fortenza™ Duo follow-on (25‒30 June in Pretoria, South Africa), (26‒27 July 2018), followed by Central technologies to control FAW up followed by Eastern Africa (24–28 July Africa in Yaoundé, Cameroon (11‒12 to physiological maturity of in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), ECOWAS (4‒- September 2018), and lastly for Eastern maize. 8 September in Abuja, Nigeria), and Africa in Nairobi, Kenya (11‒12 October Central Africa (2‒7 October in Yaoundé, 2018). 3 Building capacity of farmers, Cameroon) in collaboration with several National Agricultural and partners including IITA, CIMMYT, USAID, While research on many management Extension Systems (NARES) Syngenta, and Bayer. strategies/technologies are on-going, the TAAT Program’s approach to FAW staff, and non-governmental extension workers in the In between the ToTs, FAO hosted a management in sub-Saharan Africa aims technical meeting of FAW experts from to upscale and accelerate the deployment identification of FAW (directly and indirectly through characteristic around the world from 18 to 20 July 2017 of effective management technologies, at the FAO Regional Office for Africa in which are already proven or are very plant injury symptoms), effective Accra, Ghana. promising to smallholder farmers. monitoring and scouting of fields to guide timely and need-based To further support the FAO initiative, For effective delivery of such application of FAW IPM-compatible USAID in collaboration with CIMMYT technologies—including those still to pesticides. 41 taat Updates 2018 The deployment of Fortenza Duo-treated In Zimbabwe, an equal number of and Monsanto), agrochemical companies, seed has commenced in Southern farmers is also targeted. Assessments and NARES. Africa in the 2018/19 growing season for field performance of Fortenza Duo with 164,000 ha of maize being the will be conducted in January 2019. Main Although the target beneficiaries in the target area of intervention in Zambia, partners in the deployment of Fortenza TAAT Program are smallholder farmers, translating to at least 807,000 smallholder Duo technology comprise Syngenta, seed the major demand drivers of the growers. companies (e.g., SeedCo, MRI, Corteva technology may ultimately turn out to be Agriscience, Kelin Karoo, Kamano Seed large-scale commercial farmers. Fortenza Duo-treated MRI 624 maize seed Leaf window-panning and leaf holing, which are characteristic of stem borer pack. [Photograph by J. Mkandla, Syngenta infestation (maize stem borer larvae to the right. (Photograph by P. Chinwada (Zimbabwe). FAW Compact Leader) Achievements in brief At least 5,100 MT of maize hybrid seed (1,900 MT in Zambia and 3,200 MT in Zimbabwe) was treated with Fortenza Duo and distributed through the Farmer Input Supply Programme (Zambia), Command Agriculture (Zimbabwe), and Presidential Input Supply Programme (Zimbabwe) as well as through agro-dealers. With each smallholder farmer getting approximately 5 kg of the treated seed, and discounting the seed which went into the demos, these figures translate to at least 380,000 and 640,000 smallholder beneficiaries of the Fortenza Duo technology in Zambia and Zimbabwe, respectively. The FAW Compact is currently in the process of mapping out the spatial distribution of the target beneficiaries and the hectarage under the Fortenza Duo technology. To enable standardized data collection, manual assessments as well as a Syngenta mobile app—Seedcare Assists You (SAY)—are going to be used. Planned activities for January and February 2019 are: National Field Day at Syngenta Farm in Zambia, district Field Days, capturing farmer testimonials on camera and video, and training (farmers, agronomists, and Syngenta Field Promoters). 42 taat Updates 2018 TAAT records increased food production and income through maize technologies Maize is one of the most important staple crops in Africa on this seed is to be deployed to about which an estimated 300 million people depend. However, 2.6 million farmers between July 2018 and April 2019 to plant approximately several challenges severely undermine maize production, 1,083,760 ha in the respective cropping including drought, diseases, and insect pests such as the Fall seasons in the target countries. Armyworm (FAW). Further, to create more awareness and demand for these proven technologies, the TAAT Maize Compact supported Fortunately, many proven technologies and finance options for farmers. During seed companies to establish over such as climate smart maize the past year, remarkable traction was 3,403 technology demonstration technologies and pest and disease gained including successes highlighted plots, conduct 482 field days, and tolerant varieties, among others, below. distribute over 97,700 small packs for have been developed by researchers promotional purposes. The varieties, worldwide to address some of these Scale out of climate smart with accompanying technologies and challenges. maize hybrids training on good agronomic practices Facilitating their delivery to farmers, The TAAT Maize compact innovatively from the TAAT Maize team and partner at scale, still presents a challenge engaged the private and public seed seed companies are expected to lead to as many African farmers need to be companies to facilitate the production surplus maize production in the current facilitated to access agricultural credit and marketing of more climate smart season leading to food and income to eliminate their capital constraints. hybrid Maize seeds compared to the security of target farmers. In view of this, the TAAT Maize previous seasons. A smart incentive Compact embarked on activities to system