Intensification of maize-legume based systems in the semi-arid areas of Tanzania to increase farm productivity and improve farming natural resource base

Kimaro, A, Swai, E., Ganga Rao, NVRP and Okori, P

Project Site

Kiteto district is found in the Manyara region with an estimated population of

152,757

Kongwa District is found in Dodoma Region. We are working in Mlali ward with a population of about 28,000 people

Partners

Challenges to increased production/productivity

1. Fragile farming environments• Erosion prone farms• Degraded land scapes• Low soils fertility

2. Degradative farming (crop/livestock) pracices

• Overgrazing• Limited integration

3. Low production potential varieties grown

4. Local demand for legumes (consumption) is low

Context of the Interventions

The Opportunities

1.Access to markets (Kibaigwa) local and outside of the region

2.Under good management potential for high production

3.Livestock is available (poultry, livestock) for food and manure

4.Contribute to nutrition and crop productivity outcomes (leaverage other FTF programes TUBoreshe Chakula, NaFaka)

5.Management and yield enhancing technlogies exist

Context of the Interventions

PM Mizengo Pinda

Africa RISING Principles1. Research designed to test hypotheses that are linked to outputs and

developmental outcomes identified by the Africa RISING programme.

2. Problem-focused and demand driven research activities influenced by market demand, evolving policy environments, and changing social structures the needs of farmers.

3. Ensuring that research outputs are targeted effectively to development needs and are feasible for target farm households to implement.

4. Implemented at several levels with 1. Core research outputs that are likely to be common across the

programme;2. Diverse research activities as guided by the individual projects;3. Flexible methods and tools to fit individual research activities and

the context.5. Scaling will be at a pilot level and beyond through the development of

investment plans with development agencies.

Project Theory of Change

Sphe

re o

f infl

uenc

eSp

here

of i

nter

est

Novel & multidisciplinary approaches used to improve agricultural innovation

Strengthened M&E and learning in place for team

Team operations is at optimum and well supported

High quality staff motivated to work for project success

Preconditions among project partners

Output 1Introduce, & evaluate improved varieties of maize and grain legumes

Output 1Introduce, & evaluate improved varieties of maize and grain legumes

Output 2Deploy ISFT to improve plant nutrition, yields and agro-ecosystem resilience

Output 2Deploy ISFT to improve plant nutrition, yields and agro-ecosystem resilience

Output 3Validate & promote land management options for sustainable intensification

Output 3Validate & promote land management options for sustainable intensification

Output 4Post-harvest processing utilization and food safety improved nutrition outcomes

Output 4Post-harvest processing utilization and food safety improved nutrition outcomes

Project outputs

Smallholder farm households especially women and children move out of poverty, food and nutritional insecurity while maintaining and/or improving ecosystem stability

ICRISAT Impact

Government policy is supportive of investments in agriculture

Opportunities for improved access to seed and innovations support intensification

Existing land tenure systems allows for farm to landscape level interventions

Farmer organisations are functional & supportive of the project

Preconditions amongst in action site

Outcome 1Increased crop yields in maize-legume farming systems by up to 100% for cereals and 80% for legumes.

Outcome 1Increased crop yields in maize-legume farming systems by up to 100% for cereals and 80% for legumes.

Outcome 2Improved land productivity in robust agro-ecologies and productive farming and crop systems

Outcome 2Improved land productivity in robust agro-ecologies and productive farming and crop systems

Africa Rising outcomes

Out

puts

and

acti

vitie

sO

utco

mes

Impa

cts

Sphe

re o

f infl

uenc

e

The Partners

Agriculture development environment

NARES, IARCs and

institutions

Farmers and their

organizations

Including policy institutions,

infrastructure, human and natural

resources

R&D stakeholders, and their

communities including NGOs

Ultimate beneficiaries, the farmers

Intensification Model

Improved agricultural productivity and nutrition

outcomes

Experimental approach• RO1 to inform

investment options (Alt: Experiment with options to underpin scaling up and out).

