Context and platform

background Maize and beans are among priority crops for food security in Rwanda. However, the value chain of the two crops is not well developed and the productivity is still low especially because of low technology uptake by the smallholder farmers. Since 2012, SIMLESA Project funded by ACIAR through CIMMYT sought to intensify maize-legumes systems through Innovation Platforms (IPs) in Rwanda. In this regards, four IPs were established in two districts namely Kamonyi and Bugesera located in two agro-ecological zones not far from Kigali-City, the main agricultural product consumption area.

Opportunities and constraints Opportunities: • Good participation of farmers in Innovative

platform • Using sisal ropes as staking materials • Technologies scaling up and improved

nutrition

Constraints: • Lack of IP facilitators skilled in integrated

approaches to development and unpredictable weather changes in Rwanda?

Capacity Building • Avail information on climate change and

adaptability

Pictures

Conclusions and ways forward

Platform progress Fifteen researchers and extensionists and 8 development stakeholders have been trained on the IP approach and conservation agriculture (CA) technologies while 60 farmers have been trained in CA and 168 fellow farmers were involved in mother baby demonstrations.

Four maize-legume innovation platforms have been established in two selected districts for the project. They are benefiting 360 various actors in the IPs, most of whom are farmers (>70%). In total, 228 farmer beneficiaries have taken up at least one improved technology from SIMLESA project to demonstrate innovation platforms advantages in the maize-legumes intensification.

Platform facilitation and

learning Need skilled , neutral and strong

leadership

The committees choose a reporter in

each meeting

The platform influences the type of

research for development in suggesting

technological needs. It also facilitates

the implementation of crop

intensification programs.

L. Dusengemungu, J. Tuyisenge and N. L Nabahungu

nabahungu@yahoo.com / leonidasdusenge@yahoo.com● Kigali Rwanda.

Prepared for a capacity development workshop of the

CGIAR Research Program on Humidtropics, Nairobi, 29 April – 2 May 2014

http://humidtropics.cgiar.org/

This document is licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution –Non commercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License April 2014

April- May 2014

Platform characteristics After a training on IPs, the process of establishing SIMLESA Innovation Platforms (IPs) involved meetings with key partners and local leaders from district and sector levels to introduce the IP approach. Thereafter, researchers and extensionists and local leaders selected sites and farmers to host maize-beans systems demonstrations. They also conducted a participatory needs assessment, identified priorities, set-up governance and IP committees, and developed and implemented action plans.

Intensifying Maize-Legumes Systems Through Innovation Platforms in Rwanda: Experiences from SIMLESA Project, 2012-2014

L. Dusengemungu , J. Tuyisenge and N.L.Nabahungu

The IP approach requires the participation of a wide range of stakeholders in the value-chain and their commitment to actively participate.

Operationalising innovation platform requires establishment of functional and strong linkages where all actors’ interests are taken into consideration.

Activities call for a good number and skilled to facilitators lead the implementation process of the IPs.

Scaling out successful technologies, especially to the neighboring districts or sectors can be done by any championing development project with focus on public-private patnerships.