was developed, to boost the Deployment of Fortenza facilitate access and use of Water production and marketing of extra Efficient and other climate smart Duo-Treated maize varieties tonnages by seed companies, with maize varieties in 14 pilot countries technical backstopping from the TAAT for Fall Armyworm control across sub-Saharan Africa. Maize Compact. in Southern Africa In addition, the Maize Compact The Maize Compact signed Fall armyworms (FAW) are the has also partnered with the FAW collaboration agreements with over caterpillar stage of moths, native to the Emergency Compact to address the 30 seed companies, who produced Americas but recently reported in Africa Fall Armyworm menace and foster over 27,094 tons of climate smart where they are ravaging staple crops, innovative linkages to facilitate credit Maize hybrid seed. It is estimated that particularly maize, leaving in their wake Uganda Seed Trade Association Chairper- son Nelson Masereka showcasing TAAT Maize Compact Climate Smart Hybrids in a field day in Uganda. Photo by Samuel Angwenyi, AATF. 43 taat Updates 2018 First reported in Nigeria in 2016, the FAW Harnessing finance services of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Finance Program. A has since spread to and established in all total of 12 elite climate smart maize varieties maize growing areas of sub-Saharan Africa and credit access were identified and about 2,000 tons of seed and poses the greatest threat to security. One of the serious bottlenecks curtailing distributed to cultivate about 100,000 ha of In response to this FAW emergency, the the access of improved technologies in farmland by the 40,000 registered farmers TAAT Maize Compact in collaboration with Africa is limited access to agricultural across 19 states of Nigeria. the TAAT FAW Enabler and other partners credit. To solve this, financial and credit explored deployment of Fortenza Duo, a service providers have been engaged with The TAAT Maize team is learning from the seed treatment chemical developed by the aim of enhancing farmers’ links with innovative Anchor Borrower in Nigeria, input suppliers. aimed at adapting and replicating the Syngenta. same in the other target countries in This is a systemic treatment that offers Notably in Nigeria, 40,000 farmers have collaboration with the identified credit/ protection to maize crops up to 4 weeks been registered to access the Central Bank finance institutions in 2019. after germination, which is usually the most critical stage in maize growth. This technology also ensures use of chemical sprays by farmers is kept to a minimum, which translates to lower costs of production. The TAAT Maize Compact and partners facilitated rapid deployment of Fortenza Duo seed treatment technology in Zambia and Zimbabwe where 14 seed companies were provided with over 36,000 liters of Fortenza Duo to treat 6000 MT of climate smart maize varieties. To date, these seed companies have managed to use over 17,440 liters of the chemical to treat about 3,007 MT of seed that have all been deployed to farmers through National Programs (Farmer Input Support Programme - FISP in Zambia and Maize. the Command Agriculture/Presidential Schemes in Zimbabwe) and Agro dealers and Direct marketing in the two countries. This effort has deployed Fortenza Duo treated seeds to over 300,000 farmers in Zimbabwe and Zambia covering about 120,280 ha of farmland. Plans are underway to treat other seed in the first season of 2019, to target farmers in Eastern and Western Africa. Very encouraging feedback was reported during recent follow-up missions in Zambia and Zimbabwe where farmers expressed extreme excitement having witnessed clear differences between Fortenza Duo and non-Fortenza duo treated seed. One particular farmer in Masaiti District, Zambia who had planted both farmer- saved seed and Fortenza Duo treated seed from MRI Company said that, “Our problems are solved! I hope these seeds will be available in subsequent seasons so that we won’t plant our local varieties anymore”. Farmers paying Attention to a TAAT Maize Field Officer training on installing FAW pheromone traps in a recently planted farmer’s maize field in Zambia. [Photo by Samuel Angwenyi, AATF]. 44 taat Updates 2018 TAAT supports harmonization of regulations for variety release and registration of quality seed in Eastern and Southern Africa Poor access to quality seed country can be easily accessed by farmers of harmonized regulations and protocols remains one of the major causes in other countries which share similar for hastened variety release and agroecological zones. registration. Indeed, nothing captured the for low agricultural productivity significance of seed policy harmonization This challenge drove the TAAT policy in Africa. more than the words of Nnenna Nwabufo, enabler to convene a high-level the Deputy Director General, AfDB - East This results mainly from inefficient seed consultative meeting on harmonization African Regional Hub who said that … “Just systems and lengthy crop variety testing, of seed regulations within countries in imagine that it takes an average of 2 years registration, and release procedures. the Common Markets for Eastern and to release a maize variety in one country. Southern Africa (COMESA) region—the Policy and regulatory systems for seed And this variety has to go through similar largest regional economic block on the were developed with a focus on national variety release process in other countries. continent inhabited by 510 million people, boundaries instead of transnational It will take us at least 20 years to reach the majority of whom are farmers. agroecological zones and thus have not the tenth country. Africa cannot wait facilitated timely release and registration The meeting, which took place in that long …”. of improved varieties and breeds within a Nairobi, Kenya in early December country or across a region. 