• Increased productivity (new varieties- at scale), land use for livestock and poultry

• Increase land productivity (nutrient use, decrease degradation)

• Address house nutrition and food security

Scaling up and out

Experimentation

Scaling-up

Validation

Incr

easi

ng re

silie

nce

and

prod

uctiv

ity

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Summary of Progress• Benchmarking:

– Identifying options for piloting and up-scaling into our intensification model are being done.• New varieties, • Seed systems for up-and out-scaling• Investigations into production environments

• Strategic partnership:

• All direct implementers (contracted partners), and associate partners (critical partners non contractual partners) as well as community leadership are on board.

WP 1: On-farm evaluation of improved legume & cereals varieties

Work Package

Deliverables

WP 1 1. Adaptability of new materials• Yield performance &

PVS2. Technology dissemination

• Community based seed production systems• Groundnuts QDS• Pigeon Pea QDS• Maize –especially

QPM (OPV & Hybrids)• Knowledge dissemination

• Testing and using most appropriate media

3. Integrating cereals and legumes in production systems• Evaluating suitability for

intercrop, cover crop

Intercrop Kogwa & PVS at Moleti Kiteto

WP 2: Integrated soil fertility management

Work Package

Deliverables

WP 2 • Major limiting soil nutrients for crop production identified

• Improved in-organic fertilizer usage by farmers

• Strategies for use of intercropping to improve soils fertility and yield of introduced varieties developed

• Cost benefits analysis for various soil nutrient replenishment

WP 3: Land and water management (soil and water conservation)

Work Package

Deliverables

WP 3 • Best bet soil water conservation and erosion control technologies validated for up-scaling.

• Strategies to improve soils and water management developed.

• Cost benefits for soils and water management done

Farmers examine a maize crop produced under improved managed

WP 4: Post harvest processing, utilization and nutrition and safety

Work Package

Deliverables

WP 4 • Competitiveness of Pigeon pea as alternative protein crop studied.

• Aflatoxin on maize

Groundnuts, Pigeon pea, Bean bambara nuts & sorghum studied.

• Awareness raising among partner on aflatoxin

• Profile value chain for contamination points

WP 4: Post harvest processing, utilization and nutrition and safety

Work Package Issues for improvement

WP 4 Activities year 2

1.Develop diagnostic platform at ARI Hombolo for the target area. (working with Selian RI)

2.Build capacity of ARI Hombolo and Selian to ID aflatoxins

3.Promotional activities for diagnostic platforms

4.Validate efficiency of techniques together with TFDA

WP 5: Crop-livestock & poultry integration for productivity

enhancement Work Package Issues for improvement

WP 5 Activities year 11.R&D to support adequate supply of quality feeds

• Characterize existing species (Year 1)• Propagation studies for best bet species

(Year 2&3)• Studies on management option for semi

arid areas (Year 3)

1.R&D to support improvement in management of stock and minimize land degradation

Work Package Issues for improvement

WP 5 Activities year 12. R&D to support improvement in management of stock and minimize land degradation

• Characterize current management systems & links to degradation & feeds supply

• Determine suitable livestock management systems for land degradation• Links to WP 2 and 3• Carrying capacity of land• Build capacity to manage best bet

tech for poultry• Recycling poultry to fertility

WP 5: Crop-livestock & poultry integration for productivity

enhancement

Work Package Issues for improvement

WP 6 Activities year 11.Baseline report highlight soil conditions and major constraints to SI in targeted areas

1.Initial site condition of field sites targeted for on-farm trials evaluated and documented for M&E and impacts assessments

WP 6: Characterization of sites

Lessons learnt

• R4D innovation platform: – Convergence & complementarity: Complement of partners is fluid.

Convergence of thrusts takes time and largely influence by extraneous factors

– Benchmanks are critical: R&D investment typologies are needed to implementation. (Helps to isolate Research from development issues)

– Partnerships. Intensification involves complex institutional and operational relationships. Limited understanding of what works and does not is critical for scaling up and design of appropriate interventions.

– Champions for change: Champions at community level are essential. This may compound design of evaluations because such people are usually targeted by others

Thank you!

ICRISAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium