1

(IDRC Project Number107984-001/2)

Project Title: Scaling-up Pulse Innovations for Food and Nutrition Security

(SPIFoNS) in Southern Ethiopia

Research Institutions: Hawassa University and University of Saskatchewan

Report Type 24-months Technical Report

Report Period: October 2016 - March 2017

Project Team

University of Saskatchewan Hawassa University

Dr. Carol Henry Dr. Sheleme Beyene, PI

Dr. Bruce Coulman Dr. Berhanu Abate, Program Lead

Dr. Bob Tyler Mrs. Addisalem Mesfin, Program Lead

Dr. Gord Zello Dr. Alemante Amera, Program Lead

Dr. Susan Whiting Dr. Walelign Worku

Dr. Sina Adl Dr. Tewodros Tefera

Prof. Bill Brown Dr. Kebede Abegaz

Dr. Patience Elabor-Idemudia

Dr. Nigatu Regassa, Research officer

Dr. Esayas Geleta, Post Doc.

Mr. Esayas (Kinfe) Bekele, PhD student

Ms. Getenesh Berhanu, PhD student

Partners:

Dr. Tilahun Amede (ICRISAT) Mr. Melaku Belihu (BoANR)

Mr. Yared Sertse (Business model consultant) Mr. Yasin Goa (SARI)

Mr. Girmay Ayana (EPHI)

Project Manager

Ms. Shawna Bieber Mr. Tussa Dedefo, A/Coordinator

Mr. Mengistu Fereja, Research Assistant

Scientific Impact Advisory Committee (SIAC)

Dr. Seme Debela, Former DG, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research

Dr. Cherinet Abuye, Save the Children, Ethiopia

Dr. Maurice Moloney, CEO, Global Institute for Food Security, University of Saskatchewan,

Canada

Dr. Shimelis Admassu, Food Engineering Chairholder, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

2017

By:

University of

Saskatchewan

Hawassa University

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1. Executive Summary

The Scaling-up Pulse Innovations for Food and Nutrition Security in Southern Ethiopia, combines new

agricultural practices such as rhizobial inoculation, intercropping and relay- or double-cropping pulse

crops to produce more food and improve the soil, and support for human nutrition programs, to enhance

food security in 70,000 farming households in southern Ethiopia. It builds on a 20-year research

partnership focused on capacity building and training, thus strengthening Ethiopia’s capacity to address

food and nutrition security and livelihood on small holder farming communities. Since 2010 the project

has focused on pulse crops; introduction of high yielding varieties, soil management, agronomic

biofortification and nutrition interventions to encourage wider use of pulses for household consumption.

The two main innovations are:

High yielding haricot bean and chickpea varieties together with their best management

packages expanded to new project districts as well as in previously worked sites to ensure

availability of seed of the best varieties.

Nutritious pulse food products, fine-tuned and distributed through nutrition education and

skill training and behaviour change communication, targeted primarily to female farmers

In 2016, chickpeas and haricot beans were planted in 13 and 15 woredas, respectively. Seed producers

received 20 kg of seed, fertilizer and inoculum to plant their 0.25 ha. Seed producing farmers were

required to return 20 kg of seed to the project following harvest. Other farmers received 2 kg of seed to

plant smaller fields for grain production. Fields for grain production were sometimes but not always,

clustered. A total of 36,001 farmers (21,243 males, and 14,758 females) have been engaged in common

bean and chickpea seed and grain production (2040 for seed and 33,961 farmers for grain).

A total of 181.4 tons of chickpea seeds (Habru, Arerti and Teketay varieties) were produced by 128 of the

146 clusters in 2016. Each cluster consists of five individual farmers contributing 0.25 hectare of land

each. The total production varied between districts owing to the prevalence of short drought periods,

Fusarium wilt and/or pod borer. The South Seed Enterprise has started collecting all the seeds produced

by the clusters.

In general, wider adoption of improved seed varieties (chickpea and haricot bean) coupled with best

management/agronomic practices have significantly enhanced productivity for smallholder farmers in

southern Ethiopia. The intervention has also resulted in capacity building for farmers and agricultural

extension professionals (DAs) through training and mentorship. Improved soil health allows farmers to

produce more than expected in some cases, thereby improving income and food security.

The project used different approaches to encourage household awareness, and improved income,

especially among women, by integrating pulse-based foods into their daily food habits, and that of their

families. The major nutrition interventions of the project that are being scaled-up to wider communities

and across institutions include; promoting pulse-based foods through nutrition education, using the local

government extension system (HEW, HAD & 1-5 Networks), awareness creation and product promotions

led by Farm Radio International (FRI); and fine-tuning and promoting pulse-based complementary food

processing methods and recipes; chickpea production for extruded snacks and flours by partnering with

the private company, Guts Agro Industry, Hawassa. A micro-finance business model is on track to, create

employment for women; improve household nutritional status by popularizing industrial processed pulse

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based products and; create market for smallholders by linking private processing industry for at least

10,000 households.

Our assessment show that scaling-up strategies for pulse innovation differs from location to location and

depend on the types of products and services. The government structure of one-to-five was found to be

the most predominant, particularly for knowledge intensive interventions like nutrition, though this

structure may overlap with other informal rural social networks.

2. Research Problem

Food and nutrition insecurity is a major public health problem for the Ethiopian population and there is a

need for increased production of high quality pulse crops through the use of best varieties and improved

crop management practices. Together with processing and preparation of nutritious pulse-based products,

these practices can significantly reduce the under-nutrition of Ethiopian children. Micronutrient

deficiencies, mainly zinc and iron, in under-five children, are common in the region and feeding practices

remain sub-optimal. Consequently, protein-calorie malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency are

prevalent in rural Ethiopia.

Pulse crops occupy about 14% of the cropland in Ethiopia and are the second most important component

in the national diet after cereals. They complement cereal crops in the diet, as a source of protein and

micronutrients. Agronomically, pulse crops serve as a rotation crop with cereals, reducing soil pathogens

and supplying needed nitrogen to the soil. Despite the critical role they play in Ethiopian agriculture,

actual smallholder farm yields are far below their potential. In addition to weather fluctuations and

prevalence of disease and insect pests, the possible reasons for the low yields are: growing local and/or

low yielding varieties due to inaccessibility to seed of improved varieties by farmers; low fertility status

of the soils; application of low inputs and/or growing without any input; and poor management of the

fields.

In Ethiopia, many improved agricultural practices either remain on a small-scale or are shelved because of

a lack of institutional linkage and coordination, poor communication and dissemination strategies, and

lack of capacity and experience. However, transformation of subsistence agriculture into a more dynamic

and market-oriented agriculture requires not only new research findings, but also improving adoption

capacity of stakeholders and presenting the innovations in a client-preferred and innovative manner.

Scaling-up of improved agricultural practices, can be a valuable and cost-effective strategy to capitalize

on past efforts and investments (CIFSRF, 2014). Although many ideas and impactful innovations are

effective at pilot or small-scale level, scaling up these practices to a greater number of beneficiaries-and

to wider geographical areas brings different challenges and opportunities. Initiatives designed to

stimulate wider scale change not only target farming households and their communities but also

government policy, operational modalities, and institutional set-up and structures.

Healthy well-nourished households are an outcome of successful social and economic advancement and

an essential prerequisite of a people centered development process. Sustainable agriculture is of critical

importance to delivering healthy, diversified nutritious diets, along with employment income. This project

offers an opportunity to address micronutrient deficiencies critical to achieving Sustainable Development

Goals (SDGs). It investigated those factors that could influence adoption of improved pulse varieties for

longer term sustainability. Male and females are at the center of our efforts to ensure improved

consumption of quality pulse-based foods and income/livelihood opportunities.

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3. Progress on Milestones: 24-Months- Joint Technical Report

N

o

Objective 1- Milestones

Achievement

% Evidence/Indicator Comment

1 Location-specific best chickpea

varieties together with agronomic

and soil management practices

implemented at the remaining 7

districts reaching 15,000

(Cumulative, 30,000)

80% - Number of selected

agronomic practices

introduced

- Number of key stakeholders

communicated

- Number of beneficiary

households (male versus

female headed).

14,805 of the 15,000 HH

were reached in 2016

(Cumulative 24,130).

The remaining 5,870 will be

reached in 2017 growing

season.

2

Sustainable local community

chickpea seed system

establishment and

operationalization, continues in

the 7 districts of the project. The

target will be 2 Unions; 20

Primary Unions and 1,000

producers for chickpea in the

season.

20% - Number of key stakeholder

communicated

- Number of direct and

indirect beneficiaries of the

seed system (classified by

headship)

- Number of localities/

villages in the seed system.

The number of unions

established.

Four Primary cooperatives

have been established in

four districts in 2016.

Establishing Primary Unions

is not a simple task, as it

involves serious

bureaucratic channels.

However, we are planning to

establish 11 Primary Coops

in the remaining 11 districts

in 2017.

3 Second year scaling up of best

performing haricot bean varieties

with location specific practices

completed at 7 districts reaching

10,000 (Cumulative, 20,000

households for bean production)

and reported

63% - Number of best performing

haricot bean introduced and

scaled up.

- Number of beneficiary

households (male versus

female headed)

A total of 12,556 HH were

reached in 2015/16 growing

seasons.

The remaining 7,444 will be

reached in the remaining

two growing seasons (Belg

and Meher) of 2017.