2018, was attended by over 70 seed The meeting took cognizance of the industry delegates from the 21 COMESA winding road taken by COMESA towards Clearly, access to seed technology can member states. developing regionally harmonized seed be made easier if seed policies can be regulations that have so far not yet been harmonized at regional level. This will The meeting opened on a high note with a fully domesticated for implementation ensure that seed varieties from one call for urgency regarding implementation by member states. Key AfDB, AATF, and COMESA Officials join COMESA delegates during the High Level Consultative workshop on Seed Policy Harmonization. 45 taat Updates 2018 The meeting prioritized development of country-specific action plans for redressing outstanding seed policy implementation bottlenecks with a view to facilitating a projected 5 million farmers in COMESA member states to access quality seed faster in the near term. TAAT Policy Enabler Compact targets to catalyze implementation of the action plans in the coming months that is expected to enhance inspection capacity of 200 seed certification and phytosanitary officials, accelerate the release and registration of hundreds of seed varieties, and facilitate the acquisition of over 5 million COMESA seed labels and 2,500 certificates for use by seed companies in the region. AATF Executive Director, Dr. Denis Kyetere (Left) handing over Seed Policy Action Plan and Communique. This effort is expected to increase the number of varieties uploaded on the Leveraging on support from AGRA, Through these efforts, TAAT has identified COMESA catalog from 57 to 100 within TAAT has, during the past one year, key seed policy implementation challenges one year and “push” over 10 COMESA been involved in the assessment of the and facilitated seed industry players in these member states to fully align their national seed sub-sector in six African countries countries to develop costed action plans seed policies and regulations with the (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, that will form the basis for advocacy for COMESA harmonized seed regulations. Ethiopia, and Ghana). government buy-in and ownership. Processing and storage facility for Job seed company, one the largest seed companies in DRC, based in Goma, North Kivu Province. The company’s management is actively involved in implementing seed sector reforms. 46 taat Updates 2018 Democratic Republic of Congo: Implementing reforms for seed sector development In 2017, the TASAI team conducted a comprehensive Lubumbashi, and key agencies under assessment of the seed sector in DRC. the Ministry of Agriculture formed a committee to collect information on varieties in the country under the The initial work was funded by ELAN- the recommendations of the assessment. categories of cereals, legumes, and RDC, and, thanks to additional funding The strategy was discussed and validated roots and tubers/fruits. under TAAT, the reach of TASAI’s work was during three seed sector meetings in extended. Goma, Kinshasa, and Lubumbashi. The Committee also drafted a decree (L’Arrete) to legalize the updated The initial assessment revealed multiple Under the TAAT Policy Enabler Compact, catalog, which will be submitted to the gaps in the seed sector, such as no the TASAI team is building on this work by Ministry of Agriculture for signing. national seed law, a lack of capacity in providing technical support to local seed the National Seed Service (SENASEM) sector players who are implementing Other planned activities include linking at national and provincial levels, the some of the recommendations. seed producers directly to regional high prevalence of counterfeit seed, the suppliers of basic seed (e.g., CGIAR lack of quality basic seed for seed The local stakeholders decided to focus institutions like CIMMYT), strengthening producers, weak seed producer first on updating the DRC National Variety seed associations by providing technical associations, and no clear procedures for Catalogue. support to their leadership and providing seed importation. In a meeting convened by TASAI on 28‒29 technical support to draft the decree To respond to gaps, in early 2018, the November 2018, 16 seed experts from (L’Arrete) establishing provincial seed TASAI team worked in collaboration with SENASEM, National Agricultural Research sector councils (COPROSEM) in North ELAN-RDC and local stakeholders to draft a Institute (INERA), CGIAR centers (IITA Kivu, South Kivu, and Haut-Katanga strategy document on how to implement and CIAT/Harvest Plus), the University of provinces. The Permanent Secretary, State Department of Agricultural Research, Republic of Kenya, Prof. Hamadi Iddi Boga gracing the Official Opening of the COMESA High Level Consultative meeting. 