SIMLESA CA: Overview of state of achievements

in Malawi and Mozambique

Isaiah NyagumboGCAP Planning Meeting

Mexico

Introduction

● SIMLESA is an Australian (ACIAR) funded project operating in 5 countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzanzia)

● The project has 5 main objectives and managed by CIMMYT

● Activities kick started in 2010● CIMMYT plays mainly a backstopping role while

most activities on the ground are implemented by NARS (who manage their own budgets).

The Focus of SIMLESA Objective 2

To test and develop productive, resilient and sustainable smallholder maize-legume cropping systems and innovation systems for local scaling out

Key outputs

6 key outputs within objective

Operational Areas in Malawi

6 districts in central Malawi falling into mid-altitude and low altiutude agroecologies:

• Kasungu

• Mchinji

• Lilongwe (Mitundu)

• Salima

• Ntcheu

• Balaka

Angonia (R10) (Communities of

Ciphole and Cabango)

Sussundenga (R4)

Community of Sussundeng-sede

R10: Community of Rotanda

Manica (R10&R4)

Community of Chinhadombwe)

Gorongoza (R4)

Community of Canda-sede)

Testing sites

Status of achievement: Obj 2: Mw/MzMilestone Achievements Remarks/ Comments

2.1 options for systems intensification identified:-list of technologies prepared for Mw and Mz by Oct 2010

Maize-legume systems and CA options defined for exploratory trials by Aug 2010

Research, extension and farmers stakeholders involved in options selection

2.2 Functional innovation systems: Innovation platforms established in each agro-ecology

-Framework established for Identification of key partners for innovation platforms Status:20%

Data collection of key players active and required in each community in progress in each country

2.3 Exploratory trials set up-community awareness meetings held in each target community Oct 2010-Farmer research groups established by Nov 2010-Exploratory trial sites establishedSoil samples collected for characterization

Trials established with 36 farmers in each country (Mz/Mw)

Achieved successfully

Achieved 100%

Samples collected: cropping history targeted for June 2011

Generally on track. Trials being implemented but residue application a problem in most trials

Status of achievement: Obj 2 Mw/MzMilestone Achievements Remarks/ Comments

2.4 On-farm research programme defined by Oct 2011-Research issues refined Oct 2011-Component trials established by 2012-Researched managed long term trials establishedSoil quality studies by Dec 2013-Annual eval &plann meetngs

Long term sites identified: Chitala (Mw): Angonia (Mz);Chimoio (Mz)Outstanding

Outstanding

Outstanding

Outstanding

Planned for Aug 2011

On-farm research issues to be defined Data collection for APSIM still to be agreed upon by Aug 2011Most activities still on track

2.5 Improved farmer access to input/output markets by March 2013

Not yet implemented but on track

To be linked to innovation platforms work

2.6 Farmer own experiments initiated by 2011

Not yet but on track Innovation platform partners to be mobilized for synergy

2.7 Farmer learning tours and exchange visits initiated by Dec 2010 and after

Not yet done Targeted for March/April 2011. Note:Mw-has budget problems. In Mz ok

Capacity Building: Obj 5Milestone Achievements Remarks/ Comments

5.3 Short Term CA training of national partners by March 2011

Call-system courses• Community awareness

courses

• Pre-harvest training course for NAREs partners

One course held for 23 partic in Chimoio and 28 partic Lilongwe by November 2010.

Trainings on use of Comm. Aware protocol held in Mitundu (Mw) and Manica (Mz) in Oct 2010One day course held for 14 NAREs part on 1 March 2011 at Chitedze (Mw)

-Successfully conducted-Need for formal farmer training also identified

Pre-harvest training still to be held for Mz

What worked well so far?

● Project working approach enabled establishment of 36 single replicate host farmers in each country with high quality CA in sites with good coordination and supervision

● Use of herbicides in the CA exploratory trials has been very effective towards improved weed control: Glyphosate and Harness

● Training helped to capacitate partners on CA and running awareness meetings

Training addressed theory and practical aspects of CA

CA training participants on a field visit in Mozambique Demonstrating effects of CA on water holding capacity and aggregate stability in Malawi

Old CA site provide valuable learning sites for new sites. Participants to this site were shown residue application techniques and had first hand feedback from practising farmers in Chipeni, Malawi.

The processCommunity awareness meetings

Farmer consultations and agreement on treatmentsIdentification of 6 host farmers per community

On-station trials:Established long term trial with 12 treatments in Mozambique: Sunhemp under CA

Exploratory trials establishment and monitoring:An exploratory trial in Sussundenga Sede, Mozambique

Exploratory trials establishment and monitoring:An exploratory trial in Northern Mozambique

Farmer field daysA field day in Balaka, Malawi: Farmers involved in discussions. The press was also there!

Challenges Experienced● Project implementation system suffers from usual

government beauracracy hence flow of resources from research to field extension staff has not been very efficient resulting in poor supervision and monitoring of trials: late planting, weed control problems on some sites.

● Residue application highly variable within and across sites and in some cases even none existent

Termites!

Weeds!

Challenges

Lessons Learnt and future perspectives

● Careful timely planning and monitoring of activities essential if success is to be achieved in working through government systems

● Commitment/ motivation of local extension partners is a key driver for success !

● There is need for more intensive farmer training on CA concepts as we move into the second season

● Strengthen innovation platform players role for increased synergy

Insights from Mexico field tours

● Mexican systems not directly transferable to SA● Strong equipment development

Thank you!