Celebrating EAAPPFarmers testify of improved incomes, food security and welfare

SEPTEMBER 2015

EAAPP at a glance Started in 2009, EAAPP is promoting collaborative agricultural research for development and sharing research outcomes among member countries and beyond. Under the arrangement, the member countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda provide leadership to others as Regional Centres of Excellence in chosen commodities. The Centres ensure that outcomes from their work benefit the others. Kenya is the Centre of Excellence for dairy, Uganda for cassava, Ethiopia for wheat and Tanzania for rice.

EAAPP is one of the major initiatives in Africa contributing to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of halving hunger and poverty by 2015 through sustained economic growth of about 6 percent annually. The goal of EAAPP is to increase agricultural productivity and competitiveness, farm incomes, reduce poverty and improve food security in Eastern Africa. This is in line with the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPADs) Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADPs) vision to generate and sustain a corresponding growth rate to achieve the MDGs.

To achieve these goals, EAAPP is working to strengthen and upscale regional cooperation in the generation of technology; enhance training and dissemination programs for identified priority commodities; and facilitate increased sharing of agricultural information, knowledge and technology, across the recipients boundaries.

Over the last five years, EAAPP has been implementing initiatives to achieve its goal by increasing adoption of new varieties, breeds and management practices; increasing adoption of improved processing and handling methods by processors; increasing access to disseminated new technologies; increasing land area with seeds of improved cultivars and increasing the number of improved livestock breeds.

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Contents2 | Statement by ASARECA Interim Executive Secretary, Prof Francis Wachira4 | Statement by Regional EAAPP Coordinator, Vincent Akulumuka8 | EAAPP Phase II is critical10 | How the Dairy RCoE steered dairy revolution in EAAPP countries14 | Dairy empowerment via Oljoro Orok16 | Testimonies - Kenya30 | Rice Regional Centre of Excellence promotes system of rice intensification

34 | Testimonies - Tanzania42 | Investments on top notch infrastructure to spur wheat44 | Testimonies - Ethiopia50 | Cassava RCoE sets new direction for cassava economies

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Celebrating EAAPP

Statement by ASARECA Interim Executive Secretary, Prof Francis Wachira

Unprecedented collaboration

As the sub-regional organisation for Eastern and Central Africa, ASARECA has offered its experience and expertise spanning 20 years of coordinating regional agricultural research for development to facilitate sharing and spillovers of technologies and innovations during EAAPP Phase I.

In 2014, ASARECA as a coordinating body, commissioned the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of the University of Greenwich, UK and the Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII) to conduct an economic analysis and impact assessment of EAAPP Phase I. Below are a few highlights of achieve-ments:

Regional specialization, collaborationAverage level of regional specialization and collaboration across the four countries was 63%, an increase of 53 per-centage points above the baseline and exceeded targets.

Twenty-nine regional research projects have been ini-tiated with high levels of country participation. Several sub-projects address value chain and marketing issues.

TrainingShort and long-term training of research scientists has increased the capacity of Regional Centres of Excellence (RCoEs) in each country, most notably in Ethiopia. A total of 105 Masters students and 44 PhD candidates have been fully funded under the project. A further 50 students have received partial funding from the project. There were 2

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significant improvements in capacity to conduct research, support dissemination and host regional research ex-changes.

Knowledge sharingThe regional centres of excellence have developed 138 new technologies. Many are new varieties of cassava, rice, wheat and forage crops. Twenty-three new technol-ogies have been disseminated across national boundar-ies. These include: two rice varieties from Tanzania that were released in Kenya and Uganda and undergoing national performance trials in Ethiopia; four clones of Napier grass from Kenya that were recommended for dissemination in Uganda; botanical seed of cassava with enhanced carotene that were sent to Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya; assisted reproductive technologies from Kenya that was sent to the other countries.

Adoption of new technologies There has been increase in adoption of new varieties, breeds and other selected manage-ment practices by farmers from 35 percent to 53 percent in project areas. The proportion of beneficiaries using improved varieties of cassava, wheat and rice increased in all countries between 2009 and 2014. In 2014, 65 percent of targeted households were using im-proved cassava varieties, 87% were using improved rice varieties and 97% were using improved wheat.

Increase in land area Land planted with improved cultivars increased from about 2,755 ha in 2010, to 12,807 ha in 2014. This is attributed to the substantial increase in production of

planting material and farmer awareness. Almost all tech-nologies performed well over the technologies currently used at farm level, ranging from zero to 8% between 2010 and 2013.

Stakeholder satisfactionFarmer satisfaction with technologies has increased from 23 percent to 69 percent of households in project

areas. The beneficiaries are already seeing a positive impact from

their involvement in the programme. Average yields for beneficiaries in 2014 were 15 tons per hectare for cassava, 7 for wheat

and 9 for rice. These exceed regional productivity figures for

rice and wheat. Food securityBeneficiaries with household food surplus rose signifi-cantly in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania and slightly in Uganda. Nutrition security was significantly higher for project farmers compared to non-beneficiaries for wheat in Ethiopia and dairy in Uganda.

Testimonies by farmers and other value chain actors on pages 10 - 29, pages 36 - 41 and pages 46 - 49 of this book, illustrate that EAAPP is a mechanism that works.

138Technologies

generated through EAAPP

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According to Kenyas Director for Animal Production in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr. Julius Kiptarus, the Dairy Centre identified the Ayshire breed because of its potential to survive conditions that are common to the four EAAPP implementing coun-tries. The globally reputed breed, from New Zealand, is known for high milk yields, tolerance to some diseases that are rampant in Africa and flexibility in feeding hab-its. Besides, it can feed on many livestock forage com-mon in Uganda.

Elite semen shared with Uganda

The semen was given to the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre (NAGRIC) on behalf of the govern-ment of Uganda. NAGRIC is already using it to improve their stocks as part of the national high quality live-stock-breeding programme. NAGRIC will also distribute some straws to elite farmers in Uganda as part of the first efforts to increase the number of farmers on the breed improvement initiatives. This is expected to eventually benefit more farmers.

Statement by Regional EAAPP Coordinator, Vincent Akulumuka

Breaking barriersHow countries shared innovations through EAAPP

In January 2015, the Dairy Regional Centre of Excellence based in Kenya, gave Uganda national dairy programme 300 straws of high quality Ayshire breed semen.

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This is only one of the many collaborative initiatives and sharing deals that Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia have been involved in over the last few years, a relationship fostered by EAAPP.

The World Bank, which is the main development partner in EAAPP and ASARECA have been keen on cross-border learning. According to the Interim Executive Secretary of ASARECA, Prof. Francis Wachira, exchange of information, knowledge, technologies and innovations is an essential milestone of EAAPP. EAAPP is about countries benefiting from each other, says Prof. Wachira.

Under the arrangement, a total of 128 researchers were brought together to carry out collaborative research in 33 regional projects: 8 on cassava, 10 on wheat, 5 on dairy and 10 on rice. According to Mr. Vincent Akulumuka, EAAPP regional coordinator, as the region awaits seamless implementation of harmonized policies for exchange of research outputs, EAAPP is using inter-country imports/export permits and transfer Agreements to share inovations across boeders.

Besides the semen, the Dairy Regional Centre of Excel-lence has shared collections of improved Napier grass to Uganda and a livestock breed survey tool to Tanzania, while Kenya received descriptions of cross breeding prac-tices for livestock from Uganda.

Nine Napier grass collections from Kenya are being tested in other EAAPP countries. So far, two out of the nine are showing promising results and may be released and regis-tered in Uganda.

RiceThe Rice Centre of Excellence led by Tanzania

shared with Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia four rice varieties TXD306, Tai, Komboka and Ziada, which were developed in Tanza-nia.

From these, Kenya has officially released Komboka and TXD306, Uganda has re-

leased Komboka and Ziada and Ethiopia has released TXD306 into their national seed

release systems. This means that they willm soon be available in the seed market.

