Annual Report for

DARS-Technology Transfer Unit Activities 2016/17 Season

H. Malaidza, B. Chisama, S. Bota, C. Banda and M. Moyo

Department of Agricultural Research ServicesP.O. Box 30779, Lilongwe 3. | Tel: 01 707 123/011 |Email: agric-research@sdnp.org.mw

Prepared for DARS Review & Planning Meeting, Sunbird Mzuzu Hotel, in Mzuzu from 25th-29th September 2017

Outline

• Introduction

• Achievements for 2015/16 season

• List of Released Technologies

• Challenges

• Lessons

• Workplan for 2017/18 season

Introduction

• Technology Transfer Unit (TTU) was established to increase up-take of DARS released and promising technologies by farmers in Malawi.

• The aim was to strengthen linkages between research scientists, extension service providers and farmers to increase productivity, utilization, and marketing of agricultural commodities.

• TTU coordinates and supports the department’s technology dissemination and visibility programs.

• This presentation summarize TTU activities implemented in 2016/17 Season and highlights its plans for 2017/18 season.

Achievements for 2015/16 Season

No. Activities Targets Achieve Comments

1. ATCC meeting (Released 42 agricultural technologies)

1 2 • ATCC 1: A total of 13 technologies were presented, 11 passed and 2 were rejected.

• ATCC 2: A total of 29 technologies presented, 28 passed and 1 was rejected.

• Previous ATCC was scheduled in February 2017, but delayed was delayed to July, 2017

• Next ATCC is on 12th October, 20172. Publications and printed materials 20 17 Some will be done later

3. DARS website management 2 1 New information was posted but not visible4. National Agricultural Fairs 1 1 Won the Best Service Provider Award in 2017

5. Field demonstrations 15 13 On-station and on-farm were conducted

6. Farmers field days 10 6 Chitedze, Makoka and Kasinthula held FDs

7. Trainings and workshops attended 3 3 Two international trainings reported

8. MDRRP Activities 3 2 Work-progress

9. Media interface activities 5 4 Success stories, news articles, and case studies

10. Cotton out-reach activities 2 2 Done

National Agricultural Fair in 2016

DARS and Station Manager CARS sharing insights at the13th NAF

National Agricultural Fair in 2017

The Director ofAgricultural Research(DARS) holding the2017 Award of theBest Service Providerat the 14th NationalAgricultural Fair

Success story posted on CCADESA-SAAIKS

Using Media in Tech. Dissemination

Farmers Benefit fromImproved rice varieties

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

Using Media in Tech. DisseminationNEWSPAPER ARTICLE

• Daily Times: "Fall Army Worm's Last Meal" recently published in of 19 September 2017

• Weekend Nation: on cassava production “Limani chinangwa cha vitamin A” 09 September 2017

• Nation Newspaper: Farmers advised to grow indigenous crops

RADIO PROGRAM

• Two magazine story programs

TV PROGRAM

• 1 programs on technical content

• 1 Special report on DARS

• TTU plans to notifying DARS staff members in advance to give alert on programs to be broadcasted

INTERLUDE CONTENT PACKAGES

• Profiling various recommendable activities done by DARS

• Plans to develop media packages with communication specialists from Ministry Heardquarters

• Intend to collect best practices initiated by DARS (Those perceived by researchers as well as users)

List of 28 Released Technologies

No. Name of technology Category Institution Date

2 Mpheta and Nazolo High yielding low rice varieties

DARS July 2017

3 PAN 4M-23, PAN 7M-83 and DK777 Company maizeHybrids

PANNAR Seeds and Mosanto

July 2017

5 NUA 35, VTTT 924/10-4, Cim-Dwarf-01-12-2, PAN 148, and PAN 9249,

Dwarf bean varieties

DARS and PANNAR Seeds

July 2017

7 QQ74, Brightest Brilliant Bainbow, Mutihued, Cherry vanilla, Puno, Biobio and black seeded

New quinoa varieties

LUANAR July 2017

List of Released Technologies

No. Name of technology Category Institution Date

2 Alternate wetting and drying irrigation technique in rice field and Alternate furrow irrigation technique for maize

Irrigation technologies

DARS July 2017

1 Age of introducing different breed of chicks to scavenging system

Livestock DARS July 2017

2 Composted water hyacinth organic fertilizer for maize and OEMFF foliar fertilizer

Soil fertility technologies

DARS July 2017

1 LU06/0196 Sweet potato variety

DARS July 2017

List of Released Technologies

No. Name of technology Category Institution Date

2 Planting patterns for soybean and twin row planting pattern for groundnuts.

Legume agronomy

DARS July 2017

2 ENGEO 247 EC and Proclaim Fit pesticides

Vegetable insecticides

DARS July 2017

1 Hand operated rubber paddle groundnut

Farm machinery

LUANAR July 2017

Challenges

• Lack of funding for ATCC activities as major cause of delays.

• Lack of collaboration on dissemination and visibility donor funded programs

• Lack of capacity infrastructure on multimedia production and use by the department.

Lessons

• Delays in ATCC technology release meeting leads to pile up of proposals to be reviewed at one goal.

• Need more collaboration on dissemination and visibility programs led by donor funded projects.

• Need to build capacity on innovative multimedia production and use by TTU staff.

• Need to revamp AgriTech Newsletter and Develop an on-line Journal

Workplan for 2017/18 SeasonNo. Activity Targets Responsible Timeline

1. Organize pre-ATCC meeting 1 SDDARS-TD End-November

2. Organize two ATCC technology release meetings

2 sessions15 + 12 tech

DARS-TTC Mid-October & End-February

3. Produce and distribute of catalogue of released technologies volume 3

4000 copies DARS-TTC Mid- December 2017

4. DARS Website content management 8 sessions DARS-TTOs Quarterly basis

5. Implement out-reach activities under various projects including APPSA, SAPP, MDRRP, FARA, and SHIZAM

Project specific DARS-TTOs and Makoka

Throughout

6. Participate in national and international forums such as AFAAS, MaFAAS, NAF, WFD and among others.

4 events DARS-TTC Set dates for events

Workplan for 2017/18 Season

No. Activity Targets Responsible Timeline

7. Interface with media on released and promising technologies

8 stories and 4 interviews

DARS-TTOs Quarterly basis

8. Produce and distribute other publications and printable materials i.e. leaflets, posters, banners, booklets, extension circulars and newsletter

15 types and 4 sessions

DARS-TTOs On need basis

9. Produce and distribute video documentaries and learning materials

5 out-door activities

DARS-TTC On need basis

Conclusion

• DARS-TTU successful implemented most of its activities in the season under review.

• DARS-TTU will continue with its routine work at the directorate level and implement some new outreach programs planned for 2017/18 season.

• However, there is a need for more collaborations with research scientists and extension service providers to disseminate more improved technologies and information to farming communities and other stakeholders

Proposed Costs for Technology Release ProcessesID Items Estimate Costs

(MK)

Comments

1.

Development and printing of ATCC proposals and draft extension circulars

Owners costs

2.Peer Review Session (Sub-committees i.e. variety release, pesticides, engineering, soil fertility)

Requirement for DARS, SADC/COMESA

3. Filling an Electronic TRA-0217 Form Computer based

4. Contributions towards main ATCC technology release meetings per proposal For a min. of 4 proposals to

convene a meeting5. Review of draft extension circulars Requirement for ATCC

6. Contribution to a catalogue of released technologies by ATCC Requirement for ATCC7. Contribution to Nation Variety Catalogue Requirement for SADC &

COMESA

Thanks to you all for listening.