Africa RISING in the Ethiopian Highlands

Peter ThorneInternational Livestock Research Institute

Science Advisory Group – London 17 July, 2014

Timeline• 2011 (October) – The three Africa RISING projects are commissioned by

USAID.• 2012 (February) – Inception meeting of potential CGIAR and national

partners held in Addis Ababa.• 2012 (Meher season) – six “quick win” projects implemented. In the

meantime there is vigorous discussion of the contents of our overarching Research Framework (completed, Autumn 2012).

• 2012 (November until October 2013) – Implementation of diagnostic studies (output 1 in the Research Framework).

• 2013 (Meher season) – On-farm demonstrations of promising technologies (wheat, potato, faba bean, small scale irrigation).

• 2014 (February – April) – Establishment of worede and kebele level innovation platforms and farmer research cluster groups.

• 2014 (Meher season) – large scale implementation of on-farm action research based on revolving work plan.

Diagnostic Studies• Participatory Community Analysis.• Sustainable Livelihoods Asset Evaluation.• Formalisation of indigenous agro-ecological knowledge.• Characterisation of and identification of problems and opportunities in key

value chains.• Quantitative data collections for ex ante impact assessment (modeling

studies).• Some more focused diagnostics, e.g. FEAST for evaluation year-round feed

and fodder utilisation.

Diagnostic studies: some key findings• Cropping – trends differ amongst crops and regions. Wheat, lentils and some

vegetables increasing with market demand. Barley, enset and potatoes decreasing due to low prices and disease problems.

• Livestock – fodder and feed supply are critical constraints to maintaining livestock numbers.

• Existing community engagement – generally high levels of GO, NGO and CBO activity but can be patchy and uncoordinated.

• Better engagement models (via IPs?) – AR technical innovation supported by capacity development (production, utilization, processing, leadership, marketing, communication skills).

• Better engagement models – need to recognize household diversity and capitalize on opportunities for farmer – to – farmer knowledge exchange

• Other shortages – appropriate, adaptable varieties, agro-chemicals, veterinary products, available water.

Revolving work plan – key themes1. Feed and forage development.2. Field crop varietal selection and management.3. Integration of high value products into mixed farming systems.4. Improved land and water management for sustainability.5. Improving the efficiency of mixed farming systems through more

effective crop-livestock integration.6. Cross-cutting problems and opportunities.7. Knowledge management, exchange and capacity development.

Formulated during the October 2013 planning meeting by AR core and regional partners

Work plan example (theme 1)Core problem or

opportunityPossible actions Research Questions Research Activities

(including methods)Availability of livestock feeds including fodder and forage is inadequate to support intensification.

1. Establish the use of improved fodder / forage varieties that can be integrated effectively into the target systems.

1.1. What niches are available on farms that could accomodate a range of planted or other forage species?

1.1.1. Evaluation of existing fodder / feed utilisation practices using the FEAST tool.

1.1.2. Pre-screening of potential interventions using Techfit and ex ante systems modeling to assess broader impacts.1.1.3. On farm evaluations of promising feed and forage combinations for different productions systems.

Research protocols• Anchored to research plan themes and activities.

o Justificationo Research methodso Deliverables (timebound)o Research outcomes

• Jointly formulated amongst AR core partners.• Agreed at AR project level.• Protocol budgets consolidated into core partner budgets / contracts.• Review of protocols with AR regional partners.• Kebele level research cluster meetings for farmer engagement.• Validation of farmers selection.• Research implementation.• Monitoring and knowledge exchange (protocol teams, IPs and

farmers research Cluster Groups).

ILRI’s Research partners in Ethiopia Academic institutions:

Wachemo, Mekelle, Madawolabu, Debre Berhan and Hawassa universities; Maichew Agricultural College

Regional research organizations: Amhara Regional Agricultrural Research Institute, Southern Agricultural Research Institute, Tigray Agricultural

Research Institute, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute

Federal research organizations: Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute

Offices of Agriculture: Endamekoni (Tigray), Basona Worena (Amhara), Lemo (SNNRP) and Sinana (Oromia)

Agricultural Transformation Agency

Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation

africa-rising.net

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