Objective 3

4 Process monitoring: Measurement

for Nutrition Program

Intervention completed 100%

80% # of studies completed

Described in Section2-Research

Synthesis; in three data is

collected and are being analyzed

for report in 36 month Report.

“Evaluation of effectiveness

of nutrition education

among rural mothers on

pulse and cereal mix

complementary food and

nutritional status of children

age 6-23 months in Sidama

Zone, Southern Ethiopia are

being analyzed

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5 Consumers in rural areas

(covering 15 districts: 15,000

households), pulse-incorporated

complementary food products ...

Women’s co-operatives sell the

flour products in line with the

project’s gender strategy

80% The number of consumers

reached by households and

districts.

Pulse-food products snacks

& flour prepared, sale has

begun by women

cooperatives with GUTS

Agro Industry. Second

round of sales in progress

Objective 4

6 At least one woman cooperatives

per kebele (for a total of 60

kebeles) for joint learning,

negotiation and marketing their

pulse-based products

operationalized and facilitated.

100% -The number of women

cooperatives and kebeles

covered.

-Amount of pulse based product

sold.

Micro-franchising business

model implemented in

several communities.

Women cooperatives began

sale of products. Train in

skill development in

business plan, marketing

and finance.

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Gender –specific training workshops for 100%experie

sharing, knowledge transfer

conducted.

100% # of gender specific training

provided through farmers field,

nutrition education, and micro-

franchising initiatives.

Gender specific training

especially on business

model, making and finance

has been carried out; women

are working in cooperatives

Objective 5

8 Publications of success stories and

key-scaling up strategies for

overall project developed and

shared

90% # of “Stories of Change”

published on the “Pluses of

Pulse” website and elsewhere.

Six project briefs on scaling-up

processes and tools have been

published and availed online;

through WIKI pages

Two draft papers on scaling-up

innovations have been produced

and submitted for publication.

Several publications are in

progress and will be

reported in the 30 months

Technical Report

9 Meeting of Scientific Advisory

Board

100%

Member of the advisory board

met with the team in Rome (Nov

10 -11, 2015) and during our

CIFSRF-October 12-13, 2016

meetings at the UofS, next

meeting UofS, May 26, 2017

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4. Synthesis of Research Results: Scaling up Pulse Innovations Process:

Preamble: This CIFSRF Pulse Innovation project combines new agricultural practices such as

rhizobial inoculation, intercropping and relay- or double-cropping pulse crops to produce more food

and improve the soil, and support for human nutrition programs, to enhance food security in southern

Ethiopia. It builds on a 20-year research partnership focused also on capacity building and training

(health and agricultural extension workers, graduate students as future scientists) thus strengthening

Ethiopia’s capacity to address food and nutrition security and livelihood on small holder farming

communities. Since 2010 the project has focused on pulses; introduction of high yielding varieties,

soil management, agronomic biofortification and nutrition interventions to encourage wider use of

pulses for household consumption.

Innovations: This phase of the project seeks to scale -up the innovations in food and nutrition

security to 70,000 farm households (about 20% female-headed) with the collaboration of public and

private sector partners. The two main innovations are:

High yielding haricot bean and chickpea varieties together with their best management

packages expanded to new project districts as well as in previously worked sites to ensure

availability of seed of the best varieties.

Nutritious pulse products identified in previous studies (and recipes for these foods) fine-

tuned and distributed through nutrition education and skill training and behaviour change

communication, targeted primarily to female farmers.

Objective 1: To develop sustainable pulse production and associated seed production and

delivery systems in 15 districts of SNNPRS: Innovation I – Packages of practices

and seed

1- Seed Production & Delivery for Improved Productivity

The main interventions are:

1) High yielding varieties (HYV) of chickpeas and haricot beans in selected project sites.

2) Improved agronomic practices (packages).

3) Soil fertility management for chickpea and bean production

4) Best-fit extension and communication approaches:

High yield of improved chickpea and haricot bean varieties: In 2016, chickpeas and haricot beans

were planted in 13 and 15 woredas, respectively. Seed producers received 20 kg of seed, fertilizer and

inoculum to plant their 0.25 ha. Seed producing farmers were required to return 20 kg of seed to the

project following harvest. Other farmers received 2 kg of seed to plant smaller fields for grain production.

Fields for grain production were sometimes but not always, clustered.

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In a recent visit to the field sites (researchers from HU/UofS), in November, 2016, 10 of 13 woredas were

inspected. Each woreda has at least one local expert advising participating farmers (Pluses of Pulse

Newsletter, 2016). Farmers mentioned that the high yields were the factor that favoured the adoption of

new pulses varieties, such as improved chickpea varieties. They said that while the old varieties yielded

tens of kilograms per kilogram of seed, the new varieties yield hundreds of kilograms per kilogram of

seed. One female participant (Microveg-Partnership study, 2016) pointed out that the old chickpea variety

gives a yield of 1.5 quintals per half hectare of land, while the new variety gives five quintals for the same

piece of land1. High yielding adapted varieties of both desi and kabuli types of chickpea have been

identified for 13 districts. Similarly, high yielding haricot bean varieties have been identified for the

project districts. Hawassa Dume variety was selected by farmers across the districts due to its relatively

higher yield, preferred red seed color and higher local market demand compared to others.

