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TransformationsI nternal newsletter of the Wor ld Agroforest r y Centre

Vol 5 Issue 11 17/8/2012

I n t h i s i s s u e• Ethiopia, Rwanda welcome Trees for Food

Security project

• Prof Temu urges WCA farmers to train more youth

• Researchers in Cameroon urged to follow Dr Tchoundjeu’s example

• Grants news

• Staff news

• Centre in the media

• Pictorial, Publications, Staff of the week

Ethiopia, Rwanda welcome Trees for Food Security project

Bi-weekly

By Sid Mohan and Daisy Ouya

Inception workshops for the ‘Trees for Food Security’ project were held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 6-7 August, and in Kigali, Rwanda on 8-9 August 2012. Funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) with complementary support from partners, the project, formally known as ‘Improving Sustainable Productivity in Farming Systems and Enhanced Livelihoods through Adoption of Evergreen Agriculture in Eastern Africa’, will be coordinated by the World Agroforestry Centre and involve partners in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi in researching, scaling up and scaling out Evergreen Agriculture practices in the region.

The Ethiopian arm of the project was launched on August 6 by His Excellency Mr Sileshi Getahun, Minister of State. Dr Tony Bartlett (Forestry Research Programme Manager, ACIAR), Dr Solomon Assefa (Director General of the Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research - EIAR) and Prof August Temu (ICRAF Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Impact) joined participants at the launch.

In his speech, HE Mr Getahun expressed hope that this project would serve as a launchpad for future agroforestry initiatives across Ethiopia. This was reaffirmed by Dr Bartlett. Dr Assefa, representing the main national partner in Ethiopia, gave his assurance that all Ethiopian partners involved in the project were fully committed to the successful implementation of the initiative.

Speaking at the project’s inception workshop in Kigali on 9 August, Natural Resources Management Minister Hon Stanislas Kamanzi told participants that the Rwandan government recognized the role of agroforestry in boosting the productivity and resilience of agricultural land. “The Trees for

Food Security project’s objectives are in tune with Rwanda’s development agenda on farming, food security and natural resources management,” he said. The minister remarked that Rwanda’s undulating topography, found on around 80% of the farmland, is prone to soil erosion and landslides that remove the fertile volcanic topsoil, leaving farmers vulnerable. Furthermore, although rainfall is generally predictable and plentiful in most areas, changing global climate has caused drought periods to become more regular. The new project will use the proven ability of trees on farms to combat erosion, fertilize soils for higher yields, and improve the environment.

The second day of both workshops delved into the technical details of the project, with Prof Catherine Muthuri, the Project Manager, leading discussions on each of the work components. The participants clarified the contents of the work components, generally gaining a better understanding of the activities and their role.

The project is the first to be implemented under the new Australian International Food Security Centre initiative of ACIAR. The entire project funding consists of US$5.4 million from ACIAR and over US$1.6 million in contributions from ICRAF, CIMMYT, ILRI, CSIRO, World Vision and partner-country governments.

Dr Solomon Assefa, in his closing remarks at the Ethiopia workshop, reiterated the firm commitment by all the Ethiopian partners towards the success of the project. The same commitment was expressed by Dr JJ Mbonigaba, DG of the Rwanda Agriculture Board.

Prof August Temu, Minister Sileshi Getahun and Dr Solomon Assefa RAB director Dr JJ Mbonigaba, Ms Stella Kiwango representing ICRAF DG, and Minister Stanislas Kamanzi

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Prof Temu urges WCA farmers to train more youthBy Julius Atia

“If we work diligently we can earn more income, protect our environment and give our children better lives,” Prof August Temu, the Deputy Director General in charge of Partnerships and Impact, told farmers in Bangangté, in the West Region of Cameroon during a field visit. “More needs to be done to train young people to take over. They are the future,” he added.

The field visit took him through Makénéné to Banaganté where he met with farmers’ groups and sought to learn more about their work. In one of the groups in Makénéné, they explained how they use vegetative multiplication techniques like marcotting and propagation by cutting to meeting the ever-increasing demand for cash crops like cocoa.

