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contribution of soil fertility improvement through nitrogen fixation. Despite these benefits grain legume production is characterised by low yields with farmers experiencing serious problems in accessing legume seed. The challenge. The main seed companies in the country have focused primarily on maize seed production to the detriment of other crops. The Government’s programme of providing subsidised seed and fertiliser for smallholder famers initially focused on maize but now includes legumes as it was recognised that their inclusion was desirable both from human nutritional and soil fertility perspectives. However a serious shortage of seed has been a major constraint. Innovation trigger. RIU-Malawi funded by DFID was instrumental in promoting an innovation systems approach that facilitated the bringing together of legume seed stakeholders in an IP to identify bottlenecks and opportunities to increase seed availability (RIU, 2011). The IP included breeders and seed services responsible for seed inspections and certification, MoA&FS crop production and extension staff, seed companies and farmers. A National Innovations Coalition (NIC) comprised of Champions from a range of IPs acts as a national platform for leveraging policy advocacy with Government. In the case of the Legume IP the representative for the MoA&FS is the National Coordinator of grain legumes research in Malawi. He was pivotal in ensuring Government policy support for the private sector involvement in producing breeder’s seed and in helping to broker linkages for the participation of farmers in multiplying breeder and basic seed for certified seed production. At the same time a key individual on the IP is a member of a Government TF to identify a strategy for the legume sector under the Government’s Input Subsidy Programme. Stakeholder interactions and interventions. Key stakeholders included (CIAT, DARS, the Department of Agricultural Extension Services (DAES), Seed Trade Association of Malawi (STAM), representing seed companies, Association for Smallholder Seed Multiplication (ASSMAG) and Grain Legumes Association (GALA) representing famer organisations, input suppliers and seed companies. Key IP partners included a Champion, a bean breeder with CIAT, DARS-Chitedze legume coordinator, DARS Seed Services, Demeter Farms, from the private sector and the Seed Trade STAM. The partnership operated through joint meetings facilitated to review legume seed systems, identify opportunities for overcoming constraints, plan, initiate and monitor actions that would improve seed availability and use. The IP enhanced communication and interaction between stakeholders increasing the interest of private sector companies. The IP meets regularly allowing partners to review progress and share experiences, document progress, successes, challenges and lessons learned. Where necessary the IP established special TFs to resolve technical bottlenecks. An initial analysis involved looking at the whole seed value chain from new variety approval and release, through production of breeders’, foundation and certified seed for sale to farmers. The critical constraint was identified as being the lack of sufficient breeders’ seed. Although breeders were attempting to meet the demand, it was taking time and resources from ongoing crop breeding research. Unfortunately legume seed is required in larger quantities than maize as the crop’s seed requirements are much greater. In addition production of some legume seed, particularly beans, is best undertaken in the dry season under irrigation. Irrigation facilities at Government research institutes are extremely limited and valuable water is therefore only used in breeding research programmes. The proposed solution was for small quantities of 54 Agricultural Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa
pre-breeders seed to be released by Government breeders to private-sector growers with regular inspection by DARS Seed Services to ensure seed quality was maintained and to certify the seed as required. RIU-Malawi provided a revolving innovation fund designed to continue after RIU-Malawi support to initiate activities was phased out. The IP operated its own bank account to fund its operations and contracted approved private-sector seed producers to purchase pre-breeders seed to multiply and produce breeder’s seed. This was undertaken in close consultation with the breeder. This seed was then purchased by IP for onward sale to successful farmer applicants who were contracted to produce basic and certified seed. Three varieties of each legume, beans, groundnuts and soybean were identified with 200 kg of pre-breeders seed of each variety being provided for breeder seed production. From this 2.5–3 tonnes of each variety of breeder’s seed was produced. This breeder’s seed was then available for approved farmer contractors to purchase to produce basic seed from which certified seed can then be produced. In the case of beans Farmers World’s Demeter Farms produced breeder’s seed on contract to the IP. ASSMAG farmers were then contracted to produce both basic and certified seed. In addition another seed company, Seed Co purchases basic seed from contract growers and contracts further growers to produce certified seed. Seed Co then purchases the certified seed, processes and packs it ready for sale. At each stage DARS Seed Services inspects and certifies the seed. Although all seed production to date has been purchased for the Government subsidy programme, legume seed still remains in short supply. However plans are in hand to increase production. Achievements. Major achievements of the IP include: • Decision by Government to allow farmers to participate in multiplication