CassavaThe Cassava Centre of Excellence, led by Uganda, shared 159 Cassava accessions, botanical seed and botanical seed sprouting technique with Ethiopia.

The centre also shared protocols for quality management for multiplying clean materials of cassava with Kenya and Tanzania; virus diagnostic procedures shared with Tanzania and Kenya and cassava-processing machines (chipper and graters) shared with Tanzania.

128Researchers

working together under EAAPP

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Cassava varieties from Uganda have also been shared with South Sudan, DR Congo and Kenya.

Meanwhile, Tanzania shared elite cassava materials toler-

ant to cassava brown streak disease with Uganda. Kenya also shared cassava processing machines (chippers and graters) with South Sudan.

Tanzania and Ethiopia EAAPP teams join colleagues from the Cassava Centre of Excellence to receive dairy breeding material from Kenya.

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WheatA total 951 lines of bread-wheat from Ethiopia are being tested in preliminary trials in Kenya and Ugan-da. Of these, 72 elite lines are in advanced trials.

Kenya shared its elite wheat variety, Kingbird with Ethiopia and the variety is under seed multiplication for wider dissemination.

Cross border farm visitsEAAPP has been facilitating learning. For example, farmers from Kenya were facil-itated to visit Tanzania to learn about rice innovations; Ugandan farmers visited Kenya to exchange knowl-edge and experience on dairy and pasture seed; Kenyan farmers visited India to get a glimpse of their so-phisticated dairy technologies; while Ugandan farmers visited Ethiopia to learn what makes Ethiopia a leader in wheat production.

Farmers from Kenya and Uganda established a cross border innovation platform for cassava and other technologies at the Busia border. As a result of shar-ing, there have been significant improvements in the production and marketing of the four commodities.

Collaboration upBased on ASARECA results framework, regional spe-cialization and collaboration has grown from 10% before EAAPP to 76% in 2015.

This increase is attributed to more organized joint planning and implementation of agricultural re-search, training and dissemination activities among the partners. Overall, more land was dedicated to wheat, cassava and rice production in the four coun-tries. Other countries have dedicated more land for seed multiplication and outscaling of the technolo-gies. An average of 3.5% increase in new land acqui-sition has been noted in all the countries.

Research institutions have produced over 990 MT of breeder seeds and

planting materials of selected com-modities and these have been availed to targeted groups for further multi-plication and sale.

Over 3.8 million doses of livestock semen have

been sold within the collaborating countries and

beyond. Out of these, Tanzania produced 676,436 doses of semen, Ethiopia 63,416, Uganda 40,632 and Kenya, the regions leader, over 3 million. The number of breeding stock has also grown steadily, from 2,942 in 2010 to 5,119 in 2014.

990Metric tons of breeder seed

produced under EAAPP

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EAAPP Phase II is very criticalAppeal for EAAPP Phase II by top African leaders

On August 4, 2014, leaders of the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Security from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda issued a joint communiqu passionately appealing for resources to implement EAAPP Phase II.

Caucused to one voice by the impres-sive achievements of the first phase of EAAPP, the Ministry leaders during a regional steering meeting in Naiva-sha, Kenya, said, The project is ready to expand vertically and horizontally by including neighbouring countries such as Rwan-da, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo and therefore contributing to greater regional integration in research and development and increased sharing of tech-nologies, innovations, knowledge and information.

They noted that EAAPP Phase II was best suited to take

advantage of the momentum created under Phase I to take regional agricultural research and development to unprecedented levels.

The leaders, who spoke on behalf of their countries were: Prof. Fred Segor, Principle Secretary State Depart-ment of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Kenya; Madame Sophia Kaduma, Permanent

Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industries and Fisheries, Tanzania; Mr. Vincent Rubare-

ma, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agri-culture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, Uganda; and Wondirad Mandero, State Minster, Ministry of Agriculture, Ethio-pia.

They noted that in the original design, EAAPP was meant to last 10 years, which

was seen as sufficient to trigger off signifi-cant productivity improvement and growth.

Therefore, halting, or even fragmenting the transition to Phase II could seriously undermine

achievements made this far.

The leaders statements come after similar sentiments were made by other stakeholders of agriculture in the region. The agricultural research and development com-munity particularly argues that Phase II would allow for

10Number of years

EAAPP was designed to last

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the implementation of policy harmonization frameworks at the country level to boost benefit sharing and collab-oration; scaling-out of technologies generated in Phase I and those to be generated in Phase II. The research and development elites in the EAAPP countries see the second phase as ideal for deepening value addition and agribusiness as part of the commercialization bid.

And given that the RCoEs invested heavily in developing institutional and human capacity and generating tech-nologies, these investments would become futile if the

purpose for which they were put in place aborted. The over 138 technologies developed in EAAPP I, need to be and scaled out to the very demanding households.

The stakeholders in the EAAPP countries have therefore requested the leadership of the World Bank to consider bringing the funding of EAAPP II high on their priority list.

Testimonies by farmers and other value chain actors on pages 10 - 29, pages 36 - 41 and pages 46 - 49 of this book, illustrate that EAAPP is a mechanism that works.

Farmers in Kilombero, Tanzania have adopted the practice of planting rice in rows and regulating water provision.

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Since EAAPP kicked off in 2009, Kenya, which is the Dairy Regional Centre of Excellence (Dairy RCoE), has provided leadership to member countries by generating and making available technologies, innovations and management practices (TIMPS) on dairy. These include certified forage/pasture seeds and planting materials; appropriate dairy feeding systems rations and ration formulation techniques; generating, multiplying and making available appropriate dairy bulls, heifers, Does, Bucks, semen, embryos, camel replacement stock etc.

The Dairy RCoE is charged with operationalising appro-priate dairy breeding systems; operationalising sustain-able disease control innovations and strategies; formu-lating and harmonising viable and enabling policies and regulation options.

They centre is also responsible for developing improved products, processing and marketing technologies, ap-proaches, strategies, developing and up-scaling appropri-ate dairy husbandry techniques; generating and sharing of scientific information; centralising evaluation of germplasm and conserving genetic materials across the region.

Regional approachA regional pool of experts was assembled that estab-lished guidelines for joint project reviews, impact as-sessment, packaging of information and technologies for dissemination, capacity building, analysis of policy and regulations in the region and reaching agreements on a framework for harmonization.

According to Jane Muriuki, the project coordinator, EAAPP Kenya, Kenyas Department of veterinary Services facilitated certification of 1,060 breeding dairy cows and dairy goats for export. Forty in-calf dairy heifers were sold to Tanzania and 50 to Burundi. Over 1,000 live animals have been sold to Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda in the last 2 years. Six Napier clones/accessions tolerant to Smut and Stunt Diseases were shared with Uganda.

How the Dairy RCoE steered dairy revolution in EAAPP countries

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Nine dissemination pathways were used to share existing and new TIMPs for uptake across the region.

These included regional exchange visits, national per-formance trials, print media, the East Africa Hand Book, website, conferences, exchange visits, regional exhibi-tions and video conferencing. Exhibitions, trade fairs, shows and conferences were used as vehicles for region-al technology dissemination.

Through these pathways, Kenya has shared crop residue utilization technology, forage suitability maps, improved pasture and fodder, pasture and fodder conservation

technologies, assisted reproductive technology known as embryo transfer, motorized seed dressing technology, wheat threshing technology and rice knowledge bank with the other countries in the region.

Coverage in KenyaEAAPP is operating in 33 cluster sub-counties in Ken-ya including four government farms, seven cluster sub-counties for dairy, six for wheat, five for rice and eight for cassava. About 61% of the farmers in the dairy clusters have adopted improved dairy breeds com-prising mainly Ayrshires and Friesians due to capacity building and trainings. Support to artificial insemination

A model Kenyan farmer shows-off his milk cow.