47 taat Updates 2018 Sie rra Leo ne : Stakeholder engagement for seed sector reform TASAI began the compre hensive General of Agriculture in the Ministry of currently operates with only three seed review of Sierra Leone’s seed Agriculture, and the Country Manager inspectors. Another challenge identified of the African Development Bank. is that not all the seed producers are industry in September 2018, registered and/or monitored by the following the methodology Based on the information obtained agency, leading to low-quality certified from local stakeholders, the inception outlined above. As the first step seed on the market. phase confirmed that Sierra Leone’s of the process, the TASAI team seed industry is in its infancy. As such, The Sierra Leone TASAI study is currently one key contribution of the TASAI in the data collection phase. convened thirty seed sector research is to provide a detailed stakeholders for the TASAI kick- picture of Sierra Leone’s seed industry, The goal is for the TASAI study to off meeting on 14 September thus creating a baseline for future present a detailed picture of the measurements. country’s seed industry and to present 2018. accurate information and data to Further, the inception phase highlighted inform responses to the challenges The meeting was officially opened some of the accompanying challenges and questions identified—or yet to by the AfDB Country Manager and of this early stage of development. One be identified—by local stakeholders the Deputy Minister of Agriculture. is that the national research institution and to outline the contours of In addition, the team met with SLARI lacks adequate funding, which comprehensive seed sector reform in the Director of Sierra Leone Seed in turn leads to under-supply of basic the country. Certification Agency (SLeSCA), the seed. This dissemination meeting is scheduled Director General and Deputy Director Although the Sierra Leone Seed for March 2019. The TASAI team (under General of the Sierra Leone Agricultural Certification Agency (SLeSCA) Act the Policy Enabler compact) will provide Research Institute (SLARI), the Deputy was passed in 2017, it is yet to be technical support to the local efforts in Minister of Agriculture, the Director implemented fully, and as such, Sierra Leone. Seeds. Photo by Shutterstock. 48 taat Updates 2018 TAAT transforms Sudanese wheat seed sector with proven technologies Wheat is one of the most important Recent experiences to promote For the realization of this ambitious agricultural commodities in Sudan these heat-tolerant wheat varieties objective in Sudan, the TAAT wheat in Sudan through the AfDB funded compact has identified the lack of for food security in terms of SARD-SC (wheat) project revealed that improved wheat seed in sufficient quantity and calories consumed. technology-adopting wheat farmers quantity and quality at an affordable at project intervention sites increased price as a major constraint challenging Currently, wheat in Sudan is grown their wheat productivity to 4‒7 t/ha, its technology scaling up and on approximately 201,000 ha under while farmers with their traditional dissemination activities. irrigation with an average productivity varieties rarely exceed 2.5 t/ha. of 2.5 t/ha. The annual wheat production stands at 513,000 tons, Despite this potential, the lack of Approaches for transforming the representing about 22% of the total improved wheat seed in sufficient wheat seed sector national requirement of 2 million tons. quantity and quality at an affordable price is widely regarded as a driving Building on the previous SARD-SC wheat Consequently, the ever-widening factor significantly contributing to the experience, the TAAT wheat compact gap between local production and poor adoption and weak performance initiated its intervention in Sudan in consumption has created a huge of this crop in Sudan. 2018 with a bold plan to transform shortfall that is primarily met by the wheat seed sector in collaboration imports, which drains the Sudanese Within the framework of the AfDB- with all concerned national partners economy of over 500 million dollars per funded TAAT Program, Sudan is one involved in wheat seed production and year in foreign exchange. of the target countries implementing delivery. the TAAT wheat compact with the On the other hand, the Sudanese objective to scale up proven wheat Accordingly, the TAAT Wheat compact national agricultural research system in technologies for achieving a widespread organized a National Wheat Seed collaboration with international partners and transformative impact in terms Sector Stakeholders Consultation and (such as ICARDA, CIMMYT) has developed of enhancing productivity, farmers’ Joint Planning Workshop that was and released a number of high-yielding, income, job creation, and value held on 28–30 June 2018 in Khartoum, heat-tolerant wheat varieties with a addition; all leading towards attaining Sudan. production potential of 5‒8 t/ha. higher levels of wheat self-sufficiency. Wheat in Sudan. 49 taat Updates 2018 The workshop was attended by a total of 52 invited stakeholders drawn from all partner organizations involved in the wheat seed sector including NARS, public and private seed companies, and senior policy and decision makers of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF). The meeting was officially opened by the State Minister of Agriculture, where he expressed the country’s commitment to implement the TAAT wheat scaling up activities and transform domestic production for achieving wheat self- sufficiency within 3‒5 years. Based on the discussion and outcomes of the joint planning workshop, the stakeholders unanimously agreed on the 2018 work plan developed, which emphasized o the following priority TAAT wheat interventions that are critical to transform the wheat seed sector in Sudan. These included: 1 The 2018 accelerated plan for the Wheat in Sudan. production and delivery of different classes of wheat seed (breeder, basic, and certified seed of newly released Accelerated seed multiplication Development, New Halfa Agric and demand-driven wheat varieties) and capacity building, and delivery Corporation) with an expected harvest exceeding 4200 tons of basic seed at the 2 