In Bangangté, officials of the resource centre explained how the centre functions, especially as a powerful and very effective extension tool for the dissemination of agroforestry innovations to farmers in the locality. The coordinator explained that the adaptation of technology has been made easier through the use of locally available materials. They proudly listed some of their achievements, including the creation of 23 nursery enterprises, training 28 groups in agroforestry techniques and constructing a resource centre from funds generated through the sale of seedlings and provision of services.

Earlier that week, Prof Temu held a meeting with staff of the WCA regional office during which discussions were held on some ongoing issues at the headquarters. The Regional Coordinator, Dr Zac Tchoundjeu made a presentation on the current activities in the region. Other presentations by Ebenezer Asaah, Ann Degrande and Dieudonne Alemagi highlighted initiatives on participatory tree domestication, marketing and climate change. Prof Temu reminded the staff that the next board meeting would be held in Yaoundé and that the board members would visit project sites and meet with key partners in the region. He informed staff that Senior Leadership Team is looking into ways of promoting staff exchanges. This will not only promote transfer of knowledge and promote best practices across the organization, but will also result in acquisition of relevant skills and professional development.

He urged the team to work harder, noting the large number of existing and upcoming projects. He encouraged the team to exploit post-doc opportunities.

Later in the day, Prof Temu paid a courtesy call to a strategic partner, the Director General of the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Dr Noé Woin, who expressed satisfaction with the quality of research activities being carried out by ICRAF in Cameroon.

“We appreciate the impact that ICRAF activities have had in the field. If more organizations could have similar impact, then things would definitely be much better for our famers.”

Prof Temu thanked the Director General for the support that the Centre had received from IRAD and noted that our achievements in Cameroon are as a result of the collaboration between the two organizations.

To view more pictures click here

A farmer from Bangangté chats with Prof Temu and Dr Tchoundjeu Prof Temu and Dr Tchoundjeu held a meeting with the Director General of IRAD, Dr Woin

Prof Temu and Dr Tchoundjeu visit the ICRAF WCA nursery

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Researchers in Cameroon urged to follow Dr Tchoundjeu’s exampleBy Julius Atia

Cameroon’s Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Dr Madeleine Tchuinte, has congratulated Dr Zac Tchoundjeu and lauded the World Agroforestry Centre for its contribution to the development of science and research in the country. She described the Centre’s impact as ‘immense’ and called on other partners to step up their efforts. She was speaking on Wednesday, 8 August 2012 at the conference hall of her ministry during an official ceremony to present the National Geographic Society Award recently conferred on Dr Zac Tchoundjeu, to the Government of Cameroon, the scientific community and development partners.

“On behalf of the Government of Cameroon, I want to sincerely congratulate you for the award. We are proud because the award honours the entire fraternity of scientists in Cameroon and Africa as a whole,” Minister Tchuinte told the laureate. “You have shown proof of creativity, dynamism and perseverance and this is what I expect from other researchers,” she added.

On June 14 2012, Dr Zac Tchoundjeu received the National Geographic Society/Buffett Award for Leadership in African Conservation. According

to a press release by the National Geographic Society, Dr Tchoundjeu “has made invaluable contributions toward the conservation of biodiversity in the Congo Basin, the development of sustainable agricultural techniques for small-scale farmers and the training of a new generation of African scientists and environmentalists.”

The ceremony brought together researchers, donors, development partners and top government officials. Speaking after the presentation of the award, Dr Tchoundjeu in an emotion-packed speech said the award was a recognition of the combined efforts of all our partners. He saluted the excellent collaboration with the government of Cameroon that has made it possible to import all materials duty-free. He equally expressed gratitude to the Institute for Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) and other technical partners.

“Special thanks to all the farmers across the West and Central African region for believing and adopting our tree domestication technology,” he concluded.

The Minister, Hon Tchuinte, talks to the press after the function

Dr Tchoundjeu presents the award to the public Dr Tchoundjeu addresses the press after the ceremony

Dr Tchoundjeu receives flowers from his wife

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S T A F F N E W SG R A N T N E W S

T H E C E N T R E I N T H E M E D I A

Grant Title:  Manejo integrado de la mancha anillada del papayo ocasionada por el Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV) en las principales zonas productoras del Perú AND Fortalecimiento institucional para consolidar la investigación agroforestal

Donor: Peru

Amount (approx. US$):  50,000.00

Start Date: 01-Aug-2012

End Date: 31-Dec-2012

Project Leader: Jonathan Philip Cornelius

Submitted by Contracts and Grants office

Celebrating JosephineLast week on Thursday 9 August 2012 we had a GRP4 meeting and one of our staff members, Josephine Muteti, was recognized for her outstanding service to GRP4 and the Centre at large.