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(AI) services has resulted into adoption of improved breeds for increased milk production.

The area under improved pastures in-creased from 193ha to 462 ha over the project period, which represents 140% increase. Milk productivity increased from 7 to 11Kgs per cow per day in dairy cattle in the project sub counties, which can be attributed to major interven-tions in feeding directed towards cattle milk production.

Pasture productivity has increased from 8.4 to 12.5 tons per acre over the project period. This is because more farmers have adopted improved pasture production, pasture and fodder conservation, crop residues utili-zation and feeds formulation among other husbandry practices after training.

The impacts of these foundation initiatives are illus-trated by testimonies of farmers on pages 10 - 29.

Infrastructure developmentThe focus of infrastructure development

is to build the capacity for research and development. The construction of the resource centre, milk processing unit, garage and quarantine station at Namanga is almost at completion stages. This is expected to provide

impetus for dairy excellence capacity development. For example, the resource

centre at KALRO, Naivasha, the fulcrum of dairy excellence is ready for commis-

sioning. It has a 200-seater conference hall, two seminar rooms with seating capacities of 50 and 70 people, a kitchen, a dining hall and lounge, a 1,000 sq feet technology shop, an office, accommodation rooms and a gym.

Semen distribution centres establishedTo decentralize liquid nitrogen production and distribu-tion of semen to enhance availability and accessibility in three dairy producing areas, three liquid nitrogen plants are at advanced stages of the procurement process.

200Conference sitting

capacity of the resource centre

The 200-seater resource centre at the Dairy Regional Centre of Excellence in KALRO Naivasha, Kenya.

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Three housing units for the plants are near completion in government farms in Nyandarua, Uasin Gishu and Meru counties.

Milk processing equipmentAssorted milk processing equipment such as milk cool-ers, pasteurizers, milking machines, milk analyzers, ice cream machines, yoghurt and cheese machines were procured and distributed to various farmers groups as part of capacity development.

Laboratory equipmentAssorted laboratory equipment was bought to furnish the dairy laboratory at KALRO Naivasha. These include, two laboratory incubators, somatic cell counter, water distiller, bomb calorimeter, spectrophotometer and one digital cold chamber and high performance thin layer

chromatography machine. The laboratory is currently hosting a PhD student from Ethiopia funded through EAAPP. Training and capacity building for PhD and Masters candidates is critical for enabling the centres of excellence to sustain their excellence, says Dr Tobias Onyango, the coordinator of the Dairy Regional Centre of Excellence (Dairy RCoE). The centre provides ser-vices to farmers, farmer groups, makers of dairy feeds and university students, to mention a few.

Ten demonstrations on dairy cattle feeding were conducted in cluster districts to expose farmers to various technologies including; pasture and fodder establishment, pulverization, feed formulation, feed conservation, disease control, breeding, clean milk production, zero grazing and value addition among others.

The project also promoted assisted reproductive tech-nologies along with policy harmonization to enhance livestock germplasm trade and improve the capacity of seed and dairy germplasm multipliers and traders through training and business support. Some of the initiatives supported included germplasm improvement programmes, semen production and supply, promotion of assisted reproductive technologies; and support to artificial insemination using sexed semen.

A milk processing plant at KALRO Naivasha, Kenya.

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The abbreviation TMR, sounds like technical jargon to most farmers anywhere in Africa. Truebut not to dairy farmers under EAAPP support in Kenya. The abbreviation for Total Mixed Ration, is daily speak to hundreds of farmers in the counties of Nyandarua, Nyeri, Muranga and Nakuru, which are some of the top destinations for dairy farming in Kenya. These are some of the areas where EAAPP has been promoting dairy farming technologies and best practices. They use this word and live by it. The result? Their lives have been turned round.

This critical mass of farmers is a product of five years of con-certed efforts by the Dairy Regional Centre of Excellence.

The KALRO - Oljoro Orok centre generated and made available certified forage, pasture seeds and planting materials; appropriate dairy feeding systems, rations and ration formulation techniques along with appropriate dairy husbandry techniques among others.

Dairy empowerment via Oljoro Orok

An attendant weeds the protein loaded fodder crops at KALRO - Oljoro Orok.

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According to Mr. Naftali Kanegeni, the officer in charge KALRO - Oljoro Orok centre, feeding is a major chal-lenge in the livestock industry, yet feeding is the bedrock of dairy farming. For this reason, KALRO - Oljoro Orok provided the region leadership in generating, establish-ing and providing information and capacity building in livestock feeding.

We have provided expertise and leadership in planting materials for fodder and pastures. As leaders, we have been producing high quality materials, providing them to farmers in Kenya and making information on our innovations available to the dairy fraternity in the EAAPP countries, says Kanegeni.

Oljoro Orok sells research established high quality ma-terials mainly as seed to farmers. We have designed our interactions such that farmers are trained on how to es-tablish their own fodder and grasses and how to process and mix the food rations, notes Kanegeni.

The centre also provides sexed semen, artificial insem-ination services and capacity support. The centre has initiated activities to decentralize artificial insemination services through participating and organized farmer groups, an initiative partly facilitated by the liquid nitro-gen plants established and due to be completed in about 5 counties.

Some of the feed varieties established at Oljoro Orok and disseminated to farmers include head smut resistant varieties of Nappier grass, Kakamega 1 and Kakamega 2; protein rich climber legume vetch; protein efficient sweet lupins; fodder tree Lucian; protein rich sweet pota-to vines; protein rich desmodium; and oat to substitute to Nappier.

The importance of these feeds to farmers are illustrated in testimonies on pages 10 - 29

Naftali Kanegeni displays Tree Lucerne seedling.

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A milker at Cyrus Mwaniki Mwangis farm in Nyandarua, Kenya16

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TestimoniesKenya17

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The over 2,000 members of Tulaga farmers marketing Cooperative Limited in Nyandarua county in Kenya receive bonus cheques from the cooperative at the end of every year. In 2014, for example, farmers who performed well in terms of stock supply received up to US$237. The cooperative has also negotiated a low interest credit facility of 12 percent with the Kenya Livestock Finance Trust Bank, instead of the 18 percent commercial rate. Two years from now, we will start paying dividends to member farmers. Currently we guarantee loans for members in their respective banks, by acting as collateral, says Ms. Milicah Thiongo, the manager.

We also pay national medical insurance of about US$5 per family per month on behalf of the members. It is later deducted from the members cash account. The coop-erative is so profitable that members are enjoying the benefits of being apart of it.

Tulaga farmers marketing Cooperative is one of the early beneficiaries of EAAPP. Although the cooperative existed long before EAAPP, the day they started engaging with the Dairy Regional Centre of Excellence in 2012, the course of its development changed.

The Dairy RCoE through KALRO - Oljoro Orok provided

Bonus cheques, health insurance: Farmers upbeat by dairy benefits

Tulaga Farmers Marketing Cooperative, Nyandarua county, Kenya

Workers process TMR feed in Tulaga, Kenya.

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the cooperative initial fodder seed with technical sup-port to establish and conserve high quality feedstock. This came with training on entrepreneurship and agri-business. The project also supported the construction of biogas digesters, provided vaccination services against

identified diseases. EAAPP also provided the cooper-ative with a pulverizer for grinding pasture into small particles and facilitated members to attend field tours, exhibitions and conferences for exposure.

Through EAAPP, we visited Githuguri, an advanced dairy farm in Kenya, where we learnt about fodder pres-ervation and zero grazing says Joseph Runana Muchai,

a beneficiary. Due to the overwhelming sup-port, the cooperative currently produces between 14,000 to 21,000 litres of milk

a day. We employ 44 staff directly (29 male and 15 female). Started for joint marketing, the cooperative collects and bulks milk from the members, retains some for value addition and sells ex-cess to advanced milk processors such

as Brookside Dairies, the national lead-er. EAAPP also contributed US$15,934

towards the construction of a feed mill to promote the total mixed ration (TMR).

