agriforum · 2017. 4. 20. · july 1998 1 agriforum no. 4 asareca agriforum quarterly newsletter of...

July 1998 1 AgriForum No. 4 ASARECA

AgriForumQuarterly Newsletter of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa

No. 4 July 1998

ASARECA

The impact on African National Agricultural Research Systems(NARSs) of the economic structural adjustment programmes of the1980s and 1990s has been quite severe. Although the skills of re-

searchers have increased across the continent, spending per researcherhas declined, financial resources are thinly spread, infrastructure has de-teriorated and salaries have failed to keep pace with inflation. The effec-tiveness of the NARSs has declined, while dependence on internationaldonors to fill the funding gaps has increased. The current situation isfinancially unsustainable as well as risky given the importance of theagricultural sector to the African economies. Research and technologytransfer remain critical to Africa’s socio-economic development.

The Sustainable Financing Initiative (SFI) is intended to promote experi-mentation with new financial mechanisms to support agricultural and nat-ural resources research and technology transfer. The initiative is a multi-donor effort. The Special Program for African Agricultural Research

ASARECAand the Sustainable Financing Initiative

Continued on page 2

he productivity and profitabil-ity of smallholder dairyingcan be increased by as much

as ten times per year through feed-ing cattle with high protein fodder.

The technology, aimed at improv-ing the smallholder zero-grazingsystem using calliandra (Calliandracalothyrsus), is a result of a re-search project conducted by theAgroforestry Research Network forAfrica - Eastern and Central Africa(AFRENA-ECA). The Kenya Agri-cultural Research Institute (KARI),the Kenya Forestry Research Insti-tute (KEFRI) and the InternationalCentre for Research in Agroforest-ry (ICRAF) were involved in thisresearch project undertaken in theEmbu district of central Kenya.

Calliandra is a highly palatable andnutritious fodder which comple-ments the diet of napier grass, themain source of energy for cattle inthe region. One kilogramme of drycalliandra leaves has the sameamount of digestible proteins as1 kilogramme of commercial dairymeal. On fresh weight basis, 3 kilo-grammes of calliandra are equiva-lent to 1 kilogramme of dairy meal.Given the high cost of dairy meal,which is not always available, theopportunity for replacing it withhome-grown calliandra fodder is anattractive one to farmers.

A profitability analysis was done in1997 on farms where calliandra has

CalliandraIncreases Incomesof Dairy Farmers

Continued on page 9

Agricultural research institutions need to explore new financial mechanisms.

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AgriForum No. 4 2 July 1998ASARECA

PERSPECTIVES

(SPAAR) hosts the SFI Secretariatand handles networking and dis-semination of information. The Unit-ed States Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) providesfunds for technical assistancethrough a contract with a US firm,Abt Associates Inc.

The SFI ’s objectives are tostrengthen and diversify the finan-cial base of African research insti-tutions and to reinforce their capac-ity to manage research andtechnology transfer programmes ina sustainable manner.

The first objective is addressedthrough identifying alternativesources of funding—including fromthe private sector—and exploringnew financial mechanisms. Thesecond objective involves reformsto reorient institutions to strategical-ly manage their programmes, im-prove financial systems, respond tostakeholders and clients, and linkresearch and technology transferprogrammes to priority needs.

ASARECA has been working withthe SFI since October 1996. Col-laboration began with a review ofthe Association’s mandate, opera-tions and responsibilities. Discus-sions relating to ASARECA’s futureplans and sustainability were alsoheld. The SFI supported theASARECA strategic plan processthrough financing technical assis-tance for the elaboration of an op-erational planning framework, theparticipation of five African expertsas core members of the strategicplanning reference team and ofresource persons to address sus-tainable financing aspects.

Further assistance was provided todevelop a concept paper on bestpractices with competitive grantmechanisms and their potentialapplication to ASARECA’s re-search networks. The paper waspresented for discussion at themeeting of network coordinatorsheld in February 1998, and subse-

quently reviewed by the ASARECACommittee of Directors. The nextstep involved the development ofthe competitive grants concept intoan action plan to establish a sys-tem on a pilot basis. This plan isbeing developed and should becompleted by August 1998.

The Road to Sustainability

It is envisaged that an ASARECAcompetitive grants mechanism willhave several important outcomes.It will: increase the confidence offunders that resources are well uti-lised and this should attract morefunding; build the capacity of gran-tee NARSs for performance-basedresearch; demonstrate the impactof competitively awarded grants onagricultural productivity and eco-nomic growth; and eventually laythe groundwork for discussions onthe capitalisation of an endowmentfund for agricultural research andtechnology transfer. These are allimportant milestones along ASA-RECA’s “road to sustainability”.

For further information:Prof. Geoffrey C. MremaExecutive SecretaryASARECAP.O. Box 765, Entebbe, UgandaTel: 256-41-321389Fax: 256-42-21126E-mail: [email protected]

Continued from page 1 implemented by the InternationalPotato Center (CIP).

The first phase (1995-1997) wasfunded as a pilot project through agrant of US$ 300,000. The secondphase, funded for a total ofUS$ 1,570,224, covers the period1997-2001.

The pilot project has been evaluat-ed. The report analyses and as-sesses each of the projects thatwere funded, draws lessons andsuggests recommendations. It con-cludes that short-term small grantscan be successful in transferringnew technologies, and that partner-ship can be developed betweenresearchers, technology transferagents and beneficiaries.

Final Projects

In the second phase, 290 pre-proposals have been received fromorganisations from the ten Easternand Central Africa countries. Thecriteria for reviewing and assess-ing the pre-proposals are based onthe lessons learned from the firstphase and the recommendations ofthe steering committee of theproject. The applicants of pre-proposals which are going to beselected by the steering committeewill be required to develop fullproject proposals following thecommittee’s comments and recom-mendations. Prior to approval offunding, the final projects will be re-viewed by a specialist panel. Eachapproved project will be granted upto US$ 40,000 and will be imple-mented in a maximum of threeyears.

To complement the USAID grant,a new proposal is being preparedfor submission to other donors.

The TechnologyTransfer Project

The Technology TransferProject is a programme ofsmall grants for projects

which can transfer crop, livestock,agroforesty and post-harvest tech-nologies to farmers and consumersthrough collaboration between re-search institutions and partnerssuch as non-governmental organi-sations and local institutions inEastern and Central Africa. It is anASARECA programme funded bythe United States Agency for Inter-national Development (USAID) and

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For further information:Dr. Berhane KiflewahidTechnology Transfer ProjectCoordinatorASARECA-CIPP.O. Box 25171, Nairobi, KenyaTel: 254-2-632054Fax: 254-2-630005E-mail: [email protected]


PERSPECTIVES

As reported in AgriForum is-sue No. 3, regional agricul-tural research networks

which are currently operating underthe auspices of ASARECA have,over the past nine months, beenbusy developing their five-yearplans for the period 1998-2003.These plans, expected to incorpo-rate the main recommendations ofthe ASARECA’s strategic plan re-port, will be submitted to and re-viewed by the different donor organ-isations during the second half of1998. Several meetings were con-vened in June 1998 to finalise theplanning process.

Two Generations

The six first-generation networksheld their meetings in Entebbe,Uganda, from 8 to 13 June 1998.They include those networks whichwere established in the 1980s andearly 1990s and brought under theumbrella of ASARECA in 1994when it was established: agro-forestry (AFRENA), beans (ECA-BREN), potatoes (PRAPACE) androot crops (EARRNET). Also underthe first-generation networks arethe banana (BARNESA) and live-stock (A-AARNET) networks which,although started in mid-1990s, hadexisted before in other forms.

The seven second-generation net-works, which have been estab-lished since 1994 or are beingestablished, held their meetings inEntebbe from 15 to 20 June. Theseinclude the maize and wheat; sor-ghum and millet; rice; coffee; post-harvest processing; soil and waterconservation; and, genetic resour-ces networks. Lastly, ECAPAPA(agricultural policy) and RAIN (in-formation and documentation) pro-grammes held their meetings inNairobi, Kenya, from 24 to 29 June1998.

Get an Overview

All the above meetings were attend-ed by members of the regionalsteering committees (RSCs), forthe already established networks,or interim steering committees(ISCs) for the networks which areunder planning. Participating alsowere representatives of the Inter-national Agricultural Research Cen-tres and Advanced Research Insti-tutes which are technicallybackstopping these networks.

This was the first time that steeringcommittees of a group of networkswere holding a joint meeting. Mem-bers of these RSCs and ISCs, inaddition to undertaking detailed

ASARECA’s NetworksFinalise their Five-Year Plans

The members of the maize network in one of their planning meetings.

planning for their individual network,were thus availed an opportunity toget an overview of the other net-works.

Appraisal Missions

It is expected that the final versionof the five-year plans will be circu-lated to the different partner agen-cies including donors by mid-July1998. The major donor agencies

IPGRI

Vavilov-Frankel Fellowships1999

The International Plant GeneticResources Institute has estab-lished the Vavilov-Frankel Fellow-ship Fund to commemorate theunique contributions to plant sci-ence by Academician NikolaiIvanovich Vavilov and Sir OttoFrankel. The Fund aims to encour-age the conservation and use ofplant genetic resources in devel-oping countries through awardingfellowships to outstanding youngscientists.

The Fund will enable them tocarry out relevant, innovativeresearch outside their countries forthree months to one year. Theresearch should have a clear ben-efit to the applicant’s country. In1999, a total of US$ 30,000 will beavailable for awards. Holders of amaster’s degree (or equivalent) ora doctorate in a relevant area, fromdeveloping countries, aged 35 orunder, are invited to apply.

Application forms in English,French or Spanish may be ob-tained from: Vavilov-Frankel Fel-lowships, IPGRI, Via delle SetteChiese 142, 00145 Rome, Italy.Fax: 39-065750309 or E-mail:[email protected] or http://www.cgiar.org/ipgri. Applicationsshould include a completed form,brief letter of application, full cur-riculum vitae, research proposal(maximum 1,000 words) and let-ter of acceptance from the pro-posed host institute.

The closing date is 15 December1998. Successful applicants willbe informed by 31 March 1999 andare required to take up their Fel-lowships before 31 December1999.


PERSPECTIVES

knowledge generation and utilisa-tion are increasingly based on trans-national research systems and net-works. Third is the need to avoidpotential inequities between andwithin countries that could emergefrom widening technology gaps andexclusion forces by harnessing thepower of technology.

At the first meeting, held in Wash-ington D.C., USA, in October 1996,a Global Forum Steering Commit-tee (GF-SC) was established andmandated to consult with all thestakeholders as well as monitor thetranslation of the agreed ActionPlan into a detailed programme ofactivities. At its meeting during themid-term meeting of the Consulta-tive Group on International Agricul-tural Research (CGIAR) held inMay 1997 in Cairo, Egypt, the GF-SC recognised that the tasks andfunctions entailed by the GlobalPlan of Action were manifold anddiverse, and that the NARS con-stituency was complex. It wastherefore decided that the imple-mentation of the Action Plan wouldrequire two secretariats—one forthe NARS Steering Committee(NARS-SC) and one for the GF-SC—with distinct but complemen-tary functions.

In October 1997, it was decidedthat the GF-SC Secretariat shouldbe hosted by the World Bank inWashington and the NARS Secre-tariat by the Food and AgricultureOrganisation (FAO) in Rome, withthe technical support of the Inter-national Service for National Agri-cultural Research (ISNAR). At thesame time, a GFAR Support Groupwas established under the chair-manship of the International Fundfor Agricultural Development(IFAD).

Guiding Principles

Since then, the GFAR work pro-gramme and the budget for 1998-2000 were prepared and extensive-ly discussed by all stakeholders. Aset of principles were endorsed,which will guide the activities to be

Vacancy Announcement

Executive Secretary for the NARS Steering Committee

The NARS Steering Committee (NARS-SC) is inviting applications for thepost of Executive Secretary. The Executive Secretary will be responsible forthe efficient functioning of the NARS Secretariat. He/she will maintain closecontact with the NARS sub-regional and regional associations and organi-sations as well as with the GFAR Steering Committee Secretariat. He/shewill report to the Chairperson of the NARS-SC and to FAO according to thehost agreement. He/she will act as Secretary to all meetings. Appointmentwill be for an initial period of two years.

Applicants must be senior agricultural research managers from developingcountries with demonstrated research management and leadership capa-bilities. Candidates must hold a PhD or equivalent degree in agriculturalsciences and have a minimum of ten years of experience dealing, at thehighest level, with donors, Advanced Research Institutes and the CGIARand in managing donor and public funds. Candidates should be fluent ineither English, French or Spanish.

A letter of application should be submitted by 15 July 1998, together with acurriculum vitae and the names of three referees. Further particulars maybe obtained from the Secretary of the NARS Search Committee, c/o Chris-tian Hoste, ISNAR, P.O. Box 93375, 2509 AJ, The Hague, The Netherlands.Fax: 31-70-381 9677; e-mail: [email protected].

The Global Forum on AgriculturalResearch Meets in Brazil

The Global Forum on Agricul-tural Research (GFAR) wasestablished in October 1996

to facilitate global exchange of in-formation, access to knowledgeand cooperation among the variousstakeholders in agricultural re-search and rural development. Itseeks to strengthen National Agri-cultural Research Systems(NARSs) and regional and sub-regional fora, and to encouragecollaborative research projects inareas of common interest.

The Global Forum emerged inresponse to the increasing chal-lenges which the global agricultur-al research system is currentlyfacing, as well as to exploit new

opportunities generated by advan-ces in science. It is necessary topromote the development of aglobal system based on cost-effective partnerships and strategicalliances among the various actors.Reducing poverty, ensuring foodsecurity, managing biodiversity andthe natural resource base are themajor objectives.

Manifold and Diverse

Three fundamental beliefs guidethe establishment of the GlobalForum. First is a science-based vi-sion of the future and of the role thatknowledge plays in contemporarysocieties. Second is the fact thatrecent trends clearly indicate that

are scheduled to send appraisaland evaluation missions to the re-gion in August and September 1998to evaluate these network planswith a view to identifying those thatthey will consider for provision ofassistance.

For further information:Prof. Geoffrey C. MremaExecutive SecretaryASARECAP.O. Box 765, Entebbe, UgandaTel: 256-41-321389Fax: 256-42-21126E-mail: [email protected] �


RESEARCH TIPS

PROFILE OF AN ASARECA NETWORK

The Animal AgricultureResearch Network

undertaken by the GFAR. Theseare: subsidiarity, complementarity,additionallity, transparency andopenness, involvement of all stake-holders, and research and institu-tional partnerships. In addition, aconsensus was reached on thefunctions of the GFAR secretariats,namely: advisory, catalytic and pro-motional, brokerage and advocacyas well as participation and integra-tion.

The committees met in Brasilia,Brazil, in May 1998. The GFARwork programme and the budget for1998-2000 were endorsed. Theprocess of selection of the Execu-tive Secretary of the NARS Secre-tariat was also approved, as wellas the establishment of the latter’soffice in Rome on 1 August 1998.ISNAR has seconded one of itssenior officers, Dr. Christian Hoste,as an advisor to the Executive Sec-retary.

Extensive Consultation

Dr. R.S. Paroda, Executive Secre-tary of the Asia-Pacific Associationof Agricultural Research Institutions(APAARI), was elected as chairper-son of both the GF-SC and theNARS-SC. Dr. M. Houssou, Chair-man of the Forum for AgriculturalResearch in Africa (FARA), waselected the Vice-Chairperson ofthe NARS-SC, while Mr. AlainDerevier was nominated as Exec-utive Secretary of the GF-SC.

The committees expressed theneed to develop a strategic agen-da through extensive consultationand contribution of the regional andsub-regional fora. The second Glo-bal Forum will be held in the year2000 in Bonn, Germany.

Raising livestock is an important source of income for farmers in the region.

Livestock is an importantcomponent of the agricultur-al sector in the Eastern and

Central Africa region. In Kenya,Ethiopia and Sudan, the livestocksector contributes almost half of thegross domestic product (GDP),while in Somalia it amounts to 72%.For a large number of households,livestock is a major source ofincome and security.

Given its importance to the region,the ASARECA Animal AgricultureResearch Network (A-AARNET)was established in November 1996.Its research programme focuses onthree commodities: dairy, beef andsmall ruminants. The InternationalLivestock Research Institute (ILRI)hosts the coordinating office of thenetwork.

For more than ten years, the formerInternational Livestock Centre forAfrica (ILCA) and its successor ILRIhave supported three Pan-Africannetworks, namely: the African FeedResources Network (AFRNET),the Small Ruminant Network

(SRNET), and the Cattle ResearchNetwork (CARNET). These havebeen instrumental in training scien-tists and research workers, gener-ating technology and disseminatinginformation.

The African Feed Resources Net-work implemented more than60 projects in 22 sub-Saharan Afri-can countries, addressing the intro-duction and evaluation of foragegermplasm, forage seed produc-tion, forage conservation tech-niques as well as utilisation of cropresidues and agro-industrial by-products. The technologies devel-oped from this research have beentested on various sites in the majoragroecological zones of sub-Saharan Africa. Research on by-products has generated efficientprocessing and storage methods aswell as appropriate livestock feed-ing packages for increased produc-tion.

The Small Ruminant Network’smajor achievement is the promotionand support of 45 small ruminant

For further information:Alain DerevierGF-SC Executive Secretaryc/o The World Bank1818 H Street, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20433USAFax: 1-202-522 3246E-mail: [email protected] �


research projects in 28 researchinstitutions of 17 countries. The re-search agenda has largely focusedon three priority areas. First, farm-ing systems and socio-economicstudies which increased the under-standing of the constraints to bet-ter productivity of the integratedsmallholder farming systems andthe opportunities they have to in-creasing their output. Second, char-acterisation of indigenous small ru-minant studies which have providedvital information on their physical,production and adaptive traits. Andthird, feed resources studies whichhave demonstrated the potential ofindigenous and exotic forage spe-cies and crop residues for strate-gic feeding of small ruminants. Spe-cies of Dolichos, Gliricidia,Calliandra, Sesbania, Leucaenaand crop residues (groundnut hulls,dried pineapple waste and maizestover) have been identified espe-cially for dry season supplementa-tion. SRNET has trained about120 scientists and technicians, 35%

International Workshopon Direct Sowing

of whom are leading small ruminantresearch teams in their countries.

The Cattle Research Network im-plemented research targetingsmallholder dairy producers to de-velop improved technology pack-ages. These aimed at reducing ageat puberty and first calving, reduc-ing calving intervals, and promot-ing efficient utilisation of crop resi-dues and feed resources toincrease milk and meat production.

Building on Past Achievements

A-AARNET is building on theseachievements to strengthen itsstrategy and programme. In July1997, the ASARECA Committee ofDirectors approved the network’spriority themes. Subsequently, twoproject proposals were developedto serve as frameworks for imple-menting the research agenda. Thefirst proposal, “Collaborative Re-search for Livestock Developmentin Eastern and Central Africa”, tar-gets intensive and semi-intensivecrop and livestock production sys-tems. The second proposal, “Cri-

A-AARNETResearch Priorities

� Characterisation of ruminants’genetic resources and evaluationof local and exotic breeds undervarious management systems

� Feed resources developmentand utilisation, including on-farmtrials of forages, crop residues andagro-industrial by-products plusmanagement of pasture systems

� Assessment of the major socio-economic constraints for the inten-sification of animal agriculture inthe region and analysis of govern-ment and regional policies affect-ing the livestock sector

� Development of cost-effectiveintegrated packages to controlmajor ruminant diseases

� Promotion of research-exten-sion linkages through on-farm re-search to ensure appropriate tech-nology development and adoption

� Reinforcement of NARScapacity to carry out livestockresearch through training andsharing of information

RESEARCH TIPS

ses Mitigation in Livestock Sys-tems: From Relief to Development”,focuses on pastoral production sys-tems.

In addition, the Global LivestockCollaborative Research SupportProgram (GL-CRSP) of USA LandGrant Universities is implementingseveral projects under the overallumbrella of A-AARNET. The GL-CRSP activities are implementedunder the coordination of the Man-agement Entity at the University ofCalifornia, Davis, and involves col-laborative projects with African Na-tional Agricultural Research Sys-tems and the Texas A&MUniversity, Colorado and UtahState Universities, as well as Uni-versity of California, Berkeley.

Direct sowing involves zero-tillage of the land, which iskept protected all year

round by a living biomass (plantcover) or a dead one (remaindersof harvests or mulch). The seedsof the crop being cultivated areplanted at a depth of 2 to 3 centi-metres with adapted tools.

Direct sowing puts less pressure onthe environment and leads to sus-tainable conservation of natural re-sources. It protects the soil, pre-vents erosion and improves fertility.The farmer spends less time tillingfields, has a more flexible crop cal-endar and better control of weeds.

An international workshop was heldin March 1998 in Antsirabe, Mada-

gascar, on the agrobiological man-agement of soils and cropping sys-tems. The main theme was directsowing on land with a permanentplant cover.

For further information:Dr. Jean NdikumanaA-AARNET CoordinatorILRIP.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, KenyaTel: 254-2-630473Fax: 254-2-631499E-mail: [email protected] �

Pioneers

The workshop was organised bythe Centre National de la Recher-che Appliquée au DéveloppementRural (FOFIFA), the AssociationNationale d’Actions Environnemen-tales (ANAE), the Centred’Expérimentation et de Diffusionen Gestion Paysanne des Collines(FAFIALA), Terre et Développe-ment (TAFA) and the Centre deCoopération Internationale en Re-cherche Agronomique pour leDéveloppement (CIRAD). It was


sponsored by the European Union,the Technical Centre for Agricultur-al and Rural Cooperation (CTA),the French Ministry of Cooperationand CIRAD.

The occasion brought together250 researchers, farmers, repre-sentatives of donor agencies fromAfrica, Latin America and Europe.The Brazilians, who are pioneers inthis area, presented their experi-ences. Over forty presentationswere made. It was a platform for ex-changes between various national,regional and international actorsinvolved in promoting direct sowingtechniques.

Linkages

A number of direct sowing methodswere analysed in terms of the rela-tionship between research and de-velopment. The preferred attributeswere ease of operation and practi-cability of the method in a real situ-ation. Many methods from variouscountries, ecologies and agro-socio-economic situations werecomparatively analysed.

At the end of the workshop, a groupknown as the Groupement SemisDirect de Madagascar, which uniteslocal organisations working ondirect sowing, was established.Also, a committee was elected toset up a network for the SouthernAfrica and South-West IndianOcean region to address directsowing. Linkages between theregion, Brazil and Central Americawill be reinforced. The network’sfirst meeting will take place in LaRéunion in August 1998.