Improved productivity: Farmers’ Field-based Clusters (Seed Clusters): Model–follower and Farmers

Field-based Cluster approaches, are based on the assumptions of mutual learning, enabling and capacity

building. Through these approaches farmers are empowered to adopt improved agronomic practices to

improve food and nutrition security. Farmers require guidance from various actors in order to effectively

adopt these complex set of practices. They are likely to adopt new agricultural technologies when they

receive the same information from many diverse sources that include extension systems and market

actors, and social networks (ICRISAT, 2017). In this project, intervention kebeles and farmers were

selected by subject matter specialists (SMS) and development agents (DAs) in each district. This has in

turn triggered more farmers to venture into multiplication of planting materials, thereby increasing the

number of suppliers of improved varieties and diversifying sources of income.

Agronomic (Management) practice: Experts and development agents (DAs) received training on

improved agronomic packages; land preparation, optimum tillage practices, sowing time, seeding rate,

fertilization, weed management, pest control and harvesting. The DAs take the responsibilities of

transmitting the knowledge gained from the training to farmers of their respective kebeles. Additionally,

“Farmers field days”, often including demonstration plots, are being used for providing agronomic

information to producers. Farmer field days were held in five districts viz. Damot-Woide, Kucha,

Meskan, Sodo and Silti from 10-31, December 2016 and a total of 1,130 (296 female) individuals (zone

and district officials, experts, development agents and farmers) participated. The farmer field days were

given media coverage and broadcasted both by national and regional medias.

1 Ten quintals per hectare would fall in the medium yield category according to a study undertaken by Bill Brown

and others in 2016 in the same district. Some farmers obtained more than 10 quinals per hectare.

Evidence from the Field “The new technology of planting in row, fertilizer application and inoculation of chickpea, is like a new egg type for us with four times yield increments compared to the conventional practice”, said farmer Shukur Tadesse on the Farmers’ Field day conducted on 31 December 2016 in Silti district. Another farmer, Awel Masoro, also said “Initially, we pretended to accept the new technology only to please you, but witnessed its benefits. Now we have obtained four times chickpea yield increment (from 0.75 to 3 t ha-1) by using a high yielding variety of chickpea together with improved practices that you provided us”.

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On-farm participatory evaluation of varieties followed. A feedback workshop, where 143 participants

from region to kebele levels came together at Hawassa University during 10-11 February, 2017 to share

the successes, challenges and ways forward to the success of the project, was organized.

Soil fertility management for chickpea and haricot bean production: Conventionally, farmers do not

apply organic or inorganic fertilizers to pulse crops. Through the activities of CIFSRF projects, we have

identified improved biomass and grain yields of chickpea and haricot bean by applying optimum rates of

Diamonium phosphate (DAP) together with inoculation of Mesorhizobium (Call-3 Technical Report,

2014). Consequently, farmers are advised to apply 100 kg DAP ha-1 together with appropriate Rhizobial

strains to chickpea and haricot bean fields. Rhizobial strains EAL 029 and CpM 41, provided by

Menagesha Biotech Industry, were used for chickpea production in the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons.

The strain CpM 41, previously named as Cp 41, was isolated by a graduate student during the CIFSRF

Call-1 project. This strain was found to be better than the commercial strain imported from Canada in

terms of improving chickpea growth. For haricot bean, EAL 429 was used both in 2015 and 2016

growing seasons. Research projects are in progress to identify the best combinations of blended fertilizers

and Rhizobial strain inoculation for chickpea and haricot bean production in selected districts.

Best-fit extension and communication approaches: The target groups are model follower farmers (MFF)

farmers’ field-based clustered large scale demonstrations (FFCLSD), and farmers’ primary cooperatives.

Best-fit extension and communication approaches included farmers’ field day training and radio

broadcasts (Farm Radio International).

Figure 1: The change agents in the project field sites

Agri-business: Farmers’ primary cooperatives: For this reporting period, the project launched four (4)

chickpea and common bean seed producing farmers’ primary cooperatives in Hulbareg, Silti, Meskan and

Sodo districts. All the necessary documents (seed production plan, business plan and bylaws) were

developed for each primary cooperative.