This motivated other players such as the county gov-ernment to contribute towards the mill. The mill is crucial in closing the gap for quality feeds created by the proliferation of substandard feeds from commer-cial suppliers. We now have the capacity to mill and package 80-70kg bags of TMR feed meal comprising cotton seed, bone meal, limestone, pollard from wheat, maize, premix, yeast culture, molasses, soya seed, soya cake, maize grain, micotoxin binder daily, says Thion-go. Calculated at a selling price of US$20 per bag, the cooperative earns about US$1,424 per day from feed meal alone.

A supply shop for Tulaga Cooperative members.

Some of the feeds at Tulaga Cooperative stores.

21,000Litres of milk

collected by the farmers co-op

daily

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Before I came face to face with EAAPP, I was milking only 20 litres a day from three cows. Tulaga cooperative linked me to EAAPP, I gained lots of skills in zero grazing and proper feeding of dairy cattle. I learnt about TMR and how to establish my own fodders and grass. EAAPP also sponsored me for a learning trip to advanced farms. I have gained confidence in dairy farming and today I get 80 litres of milk from three cows. EAAPP provided me sexed semen, from which I got two additional Friesian cows. My dairy herd has grown to nine. We have built a newly improved kitchen, which we power using biogas. We are able to pay school fees for all our four school going children, says Joseph Runana Muchai.

Muchai and his wife, Nancy Waithiri are an example of successful farmers in Nyandarua county in Kenya, who belong to Tulaga scheme that EAAPP has modeled to promote innovations and best practices to improve dairy farming and incomes of farm-ers.

Farmers in this location received training and a range of expert and extension services on livestock upgrading, establishing and conservation of fodder, silage making,

balling and building of hay storage fa-cilities and making of TMR, agribusiness and vaccination etc. These farmers are all

reporting increased production and im-proved incomes and welfare. Before EAAPP, Joseph and farmers like him did all sorts of

things without considering their competitiveness. After seeing the benefits of zero grazing, they opted to be self sustaining dairy farmers, growing feeds such as dat, maize, pupple vetch, Lucern, Lupin and double bean. All these are legumes, which are high in protein content. Their success is being replicated by their peers. Four families in the neigbourhood have picked up the best practices from us, says Muchai.

From 20 to 80 litres of milk dailyMuchai and his wife, Nancy Waithiri, Nyandarua county, Kenya

Nancy Waithiri milking her favourite cow.80Milk output that the family gets

daily

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EAAPP identified Mr John Tanui and his wife Rita Kibiego from Keiyo South, Kapchemutwo ward in Elgeyo Marakwet county as potential impact causing agents in 2012.

The Dairy RCoE provided them training on pasture establishment and conservation and initial pasture seed for lupins, desmodium and sunflower among others.

They were also supported to establish a zero grazing unit among other things. From this, the Tanui family boasts of 1 acres of Boma Rhodes grass,which is intercropped with protein loaded desmodium; 1 acres of Nappier grass and one acre of maize for fodder. The family uses this to feed four high quality freisian cows and one Ary-shire breed.

We are currently milking 2 cows which give us 40 litres per day, about US$570 per month. In the last two years, I sold two Friesian cows at US$665 each, earning about US$1,329 In the same year, I earned US$712 from Boma Rhodes seed alone, says Tanui.John and Rita has in turn trained over 200 farmers a year from as far away as Pokot and Marakwet who visited to see and learn about feed formulation, tick control, animal registration, clean milk production. Research and extension staff also use this farm to host training for other dairy farmers.

John Tanui and wife Rita Kibiego, Elgeyo Marakwet county

Over 200 farmers visit modelfarmer Tanui annually

John Tanui shows-off Boma Rhodes.

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Since the Dairy Regional Centre of Excellence reached out to Umoja dairy society in 2012, milk contamination has been reduced drastically. The volume of value added products has also expanded exponentially. Previously we were using energy saving deepers to paturalise milk. The process was painfully slow. We could afford to pasteurize only 100 litres

into yoghurt a day. The shelf life of the yoghurt was only 7 days, says the group chairman and model farmer Cyrus, Mwaniki, Mwangi.

Then EAAPP provided the cooperative a pasteurizer

with a capacity to do 1500 litres a day and a milk analyser machine for safety. Contamination

has been contained almost to zero, says Mwangi. The

shelf life for yoghurt is now 24-28 days. The cooperative now collects between 1,700 to 3,000 litres a day and processes about 500 litres. The rest is sold to Brookside Dairy, a milk processor in Kenya.

Milk contamination contained,value addition up

Umoja Dairy Farmers Society, Nyandarua, Kenya

1,500Litres of milk

that the farmers group can

paturalise daily

A value added sales van for Umoja farmers.

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Like other cooperatives and organized farmer groups, the Dairy Regional Centre of Excellence helped to provide basic start up infrastructure, technology intervention facilities for processing and value addition, training on feed rations and technical backstopping.

This process included exposure to the way the estab-lished farms are doing dairy business through field visits,

facilitation to exhibitions etc. Umoja was started in 2012 by farmers to address the challenge of post harvest loses and marketing. Today a total of 112 group member farm-ers are using TMR and have a functional feed store for TMR. Group members are able to access high quality feeds and have been able to increase density of milk, which implies higher quality, says Mwangi.

A milk cooling plant at Umoja Dairy Farmers processing unit in Nyandarua, Kenya.

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Mindiliwo Development Youth Group and livestock feed centre in Elgeyo Marakwet County in Eldoret, Kenya, earns about US$912 a month, which means a gross profit of US$266 and a net profit of US$181 monthly. This is after deducting costs for salaries and lunch allowance for permanently employed staff. This money comes from sales of 4,004 kg of TMR per day.We have established an MPESA mobile money transaction stall at the food store to keep it optimally operational, says Mohamed Kibiwot Serem, the chairman of the group. Every member is food secure. We are recognized by leaders, politicians and are the first point of reference.

Our children are getting quality education in private schools. All members of the group have electricity in their houses. Some have biogas facilities.

Youth group earns big, creates jobs,live cozy lives, impacts other youth

Mindiliwo Development Youth Group, Eldoret, Kenya

Mohamed Kibiwot Serem and Mindiliwo employee display TMR feeds

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Besides, most of the 15 members (8 female and 7 male) are upgrading their education. So far, two have enrolled at various universities and others in colleges. According to Kibiwot, in the next two or three years, the members will start earning dividends. For now, they ensure that members access soft unsecured loans from the scheme to enhance their individual projects through table bank-ing.

We have pool cash of US$684 from which members can borrow and pay at an interest rate of 10% per month, he explains. Seeing that the youth are focused and visionary, an NGO, has provided the group an additional US$1,899 towards enlarging the feed store and expanding operations.

EAAPP looped in this group com-prising mainly of form Four and college leavers in 2012 as part of the bigger initiative to engender agricul-tural development through the youth. The Dairy RCoE provided us with initial raw materials to formulate TMR comprising cotton seed cake, maize bran, sunflower seed, wheat bran and a pulverizer for milling feeds, a spray pump and feed mixer with capac-

ity of 400Kgs in 10 minutes, says Kibiwot.

In addition, the youth got training on dairy feeding using TMR, pasture establishment and management. This came with initial feed materials from Oljoro Orok. EAAPP also provided training on farming as a business, group dynamics and governance.

Formed in 2011 to help the youth use collective action to overcome financial constraints and mobilise them against risky behavior, the group initially bought a dairy cow for each member from proceeds of joint casual labour.

With time, they were able to produce milk but lacked market, so they started a milk bank with two milk cans, a sourcepan, boiler and test kits. While the demand for milk was high, they experienced losses due to handling

and feeding challenges. EAAPP came in handy.

