vegetables and associated best management practices in cereal‐based crop production systems to...
TRANSCRIPT
Vegetables and associated best management practices in cereal based crop production systems ‐
to improve income and diets of rural and urban households in northern Ghana and southern Mali
Abdou TenkouanoAVRDC – The World Vegetable Center
Tamale, 23-25 October 2012
AVRDC is under contract of IITA with functional oversight by IITA for maize-based systems, Africa Rice Center for rice-based systems and ICRISAT for sorghum/millets-based systems
Northern Ghana - AVRDC works through CSIR-SARI and UDS with detailed implementation protocols and regular monitoring visits
Southern Mali - project implementation unit coordinated by ICRISAT with support from non-project staff posted in Sikasso and NGOs (MOBIOM, PROGEBE, AMASSA)
Implementation strategy (partners)
Output 1.1 Integrated crop and livestock production systems developed, evaluated, and effectively delivered to end usersActivity 1.1.10: Carry out participatory appraisals on production systems to document existing vegetable varieties, assess relative share of vegetables in production landscape, estimate relative prevalence and performance of vegetable intercropping options [in northern Ghana – maize/rice-legume systems][in Southern Mali – sorghum systems]
Outcome 1: Sustainable increase of whole-farm productivity
Survey protocols developed by UDS with AVRDC support (12-13 July 2012) and survey carried from mid-July 2012.
Data analysis underway – preliminary report available
Maize/Rice-Legume Systems (Ghana)
Balma Yakubu Issaka, Judith Seidu and George Nyarko, University for Development Studies, Faculty of Agriculture,
Nyankpala Campus. Tamale
Victor Afari-SefaAVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Arusha
Rain-fed vegetable production is secondary to field crops and undertaken to supplement household income and food.
•border crops In the Upper East and Upper West regions
•sole crops on small lots for women in the Northern region
24% of vegetables harvested in Ghana in 2007 (GLSS, 2008).
Predominantly rain-fed and integrated with major field crops like maize, millet and sorghum.
Onion and tomato are exceptions
Northern Ghana
Every household grows at least, 3 different types of vegetables - wide variety but small quantities
Northern Ghana
Maize-vegetable farmers make an average GHC 122 per annum from vegetables (about 21.3% of their total revenue)
The survey protocols developed for northern Ghana have been adapted to the southern Mali context
Consultancy arrangements are in progress for the surveys to be carried out in October 2012
(a no cost extension was agreed with IITA for this).
Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)
CSIR-SARI established participatory evaluation and seed bulking plots at Nyankpala and Manga (Navrongo) with more than 80 lines of 10 species received from AVRDC in early June – results in 2-3 months.
Site selection for testing in farmers' fields at locations chosen by IITA (maize) and AfricaRice (rice) has been completed (12 communities with both maize and rice systems).
Maize/Rice-Legume Systems (Ghana)
Mashark Abdulai, CSIR-SARI, Nyankpala. TamaleAlbert Rouamba, AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Bamako
Planning meetings held to estimate seed needs for on-farm testing in order to plan seed bulkingin Bougouni on 31 May 2012in Koutiala from 4-6 June 2012
Seeds of one variety each of amaranth, African eggplant, hot pepper, okra, Roselle, sweet pepper, and tomato are under production at Samanko
Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)
Albert Rouamba, Theresa Endres, Keriba CoulibalyAVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Bamako
Available seed stocks used to establish farmer-managed participatory trials with NGOs:Bougouni (MOBIOM, 3 cooperatives, 36 farmers, including 15 men and 21 women)Koutiala (PROGEBE, 11 cooperatives, 46 farmers, including 23 men and 23 women)
Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)
Output 4.4. Evidence based dietary strategies for target population developed, tested and communicated
Activity 4.4.2 Carry out participatory appraisals on diets to assess and document existing dietary diversity, assess relative share of vegetables in diets, and estimate nutritional performance of existing dietary options in northern Ghana
Outcome 4: Increased nutritional and economic levels of the target population (especially women and children)
Carried out in conjunction with Activity 1.1.10.
Data processing is underway – preliminary report available
Promotional food preparations of nightshade and Roselle carried out at Nyankpala.
Maize/Rice-Legume Systems (Ghana)
Reason for consuming vegetables
Reason for consuming vegetables Frequency Percentage
Give blood to the body 41 34.2Boost to the immune system 33 27.5
Protects the body against diseases 19 15.8
Promote growth and development 15 12.5
Provide balanced diet 11 9.2
Vegetables make food tasty 1 0.8
Total 120 100
Output 4.4. Evidence based dietary strategies for target population developed, tested and communicated
Activity 4.4.1 Carry out participatory appraisals on diets to assess and document existing dietary diversity, assess relative share of vegetables in diets, and estimate nutritional performance of existing dietary options in southern Mali
Outcome 4: Increased nutritional and economic levels of the target population (especially women and children)
Survey protocols developed
Consultancy arrangements in progress for the surveys to be carried out in October 2012
Project nutritionist returned to Bamako after precautionary evacuation from mid April to early September
Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)
USAID Mali (ICRISAT) - “Improving Vegetable Production and Consumption in Mali” - best practice demonstration and dissemination hubs (new varieties, crop management practices and water delivery systems) - Sikasso
CORAF (MDTF) - “Enhancing Productivity, Competitiveness and Marketing of Traditional African (Leafy) Vegetables for Improved Income and Nutrition in West and Central Africa“ - first quarter of 2013 in northern Ghana
Links with other research and development projects
Cascade approach to partnerships - too complex, particularly on contractual and reporting requirements.
Centralized project implementation unit for logistics and contracts (Mali) - an excellent idea, but this could also cause delays - better planning and execution
Complementary (Yes), Integrated (Yes), Interdependent (???)
Concluding remarks (Lessons learnt)