Vegetables and associated best management practices in cereal based crop production systems ‐

to improve income and diets of rural and urban households in northern Ghana and southern Mali

Abdou Tenkouano (AVRDC)

Africa RISING West Africa Review and Planning Meeting Tamale,

Ghana, 23-25 October 2012

AVRDC is under contract of IITA with functional oversight by IITA for maize-based systems, Africa Rice Center for rice-based systems and ICRISAT for sorghum/millets-based systems

Northern Ghana - AVRDC works through CSIR-SARI and UDS with detailed implementation protocols and regular monitoring visits

Southern Mali - project implementation unit coordinated by ICRISAT with support from non-project staff posted in Sikasso and NGOs (MOBIOM, PROGEBE, AMASSA)

Implementation strategy (partners)

Output 1.1 Integrated crop and livestock production systems developed, evaluated, and effectively delivered to end users

Activity 1.1.10: Carry out participatory appraisals on production systems to document existing vegetable varieties, assess relative share of vegetables in production landscape, estimate relative prevalence and performance of vegetable intercropping options [in northern Ghana – maize/rice-legume systems][in Southern Mali – sorghum systems]

Outcome 1: Sustainable increase of whole-farm productivity

Survey protocols developed by UDS with AVRDC support (12-13 July 2012) and survey carried from mid-July 2012.

Data analysis underway – preliminary report available

Maize/Rice-Legume Systems (Ghana)

Balma Yakubu Issaka, Judith Seidu and George Nyarko, University for Development Studies, Faculty of Agriculture,

Nyankpala Campus. Tamale

Victor Afari-SefaAVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Arusha

Rain-fed vegetable production is secondary to field crops and undertaken to supplement household income and food.

• border crops In the Upper East and Upper West regions

• sole crops on small lots for women in the Northern region

24% of vegetables harvested in Ghana in 2007 (GLSS, 2008).

Predominantly rain-fed and integrated with major field crops like maize, millet and sorghum.

Onion and tomato are exceptions

Northern Ghana

Every household grows at least, 3 different types of vegetables - wide variety but small quantities

Northern Ghana

Okro BraAyo

yoAlef

u

Pepper

Tomato

Kenaf

Onion

Pumpkin Le

aves

Bitter Lea

ves

Cabbag

e

Garden

Eggs

Cowpea Le

af

Lettuce

0102030405060708090

100

% Households

Maize-vegetable farmers make an average GHC 122 per annum from vegetables (about 21.3% of their total revenue)

The survey protocols developed for northern Ghana have been adapted to the southern Mali context

Consultancy arrangements are in progress for the surveys to be carried out in October 2012

(a no cost extension was agreed with IITA for this).

Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)

Output 1.1 Integrated crop and livestock production systems developed, evaluated, and effectively delivered to end users

Activity 1.1.14: Introduce, evaluate and promote high value vegetables to improve system productivity in northern Ghana

Activity 1.1.11: Introduce, evaluate and promote high value vegetables to improve system productivity in southern Mali

Outcome 1: Sustainable increase of whole-farm productivity

CSIR-SARI established participatory evaluation and seed bulking plots at Nyankpala and Manga (Navrongo) with more than 80 lines of 10 species received from AVRDC in early June – results in 2-3 months.

Site selection for testing in farmers' fields at locations chosen by IITA (maize) and AfricaRice (rice) has been completed (12 communities with both maize and rice systems).

Maize/Rice-Legume Systems (Ghana)

Mashark Abdulai, CSIR-SARI, Nyankpala. TamaleAlbert Rouamba, AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Bamako

Output 1.1 Integrated crop and livestock production systems developed, evaluated, and effectively delivered to end users

Activity 1.1.14: Introduce, evaluate and promote high value vegetables to improve system productivity in northern Ghana

Activity 1.1.11: Introduce, evaluate and promote high value vegetables to improve system productivity in southern Mali

Outcome 1: Sustainable increase of whole-farm productivity

Planning meetings held to estimate seed needs for on-farm testing in order to plan seed bulking

in Bougouni on 31 May 2012in Koutiala from 4-6 June 2012

Seeds of one variety each of amaranth, African eggplant, hot pepper, okra, Roselle, sweet pepper, and tomato are under production at Samanko

Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)

Albert Rouamba, Theresa Endres, Keriba CoulibalyAVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Bamako

Vegetable seed production status in MaliCrops Variety Sowing/

Transplanting datesArea (m²)

Current growth stage

Expected seed quantities (kg)

Amaranth A2002 24 August/N.A. 2205 Vegetative, no flower yet

50

African eggplant

L10 28 June/31 July 1598 Early fruit ripening 30

Hot Pepper

Nisondia 2 July/6 August 1890 Early fruiting stage 20

Okra Sasilon 10 August/N.A. 1890 Early fruiting stage 95

Roselle (Hibiscus)

L28 22 August/N.A. 1890 Vegetative, no flower yet

40

Sweet Pepper

Wassa 20 July/23 August 338 Vegetative, no flower yet

2

Tomato Xina 21 June/17 July 1890 Seed drying 4 (3.7 already harvested)

Available seed stocks used to establish farmer-managed participatory trials with NGOs:

Bougouni (MOBIOM, 3 cooperatives, 36 farmers, including 15 men and 21 women)Koutiala (PROGEBE, 11 cooperatives, 46 farmers, including 23 men and 23 women)

Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)

Output 4.4. Evidence based dietary strategies for target population developed, tested and communicated

Activity 4.4.2 Carry out participatory appraisals on diets to assess and document existing dietary diversity, assess relative share of vegetables in diets, and estimate nutritional performance of existing dietary options in northern Ghana

Outcome 4: Increased nutritional and economic levels of the target population (especially women and children)

Carried out in conjunction with Activity 1.1.10.

Data processing is underway – preliminary report available

Promotional food preparations of nightshade and Roselle carried out at Nyankpala.

Maize/Rice-Legume Systems (Ghana)

Percentage Households consuming listed vegetables daily or weekly

Reason for consuming vegetables

Reason for consuming vegetables Frequency PercentageGive blood to the body 41 34.2Boost to the immune system 33 27.5

Protects the body against diseases 19 15.8

Promote growth and development 15 12.5

Provide balanced diet 11 9.2

Vegetables make food tasty 1 0.8

Total 120 100

Output 4.4. Evidence based dietary strategies for target population developed, tested and communicated

Activity 4.4.1 Carry out participatory appraisals on diets to assess and document existing dietary diversity, assess relative share of vegetables in diets, and estimate nutritional performance of existing dietary options in southern Mali

Outcome 4: Increased nutritional and economic levels of the target population (especially women and children)

Survey protocols developed

Consultancy arrangements in progress for the surveys to be carried out in October 2012

Project nutritionist returned to Bamako after precautionary evacuation from mid April to early September

Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)

USAID Mali (ICRISAT) - “Improving Vegetable Production and Consumption in Mali” - best practice demonstration and dissemination hubs (new varieties, crop management practices and water delivery systems) - Sikasso

CORAF (MDTF) - “Enhancing Productivity, Competitiveness and Marketing of Traditional African (Leafy) Vegetables for Improved Income and Nutrition in West and Central Africa“ - first quarter of 2013 in northern Ghana

Links with other research and development projects

Cascade approach to partnerships - too complex, particularly on contractual and reporting requirements.

Centralized project implementation unit for logistics and contracts (Mali) - an excellent idea, but this could also cause delays - better planning and execution

Complementary (Yes), Integrated (Yes), Interdependent (???)

Concluding remarks (Lessons learnt)

Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation

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