Analysis of the country wheat seed Following the successful implementation end of the season. sector for developing a national wheat of the planned TAAT wheat seed activities This in turn, could be partly grown on seed roadmap aligned with the country in Sudan, the private seed enterprises more than 25,000 ha in 2019/20 to strategy that will provide targets for in the country (such as ASSCO, NileSun produce over 55,000 tons of certified seed production to achieve wheat self- Enterprise, Makeen Seed Company, MS seed, which is enough to cultivate a sufficiency by 2025. inputs & Services, Rajhi Investment Co.) wheat area exceeding 500,000 ha in 3 have grown over 850 tons of basic seed 2020/21. A participatory monitoring and of five popular wheat varieties (Imam, evaluation system for implementing Goumria, Zakia, Elnielain, and Bohaine) As part of the effort made by the TAAT the planned activities and achieving on more than 11,000 ha at different wheat compact to strengthen the the anticipated targets. This workshop locations. informal seed sector through providing was extremely successful in terms of technical support and field backstopping, creating a common vision on the TAAT As a result, more than 26,000 tons of 14 tons of seed of six demand-driven wheat objectives and expected targets, certified seed is expected to be produced wheat varieties have been cultivated on and for building consensus and buy-in that can be distributed to benefit more 140 ha by a number of organized pioneer on the roles and contribution of each of the than 260,000 wheat farmers in the farmer groups engaged in the informal, partners during project implementation. coming season. community-based seed production The TAAT wheat compact in Sudan has The certified seed produced will account system. worked in two directions to diversify for more than 80% of the total seed More than 300 tons of quality declared the seed sector within the concept of required to cover the targeted wheat area seed are expected to be produced for integrated seed sector development in 2019/20. In addition, 180 tons of pre- distribution to benefit more than 6000 embracing both formal (public and private basic seed of the most recently released smallholder wheat farmers in 2019/20. seed companies) and informal (farmer- heat-tolerant wheat varieties have been based) seed systems. In this regard, cultivated on 2100 ha involving a number This intervention is particularly beneficial particular attention has been given to of public and private seed enterprises to wheat farmers who are remotely train, capacitate, and engage youth and (such as Makeen Seed Company, Social located with poor infrastructure and women in commercial seed production Security Investment Authority, Authority limited access to improved seed produced and marketing. of Merowi Dam Area for Agricultural by the formal seed sector. 50 taat Updates 2018 Capacity strengthening of seed sector farmers’ field schools and a follow-up sufficiency in Sudan within the coming stakeholders through a tailormade field technical backstopping on different 3‒5 years. training course on the various aspects aspects of seed production techniques. of improved seed production and The development of the national wheat management techniques was conducted This capacity building activity was extremely seed road map was carried out with active targeting seed specialists drawn from the productive and should continue in involvement of all concerned stakeholders formal sector (seven private and three subsequent years to ensure the production including policy makers, concerned public seed enterprises) during 18‒24 and supply of high-quality wheat seed government agencies associated with October 2018 at Wad Medani, Sudan. sustainably and towards transforming the wheat seed and grain production, and wheat seed system in Sudan. key stakeholders from the private sector Accordingly, the theoretical know-how engaged in wheat seed production and and practical skill of 58 (42% youth and marketing. women) seed production technicians and Development of national specialists were strengthened. wheat seed road map Based on the findings of the review, there are three key issues that need to converge Furthermore, direct field technical The TAAT wheat compact carried out to meet the anticipated goals of achieving backstopping was provided to different an analysis of the national wheat seed wheat self-sufficiency in 2025: wheat seed companies engaged in system with the objective to strengthen commercial seed production. Similarly, the wheat seed system and formulate a i Projected changes in domestic demand for wheat during the period. 38 (40% youth) farmers involved in wheat seed roadmap that are aligned with the informal, community-based seed the country strategy to meet the goals and ii Technical changes in raising the production system have been capacitated objectives of wheat sector transformation productivity levels to reach the through providing hands-on training at for achieving the anticipated wheat self- target production. Wheat farm in El Gezira, Sudan supported by TAAT Wheat Compact. Table 1. Category of wheat seed produced by different seed sector stakeholders in Sudan in 2018/19. Heat tolerant Category of Bread wheat Number of beneficiary farmers wheat varieties seed seed produced (tons) 2019 / 20 2020 / 21 Imam, Goumria, Zakia, Breeder 20 Elnielain and Bohaine ‘‘ Pre-basic / 4200 840,000 Basic ‘‘ Certified 26,000 260,000 ‘‘ QDS 300 6000 Total 30,000 266,000 840,000 51 taat Updates 2018 iii The availability of land for and insurance policies for agricultural bottleneck of seed shortage in 2019/20 expansion