Josephine joined the World Agroforestry Centre in 1991 and initially assisted

in field work at the Machakos sub station. Later in the year when the lab in Machakos was opened, she was involved in cleaning the laboratory glassware, a duty she performed well even as the laboratory grew and moved to Nairobi in 1998.

In 2000 Josephine had expressed interest in learning the analytical procedures and was given the opportunity to assist in the soil physics work station. In this area she was keen to learn about soil particle size analytical procedures and all the quality control procedures, as well as data entry and basic data processing. Later she was able to run the work station on her own until the Centre lab closed its conventional methods. In the new spectral diagnostics lab which was set up, she works in the soil engineering work station. She is responsible for the Atterberg limits and linear shrinkage methods.

Even as most of the laboratory techniques are automated and require very little hands-on involvement the activities Josephine carries out are very involving. She is even required to attend to them on weekends. The international standards have recommended that only three samples can be done in a day and most of the lab staff usually complete two samples in a day. Josephine has exceeded this and is able to do 5-6 samples. You will always find her working over her lunch break to make sure she meets her daily targets.

We recognize Josephine for her dedicated service and commitment to deliver. Well done Josephine!

Linda Kidweye

• Letter to the Editor by Tony Simons in the Economist: Fruits of the tree

• The Trees for Food Security project launch was one of the top news items on Ethiopian television. Click the link to watch the news http://www.ertagov.com/en/etv-erta-news-addis-ababa-ethiopia/1277-english-news-august-062012.html. The news was also aired on the Ethiopian Radio (both in Amharic and English) and on the national radio also transmitted on Galaxy and Arab Satellite.

• Australia backs Trees-For-Food campaign

• Trees for food security: new project launch

• Najma Dharani: Don smitten by plants

• Evergreen in action: Food security and environmental health for Africa’s farmers

• To view photos from the Ethiopia workshop click here

• For Rwanda workshop click here

The World Agroforestry Centre has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland for a contribution of €10 million to support the programme, ‘Building Biocarbon and Rural Development in West Africa (BIODEV)’ for the period

2012 to 2016. The agreement was sealed in a signing ceremony held at the Embassy of Finland in Nairobi by the Centre’s Director General, Tony Simons and the Counsellor, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Finland in Nairobi, Eeva Alarcón, who was representing the Finnish Ambassador to Kenya.

The project, which will be led by Frank Place, aims at achieving sustainable rural development through the application of the high value biocarbon approach to climate change and variability in large landscapes in West Africa (Mali, Sierra Leone and Guinea).  The BIODEV initiative is in line with Finland’s international development priorities as well as the Centre’s research priority areas as it will see rural populations reap both livelihood and environmental benefits such as more diversified livelihoods; higher incomes from forests, farms and rangelands; improved forest, tree and vegetation cover and increased level of carbon sequestered.

ICRAF signs an agreement with the Government of Finland

Annual Report 2011-2012

Elizabeth Kariuki

To view the latest issue of the

Annual Report click here

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The official opening of the soil lab at HQ

Trees for Food Security Project Launch in Ethiopia and Rwanda

Group photo from Rwanda launchCatherine Muthuri at the Rwanda TFFS project launch

P I C T O R I A L

Jeremias Mowo makes a speech at the launch in Ethiopia

Tony Simons officially opens the new soil laboratory

Mercy Nyambura and Andrew Sila explaining how the soil storage facility works

Tony, Ravi, Keith and Stella tour the new lab

Group photo after the ceremony

Group photo from Ethiopia launch

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Publications by ICRAF staff

Book chapter

Kehlenbeck, K. Rohde, E. Njuguna, J.K. Jamnadass, R. 2012. Mango production in Kenya. Valavi, S.G., Rajmohan, K., Govil, J.N., Peter, K.V., Thottappilly, G. (eds) Mango. Vol. 2: Cultivation in different countries. Houston, Texas: Stadium Press LLC