of legume breeder seed is a first in Malawi. In the past farmers were only allowed to grow certified seed • Considerable quantities of breeders and foundation seed are now available for farmers to produce certified seed • The IP has been successful in empowering members of ASSMAG and GALA through training to become effective partners on the legumes platform. The IP with support from RIU-Malawi organised and paid for training of farmers by DARS Seed Services unit. ASSMAG and GALA produced 28 tonnes of certified legume seed (beans, groundnuts and soybeans) in 2010/11 benefitting over 7000 farmers in 2011/12. New or unresolved challenges. Although all seed production to date has been purchased for the Government subsidy programme, legume seed still remains in short supply. Plans are in hand to increase production to meet demand. However with seed being supplied by the Government’s subsidy programme at low or zero cost, there are concerns about future sustainability. The need to ensure that high- quality seed of varieties acceptable to farmers continues to be available at affordable prices remains a priority. Lessons learned. Funding for the facilitation of stakeholders has again played a key role in bringing stakeholders together. At the same time ensuring new varieties are used has required ‘champions’ who understand the often-complex institutional and regulatory structures. Such ‘champions’ are needed to encourage and support the building of networks of actors who are able to analyse and alleviate constraints or add value within a systems chain. Ultimately The case studies: Southern Africa 55
Page 1 and 2:
Agricultural Innovation in Sub-Saha
Page 3 and 4:
Agricultural Innovation in Sub-Saha
Page 5 and 6:
Contents Acknowledgements 1 Forewor
Page 7 and 8:
Acknowledgements This review examin
Page 9 and 10: Foreword Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) f
Page 11 and 12: • Traditional sectors including s
Page 13 and 14: • An IP comprised of partner orga
Page 15 and 16: Innovation approaches and intervent
Page 17 and 18: Figure 1: A typical agricultural co
Page 19 and 20: Table 2: Elements and characteristi
Page 21 and 22: Integrated agricultural research fo
Page 23 and 24: Figure 2: Conceptual framework for
Page 25 and 26: Table 3: Innovation case study char
Page 27 and 28: THE CASE STUDIES Eastern Africa Sou
Page 29 and 30: Interventions and the roles of diff
Page 31 and 32: including policy, production, marke
Page 33 and 34: Achievements. The evolution of the
Page 35 and 36: value chain from producers through
Page 37 and 38: • Transport is handled by private
Page 39 and 40: major consumers of export vegetable
Page 41 and 42: • Policy: A National Horticulture
Page 43 and 44: Lessons that militate against scali
Page 45 and 46: Activities contributing to the late
Page 47 and 48: When a new Government took over in
Page 49 and 50: mini dairies in the country selling
Page 51 and 52: (BCPA), an association representing
Page 53 and 54: smallholder farmers in the Shire Va
Page 55 and 56: Malawi, overcoming market challenge
Page 57 and 58: Box 4: NASFAM structure The Nationa
Page 59: Malawi, Increasing the availability
Page 63 and 64: commitments. The high price of inpu
Page 65 and 66: and improving NRM. As such, the IP
Page 67 and 68: large-scale farmers but also for sm
Page 69 and 70: West Africa Cameroon, production an
Page 71 and 72: indirectly involved in the industry
Page 73 and 74: household incomes have risen by an
Page 75 and 76: Other key interventions provided by
Page 77 and 78: Initial challenges. The key challen
Page 79 and 80: environment and incentives for prod
Page 81 and 82: Lessons learned. Successful innovat
Page 83 and 84: (Nigeria First, 2005). PICPE brough
Page 85 and 86: human foods, future expansion will
Page 87 and 88: Activities have included: analysis
Page 89 and 90: poor road access, lack of power and
Page 91 and 92: Institutions Markets Support servic
Page 93 and 94: Table 5: Coordinating roles at the
Page 95 and 96: mite and the viruses that cause cas
Page 97 and 98: Figure 6: Private sector roles Priv
Page 99 and 100: With regards to research, there is
Page 101 and 102: Figure 8: Consequences of stakehold
Page 103 and 104: Before Innovation After innovation
Page 105 and 106: cooperation, builds trust, and esta
Page 107 and 108: laboratories as well as effective b
Page 109 and 110: Improving access to information, kn
Page 111 and 112:
Annexes Regions, authors and case s
Page 113 and 114:
Kenya’s dairy sector Organisation
Page 115 and 116:
Kenya’s horticulture with special
Page 117 and 118:
Uganda’s dairy industry Organisat
Page 119 and 120:
Malawi, building public-private par
Page 121 and 122:
Malawi, increasing the availability
Page 123 and 124:
Zambia’s conservation agriculture
Page 125 and 126:
Cameroon’s garlic industry Organi
Page 127 and 128:
Ghana’s growing cassava sector Or
Page 129 and 130:
Nigeria’s cassava production and
Page 131 and 132:
Annex 2: The role of the public sec
Page 133 and 134:
Policy and regulatory framework Uga
Page 135 and 136:
Policy and regulatory framework Inf
Page 137 and 138:
Ghana’s growing cassava sector Pr
Page 139 and 140:
Main types of interaction Consequen
Page 141 and 142:
Southern Africa Main types of inter
Page 143 and 144:
West Africa Main types of interacti
Page 145 and 146:
Main types of interaction Consequen
Page 147 and 148:
FAOSTAT. (2010) Food and Agricultur
Page 149 and 150:
Century and Beyond. Republic of Ken
Page 151 and 152:
Acronyms and abbreviations AAK ABU
Page 153 and 154:
EARO EC ECABREN ECGPEA ECX EAPGREN
Page 155 and 156:
LGA MAAIF MAHUDE MAL MBS M&E MARD M
Page 157:
SHEPUP SHoMAP SIDA SOFECSA SPDC SPE
Page 160:
Forum for Agricultural Research in
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