to meet the target area. production that would support wheat which will bring the opportunity to The wheat seed roadmap was farmers to access improved seed and massively scale up and disseminate developed based on the country other inputs needed to fast-track proven wheat technologies reaching strategy and defines the critical technology uptake. all small-scale wheat farmers with a investments that are needed for widespread impact in transforming each key component of the seed It is obvious that with the current ongoing the productivity and competitiveness value chain that enable production and successfully implemented TAAT wheat of domestic production for achieving of a sufficient quantity ofseed of intervention, Sudan will come out from the wheat self-sufficiency within 3‒5 years. the desired quality and supplies to farmers at the right place, Table 2. Wheat area and certified seed requirement in Sudan for achieving time, and price making use of self-sufficiency by 2024/25 seasons. the diversity of the national seed sector. Items 2019/ 2020/ 2021/ 2022/ 2023/ 2024/ Moreover, the seed roadmap provides 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 targets for production of different classes of seed, taking into account area expansion and desired level of seed replacement rate. For any given year, Area in ha (thousands) 305 382 420 462 485 535 a four-year production cycle (breeder, pre-basic, basic, and certified seed) Seed production (t) is required to achieve the amount of certified seed. Certified seed 30,500 38,200 42,000 46,000 48,500 53,500 Accordingly, for the certified seed production planned in 2022, the Basic seed 1525 1910 2100 2310 2425 2675 breeder, pre-basic and basic seed should be produced in 2018, 2019 and Pre-basic seed 77 95.5 105 115 121.25 133.75 2020, respectively. Breeder seed 3.8 4.775 5.25 5.75 6.0625 6.6875 Based on this assumption, the wheat seed road map was developed for Sudan until 2025. Total 32,106 40,210 44,210 48,421 51,052 56,315 Finally, as part of the outcomes of the National Wheat Seed Sector Stakeholders Consultation and Joint Planning Workshop, the following key recommendations were outlined by participants to strengthen the national wheat seed system in Sudan: 1 Establishment of a national forum (platform) for planning, production, and marketing of wheat seed involving all concerned stakeholders such as NARS, public and private seed producers and suppliers, the Ministry of Agriculture, development partners, and commercial farms. 2 The need for stable and sustained enabling policies that enhance the competitiveness of domestic wheat production and encourage the private sector to be enrolled in wheat seed and grain production, processing, and marketing. 3 The importance of introducing innovative and supportive financial Wheat farmers in Sudan. 52 taat Updates 2018 Rwandan youth finds self-employment processing orange-fleshed sweet potato After completing her secondary level of education, the 28-year old Dusabe Noeline did not get enough tuition to join university for further studies. For two years, she stayed home until and a cup of tea at Rwf 100 ($ 0.11), 2012 when she started a small business determined Dusabe managed to selling fried sweet potato and African save about Rwf 200,000 within tea, commonly known as “Icyayi” in 6 months. Kayonza district, eastern province of Rwanda. Soon she became a common figure in town because of her business. “It had been a long time of sitting home, so I lost hope of going back to school. The TAAT OFSP project sponsored her The only way I was going to build my further trainings on its sweet potato future was to be self-employed. So I had program with emphasis on how to improve to think and come up with something to her product. The program also supported do to earn a living,” she said. Dusabe’s business by sponsoring her to participate in several exhibitions. However, getting any capital for a young lady who could not raise school fees for She participated in AGRA AGRF2018 in her studies proved to be a Herculean Kigali as a Participant in the youth task. She then thought that she could network and displayed her products. start with locally available and cheap TAAT has supported her to partici - raw material. She came up with the pate in three other exhibitions. idea of frying sweet potato and making She has expanded her products tea in the local market. to include doughnuts commonly This business requires less capital than known as “mandazi” that have most businesses. become very popular in the local markets. In addition Noeline would wake up daily go to to fried sweet potato, the garden and harvest sweet potato mandazi and tea, she has roots. She peeled and washed them added fried groundnut. thoroughly before frying them for sale. She then prepared the local African tea. Dusabe always dreamt of She introduced these two products to becoming a prominent motorists and school children who take business woman. it as breakfast. She has always been inspired These two groups of people became by a successful agri-entrepreneur, her main customers at the start of her Sina Gerald of Urwibutso enterprises business. who makes Akarabo Orange-Fleshed Sweet potato biscuits. She hopes She did not find any difficulties in doing that one day she would be as this work and she started saving quite famous as this man through the some good money. Selling a piece production of products from of sweet potato at Rwf 50 ($0.056) sweet potato. 