Bean CommonMosaic Virus:

Resistant VarietiesDeveloped

The bean common mosaic vi-rus (BCMV) is among themost important constraints to

bean production in Eastern andCentral Africa. Although often spo-radic—its prevalence depending onthe aphid vector (Aphis fabae)—thevirus causes on average annualyield losses of 136,300 tonnes inthe region. The disease is seed-transmitted and thus a problem forsmall farmers who retain their ownseed for sowing and in the ex-change of genetic material amongbean research programmes.

There are two common symptomsof BCMV infection.

First is the “mosaic”, where light anddark green patches appear on theleaves, which may curl; with severeinfection, it is accompanied by leafdistortion, blistering and stunting ofgrowth. This symptom indicatesthat the plant does not possess thedominant “I” gene that prevents theestablishment of mosaic infectionby any of the ten known strains ofthe virus. This gene has been rou-tinely incorporated into breedingmaterial at the Centro Internacion-al de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) inColombia.

Confers Immunity

Second is the “black root” symptom,which first appears as a progres-sive vein necrosis followed by wilt-ing of the older leaves, progress-ing to discoloration of the stems andthe vascular tissue and eventuallydeath. The appearance of thisnecrosis reflects a hypersensitivereaction of a plant carrying the dom-inant I gene with one of three BCMVstrains, called necrotic strains. Ofthese, the NL3 strain is widelydistributed in Africa.

Bean programmes in countries witha high incidence, such as Ugandaand Rwanda, are reluctant to re-lease varieties carrying the I gene,because of the crop loss that farm-ers could suffer. This limits the use-fulness of the breeding lines fromCIAT which carry the I gene.

However, there is a series of reces-sive genes which confers resist-ance to necrotic strains, of whichone, namely bc3, confers immuni-ty to all strains. In 1990, the CIATproject in Uganda initiated a breed-ing programme, utilising lines andsegregating populations from CIATin Colombia, to develop a range ofmaterials carrying this gene for dis-tribution to national bean pro-grammes in Africa.

The CIAT programme in Africa issupported by a consortium of do-nor agencies including the SwissAgency for Development and Co-operation (SDC), the Canadian In-ternational Development Agency(CIDA) and the United States Agen-cy for International Development(USAID). The work is undertakenthrough two regional pro-grammes—the Eastern and CentralAfrica Bean Research Network(ECABREN) and the Pan-AfricanBean Research Alliance (PABRA).

The black root symptoms.

RESEARCH TIPS

For further information:Michel RaunetCIRAD-CAB.P. 503534032 Montpellier Cedex 1FranceTel: 33-4-67 61 59 43Fax: 33-4-67 61 71 60E-mail: [email protected] �


However, the findings also demon-strate that purchased seasonal in-puts are rarely affordable by smallfarmers on a “cash” basis. Someof the reasons are: a vicious cyclerelated to low output, low incomeand low savings; a lack of attrac-tive saving mechanisms; and anincreased demand for school feesand health which is partly attribut-ed to conditions ensuing from theeconomic structural adjustmentprogrammes.

Reducing Barriers

The situation is exacerbated by thefact that commercial banks are re-luctant to provide this service be-cause of high delivery costs andsubstantial collateral requirements.Recent initiatives have opted for

Prior to economic liberalisa-tion programmes, para-statals provided seasonal

credit for input supply albeit withvarying degrees of efficiency. Fol-lowing privatisation, some majorgaps have resulted in the creditmarket.

A review of recent experiences inMalawi, Ghana and Tanzania bythe Overseas Development Insti-tute (ODI) on which this text isbased has demonstrated that, evenwith the onset of economic reformprogrammes, the use of purchasedseasonal inputs like improvedseeds, inorganic fertilisers and cropprotection chemicals remains prof-itable for smallholder cash-cropproduction in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

Financing Seasonal Inputs:A Crux for the Small Farmer

Input Supply: A Case in Tanzania

Profitable cashew nut production in Tanzania requires application of sul-phur dust or an organic alternative to control the effects of a fungal disease,the powdery mildew. Bad experiences by the first traders to experiment withcommercial sulphur supply in 1991-1993 means that only a handful of smalltraders are currently trying to develop mechanisms for provision of sulphurto farmers on credit basis. These are mainly input suppliers based in districttowns, who lend sulphur to farmers through trusted contacts in specificvillages.

These intermediaries may be shopkeepers or other prominent individuals,most notably officials of village “primary societies” (cooperatives). The inter-mediaries are responsible for selecting farmers who will receive sulphur oncredit and also for loan recovery at harvest time. In some cases, the tradersthemselves have to do considerable follow-up to ensure that repaymenttakes place. Loan recovery is aided by a regulation that requires all sales ofcashew nuts to be made at registered buying points, making it easy forintermediaries to be on hand to collect repayment. Where a farmer takes hisnuts to a buying point in a neighbouring village in search of higher prices,local information networks enable the intermediaries to track him down quicklyto ensure repayment before the money is spent.

Provision of sulphur on credit was observed to be beneficial for “middling”smallholder farmers, who could make profitable use of sulphur but did notpossess cash to obtain adequate quantities at the start of the season.

However, in more remote villages, in one district where farmers have fewincome-earning opportunities other than cashew nut production, a few trad-ers had taken advantage of farmers’ weak bargaining position to depressthe terms of trade. Some farmers had become trapped in an annual cycle ofdebt, whilst others had lost cashew trees as foreclosed collateral on badloans.

Through ECABREN, CIAT has dis-tributed over two hundred highyielding resistant lines to nationalbreeding programmes in three Af-rican BCMV nurseries. From thismaterial, the Ugandan national pro-gramme has released three small-seeded lines, namely MCM 5001,MCM 2001, and MCM 1015, whichshowed significant yield improve-ment over the local small-seededcultivar, White Haricot. A white peabean line with a yield equivalent toWhite Haricot, tolerance to lownitrogen and phosphorus soils, andgood canning quality is being mul-tiplied by the Ugandan SeedsScheme. Large-seeded Calimaand red-seeded lines are at anadvanced stage of testing.

Well Adopted

The line MCM 5001, released asvariety K 31 in 1994, has been par-ticularly well adopted by farmersand consumers in the Mbale region.By 1997, 41% of 300 householdssurveyed were growing the varie-ty. They particularly like its highyield, its resistance to drought andits leafy canopy that prevents chick-ens from eating the pods. They alsolike the starchiness of the beansafter cooking.

In Rwanda, resistant lines are inadvanced yield trials, and in Tan-zania, many lines are proving to bewell adapted with resistance or tol-erance to other local constraints.

In addition, many of the small-seeded lines and few of the large-seeded ones have resistance to an-gular leaf spot (ALS), the secondmost important biotic constraintacross Africa. They were includedin the first African ALS nursery offorty-five lines distributed to nationalbean programmes in 1995.

RESEARCH TIPS

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For further information:Dr. Howard GridleyCIATP.O. Box 6247, Kampala, UgandaTel: 256-41-567259Fax: 256-41-567635E-mail: [email protected]


EXPERIENCE IN ACTION

group liability, which means lend-ing to groups. This has been most-ly practised by donors and non-governmental organisations in theirprogrammes. When applied to sea-sonal agriculture, all have to bor-row at the same time with no riskspread among individual borrow-ers.

Interlocking of input and output,either by itself or in combination withliability, was a feature of the pre-liberalisation marketing boards.This system involved tracking theproduction and marketing processsuch that lenders are able to recouploans from product sales. It still hasroom in the post-liberalisation era,although it runs the risk of beingoutcrafted by opportunistic traderswho are willing to buy the produceat higher prices than those expect-ed by the farmer in the “interlock-ing arrangement”.