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Progress from March 2016-March 2017

Production: A total of 181.4 tons of chickpea seeds (Habru, Arerti and Teketay varieties) were produced

by 128 of the 146 clusters in 2016. Each cluster consists of five individual farmers contributing 0.25

hectare of land each. The harvest data from the remaining 18 clusters will be reported in the final 36-

month report. The total production varied between districts owing to the prevalence of short drought

periods, Fusarium wilt and/or pod borer (Table 1). A total of 40.9 tons of Hawassa Dume (improved

haricot bean) variety was produced by clustered farmers during the “Meher” season (July to September)

in haricot bean producing districts. The South Seed Enterprise has started collecting all the seeds

produced by the clusters.

In general, wider adoption of improved seed varieties (chickpea and haricot bean) coupled with best

management/agronomic practices have significantly enhanced productivity for smallholder farmers in

southern Ethiopia. The intervention has also resulted in capacity building for farmers and agricultural

extension professionals (DAs) through training and mentorship. Improved soil health allows farmers to

produce more than expected in some cases, thereby improving income and food security.

Table 1. Total chickpea seed clusters, area cultivated and yield produced across 11 districts during

Meher 2016

Districts No. of

clusters

Total cultivated

land in ha

Total yield

(tones)

Yield per ha

(tons)

Remarks/

Causes for low yield

Halaba 9 11.25 0.7 0.06 Drought struck

Humbo 6 7.50 1.2 0.16 Drought struck

Daramallo 6 7.50 2.0 0.27 Drought struck

Damot Gale 15 18.75 7.6 0.41 Fusarium

Kucha 9 11.25 9.1 0.81 African Boll Worm

Hulbareg 15 18.75 10.7 0.57 Drought struck

Damot Woide 9 11.25 11.1 0.99

Meskan 9 11.25 21.9 1.95

Silti 15 18.75 32.2 1.71

Abeshge 15 18.75 34.1 1.82

Sodo 20 25.00 50.9 2.04

181.5

Participatory evaluation and selection of chickpea varieties: Participatory evaluation and selection on

the varieties was done before and after harvest at Damot-Woide, and before harvest (at flowering and

maturity) at both Kucha and Daramalo districts by 30 participant farmers.

During pre-harvest evaluation, the selection criteria used by farmers included earliness, canopy, pods per

plant and drought tolerance. Based on these characters, the varieties Habru, Natoli and Dalota were

selected as first, second and third ranks, respectively at Damot-Woide. At Kucha, the varieties Dalota,

Habru, Teketay and Natoli were selected in decreasing rank, while the order of selection at Daramalo was

Teketay, Dalota, Natoli, Ejere and Mastwal (Table 2). Varieties Dalota and Natoli (both Desi type) were

selected by farmers in all three locations and the variety Habru at Damot-Woide and Kucha (Annex

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Table-2). The pre-harvest evaluation result was related with the yield performance of the varieties at both

Kucha and Daramalo districts.

Post-harvest evaluation and selection of chickpea varieties were conducted at Damot-Woide using

farmers’ variety selection criteria namely grain yield, seed size and market preference. The pair-wise

ranking of varieties based on the established seed characters was done by consensus. For yield

performance evaluation, we used trays of the same size which simplified pair-wise ranking of the

varieties. Accordingly, the variety Arerti was ranked first and followed by Dalota and Teketay with

respect to the yield performance (Annex table-3). With respect to market preference, white seed color and

uniform seed size were considered as important seed traits for farmers at Damot-Woide district (Annex

Table-1 &2). Accordingly, two varieties namely Habru and Shasho were selected as first and second

respectively at the site. Despite its higher yield, Dalota was not selected by farmers due to its seed color.

The white seed color of Kabuli types has higher market demand as compared to the Desi types. Finally,

farmers at Damot-Woide district have chosen Kabuli chickpea types Habru, Arerti and Ejere varieties

(ranked 1 to 3 respectively) to plant in the coming chickpea growing season. On the other hand, the

farmers in Kucha and Daramalo districts have selected Desi chickpea types Dalota and Teketay

respectively for planting in the next growing season showing the variation of selection criteria amongst

farmers in different sites.

Figure 2. Grain yield of nine chickpea varieties across three locations

D.Woide0

1

2

3

4

Ch

ickp

ea Y

ield

(t/

ha)

D.Woide Kucha Daramalo

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Table 2. Participatory Variety selection before harvest by 30 participant farmers at each location and

grain yield

District Varieties selected Rank given Grain yield qt/ha

Damot Woide Habru 1st 29.18

Natoli 2nd 32.65

Dalota 3rd 37.17

Kucha Dalota 1st 12.41

Habru 2nd 7.99

Teketay 3rd 11.54

Natoli 4th 11.47

Daramalo Teketay 1st 10.74

Dalota 2nd 9.57

Natoli 3rd 7.44

Ejere 4th 7.77

Mastewal 5th 8.40

The analysis of variance showed highly significant differences between varieties in terms of grain yield

across the three locations (Figure 3 and Annex Table 1) suggesting the need for conducting participatory

variety selection at every site before scaling up.