Today, we sell some of the best quality feeds formulated in strict adherence

to research recommendations. We also provide the wider communi-ty services such as animal drugs, professional artificial insemination, tick control and bulking of milk. We went into feed processing to close the gap of poor quality and lack of

feeds. This initiative is being replicated in all counties to create empowerment

and employment to the youth, says Kibi-wot. As a shinning example, this group has

led to the formation of two other youth groups who are now benchmarking on their practices.

$684Pool money that the

youth group have availed for borrowing

Mohamed Kibiwot Serem and Mindiliwo employee display TMR feeds

Some members of the youth group in-front of their stall.

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Celebrating EAAPP

Mindiliwo Development Youth Group, Eldoret, Kenya

In a village setting 600 miles away from the capital Nairobi, Karui and his wife, Doris, both members of a youth group are a happy couple. Doris uses a biogas stove.

We have been able to connect electricity from the national grid and generate additional power from biogas because of earnings from milk. Every month we get US$285 from milk alone, she says. We are also able to pays school fees for our child in a private school. In addition to a cow secured from the group, Doris and husband received sexed semen from EAAPP. This gave them their second and third cows. With this, they were able to grow the herd to five.

Feeding them is not a problem now because we have planted lupins and Boma Rhodes for proteins in addition to other feeds. We also conserve feeds and supplement them with meal bought from the youth feed shop, says Karui. This young couple represent the happy voices of other youth in the group who are in the same level of development.

Youth excited by cash, fame, electricityand biogas in village homes

Doris (above) cooks using a gas stove. Her husband, Karui, shows -off fodder crops.

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From the sale of genes for heifers and bulls alone, I earn US$1,709 a year. From milk I raise over US$285 per month as clean profit, Cyrus Mwaniki Mwangi, a model farmer and chairman of Umoja group in Kenya, says.By selling genes, he refers to income from selling excess animals with high dairy production traits that he has been propagating through skills, semen, husbandry and monitoring guidelines provided to him by the Dairy RCoE.

For sustainability, we are growing the source of breeding materials by groom-ing model farmers to become suppliers. We have trained them to know the his-tory of their dairy cows and bulls so as to track the breed and its performance, Douglas Indetie, the scientist at EAAPP Project Coordination Unit explains. After every 5th lactation, I sell a cow or bull to other farmers who desire to

From 2 to 18 Friesian cows

venture into zero grazing, says Mwaniki. He started with 2 Friesians cows and attained a stock of 18 in 2014.

He, however, reduced the numbers to seven. I was advised by EAAPP to keep an economically cost effective number, which I can feed efficiently, he explains. Now I am maintaining two heifers and 5 mothers. Four of them are milking and producing over 100 litres of milk a day.

EAAPP also uses this farm to bring many more on board. Following best practices, Mwaniki has established one acre each of Columbus and Nappier, Boma Rhodes grass and Desmodium. Besides, he has acres of Lucern, 3 acres of silleage for TMR.

Cyrus Mwaniki Mwangi, Nyandarua, Kenya

Cyrus Mwaniki Mwangi feeds his heifers at Nyandarua, Kenya

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Nelly Biwot, a proud model farmer in Emsoo Ward, Elgeyo Marakwet County owns 10 dairy goats, 7 does and 3 bucks. She earns income through the sale of milk, which attracts premium prices compared to milk from cattle.

I am currently milking three goats and each yields 3 litres per day, which is about 10 litres per day for three goats. At US$1 per litre, I get US$10 per day or US$285 per monthbut the big money comes from the sale of genes, she explains. Each female goat is sold at US$143 and the bucks go for US$85 per buck. I am not yet selling because I am still building the stock of females to create a big gene bankwhen I

start selling, the stream of income will not dry up because many of the goats produce twins. I am capable of getting up to eight kids in a year.

Biwot is a member of Kiba group that EAAPP is encouraging to remain productive despite

high population pressure. In addition to ini-tially providing them with initial seed of lupins, desmodium and Boma Rhodes to multiply, two male goats for breed-ing along with artificial insemination facilitation, the Dairy RCoE trained the group of 25 members (16 women and 9 men) on feed formulation and silage

making.

They also received iron sheets and tech-nical backstopping to establish Zero grazing

units and hand sprayers. Since then, the goat stork in this location has grown tremendously from 30 dairy goats in 2009 to 300 goats. Fifty of the goats are upgrad-ed local breeds and 250 are the Kenya Alphine breed a cross between, the local and the German Alpine.

$142The cost of an improved dairy

goat in Marakwet, Kenya

Dairy goats in densely populated areas

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Nelly Biwot from Eldoret speaks about benefits of dairy goats.

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As the Regional Rice Centre of Excellence, Tanzania has provided leadership in research, dissemination and training capacity in rice. According to the evaluation report by the Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, in collaboration with the Africa innovation Institute, the average yield for beneficiaries hit seven and nine tons per hectare for wheat and rice respectively, exceeding the regional productivity figures.

The report shows that farmers significantly witnessed higher incomes in rice and dairy. The report also noted a 60 per cent increase in agricultural technology, informa-tion and knowledge transfer across national boundaries

over the baselines. For instance, out of the households targeted, 87 percent were using improved rice varieties. Significant increases were also observed in land under rice as well as other commodities.

Facilitating regional sharing of rice innovations

The Rice RCoE shared Komboka, TXD306, an aromatic rice variety, Tai and Ziada,

which were developed in Tanzania. From these, Kenya has officially released Komboka and TXD306, Uganda has Komboka and Ziada and Ethiopia released TXD306 into their national seed release systems. This means that they will soon be

available in the seed market. Adap-tation and selection of promising lines

were conducted to release improved technologies through collaborative re-

search.

Besides varieties from Tanzania, Uganda released Nerica 6, WITA9, Agoro and Okile, which are tolerant to the yellow rice mottle virus disease that causes premature yellowing of leaves.

Rice Regional Centre of Excellence promotes system of rice intensification

7Avarage yield in

tons for EAAPP rice farmers

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According to Dr. Jimmy Lamo, a rice breeder at Ugandas National Crop Resources Institute, Namulonge, a team of scientists under EAAPP, is developing cold tolerant rice and the yellow rice mottle virus resistant variety. This follows the release of five low land rice and six upland rice varieties to farmers in the past five years.

The new varieties have a short maturity period of be-tween 105 and 110 days, compared with the earlier varieties that take between 130 and 150 days.

Before EAAPP, rice productivity in Tanzania, the regions leader, was constrained by inadequate access to im-proved seed, negative attitudes towards use of inorganic

fertilizers in rice farms, inadequate knowledge on herbi-cides and application of insecticides, inadequate exten-sion services, indifference by farmers to use proper spac-ing due to its tedious nature, use of mixed seed varieties, inadequate use of proper agronomic practices, attack by pests and diseases, untimely planting, poor weeding and harvesting methods, poor post harvest handling and high rice breakage, estimated at 18 to 30%.

Using the system of rice intensification, the Rice RCoE through extension focal persons, sensitized the farmers on how to prepare nurseries. Under this system, nursery beds are prepared according to best practices and trans-planting is done on the 8th day.

Mohamed Dadi, a farmer in Kilombero, Tanzania explains the rice intensification system.

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On this day, water is supplied to the field for 3 days, then it is drained for 7 days, re-saturated for 3 daysin that order, until rice is ready for harvest.

Farmers testify, that the regulated uptake of water along-side other practices led to exponential yield increase. They noted that planting through a nursery takes on average 3kg of seed per acre compared to 15-20kg per acre in broadcasting.

EAAPP also emphasized transplanting in rows, due to benefits such as easy weeding and easy application of fertilizer, easy harvest and appropriate spacing. The programme promoted the use of a spacing bar for select dimensions such as 40x20x10 and 20x20x20 depending on the ecology. Through farmer participation, EAAPP has been raising the critical mass of informed farmers through training of trainers on the importance of seed selection and follow through on best agronomic and irrigation practices.