Policy can play a role in facilitatingseasonal input lending and its useby smallholder farmers. Reducingthe barriers to entry would lead toincreased trader competition, whichwould in turn improve the efficien-cy of liberalised market systems.This would be achieved mostlythrough encouraging a strong lib-eralised financial sector and invest-ing in rural infrastructure, roads andtelecommunications among others.

A macro-economic enabling envi-ronment targeted at the private sec-tor is an additional prerequisite.Where opportunities for profit-making exist, the private sector willinnovate to overcome failures in theimportant markets, including thosefor seasonal credit and inputs.

A farmer tending calliandra seedlings in her on-farm nursery. Behind her is ahedge of calliandra which provides regular protein supplement for her dairy cows.

been in use as supplement feed fortwo to four years. In the first year,farmers’ investments of labour andseedlings amounted to US$ 7 forthe establishment of calliandrahedges. Beginning in the secondyear, a daily supplement of 2 kilo-grammes of dry calliandra per cowthroughout the lactation period in-creased milk production by about450 kilogrammes per year, anincrease of about 10%. Net benefitper cow is therefore US$ 135.

When calliandra is used as a sub-stitute for dairy meal, it saves thefarmer the money he would havespent buying and transporting730 kilogrammes of dairy mealduring the year. The net benefit isUS$ 163 per cow per year.

Using calliandra, either as supple-ment or substitute feed, increasesthe farmer’s annual income byabout US$ 150 per cow.

up to twice that number of trees andcould therefore support one or twodairy cows.

Calliandra can be grown easily byfarmers. Compared to the estab-lishment of herbaceous legumes inpasture systems, the establishmentand management of calliandra isrelatively simple. It can be plantedas hedges along contour bunds,terrace risers and even aroundhomesteads. Calliandra can also beestablished in combination withnapier grass in tree-grass foddergardens. The tree grows naturallyin the tropics up to 2,000 metres inaltitude and does best in rainfallregimes of 1,000 millimetres andabove.

Spreading Fast

Similar experiences with high pro-tein fodder trees have been report-ed by KARI and the InternationalLivestock Research Institute (ILRI)using Leucaena leucocephala atthe Kenya coast (see AgriForumNo. 3). Incorporation of leucaenafodder led to a significant increasein milk production. The AFRENA-ECA calliandra programme hasbeen linked with the KARI-ILRIexperience. It is associated with theSystemwide Livestock Programmeconvened by ILRI. This linkage

Continued from page 1

Grows Naturally

A farmer would need about500 calliandra trees in order to havefeed supplement throughout theyear, at a rate of 2 kilogrammes ofdry matter per cow per day. A typi-cal farm in central Kenya of1.5 hectares would accommodate

For further information:Dr. Andrew DorwardDepartment of AgriculturalEconomics and BusinessManagementWye CollegeWye, Ashford, Kent TN25 5AHUnited KingdomTel: 44-1233-812401Fax: 44-1233-813498E-mail: [email protected] �



Impact of Maize Researchin Tanzania

brings in increased expertise andresources to enable an expansionof both research and extension.

potential of this technology is large,and it is spreading fast within EastAfrica.

de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo(CIMMYT).

Considerable Impact

From the outset, the study high-lights that the programme togetherwith maize extension serviceshave had considerable impactduring the past twenty years. But,to realise this impact of the maizecrop on the lives of Tanzanians,one must know that it is the majorcereal with an annual per capitaconsumption of 112.5 kilogrammesand that it is grown on nearly twomillion hectares—about 45% of thecultivated area.

During the 1974-1994 period,fifteen maize varieties have beenreleased and several agronomicrecommendations have been madefor the various zones and produc-tion systems. The average annualproduction for this period was1.6 million metric tonnes during thefirst ten years and it jumped to2.3 million metric tonnes in thefollowing decade.

The estimated rate of return for themaize research and development

Presently, the Embu project isworking with sixteen communitygroups in the establishment of com-munity nurseries in central Kenya.Over 1,000 farmers in this zoneare testing and using calliandra.With approximately 400,000 small-holder farmers in the country, the

hat impact has the Na-tional Maize ResearchProgramme (NMRP),

started in Tanzania in 1974, madeon increasing food production?How have the farmers adopted thetechnologies developed by the pro-gramme?

adoption of technologies in north-ern Tanzania have just been re-leased and address these ques-tions. The study, including surveysin the seven agroecological zonesof Tanzania, was conducted by theDepartment of Research and Train-ing, in collaboration with the South-ern African Centre for Cooperationin Agricultural and Natural Resour-ces Research and Training (SAC-CAR) and the Centro Internacional

Two decades ofresearch andextension on maizehave hadconsiderable impacton production.Nevertheless, evenbetter results couldbe achieved, forinstance throughextension agentsdiscouraging farmersfrom recyclinghybrids and advisingthem on how torecycle composites.Farmers shouldalso have access tocredit facilities foressential inputs.

Two reports of a study on the eco-nomic impact of maize research inTanzania and of a survey on the

For further information:Dr. Kwesi Atta-KrahAFRENA-ECA CoordinatorICRAFP.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, KenyaTel: 254-2-521450Fax: 254-2-521001E-mail: [email protected] �

W



investment was 19%. This meansthat for every US dollar invested,the Tanzanian society received areturn of 19 US cents, which isclearly profitable. In addition to thisreturn, the investment has alsogreatly contributed to food securi-ty, institutional development andhuman capacity building.

About one thousand farmers wereinterviewed during the survey us-ing a structured questionnaire. Thisgives an interesting picture of the

ways farmers adopt technologiesproposed by research and exten-sion services.

Stepwise Adoption

Farmers adopt the cheapest (interms of labour and cash) and low-risk technologies first and the moreexpensive last. The adoption oftechnologies is also related to re-turn on investment. In areas withhigh potential, where the risk of los-ing a crop is low, even relatively

expensive technologies suchas high fertiliser use have beenadopted.

This only confirms the stepwiseadoption behaviour of small-scalefarmers and their rational decision-making process.

Nearly All Farmers

The case of the northern zone—asurplus area which includes Arushaand Kilimanjaro regions and ac-counts for about 10% of the nation-al maize production—illustratesthese findings. In this zone, raisinglivestock is quite common; 84% offarmers keep cattle, 79% goats and40% sheep. Intercropping maizewith beans or peas is the most com-mon cropping system (60%).

Nearly all farmers use improvedmaize seed. However, 80% of themrecycle their seed for four to sixyears. This practice is contrary torecommendations and has reducedthe potential of improved seed. Ex-tension agents should discouragefarmers from recycling hybrids andadvise them on how to recycle com-posites. CG 4141 is the preferredhybrid because of its yield anddrought tolerance.

Even Better

In the intermediate altitude zone,80% of the farmers apply fertilisers,of which 64% use chemical ones.In lowlands, 92% of the farmersapply fertilisers but prefer kraalmanure and crop residues to chem-ical fertilisers (only 44%). Up until1994, fertiliser application was stillless than half the recommendedamount. Application is done on timealthough only once and only 4%apply basal chemical fertiliser atplanting. Also, the recommendationfor fertiliser placement is poorly fol-lowed. As a majority of farmers useinefficient practices, more exten-sion efforts should be directedtowards fertiliser technologies.

Other recommendations have beenreadily and successfully adopted.

AHI

Regional Research Fellows

The African Highlands Initiative (AHI), an ASARECA programme, wishes toappoint four regional research fellows to work in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania,Madagascar and Ethiopia. Each research fellow will be attached to a re-search organisation working as a partner within AHI. Partners include inter-national and national organisations working on natural resource manage-ment issues related to agricultural research on soil productivity and landuse. Applications from the above countries will be given priority but thosefrom other ASARECA countries will also be considered.