The mean yields of the varieties in each location indicated that yields were higher in Damot-Woide than

the other two districts (Figure 2); this is partly due to adequate rainfall at Damot-Woide during the

growing period as compared to the other two locations where there were severe moisture deficits. The

performances of Arerti and Dalota were superior to the other chickpea varieties in Damot-Woide district.

At Kucha district, Dalota, Teketay, Natoli and Mastewal chickpea varieties had higher yield, whereas

Teketay and Dalota gave better grain yields than other varieties at Daramalo district (Figure 2 and Annex

Table-1). The newly released chickpea variety, Dalota, produced higher yield irrespective of the locations

(Annex Table-2). This shows that, variety Dalota was stable across the three districts as compared to the

other varieties. However, this variety was not selected by farmers in Damot-Woide owing to its color.

In addition to scaling-up/out activities, researchers are working simultaneously to address various

questions designed to ensure success and sustainability of the practices scaled up in this project beyond its

funded life. Three such studies are reported in this reporting period.

Study 1: Effects of blended and biofertilizer on yield and postharvest quality of chickpea

A study was conducted to see the effects of blended and bio-fertilizer on yield and yield components of

chickpea at Damot-Gale (Taba), Halaba and Hulbareg districts. The experiment was conducted from

September 2016 to January 2017 to: a) test the effect of using blended fertilizer on yield and N fixation

capacity of chickpea; and b) evaluate the effect of rates of blended fertilizer with rhizobium inoculant on

the yield of chickpea. The experiment consisted of 8 fertilizer treatments (as factor A): 1. Control (no

fertilizer), 2. 0N + 45 kg P2O5 ha-1

¸ 3. 6 kg N: 22.5 kg P2O5: 2.5 kg S: 0.5 kg Zn ha-1

, 4.

12 kg N: 45 kg

P2O5: 5 kg S: 1 kg Zn ha-1

, 5. 18 kg N: 67.5 kg P2O5: 7.5 kg S: 1.5 kg Zn ha

-1, 6. 6 kg N + 45 kg P2O5 ha

-

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1, 7. 12 kg N + 45 kg P2O5 ha

-1, 8. 24 kg N + 45 kg P2O5 ha

-1 . These treatments were factorially arranged

with two levels of inoculation (inoculated vs non-inoculated) considered as “factor B”.

Results: Data on nodulation, vegetative growth, yield and yield components were collected from three

sites (Halaba, Taba and Hulbareg). However, the yield data from only Halaba and Taba were ready for

analysis and are presented in this report. The data from Hulbareg are yet to be analyzed. The analysis of

data showed that there were no significant differences in yield between inoculated and non-inoculated

treatments both at Halaba and Taba. The fertilizer treatments were also not significantly different in yield

at both sites. (Annex Table-5).

Study 2: Response of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to blended and bio-fertilizers in selected

districts of SNNPR, Ethiopia

With the objective of exploring the growth performance and yield response of the common bean variety

Hawassa-Dume to the new blended and bio fertilizer applications, experiments were conducted at Halaba,

Misrak Badwacho (coded as Shone-1 & Shone-2) and Damot-Gale (coded as Taba & Gacheno) districts.

A total of five (5) experiments: one at Halaba, and two each at M/Badwacho and D/Gale districts were

conducted. The experiment had 6 treatments consisting of N, NP, NPK, NPKS, NPKSZn, and

NPK+Biofertilizer sources. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications was

used as an experimental design. Data for soil, yield and yield related traits were collected (only grain and

biomass yield was used for this report).

Result: Analysis of variance revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in both grain

and biological yields at Taba, Shone-1 and Halaba sites. However, significant differences in grain and

biological yields were obtained in Gacheno and Shone-2. Significantly lower yields at Gacheno and

Shone-2 were obtained in plots that received N fertilizer only, whereas the other four nutrient

combinations performed in a similar fashion with only slight yield differences (Figure-3 and Annex

Table-4). However, when we see the pooled mean of the 5 experimental site data (Figure 3), it showed

non-significant differences in both grain and total biological yields among the applied nutrients. Only a

slight yield increment was observed in plots which received additional P, K, S, & Zn nutrients containing

fertilizers over plots with N-fertilizer only. This absence of difference between treatments could be

attributed the good fertility status of the experimental soils. The analysis of the physicochemical

properties of the soils will be conducted and the experiment will be repeated in the coming growing

season to draw sound conclusions.