To ensure this worked, EAAPP established demonstra-

tion plots on farmers fields to disseminate innovations. EAAPP initially provided seed, fertilisers and pesticides to start off the selected elite farmers. The Rice RCoE promoted TXD306 popularly known as SARO 5 (Semi Aromatic Rice). It is high yielding, has great aroma, is shorter in height, is not easily damaged by rain and does not require too much water. Other varieties introduced across the region were, Komboka, Tai, Supa and Nerica. Farmers and processors were able to select the best vari-eties, which are capable of competing in the market.

According to Dr. Hussein Mansoor; the Assistant Director, Crop Research in Tanzanias Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives and National Project Coordi-nator for EAAPP Tanzania, the project introduced best agronomic practices through farmer field schools, proper land preparation using oxen, power tillers and tractors, proper utilization of herbicides, application of fertilizers and use of system for rice intensification.

A farmer uses a spacing bar (above). Right, farmers transplant rice using the bar spacing technique

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Through the disseminated technolo-gies, the participating farmers gained knowledge in rice production and post harvest handling. The production aver-age increased from 600kg to 3,300Kgs per acre. This is equivalent to an increase in income from US$386 to US$1,287 per acre.

Drudgery associated with farm operations such as ploughing, transplanting, weeding and threshing has been highly reduced, which gives opportunity to farmers to rest or perform other activities, or even increase rice production area. The average time for ploughing one acre by hand hoe is normally 4.4 mandays of six hours each, while using oxen or power tiller takes only one hour.

Manual transplanting of one acre takes 8.5 mandays, while using a transplanter takes 2.2 hours. Hand weed-

ing normally takes 9.9 mandays, while herbicide appli-cation takes only 1.1 hrs per acre. Threshing one acre by hand takes 4 mandays, while using a motorized thresher takes only 1.1 hours.

The Rice RCoE has trained farmers supervised by pro-cessors and service providers to ensure good agronomic

practices for increased production per unit area, proper post harvest handling to improve rice

quality and increase income for farmers and the processors. Contract farming was introduced to ensure direct market to the farmers and ensure the processor gets high quality rice.

In one year alone, a total of 100 farmers were involved in demonstrations. Due to

the clear benefits, the farmers and other stakeholders are now working in a consor-

tium involving processors, researchers, seed company, fertilizer company, local government.

Kilimo Trust and CARI-TZ are joining the initiatives. In the last season, a total of 3,000 farmers were involved in contract farming. In the next season, Rapha Group Com-pany Limited, a private entity, has undertaken to contract 6,500 farmers to produce TXD306 rice.

According to Dr. Hussein Mansoor, since the launch of EAAPP some five years ago, Tanzanian farmers have witnessed tremendous improvements in agricultural pro-ductivity and incomes.

Testimonies of farmers in Tanzania on pages 36- 41 il-lustrate the benefits of regionally coordinated research.

2700Avarage increase in rice production per

acre in tons.

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Mohamed Dadi and his wife reducing moisture content from rice.

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TestimoniesTanzania35

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Mohamed Dadi, Kilombero, Tanzania

I am a respected man because of the knowledge that I impart to farmers. This has earned me wealth, trust and popularity. These are the words of Mohamed Dadi, a farmer from Kilombero, eastern Tanzania. People here are more inspired by fellow successful farmers than by the official extension agents, he explains. They take my advice seriously.

Dadi is at the final stages of completing a house, which had stalled three years ago. As you can see, the roofing is complete. I am now plastering and flooring. Next, I will put tiles, he says.

This three bed-roomed self-contained house with a lounge, kitchen, flash toilet, bathroom and powered from the national grid, will cost him over US$3,265 when it is complete late this year. In response to demand, Dadi is concurrently putting up a structure to house a shop for agricultural inputs.

I have been supporting 80 members of the scheme and over 200 outside the scheme with information on rice farming, processing and marketing. They keep asking me where to find this or that input. They are complaining about fake inputs, so I have accepted to be their service provider and consultant.

I have earned wealth, trust and a permanent house, says rice farmer

Dadis house before he improved his productivity and income.

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The shop will act as a one-stop inputs store and knowl-edge-sharing centre for the village. In addition, Dadi has bought extra 3 acres of land at US$933 and is paying school fees for a child in a public school etc.

Dadi says he owes these achievements to the support he received from EAAPP. I started engaging with EAAPP in 2012. EAAPP popularized a variety called TXD306 (popularly known as SARO), he explains. This is a high yielding variety with a great aroma, shorter in height, is not easily damaged by rain and does not require too much water. EAAPP established seven demonstration plots in each farmer group of about 20-25 farmers and introduced us to the system of rice intensification (SRI). Since then, our lives have never been the same, he remarks.

Dadi is an example of the many farmers whose productivity has grown due to EAAPP interventions. From only 780kgs in one acre in 2011, to 2,080kg in 2012 to 6,110kgs and 8,320kgs in 2014, the sky is now Dadis limit. In financial terms, his income has grown from US$196 before the intervention in 2011 to US$522 in 2012 to US$1,535 in 2013 and US$2,067 in 2014.

Dadi and wife talk about the on-going construction of their permanent house.

$3,229Estimated cost of

building Dadis house to complete

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Hamid Mohamed Mtunga, Mromero district, Tanzania

Motivated by the marked improvement in farm productivity in Komtunga village, Mromero district, Morogoro following EAAPP interventions, the Government of Tanzania has weighed in with more initiatives to sustain achievements gained.

The government has given us a milling machine for milling, grading, de-stoning and packing rice. To us, this means that our village will soon become a one-stop centre of rice growing, processing and marketing, says Mr. Hamid Mohamed Mtunga, the Chairman of the irrigation scheme.The miller will benefit over 40,000 predominantly rice value chain actors in Mangula division in Kilombero district in eastern Tanzania. Through the Big Results Now Initiative; a government drive to promote rural devel-opment, the government of Tanzania is also collaborat-ing with farmers to construct a 20x10 metre store and milling house for the miller under an arrangement where the local communities contribute 20% in form of la-

bour, bricks and clearing the site, while the government contributes 80% in form of cash commitments, technical labour and construction materials.

Besides, the government is due to start construction of a 35x60 metre warehouse for rice storage. The community is providing land and labour, while the government will take care of cash commitments, technical labour and building materials.

According Mtunga, the warehouse will comprise an office, toilet, dining area, bathrooms and a parking shed. It is meant to facilitate farmers to store their rice while the prices are low, as they await better prices. It is hoped that this may attract warehouse-receipting arrangements where farmers can get advance payments or loans based on what they have stored.

EAAPP success motivated government to offer more support to farmers

Hamid Mohamed Mtunga shows-off the house for the rice mill

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Asha Rajab, Mromero district, Morogoro,Tanzania

Asha Rajab, from Komtunga village, Mromero district, Morogoro,Tanzania is constructing a three bed-roomed house.

I have so far used US$1,866. It is my dream house. I want it complete with a ceiling, tiled and furnished with trending furniture by the end of 2015, she notes. Besides the housing project, Asha has ensured that the family is food secure since her husband died several years ago. I am able to buy other domestic require-ments for a family of six.

Ashas children are attending school. I bought bicycles for three of them who have to ride to schools 4 kms away, she explains. Asha is among many farmers in Tanzania who have benefited from EAAPP.

Before EAAPP, I did not use fertilizers and selected seed because it never occurred to me that such practices actually make a big difference. I used to broadcast local varieties, she reminisces. As a consequence, Asha, like other farmers, could only afford 390kgs from a piece of land. Since she started planting TX306, an improved rice variety, with accompanying agronomic practices, her yields have grown from 390kgs in 2012 to 3,900kgs in the same plot by 2014.

A three bed-roomed house for Asha

Ashas house before (above) and after (below) EAAPP interventions.