53 taat Updates 2018 Through an entrepreneur visit exchange hence she uses less sugar. The puree baking In her words, “Many people love my visit at SINA Gerard factory she learnt properties also reduce the use of milk and products. However, I fail to meet the how to make OFSP biscuits. The method eggs in the products. demand due to lack of equipment.” does not require much capital. One The factory requires a bigger electrical requires only local equipment to make From the savings of proceeds, she has oven and a mixer to reduce the cost of puree. Then using the same equipment, built a factory worth RwF 23 million manual labor. With new, more efficient she had already, she was able to start a (US$25,871) in a plot of land she had equipment she will sell her products in biscuit line. bought earlier in Nyagatare district. more cities in the eastern province of “On leaving this place, the urge to grow The business is one of the current Rwanda. my business increased. I knew it was Technologies for African Agricultural TAAT is a leveraging programme and time for me to push myself higher in Transformation (TAAT) beneficiaries in since the processor is well advanced, this game. This is when I immediately Rwanda. the programme will assist in removing planned to search for knowledge and skills on how I can make these products The programme is providing technical some of the machinery constraint. myself,” she narrated. support to increase OFSP root Dusabe employs a total of 10 permanent production and improve product employees. She also buys milk daily Through the TAAT OFSP mentoring, quality and will provide some basic from the local farmers. Dusabe has been able to register her processing equipment. Through the business with the Rwanda Development project she has been linked to five new She is guaranteed a profit of Rwf Board (RDB). She is the current Chief commercial farmers who constantly 300,000 (US$337) every month. Executive Officer (CEO) of Dusabe supply her with roots. These farmers However, with exhibitions she is able to Group Company Limited. have received OFSP planting material make much more. through the project and technical Then she shifted her business from the rural support to produce high quality roots. She is slowly attaining her dream town to the local district center Nyagatare. of becoming a successful youth She also decided to move to a nearby town TAAT also supports Dusabe in marketing entrepreneur. She is a member of the in Nyagatare where she believed she would the products through appearing in various Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum have more customers. exhibitions in the country. The program (RYAF) where through telling her story, is assisting her to develop new products she has encouraged many youth to She started incorporating 50% of as well as improve the packaging. She engage in agribusiness. orange-fleshed sweet potato and 50% has been selected as one of processors of other ingredients to make all of her to receive some processing equipment She has become the hope of her family baked products. For constant supply through the TAAT OFSP project on leveraging paying school fees for three of her of the sweet potato, Dusabe has to improve her production efficiency and siblings in secondary school. contracted one root producer who is quality. supplying the roots. Dusabe believes that after building Dusabe is able to sell her products to a strong business that can stand Incorporating OFSP roots in the production many supermarkets in Nyagatare town, with enough employees, she will process has reduced the cost of production shops, and restaurants as well as making go back to school and continue her per product by at least 12 percent. Orange- cakes for occasions like weddings and studies in Business Management and fleshed sweet potato contains natural sugar birthdays. Administration. Some of the biscuits Dusabe makes for sale. 54 taat Updates 2018 How TAAT is rewriting the African Rice story With established partnerships in 16 countries, mostly in West Africa where massive importation of rice occurs, the TAAT Rice Compact is already laying the foundation for Africa’s self-sufficiency in rice. The rice technology toolkits based upon The target production of 60 t of breeder are installed close to the rice milling the dissemination of three varietal lines: seed will be distributed to seed enterprises facilities that are producing rice husk as New Rice for Africa (NERICA), Advanced to produce foundation seed based on their rice milling by-products. Rice Varieties for Africa (ARICA), and capacity. At a sowing rate of 50 kg/ha, this will ORYLUX (aromatic) varieties; with over sow 1200 ha of foundation seed. The expected GEM users collect the rice husk and use 68 varieties released to date. certified seed of 3600 t to be produced from it in their parboiling stoves to get clean the foundation seed will cover 72,000 ha at (environment friendly) parboiling fuel. Breeder seed production the rate of 50 kg/ ha. This should reach about The rice husk biochar produced was 288,000 farmers in target countries. collected to serve as soil replenishment Ten tons (t) of breeder seed of improved by rice farmers who are also members rice varieties (NERICA 4, ORYLUX 6, NERICA Quality parboiled rice of the IP (Bouaké) or part of the out- L19, WAB 638-1) were produced in the M’be At the request of a private rice grower scheme managed by RINA SARL. research station in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire processing company (RINA SARL, Millers in Bouaké wholesale market using 10 ha. The 10 t of breeder seed Daoukro, Côte d’Ivoire) and the Bouaké who do not have the GEM parboiling represents 16.7% of the expected target of Innovation Platform (Marche de Gros, facility have to pay CFA 300,000 for 60 t to be produced on-station. Bouaké), two GEM rice parboiling transporting rice husk six times a month Currently, TAAT has 10 ha of NERICA systems were fabricated and installed from the milling facility to garbage 4, ORYLUX 6, NERICA L19, and WAB in Daoukro and Bouaké. dumping sites. 