�� Characterisation and Diagnosis Specialist. To collect and organisequantitative data. These data will help characterise bench mark sites andbe used in monitoring and evaluation. Location is the Geographical Infor-mation System (GIS) laboratory in Nairobi, Kenya. Employer is CIP for aone-year contract, renewable. MSc or PhD with experience in survey de-sign, implementation and analysis, database management and GIS required.French desired.

�� Systems Agronomist. To assist bench mark location research teams indiagnostic work, designing and conducting research on soil improvementand efficient land use. Location is Ethiopia. Employer is CIAT, Pan-AfricanBean Programme. Renewable contract of two and a half years. MSc or PhDwith experience in agronomy, research design, implementation and analy-sis. Amharic desirable.

�� Soil Scientist. To assist bench mark location teams in Uganda and Tan-zania in diagnostic work, designing and conducting research and dissemi-nating technologies on soil fertility issues. Location is in Uganda. Employeris the Tropical Soils Biology and Fertility Programme. Renewable contractof two and a half years. MSc or PhD with at least five years of experience insoils or agronomy, research design, implementation and analysis of soilfertility trials, ecosystem and nutrient cycling work and related diagnostics.French desired.

�� Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist. To assist AHI’s partners set upand maintain a performance assessment system that can operate at vari-ous scales and for various stakeholders. Location is at AHI Coordinator’soffice in Uganda. Employer is ICRAF and duration of the contract is twoyears, renewable. MSc with five years of experience in a relevant area ofagriculture or social sciences with a strong background in research andmonitoring, evaluation and learning concepts, methods and tools. Frenchdesirable.

Send a curriculum vitae and contacts of three referees by 31 July 1998 to:AHI Coordinator, Kawanda Agriculture Research Institute, P.O. Box 6247,Kampala, Uganda. Fax: 256-41-567635; e-mail: [email protected].


Considerable amounts offood grains are destroyedannually by insects, ro-

dents and birds in the rural areasof Sudan. The extent of losses de-pends on the type of structure inwhich the grain is stored, and onthe climatic conditions and storageduration.

Matmora (underground pit) storageof grain is an ancient practice usedin tropical areas where insect dam-age is high. Matmoras are used,with various names, along a beltextending from Nigeria eastwardthrough Sudan into Ethiopia andSomalia. In Sudan, particularly inthe drier central areas, matmorasare the dominant on-farm storagestructure.

Traditional matmoras are cylindri-cal in shape, approximately 2 me-tres in diameter and 1 metre deep.The size depends mainly on thequantity of grain available for stor-


Sudan ImprovesMatmora Storage

age. The average capacity is be-tween 1 and 2 tonnes. Farmerstend to store more grain than theirannual requirement as an insur-ance against possible crop failure.

The site of the underground pit isselected according to location,topography and soil type. Soils thatfavour termite colonies are exclud-ed. Newly dug matmoras areallowed to dry for one to two monthsbefore being filled with grain. Some-times, burning the soil using drystraw provides a dry hard layerinside the matmora. The bottom,sides and top of the matmora maybe lined or unlined. When lined, acombination of threshed spikelets,straw and chaff mixed with cowdung plaster is used. This lining isintended to prevent the seepage ofwater into stored grain.

The matmora is filled with dry sor-ghum grain or unthreshed heads upto a foot below ground level. A lay-

er of chaff is then spread over thetop before the pit is covered withthe excavated soil in a dome shapeto facilitate water run-off during therainy season. The hermeticallysealed condition and the respirationof the grain reduce the oxygenlevel, a condition not suitable for thesurvival of grain-damaging insects.However, the grain must be dry toavoid the growth of moulds thatcould affect its quality and appear-ance. The storage period is usual-ly between six and nine months.Under certain conditions, records of

Land preparation methods are wellfollowed, all farmers practice rowplanting and the average plant pop-ulation is only slightly lower thanrecommended. Frequency andtime of weeding are also under-taken as per recommendations.

Moreover, a major constraint to in-creased maize production, whichneeds to be addressed, is the lackof access to formal credit facilitiesby most small-scale subsistencefarmers.

With some variations, most of thefeatures found in northern Tanza-nia are also found in the other agro-ecological zones.

Encourage Farmer Groups

The research and extension sys-tems, which have proved efficientduring the past twenty years, cando even better if recommendations

made by the assessment team arefollowed. These recommendationsinclude the need to: target futurebreeding initiatives to specific prob-lems identified in the various re-gions; clearly identify the respectiveroles of the NMRP and seed com-panies in order to avoid duplicationof efforts in research; encouragethe formation of farmer groups andthe participation of non-governmen-tal organisations in extension; anddevelop appropriate policy meas-ures to provide loans for essentialinputs.

Training Course

Web Page Designand Use of Electronic

Networks

The Technical Centre for Agricul-tural and Rural Cooperation, CTA,is organising, in collaboration withCOSTECH, a training course on“Web page design and use of elec-tronic networks” in Dar es Salaam,Tanzania, from 5 to 16 October1998.

This introduction course, whichfalls within the programmes ofCTA and ASARECA, seeks tostrengthen local agricultural infor-mation exchanges for the sustain-able development of agriculture inEastern Africa. The course willenable the Web site managers inthe agricultural research organisa-tions to: use HTML commands;structure a Web presentation; anduse Web design and page layouttechniques.

Seventeen participants will be se-lected from agricultural researchinstitutions and faculties of agron-omy of East Africa. They must befluent in English; have basic train-ing in information science oragronomic sciences; have goodinformation technology skills; beresponsible for the Web site andthe development and maintenanceof a home page for their institutionon the Internet.

Contact: M.-J. Jehl, CTA, Postbus380, 6700 AJ Wageningen, TheNetherlands. Tel: 31-17-467100;fax: 31-317-460067; e-mail:[email protected].

�

For further information:Dr. Wilfred MwangiCIMMYTP.O. Box 5689Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: 251-1-615017Fax: 251-1-611892E-mail: [email protected]



Ordering TreeSeed for

Agroforestry

Researchers working onagroforestry systems mustbe able to obtain appropri-

ate tree seed with which to conducttheir experiments. The same holdstrue for farmers: if they are to adoptand continue to use improved agro-forestry systems, they must alsohave reliable access to the treeseed that best suits their needs.

There are a number of sources fromwhich seed can be obtained: it canbe collected directly from localstands of a species or it can be or-dered from seed suppliers. Each ofthese approaches has advantagesand disadvantages, but in somecases, ordering seed from a sup-plier may be the best approach—for example, it may be more cost-effective than collection, or asupplier may be able to provide ma-terial that is superior to that availa-ble locally.

To help ensure successful planting,three aspects of the seed need to

up to ten years of successful stor-age have been made.

In comparison with above-groundstructures, the matmora methodhas considerable advantages. Theunderground pits are easy andcheap to construct, require a mini-mum of materials, and the mainte-nance and operational costs areless than those for above-groundstructures holding the same quan-tity of grain. There is no need forpesticides. In some African coun-tries, the matmora was introducedto farmers as a measure against thelarge grain borer (Prostephanustruncatus) infesting maize. Lowtemperatures in the pit reducemoisture migration, which causescondensation, mould developmentand grain cracking. Besides, thematmora offers security againsttheft and man-made disasters likefires. In a well prepared matmora,a farmer can expect a loss of lessthan 3%.

Despite all these advantages, theunderground pit storage is limitedby various factors. Due to biochem-ical or microbiological activity, thecolour, taste and texture of the grainin the sides and bottom of the mat-mora may change. Also, the viabil-ity of the grain as seed is completelylost. The design of the traditionalmatmora implies that, once opened,all the grain is removed. The mat-mora cannot be opened for inspec-tion or for partial removal of thegrain and closed again.