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Omar Nassib Katoto, Morogoro, Tanzania

Omar Nassib Katoto, an elite farmer belonging to the Wami Dakawa Irrigation Scheme in Morogoro, Tanzania has seen rice productivity from his 10 acre farm grow from 18,tons in 2012 to 27 tons in 2013 and 30 tons in 2014. This year (2015), he increased the acreage to 12 and expects to harvest over 33 tons of rice. There is no doubt, I will hit that mark, he remarks with confidence pointing at his rice field. As an elite farm-er, most of his rice is sold as seed at US$46 as com-pared to grain sold at US$33. This means that Omars income levels are high. My income has grown from about US$8,396 in 2012 to US$12,688 in 2013 and US$13,994 in 2014. I expect it to rise to US$ 15,223 in 2015. From rice income in 2013 alone, Omar started building a foundation for a five bedroomed house.

When complete, it will have a living room, five bed-rooms, a kitchen, two toilets and two bathrooms, he de-

scribes his dream pad. He also bought a one-acre piece of land for growing vegetables such as tomatoes, okra, Chinese cabbage and onions. Besides, Omar established a retail shop for selling mobile phone accessories. The shop is run by my sons and it fetches US$70 in profits monthly, he says.

A piece of commercial value land in the upmarket town of Morogoro valued at US$466, paying school fees for a daugh-ter who is pursuing a course in agricultural extension..., the list of Omars accomplishments is already long.

Omar is one of the 184 model farmers in a well-organized rice scheme spanning a 2,000-hectare zone, whose way

The banks trust me, people trust me because I have honest wealth - Omar

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of doing things has been positively impacted by EAAPP.

Taking advantage of the 100 hectares section from the zone dedicated to research, EAAPP has contributed tre-mendously to the productivity of this elaborate scheme.

Over the last four years, EAAPP has trained the elite farmers on soil management, use of fertilizers and preparation, water management, seed selection, planting in rows, post

harvest handling and processing, record keeping, group dynamics and agri-business skills.

I am now a trainer myself. I have trained over 200 successful farmers, Says Omar. This has made me an opinion leader and respected per-son in the region. As a result of our business-oriented mode of opera-tion, says Omar, We are financially intermediated with banks. It is easy to buy inputs, access transport and extension services.

Omar Nassib Katoto in 12 acre rice field in Wami Dakawa, Tanzania.

Left: A foundation for a five bedroomed house.Above: Omars phone accessories shop.

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Led by the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture, the Wheat Regional Centre of Excellence (WRCoE) has been implementing research and development activities in a coordinated way.

Working with a mix of national and regional institutions, the centre provided the Eastern and Central Africa region leadership to manage research and development; train-ing and dissemination and availability of seeds, planting materials and generate technologies and offer pre-exten-sion.

Regional milestonesAccording to Dr. Yitayeh Alemayehu, the National Proj-ect Coordinator for EAAPP, based in Ethiopia, through

regional collaboration, Ethiopia shared about 313 wheat germplasm with other member countries. Disease sur-veillance, monitoring and development of management options for major wheat pests in EAAPP countries and information exchange have been enhanced.

Achievements at national levelThe Wheat RCoE promoted nationally released high quality seed varieties through community based seed multiplication, in addition to supporting the centralized seed distribution system. This was done through four groups namely:

Farmer Research Extension Groups (FREG): Under this arrangement, farmers worked with researchers and ex-

Investment on top notch infrastructure to spur wheat

The 200-seater conference and training hall at the Wheat Centre of Excellence in Ethiopia.

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tension agents to demonstrate the use of inputs promoted by the project.

Farmer Innovation Grant: The farmers were motivated to discuss farming methods, identify their challenges and how to tackle them. They were then given a grant to implement the identified interventions.

Farmer Training Centres: New varieties were demon-strated and farmers learnt from the centre.

Community Based Seed Multiplication: Under this arrangement, the project provided basic and pre-ba-sic seed to farmers to multiply with backstopping from research and extension. The farmers produced quality declared seeds according to the agronomic and man-agement practices recommended by development agents. As a result, 9,634 tons of certified wheat seed of different varieties was pro-duced.

The Wheat RCoE supplied 12 vehicles, 5 tractors, 1 crop harvester, 5 harrowers, 2 levelers, 4 seed cleaning machines, 131 motor bikes for woredas, 1,590 pedal cycles for focal persons and secured office facilities for implementation teams.

The centre has constructed 5 warehouses, 3 laborato-ries, 5 offices and a 200-seater conference and training hall complete with three syndicate rooms, a restaurant, ICT room, guest rooms, lobbies, kitchen and a cafeteria, among other facilities.

The centre supported 8 PhD and 14 MSc students to

build capacity for high level scientific research to ad-dress present and future needs.

The Wheat RCoE generated and disseminated 14 wheat, 3 dairy, 3 rice and 2 cassava technologies in the past four and half years. The linkage established between research and development shortened the technology transfer time. As a result, 66 wheat technologies, inno-vations and management practices were disseminated to farmers. A total of 16,384 tones of improved seed were disseminated for multiplication. This came along with improved wheat row planters.

A total of 92 agribusiness cooperatives were established and strengthened by the project to create jobs and in-come for the youth.

As a result of these interventions, wheat pro-ductivity rose from 15 quintal/ha (1,500kgs) to 34 quintal /ha (3,400kgs) for wheat.

Evidence of these milestones are ex-plained in farmers testimonies on pages 46-49

9,634Tons of certified

wheat seed varieties

produced

Successful wheat farmer, Tesfaye Abebe, at his farm.

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Tschay Asefa shows-off her

improved wheat in

Tijo district, Ethiopia

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TestimoniesEthiopia45

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Tesfaye Abebe, from Fite Ketara is a proud owner of a brand new 90-horse power tractor, which he bought in 2013.

I co-own it with Dame Wirasa, another wheat farmer also supported by EAAPP. We each paid US$10,015 from wheat proceeds to satisfy a down payment of US$20,029 demanded by the credit providers, he explains. We have continued to paywe have a balance of US$5,367, which we are sure to offset by the end of 2015. It wont be hard because in addition to income from our expanded farms, the tractor brings in money by

ploughing other farmers gardens. Given the progress, Abebe and his colleague are now eying to buy a combine harvester in 2016. Like, his

neighbour Asefa, Abebe received support with basic seed

of three best performing varieties; Digelu, Kakaba and Hidase and accompanying knowledge, skills and

backstopping from EAAPP. Since then his acreage and production has risen

from a mere 3,700 square metres yielding 2,800kg in 2011, to 0.75 hectares yielding 5,700kg (US$2,731) in 2012 to 1 hectare which produced 11,200 kg (US$6,420) in 2013 and 0.87 hectare, which yielded 8,700kg (US$6,440) in 2014.

Now turned a seed multiplier, Abebe says the sky is his limit.

I am a proud owner of a new 90-horse tractor

9,634Tons of certified

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Tesfaye Abebe, Fite Ketara district, Ethiopia

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Tesfaye Abebe and his colleague Dame Wirasa in front of their tractor.

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Tschay Asefa from Digelu Tijo district, Fite Ketara County in Ethiopia is happy that her home has improved tremendously. I used to live in a dilapidated house with mud and wattle walls and a grass thatched roof. Getting materials to keep the thatch intact was a nightmarefor quite many days we would get soaked in rain. When the rainy season arrived, we did not know whether to be happy that the cropping season had commenced or be weary that days of getting soaked had started, she explains. Today, at least by local standards, her semi permanent house, roofed with iron sheets is a source of protection and warmth to the family of 10. I also constructed an iron roofed store. To me that is a big achievement be-cause both the farm produce and myself are safe, says Asefa. She spent US$192 in all to construct the house and store.