638-1 planted and an additional 5 ha is The systems have a monthly capacity Before installation of the GEM, a private being prepared through collaboration of 14 and 6.4 t paddy (9.8 and 4.4 t sector partner—RINA SARL—produced with Office Cherifien des Phosphates of milled rice), respectively. The GEM only white milled rice. However, with the (OCP) support. The output of these parboiling system installed at these two installation of the GEM system, RINA SARL improved and climate-smart varieties sites uses only rice husk as parboiling is now supplying both white and parboiled will be shared with seed enterprises to fuel, thus recording 100% saving milled rice to the market under the produce foundation seed. on wood cost because the systems trademark RIZ IVOIRE. Mme Aichatou Camara and members of her women rice processors’ association. Photo by AfricaRice. 5555 taat Updates 2018 The production of the GEM parboiled rice increased the production capacity of RINA SARL by 9.8 t of high-quality milled rice per month. This translates to: 1680 consumers having access to high- quality parboiled rice after 6 months given a per capita consumption of 35 kg. $11,760 added profit after 6 months given that GEM parboiling added $170 per t compared to traditional parboiled rice. $600 saving on wood after 6 months given that about $8 per t is spent on wood to parboil using the traditional method. 84 t of paddy sourced from 48 farmers with an average yield of 2 t of paddy. Job creation RINA SARL has employed 10 women processors who provide parboiling services using the GEM system. Furthermore, RINA SARL has a network of parboiled rice marketers (500 women) in Abidjan and environs who are involved in retailing parboiled rice. Before GEM installation in the Bouaké IP, it produced and marketed only paddy. However, with the installation of the GEM system, the Bouaké IP is now supplying 4.4 t parboiled milled rice to the market per month. It is estimated that the Bouaké IP GEM parboiled rice reaches 25 consumers accessing high- quality parboiled rice after 1 month; $748 added profit after 1 month given that GEM parboiling added $170/t compared to traditional parboiled rice; $50 saving on wood after 1 month taking into consideration that about $8/t is spent on wood to parboil using the traditional method; and 6.4 t of paddy sourced from six farmers with an average production of 1 t of paddy. Job creation Bouaké IP has employed 10 women processors who provide parboiling services using the GEM system. Furthermore, Bouaké IP has a network of 100 rice marketers involved in retailing parboiled rice. In collaboration with the NGO CECI- PAFER and an artisan equipment fabricator (TCMS) both in Benin, the NGO CECI-PAFER contracted TCMS- Benin to manufacture and install six mini GEM rice parboilers costing CFA 19.5 million in communities in the Glazoué rice hub in Benin. 56 taat Updates 2018 Within this context, the skills of the proprietor of TCMS-Benin, Mr Lucien Hounhoui was further enhanced at the AfricaRice research station in M’be, Bouaké to produce and install enhanced models of the GEM in Benin for the NGO CECI-PAFER. TCMS is an active AfricaRice partner through the Africa-wide rice processing and value addition taskforce. The Africa-wide rice processing and value addition task force is one of the technical arms of the rice technology delivery infrastructure (riceTDI), framed around the RTDI. From April to December 2018, 893 t of paddy was processed by the IPs using the GEM parboiling system. This resulted in 625 t of parboiled milled rice. About 27,500 actors—rice producers, parboilers, marketers, and consumers, benefited in eight sites in Glazoué, Malanville (both in Benin), Bouaké, Daoukro, Gagnoa, and Man (Côte d’Ivoire), Nasarawa (Nigeria), and Tara (Niger). There was a reduction in or complete substitution of firewood by rice husk as fuel for the GEM parboiling system, resulting in about $17,600 savings in the cost of wood across the IPs in the eight sites. Over 13,389 rice farmers received RiceAdvice guidelines in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria on fertilizer use efficiency in irrigated rice. e-registration of rice value chain stakeholders e-registration of rice value chain stakeholders was completed in one of the two planned rice hubs in Côte d’Ivoire in the Bandama Valley region— Gkêkê and Hambol. A total of 4,713 rice value chain actors were documented with 2,061 actors in the Gkêkê region and 2,652 actors in the Hambol region. Some 89.45% (4,213) of actors are male and 10.55% (497) are female, 96.92% (4,568) are rice producers (paddy), 0.04% (2) are producers of foundation seed, 11.56% (545) are producers of certified seed, 2.89% (136) are traders, and 0.53% (25) are millers. Most rice producers cultivate on rainfed lowland (63.48%) and they grow WITA and BOUAKE varieties. Stakeholders in the rice value chain are mapped and georeferenced. 57 taat Updates 2018 Sights and visions of African agricultural transformation 58 taat Updates 2018 Sights and visions of African agricultural transformation 59 taat Updates 2018 For more information, please contact: TAAT Programme Management Unit, IITA HQ, Ibadan – Nigeria TAAT Clearinghouse, IITA Benin, Cotonou – Benin TAAT-Africa@cgiar.org +229 60855188 Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation PARTNERS Transforming African Agriculture 60 taat Updates 2018