Africa RISING 2014 achievements summary for Ghana
Asamoah Larbi, IITA
Africa RISING West Africa Project Annual Review and Planning Meeting, Accra, Ghana, 24-25 March 2015
2014 Achievements summary - Ghana
1. Situation analysis.
2. Integrated systems improvement
3. Scaling and delivery systems.
4. Monitoring and evaluation.
5. Capacity building
Situation analysis
Multi-stakeholder partnerships were established.
A mid-term review of the project was conducted.
Livestock feed markets were surveyed.
Livestock value chains were analyzed.
Farming systems were characterized.
A baseline survey was completed.
Aflatoxin prevalence in maize documented.
The ‘Community-based Technology Park’ used to test technologies.
Fertilizer rates for intensive production of maize production defined.
Integrated pest management options for intensive cowpea identified.
Biological control of aflatoxins in maize and groundnut with Aflasafe .
Feeding and health management options to intensify sheep and goat.
Management options to intensify rural poultry identified.
Nutritional knowledge of women was strengthened.
Integrated systems improvement
Feed the Future (FtF) indicators reported.
Projects reports were prepared and submitted.
A multi-year (2014-2016) work-plans was prepared.
Monitoring and evaluation
Two short-courses – data analysis and integrated crop-livestock production – organized for early carrier scientists.
Fourteen graduate students were funded.
Research capacity building
Africa RISING West Africa
Mid-term Review Recommendation and Response - Research
Asamoah Larbi
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
West Africa Review and Planning Meeting
24-25 March, 2015
Accra, Ghana
Recommendation summary
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Scaling and delivery
Situation analysis
Communication
Human resources
Cereal-legume systems
Household nutrition
Monitoring & evaluation
Research partners
Livestock & crop-livestock
Project design & implementation
Management
Natural resource management
Development partners
Number of recommendations
Project design and implementation
Recommendation Response(s)
Finalize log-frame Log-frame being finalized
Operationalize R4D platforms District-level R4D: Ghana (6), Mali (2)
Clarify R4D purposes and functionsJoint planning, facilitation, training planned
Link activities to those of R4DCommunity engagement, joint planning, implementation, learning and review
Situation analysis
Recommendation Response(s)Conduct cost-benefit analysis of SI innovation
Economic evaluation of SI being conducted
Hired a socio-economist and gender specialist
Cereal-legume-vegetable cropping systems
Recommendation Response(s)
Explore using inland valley wetlands Possibilities being explored
Explore dry season vegetable production options
AVRDC addressing dry season vegetable production is planned in Mali and Ghana.
IWMI and the Small-scale Irrigation Innovation Laboratory will evaluate irrigation options in Ghana
Livestock and crop-livestock systems
Recommendation Response(s)Address request of farmers for research and development on small ruminants, poultry and pigs
Ghana – increased funds and closer partnership with Ministry of Agriculture and Veterinary Services.
Mali – exploring ILRI-ICRISAT-IER collaboration.
Include research on crop residues, feed preservation, improved fallows, fodder trees
On-farm feed and feeding, agro-forestry activities are being planned in both countries
Explore options for optimizing feed from cereal-legume cropping systems
Cereal-legume-livestock cropping systems will be evaluated.
Livestock and crop-livestock systems
Recommendation Response(s)Address request of farmers for research and development on small ruminants, poultry and pigs
Ghana – increased funds and closer partnership with Ministry of Agriculture and Veterinary Services.
Mali – exploring ILRI-ICRISAT-IER collaboration.
Include research on crop residues, feed preservation, improved fallows, fodder trees
On-farm feed and feeding, agro-forestry activities are being planned in both countries
Explore options for optimizing feed from cereal-legume cropping systems
Cereal-legume-livestock cropping systems will be evaluated.
Address health delivery systemsLinks with veterinary service providersand training community vets planned
Natural resources management
Recommendation Response(s)
Integrate soil and water management with agronomic studies
CIAT and IWMI have revised theiractivities for more integration in Ghana
Provide support for identifying options for dry season irrigation
IWMI, AVRDC and Small-scale Irrigation Laboratory are planning joint activities.
Link-up with other systems-related CRPs-Dryland and Humidtropics
Africa RISING is mapped under Humidtropics, linked with Drylands CRP.
Address health delivery systemsLinks with veterinary service providersand training community vets planned
Improving household nutrition
Recommendation Response(s)Review data on nutritional status of populations.
Seeking consultants to review data on nutritional status in Mali
Establish links with relevant national health and nutrition programmes covering maternal and child health, and production and nutrition linkages
In Ghana – Ghana Health Services and Community Nutrition Department of Universities are partners. IER has recently joined the Mali nutrition team.
AVRDC, UDS and IER should design research on children and women cutting across Ghana and Mali.
A planning workshop involving the Ghana and Mali nutrition teams was held in January.
Implementation strategy - Ghana
Recommendation Response(s)
Establish links with USAID bilateral projects – ADVANCE and ATT – and routinely inform them about Africa RISING activities.
Meetings have been held with ATT and ADVANCE to agree on joint activities for implementation in 2015.
Implementation strategy - Mali
Recommendation Response(s)
Modify it implementation strategy to include at least two ‘hubs’ to provide a wider learning opportunity and ensure integrations
Funds have been provided to establish two hubs .Hub coordinators are being recruited. Meetings have been held to discuss possibilities for integration.