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Figure 3. Pooled mean grain and biological yields of common bean (t/ha) as affected by application of

different nutrients

Objective 3: To expand use of pulses in household-level food preparation and commercial

production of pulse-cereal complementary food - Innovation II: Fine-tuning and

disseminating Nutritious Pulse -based food Products

For Innovation II, fine-tuned and disseminated nutritious pulse-based food products, the project also used

different approaches to encourage household awareness, and improved income, especially among women,

by integrating pulse-based foods into their daily food habits, and that of their families. The main

interventions included: (1) advancing nutrition knowledge and behavioral change communication among

smallholder farmers; (2) developing market access and entrepreneurial skills regarding food processing

for sale; and (3) strengthening the policy environment to encourage greater consumption and improved

income. More specifically, the major nutrition interventions of the project that are being scaled-up to

wider communities and across institutions include

1. Promoting pulse-based foods through nutrition education and practical skill training for

recipe preparations and consumption using the local government extension system (HEW, HAD

& 1-5 Networks), and awareness creation and product promotions led by Farm Radio

International (FRI).

2. Fine-tuning and promoting pulse-based complementary food processing methods and

recipes; for example, chickpea production for extruded snacks and flours by partnering with the

private company, Guts Agro Industry, Hawassa. These are described in the following.

GYld

TBMYld0

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4

6

8

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Nutrient (N:P:K:S:Zn) applied in kg ha-1

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14

Nutrition Education: partnering with government’s health extension program through the Bureau

of Health (BoH):

Nutrition education was carried out through the national government health extension system with the

goal of reaching at least 3,500 women farmers. The national government’s health extension programs

include Health Development Army (HDA) workers. The HDAs are model mothers who are expected to

implement all components of the health extension program. HDA workers lead 30 households which are

organized in one HDA to five households (called 1 to 5 networks) and carry out home visits, which

consist of counselling to address the project’s objective 3. Previously a total of 100 trained Health

Extension Workers (HEWs) supervised the HDA workers and 1-5 mothers. The intervention was

conducted from April 2016-December 2016. End line data were collected between January-March, 2017.

To date, we have reached approximately 9,730 women farmers through nutrition education, pulse-based

recipe demonstrations, and skill training programs delivered by the 1-5 networks. Follow-up training was

provided to Health Extension Workers and Women Development Army group leaders in February, 2017.

Farm Radio International (FRI): Information communication technologies (ICTs), is a creative

approach led by Farm Radio International that combines radio and video to reach listening groups within

the project sites and beyond. Participatory programs, led by local radio broadcasters, are designed to

promote improved agricultural technologies and approaches. 135,000 farmers, (40% expected to be

females), are expected to adopt the promoted technologies contributing to food and nutrition security. The

project’s support enables consistent use by farmers of the information provided to increase their yield,

promote crop diversification and consider environmentally-sensitive technologies. The economies of

scale, gained from the collaboration with FRI, mean that the project can develop a variety of media

including print and radio to support traditional extension approaches, including demonstration plots,

recipe demonstration and nutrition education and training days. All campaign materials are based on the

same messages across all the media used by the project (farmer’s field, nutrition education). Overall, there

has been increased farmer awareness and demand for higher yielding varieties of chickpea and haricot

beans evidenced by inquiries about sources of improved materials received on the interactive radio and

mobile platforms during the joint campaigns. Listeners are found both in project target districts and

others. The research activity will test the effectiveness of the information campaign approach, targeting

multiple points of entry in small-holder farming households for wider-scale uptake of pulse technologies.

The research will also look for evidence that empowering women, in particular, with technical nutrition

and agricultural information has an impact on the decision-making processes in households. Finally, the

research will seek to determine if particular combinations of media and promotional approaches work in

particular contexts (age, sex, rural, urban) and to package these research finding to support policy and

practice developments.

Nutrition Education research: The project has undertaken several research activities designed to assess

the effectiveness of nutrition education (using Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) strategies) on

farming households, especially women and children. Three studies are: (1) Evaluation of effectiveness of

nutrition education among rural mothers on pulse and cereal mix complementary food and nutritional

status of children age 6-23 months in Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia, (2) Effect of pulse focused

nutrition education on knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of mothers and fathers towards nutritional

status of children 6-23 months at Halaba Special Woreda, Southern Ethiopia ; and (3) Effects of pulse

nutrition education on lactating mothers’ knowledge, attitude, practice and nutritional status in Sidama

15

Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Each of the interventions has been carried out and pertinent data collected. End

line data will be reported in the next reporting period, September, 2017.

From the baseline studies of our intervention studies we see that the knowledge, attitudes and especially

practices of mothers towards pulse use for their families, particularly use in complementary feeding (CF),

is associated with the diet diversity score (DDS). Poor practice (< .5 out of 5) has DDS < 3 while better

practice (> 3.5 out of 5) shows DDS > 3.