Superior for Storage

Matmora storage in Sudan is farfrom being satisfactory judging fromthe frequent insect and mould in-festation and caking of the grain. Arecent study on traditional matmo-ras suggested a number of im-provements: that matmoras shouldbe located in well drained groundwhere the water table is low; that aloamy soil, a mixture of clay andsand, should be used because itdoes not develop cracks in the dryseason; that the dome shaped

be considered when ordering froma supplier.

First, genetic quality is important—use material that will best fulfil thefunction of planting. Considerablegenetic variation for important func-tions can exist between differentgeographical sources (or “prove-nances”) within a species as wellas among species—therefore, oneshould aim to use superior prove-nances, if these are known.

Second, seed should be of wide ge-netic base. This can help ensurethat the species will adapt to thechanging needs of the user as wellas to variable environmental con-ditions, and will prevent inbreedingdepression in outcrossing species.

And third, the physiological qualityof seed is critical. Seed should beof high viability and be capable ofproducing vigorous seedlings upongermination.

Below are important guidelineswhich provide a logical approach toobtaining tree seed from suppliers.

Before Ordering Seed

Determine the range of species andprovenances (if known) availablethat could fulfil the purpose forwhich planting is required. This willinvolve considering the end prod-ucts expected from planting, suchas timber, fodder or medicine.

Consider whether an indigenousspecies could fulfil the functionequally as well as an exotic spe-cies. If so, consider giving prefer-ence to the indigenous species.

Before procuring an exotic species,check with quarantine authoritieswhether it is legal to import thatspecies. Several agroforestry treesare known to display weedy (inva-sive) characteristics and theirdistribution is restricted.

Search available literature such asthe Tree Seed Suppliers Directory,which lists more than 4,000 treespecies and 100 suppliers, to find

earth cover should be high enoughto facilitate drainage; and that thepit should be lined with polyethyl-ene (plastic) sheets.

The polyethylene-lined matmora issuperior for storage of sorghum.The use of plastic lining for the tra-ditional matmora prevents moisturemigration, restricts insect infesta-tion and mould development, thusreduces storage losses and main-tains grain quality. It also preventsthe grain from being contaminatedby soil and other foreign materials.

For further information:M.E. Hassan ShazaliARC, Shambat Research StationP.O. Box 30Khartoum North, Sudan �



potential suppliers of a species aswell as any microorganism whichthe species requires for propergrowth. As far as possible, choosefrom those suppliers who providethe best documentation. The moreinformation about a species, includ-ing geographical origin, collector,and supplier’s storage methods, themore appropriate the choice.

Contact suppliers and provide themwith as much information as possi-ble to determine if they can fulfilspecific seed requirements, withinthe time frame and budget allocat-ed. Details on the proposed plant-ing site and objectives for plantingwill enable the supplier to help inthe selection of material.

Placing an Order

Once an appropriate supplier isfound, order well in advance, since

suppliers may not have sufficientseed in stock and may need to car-ry out further collections. In addi-tion, consider the time required toraise seedlings before planting. Thesuccess of a planting programmedepends on correct timing.

Provide details that will help thesupplier process and ship a seedorder. Indicate when material will besown and planted, how many seed-lings are required, and any specialimportation requirements, if order-ing internationally.

Ask the supplier to send informa-tion on pre-treatments that may berequired for maximum germinationof seed, as well as the expectedviability and purity of the seed(weeds can travel as impurities).The supplier should also indicateany treatments, such as fungicidesor insecticides, applied to the seed.

Finally, the supplier should indicateany legal and ethical restrictions onthe use or distribution of suppliedseed.

Cassava Leaves:A Delicious Relish

Cassava was introduced inthe present DemocraticRepublic of Congo by Por-

tuguese merchants in the 15th cen-tury and is today a staple food formost Congolese people. Both theroots and leaves are used as food.

The tuberous roots, a cheap sourceof proteins, minerals and vitamins,provide two thirds of the daily ener-gy requirement. The leaves are partof the diet. On average, each Con-golese family eats cassava leavesat least twice a week. In the Bas-Congo province, for instance, theaverage leaf consumption is 1 kilo-gramme per person per week.

Tender and Tasty

Selection for the preparation of cas-sava leaf dishes mainly depends onthe species and quality of leaves.The leaves from two cassava spe-cies, Manihot glaziovii and M. es-culenta are favoured. Despite thefact that many people affirm thatdishes made from M. glaziovii aretastier, M. esculenta leaves repre-sent more than 90% of the con-sumption, both as food and feed.

Leaves which are 1 to 3 months oldare preferred. They are tender andtasty. Leaves used as food are har-vested from unflowering plants, so

Good tree seed does not cost, it pays.

�

For further information:Dr. Ian DawsonICRAFP.O. Box 30677NairobiKenyaTel: 254-2-521450Fax: 254-2-521001E-mail: [email protected]



ICIPE

Fellowships for African Scientists

Applications are invited from African scientists, actively involved in bio-prospecting for useful chemicals in plants and animals, for fellowships atthe International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE). Thesefellowships are funded by the International Centre for Scientific Culture(ICSC)-World Laboratory and will support two-month visits for two or threescientists per year. They are intended to assist African scientists whorequire access to advanced facilities and exposure to arthropod-relatedbioassays and to build a collaborative network of researchers in bio-prospecting. The fellowships will provide a roundtrip air ticket and a subsist-ence allowance to cater for accommodation, meals and laboratory expen-ses. Applications should include a curriculum vitae and a summary of thecurrent area of research.

Mass Spectral Services for African Scientists

Through funding from ICSC-World Laboratory, ICIPE will provide, free ofcharge, mass spectral services to African scientists who are bioprospectingfor useful natural products from plants and animals but do not have accessto facilities. A number of mass spectral analyses can be provided depend-ing upon specific research needs. Interested scientists will be required toindicate research activities, history of samples, biological activities andreasons for a particular analysis.

Contact: ICIPE-ICSC-World Laboratory, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya.Tel: 254-2-802501 or 861680; fax: 254-2-860110 or 803360; e-mail:[email protected].

farmer-support services require gov-ernment subsidies. The authors outlinethe technical, institutional, and policyreforms needed to significantly accel-erate maize production in Africa.

Tillage research challenges tool-makers in Kenya, by D. Mellis, H.S.Matsaert, B. Mwaniki. In: Farmers’ re-search in practice: lessons from thefield, edited by L. van Veldhuizen, etal. London, UK, Intermediate Technol-ogy Publications Ltd, 1997, pp 127-138, ISBN 1-85339-392-4. The Dry-land Applied Research and ExtensionProject in Kenya worked with farmersand local blacksmiths to improve farmimplements and tools. During a rapidappraisal of farmer priorities, the needfor better tillage tools emerged. Theproject applied a participatory method-ology in designing and making the toolsand in on-farm trials, with the farmersand the project agreeing on the crite-ria for monitoring the trials. The projectsought to strengthen local organisa-tional structure and to work with all theactors involved in making and using thetools, in an effort to improve the linksbetween farmers and local artisans.The numerous limitations encountered,including lack of support by local agen-cies in training, marketing, credit, qual-ity control and supply of raw materials,indicate the need for a broad-basedapproach to participatory technologydevelopment.

Extension through farmer experi-mentation in Sudan, by S.O. Ishag,O.H. Al-Fakie, M.A. Adam, Y.M. Adam,K.W. Bremer, M. Mogge. In: Farmers’research in practice: lessons from thefield, edited by L. van Veldhuizen etal. London, UK, Intermediate Technol-ogy Publications Ltd, 1997, pp 89-108,ISBN 1-85339-392-4. Field staff of aSudanese-German project give an ac-count of their learning process, as theyprogressed from a conventional inte-grated rural development project to amore modest but also more sustaina-ble approach of promoting farmer-to-farmer extension based on local exper-imentation. Details are given of how theproject improved its communicationwith the villagers, particularly with thewomen, and encouraged experimen-tation by both genders. Villagers arenow actively adapting new ideas andtaking responsibility for organising theirown extension system, partly buildingon their traditional forms of collabora-tion.