Before 2011, a year that she considers a cornerstone, because of the advent of EAAPP, coming by such monies was a nightmare. Asefa is one among many farmers in Ethiopia who testify that EAAPP has made a difference in

From a dangerous grass thatched mud and wattle shark to an iron roofed house

Tschay Asefa, Digelu Tijo district, Ethiopia

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their lives. The main challenge we had was lack of quality seed and knowl-edge of proper planting. With limited official seed, we would broadcast our own saved seed, which was of poor quality. Obviously, the production was low, she explains.

Even when pre-basic seed was made avail-able by the government agency responsible for seed distribution, the quantity was small. EAAPP came in handy to close the gap by providing farmers pre-basic seed. In addition, the Wheat Regional Centre of Excel-lence provided training, demonstrations and information on appropriate land preparation, application of fertil-izers, planting in rows. EAAPP also provided technical backstopping and regular visits by extension staff to review progress and address challenges. Besides, farmers were facilitated to attend field visits to model farms in the country.

Asefa received 100kg of basic seed along with other knowledge-based support under this arrangement. This spiraled her productivity and

income from only 600kgs from hectare in 2011, to 30 tons

from hectare (US$1,437) in 2012. In 2013, she farrowed some of the land and planted only acre but still received 20 tons about US$958. Motivated, she expanded to 2 hectares in 2014 and harvested 120 tons an equivalent of US$6,900.

From a dangerous grass thatched mud and wattle shark to an iron roofed house

$5,463Increase in

Asefas income over the last

3years

Left: Tschay Asefas grass thatched house before EAAPP. Above: A new iron roofed house and (Right) An Iron roofed food and seed store.

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Since early 2,000s, Sara Kirya, a resident of Kiriandogo, Western Uganda has been growing a famous cassava variety known as Nyaluboke mainly for home consumption. The variety produced an average of six tubers per stool, 40 per cent less, subsequent to the outbreak of cassava mosaic disease in the country in 1997.This meant that I no longer had enough food for my family and thus had to diversify to the crops such as maize, says Ms. Kirya. However, following the develop-ment of new cassava varieties tolerant to the disease by the National Agricultural Research Organization, under the Eastern African Agricultural Productivity Project, farmers including Ms. Kirya say her crop yields have increased nearly four times.

I accessed variety NASE14 in the first planting in Novem-ber 2012, it did so well that I got 20-25 roots in each stool and that was just an experiment. I am now able to provide enough food to my family, says Ms. Kirya.

In 2014, Ms. Kirya sold over 64 bags of stems each at US$6 and 16 bags of tubers, each at US$14 and plans to double the acreage. Initially, I was growing cassava for home consumption and not as a business. I am contem-plating abandoning maize growing and concentrate on cassava because of high returns, Ms. Kirya says.

Ms. Kiryas is one of the many such farmers in eastern Africa who have witnessed increased productivity due to improved cassava varieties that have seen the incidence of cassava mosaic disease reduce tremendously.

Cassava Centre sets new direction for cassava economies

(Above & top right) Cassava roots damaged by Cassava Brown Streak disease.

Sara Kirya, Kiriandogo, Western Uganda

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As the Cassava Regional Centre of Excellence (Cassava RCoE), Uganda provided EAAPP countries with leader-ship in cassava research and development to produce innovations to benefit all the members.

Since the implementation of EAAPP started five years ago, nine improved cassava varieties have been released in Uganda, eight in Tanzania, four in Ethiopia and three in Kenya. According to Dr. Christopher Omongo, the coordinator for the Cassava RCoE, based at the National Crop Resources Institute, Namulonge, Uganda is currently promoting NASE14 and Nam130, leading to increased productivity from

12 to 18 tons per hectare. Kenya is promoting KME2, KME3 and KME4 leading to increased production from 5.3 to 13.8 tons per hectare, whereas Ethiopia is promoting quello and kulle resulting to increased productivity from 1.9 to 20 tons per hectare. We have started the process towards release of two improved cassava varieties in Uganda-NASE20 and NASE21, both resistant to cassava mosaic disease and tolerant to brown streak disease, Dr. Omongo said.

Dr. Titus Alicai, a researcher at the National Crop Re-sources Institute, Namulonge, says following the release of improved cassava varieties, the incidence of cassava mosaic disease in the country has reduced from 67 per cent in the 1990s to 17 per cent last year because farm-ers have adopted new varieties. When you go to the farmers fields, you will not see cassava mosaic disease; we have successfully eradicated that one. However, since 2011, the challenge is cassava brown streak dis-ease, Dr. Alicai says. For now, what we can give to our farmers to use are tolerant varieties. We are yet to come up with varieties that have better resistance to cassava brown streak disease.

The production of cassava in all the EAAPP countries remains low compared to other countries, especially in Asia due to the poor crop husbandry and the effects of climate change, according to NARO. Available data shows that Ugandas cassava production stands at an 51

Celebrating EAAPP

Clean cassava planting materials free from Cassava Mosaic and Cassava Brown Streak diseases.

average of 13 tons per hectare compared with 20 tons in India and other parts of Asia.

Value addition Food loses due to poor post harvest han-dling and processing account for a third of the total food produced in Africa. Accord-ing to a World Bank report, grain losses which cost the African continent about US$4billion annually, would feed 48 million people with the minimum calorie requirement. In response to this, the Cassava RCoE has made available a food grade cassava chirper that eases the production of high quality cassava flour.

The chirper cuts the cassava into very small particles, which makes drying easy. The chirper is fairly affordable, especially when bought for a group that is already mak-ing money from high quality cassava. It costs US$15,801 and it uses 5.5 litres of petrol per day. The motor can also run on electricity, as long as it is not operated in water.

EAAPP also designed and produced the food grade press

and grate. Both machines are used to remove poison from the bitter cassava varieties. In addition, NARO scientists have trained 10 groups in value addition for wheat, rice, dairy and cassava. Some groups were trained to use cassava waste like peels to make environmentally friendly charcoal

for cooking.

A group called Masupa Enterprises from Wakiso district near Kampala is already making

environmentally friendly briquettes from cassava peels and selling some to hotels. The group has also opened up a stall in Kampala. Another group from Kiruhura district in western Uganda was given a machine to skim milk and make ghee.

Cassava RCoE is working with different manufacturers to come up with starch for food, textile, paper and phar-maceutical industries and also for use in school labo-ratories. The Cassava RCoE also developed a sweetener for confectioneries and efforts are ongoing to develop a chocolate bar.

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2015 Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa

Correct citation[ASARECA] Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa 2015. Celebrating EAAPP: Farmers Testify of Improved Incomes and Food Security, Entebbe, Uganda

Fair use policy This publication may be reproduced with the intention of increasing its availability to those who need it. ASARECA encourages fair use of reproduced materials. Proper citation is requested

Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) Plot 5, Mpigi Road, P. O. Box 765, Entebbe (Uganda) Tel: +256 414 320 212/320 556/321 885 Fax: +256 414 321 126/322 593 Email: asareca@asareca.org Website: www.asareca.org

Writer: Ben Moses IlakutEditors: Francis Wachira, Vincent Akulumuka, Micheal WaithakaDesign/layout: Slick Republic Limited

Appreciation and acknowledgements to contributions from; Jane Muriuki, National Project Coordinator, EAAPP -Kenya, Douglas Indetie, Livestock Germplasm Specialist, EAAPP -Kenya, Hussein Mansoor, National EAAP Coordinator, Tanzania; and Yitaye Alemayehu, National EAAPP coordinator , Ethiopia i

Celebrating EAAPP

www.asareca.org

Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA)

Plot 5, Mpigi Road, P. O. Box 765, Entebbe (Uganda)

Tel: +256 414 320 212/320 556/321 885 Fax: +256 414 321 126/322 593

Email: asareca@asareca.org Website: www.asareca.org

Celebrating EAAPPFarmers testify of improved incomes, food security and welfare