Journal articles

Kuyah, S. Dietz, J. Muthuri, C. Jamnadass, R. Mwangi, P. Coe, R. Neufeldt, H. 2012. Allometric equations for estimating biomass in agricultural landscapes: ii. belowground biomass. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

Kuyah, S. Muthuri, C. Jamnadass, R. Mwangi, P. Neufeldt, H. Dietz, J. 2012. Crown area allometries for estimation of aboveground tree biomass in agricultural landscapes of western Kenya. Agroforestry Systems

Kuyah, S. Dietz, J. Muthuri, C. Jamnadass, R. Mwangi, P. Coe, R. Neufeldt, H. 2012. Allometric equations for estimating biomass in agricultural landscapes: i. aboveground biomass. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

Report

World Agroforestry Centre. 2012. Fraud prevention, monitoring and response policy. Nairobi: World Agroforestry Centre

Technical manual

Black, J. Malesu, M. Oduor, R. Cherogony, K. 2012. Rainwater harvesting inventory of Kenya: an overview of techniques, sustainability factors, and stakeholders. ICRAF Technical manual no. 18, Nairobi: World Agroforestry Centre

NON-ICRAF PUBLICATIONS

Books

Catholic Organization for Relief and Development (Cordaid). 2012. Managing resource variability in drylands: the role of pastoralists’ mobility in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia. The Hague: Catholic Organization for Relief and Development

Catholic Organization for Relief and Development (Cordaid). 2011. Community managed disaster risk reduction: experiences from the Horn of Africa. The Hague: Catholic Organization for Relief and Development

Gregory, R. Failing, L. Harstone, M. Long, G. McDaniels, T. Ohlson, D. 2012. Structured decision making: a practical guide to environmental management choices. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell

Muller, R.A. 2008. Physics for future presidents: the science behind the headlines. New York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc.

Otto, S.L. 2011. Fool me twice: fighting the

assault on science in America. New York: Rodale Inc.

Booklet

International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) 2012. Forests and trees: serving the people of Africa and the world IUFRO-FORNESSA Regional Congress & ITTO/AFF Forest Policy Day, 25-29 June 2012, Nairobi Kenya. Scientific Programme Vienna: International Union of Forest Research Organizations

Reports

Husgafvel, R. 2010. Global and EU governance for sustainable forest management with special reference to capacity building in Ethiopia and Southern Suda.n Tropical Forestry Reports 37, PhD thesis, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Kalame, F.B. 2011. Forest governance and climate change: case studies of four African countries. Tropical Forestry Reports 39, PhD thesis, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Journals

Agroforestry Systems 85(2), 2012Economist 404(8795), 2012Nature 487(7407), 2012Newscientist 215(2874), 2012

Name: Paul Baraka Mwangi

Title: Database Assistant

Station/region: HQ

Unit: Research Methods Group

Years at ICRAF: 3 years, 5 months

Favourite sport: Soccer, athletics

Favourite book or magazine: Any

motivational book

Favourite music: Punk rock

Hobbies: Watching and playing soccer, travelling

My favourite tree is the Oak tree because it is associated with greatness

Transformations is the bi-weekly newsletter of the World Agroforestry Centre in Nairobi

Compiled and edited by: Daisy Ouya & Betty RabarDesign/Layout: Sherry Adisa Proof reading: Betty RabarE-mail: Transformations@cgiar.orgWebsite: www.worldagroforestry.org

© 2012 Copyright and Fair Use ICRAF holds the copyright to its publications and web pages but encourages fair use, without alteration, of these materials for non-commercial purposes. Proper citation is required in all instances. Information owned by other providers and requiring permission is marked as such. Website links provided by our site will have their own policies that must be honoured. The information provided by ICRAF is, to the best of our knowledge, accurate although we do not guarantee the information nor are we liable for any damages arising from its use. ICRAF maintains a database of users, but this information is not distributed and is used only to measure the usefulness of our information. Without restriction, please add a link to our website: http://www.worldagroforestry.org on your website.

S t a f f o f t h e w e e k

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Publications By Carole Mbogo and Keah Humphrey