This section is compiled by CAB Interna-tional, Africa Regional Centre.

Africa’s emerging maize revolution,edited by D. Byerlee and C.K. Eicher.London, UK, Lynne Rienner Publish-ers, 1997, 300 p, ISBN 1-55587-754-0.Although relatively new to Africa, maizehas recently replaced cassava as thecontinent’s most important food crop,and increased maize production hasthe potential of helping to reverse Afri-ca’s food crisis. This book presents theresults of extensive field research onthe maize economy in six countries(Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya,Ghana, Nigeria), as well as broader-based studies of maize research andextension, soil fertility, seed distribu-tion, fertiliser, and marketing andprocessing. The main finding of thestudy is that research and extension,associated input and marketing inter-ventions have, as intended, producedrapid increases in maize production.Nevertheless, the results indicate onlya qualified success story—crop yieldsare still low, yield grains are threatenedby losses in soil fertility, and many

the varieties with few flowers at10 to 12 months after planting arein high demand. Cassava flower orseed makes cooked leaves bitter.

The taste varies largely from onevariety to another within the samespecies and it is believed that thecassava mosaic has an influenceon the taste. Most people usuallylook for leaves with mild or medi-um mosaic disease symptoms. Asyet, there is no scientific explana-tion for this phenomenon, but a pre-liminary study done at M’Vuazi Re-search Centre has shown that thereis no significant difference in thetotal sugar content of the leavesaffected at different levels with theAfrican cassava mosaic disease(ACMD) for the same variety.

�

For further information:Singi LukomboB.P. 2037Kinshasa IDemocratic Republic of Congo

Book Shelf


AgriForum is a quarterly news-letter of the Association forStrengthening Agricultural Re-search in Eastern and CentralAfrica, ASARECA.

Articles and other contributions arewelcome. Articles for publicationshould be sent to Ms. AdyeriMarunga, AgriForum Editorial As-sistant, at the ASARECA Secre-tariat. Articles accepted for publi-cation may be edited for brevity orclarity. Views expressed in Agri-Forum do not necessarily reflectthe official position of ASARECA.

ASARECA SecretariatP.O. Box 765, Entebbe, UgandaTel: 256-41-321389Fax: 256-42-21126E-mail: [email protected].

The publication of AgriForum hasbeen made possible through agrant from the Swiss Agency forDevelopment and Cooperation(SDC), Berne, Switzerland, whichis gratefully acknowledged.

Layout by I. Oyuk-Olebbe.

Printed by Graphics Systems (U)Ltd., Kampala.

ISSN: 1028-7795

November

Fourth International Scientific Meetingof the Cassava Biotechnology Net-work, Salvador, Brazil, from 3 to 7 No-vember 1998. Contact: A.M. Thro,CIAT, AA 6713, Cali, Colombia. E-mail:[email protected].

Fifteenth International Symposium ofthe Association for Farming SystemsResearch-Extension (AFSR-E), Preto-ria, South Africa, from 29 Novemberto 3 December 1998. Contact: AFSR-E Symposium ’98, P.O. Box 411177,Craighall, Johannesburg, 2024, SouthAfrica. Tel: 27-11-442 6111; fax:27-11-442 5927; e-mail: [email protected]. Joint session of the IUFRO, In-ternational Union of Forestry ResearchOrganisation. Contact: Dr. Fergus L.Sinclair, School of Agricultural andForest Sciences, University of Wales,Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UnitedKingdom. Tel: 44-1248-382459; fax:44-1248-382832; e-mail: [email protected].

December

International Agricultural EngineeringConference, Bangkok, Thailand, from7 to 10 December 1998. Contact: AsianInstitute of Technology, P.O. Box 4,Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120,Thailand. Tel: 66-2-254 54 79; fax: 66-2-254 62 00; e-mail: [email protected].

August 2000

Third International Crop Science Con-gress 2000, CCH Congress Centrum,Hamburg, Germany, from 17 to 22August 2000. Contact: Congress Sec-retariat, CCH-Congress Organisation,P.O. Box 302480, D-20308 Hamburg,Germany. Tel: 49-40-3569 2244; fax:49-40-3569 2269; e-mail: [email protected].

September

Ninth International Conference on An-imal Health and Production for Devel-opment, Harare, Zimbabwe, from 14 to18 September 1998. Contact: Prof.Obwolo, Faculty of Veterinary Science,University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Harare, Zimbabwe.

October

NARO, National Agricultural ResearchOrganisation Centenary Conference,“A Century of Agricultural Researchand Development”, Entebbe, Uganda,from 5 to 7 October 1998. Contact: Dr.Peter Esele, SAARI, Soroti, Uganda.Tel: 256-45-61192; fax: 256-45-61444.

Second International Conference onTransgenic Animals, Beijing, China,from 26 to 29 October 1998. Contact:M. Zhang Zhong-Lian. Fax: 86-10-6218 01; e-mail: [email protected].

Agricultural Research ManagementTraining for NARS Programme Lead-ers in Sub-Saharan Africa, organisedby INTG (IARC-NARS Training Group)Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya, from17 to 31 October 1998. Contact:Zenete Peixoto França, ISNAR, P.O.Box 93375, 2509 AJ, The Hague, TheNetherlands. Tel: 31-70-349 6100; fax:31-70-381 9677; e-mail: [email protected].

Symposium international sur les filièresagricoles de l’Afrique subsharienneface à la mondialisation. Enjeux et pers-pectives pour le développmentéconomique, Dschang, Cameroon,October 1998. Contact: Université deDschang, B.P. 110, Dschang, Cam-eroon. Tel and fax: 237-45-16 86 or13 81.

The revival of smallholder cashcrops in Africa: public and privateroles in the provision of finance, byC. Poulton, A. Dorward, J. Kydd. In:Journal of International Development,1998, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp 85-103. Thepaper examines the role of finance insmallholder cash crop production insub-Saharan Africa following marketliberalisation, drawing on theoreticalarguments and fieldwork in Ghana,Tanzania and (for comparison) Paki-stan. Smallholders’ needs for financefor input purchase and traders’ needs

for finance to facilitate the supply ofinputs and the purchase of produce areconsidered. It is argued that manysmallholders need seasonal credit ifthey are to use inputs and that this canoften be best achieved by loans to in-termediary traders. But the develop-ment of credit markets is blocked by ahigh incidence of “strategic default” onloans. Various mechanisms can beused to improve loan repayment ratesfrom farmers, and these are analysedwith a particular focus on “interlockedcontracts”.

An investigation of alternative beanseed marketing channels in Ugan-da, by S. David, S. Kasozi, C. Wort-mann. In: CIAT African OccasionalPublications Series, Dar es Salaam,Tanzania; Centro Internacional de Ag-ricultura Tropical (CIAT), Regional Pro-grammes in Africa, 1997, No. 19, 24 p.The distribution of newly released beanseed is often a weak link in the tech-nology transfer process. To assist na-tional commodity programmes to de-vise cost-effective delivery systems,research was conducted in Uganda(during 1993-1995) to test the appro-priateness of bean seed distributionthrough four non-conventional chan-nels: rural shops, a rural health clinic,women’s groups and an NGO. Thefindings confirm the feasibility of dis-tributing seed packets through marketand non-market channels and showthat each delivery system has advan-tages and disadvantages which mustbe assessed by seed suppliers in acountry-specific context. The paperoffers guidelines for the distribution ofnew bean varieties by institutions.

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