Figure 4. Diet diversity score and practice

Nutrition related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of mothers are one of the key indicators

measured as a determinant of nutritional status of both mother and young child. One of the strategies

used in 2016 as a result of the drought was to supply female farmers (n=376) with seeds (haricot beans)

and training in agronomic practices. During one of the nutrition education sessions, female farmers said

that “they know what to do” we have taught them well, their problem is that they have no pulses to make

complimentary foods for their young child. The project P.I. responded by providing each female farmer

with 2-kg of haricot bean for planting, during the planting season. Researchers from Hawassa University

provided training and mentorship. During a recent field visit (December, 2016) female farmers visited

explained that from the 2-kg of seeds they were able to reap 40-80 kg; some they use for household

consumption, some for sale and the remainder stored for next planting season.

One female farmer who received the 2-kg haricot bean, reaped 70 kg, when asked about how it improved

household decision making. She said:

Findings suggest that while participants receive necessary information they may be hampered by factors

beyond their control such as access, availability of proper food, and lack of control over decision making.

0 1 2 3 4

Tariku

Berhanu

Fereja

DDS practice

“Before her husband gave very little seed

for the household, most for market…

[because of the 2kg haricot bean she was

given]… now we together decide what to

eat, what to sell… We participate equally

in decision making”

16

Knowing these factors can help the project team design strategies to empower women to make the choices

needed to improve food and nutrition security for themselves and their families.

Pulse-based complementary food processing and recipe development

Agri-Business -Three agri-business cases are being piloted for scaling up adoption. The main objectives

of the micro-finance model are to: (1) create employment for women; (2) improve household nutritional

status by popularizing industrial processed pulse based products and; (3) create market for smallholders

by linking private processing industry. Expected outcomes include job creation for women who can

generate about USD 1.5 per day, and improved access and demand for affordable nutritional foods to

10,000 households.

In the summer 2016, a fine-tuning study took place at Guts Agro in Hawassa, Ethiopia by a UofS-HU

PhD student. Extruded snacks and flours were prepared from recipes piloted previously for chickpea-

maize, chickpea-barley and chickpea-sorghum blends at commercial scale at GUTS Agro Industry.

Preparation of extruded products from such blends is new to Ethiopia. Quality parameters such as

expansion ratio, textural analysis, proximate analysis, content of anti-nutritional factors and sensory

acceptability was also assessed. Prototype commercial formulations were prepared for dissemination.

In fall, 2016 training on creating a business plan was carried out at two of the project sites, Butajira and

Wolayita, Sodo towns for groups of women. The training was conducted by Shayashone, a business

consultant and project partner, with partners from the Bureau of Women and Children, Bureau of

Agriculture, Bureau of Small and Micro Enterprise Development, and GUTS Agro participating. Product

launch for selected chickpea-maize and chickpea-sorghum snack products were held in February, 2017 at

Butajira and Sodo towns. To-date the women groups have sold their first-round stock worth ETB 7000

and are now on the second-round order to Guts Agro-Industry. An example of the snack is depicted

below:

17

Research activity is ongoing and will continue to study and evaluate the effect of extrusion processing

on the properties of snacks and flours, including the mixing ratio of the chickpea, bean, maize, sorghum

and finger millet blends, nutritional composition of flour blends and extruded snacks, and shelf life and

functional properties (water hydration capacity, emulsifying capacity foaming capacity, protein

solubility) of extruded snacks.

Objective 4: To create capacity and improve women farmers’ access and control over resources

to enhance their participation, productivity, income, and nutritional status

The gender integration component of this CIFSRF project has focused primarily on operationalizing the

gender strategy, which was developed and approved in 2015. Over the past 12 months the gender capacity

was enhanced by gender research through multiple pathways: hiring a lead gender scientist and a post

doc, and allocating sufficient resources to support gender training workshops to implement the business

micro-franchising model; development of new, and integrating into current, women cooperatives for the

sale of nutrition pulse foods in semi urban areas (described earlier) The project has also sponsored a

number of female graduate students at the MSc and PhD level to enhance gender analysis skills. Three

members of the gender theme attended the IDRC Gender Workshop in Nairobi, in June, 2016. A paper

on the integration of gender was presented in the CIFSRF Workshop in Saskatoon (October 2016) and

also a poster was submitted to the Tenth Canadian Pulse Research Workshop, Winnipeg (October, 2016)

by a post-doctoral fellow. The project undertook research in three selected research sites (Sodo, Meskan

and Halaba) to deepen understanding of the existing gender relations and also to evaluate the outcome of

the intervention of the project on the empowerment of women. Two articles “Pulse innovation and

women’s empowerment: stories from the field in southern Ethiopia”, and “The Challenges of Women’s

Empowerment in Southern Ethiopia: the Experience of Pulse Innovation” have been submitted for

publication, February 2017.

Objective 5: To develop and expand the capacity of partners in integrating agriculture and

nutrition

The project provided post graduate training (MSc studies) to candidates selected from partner

organizations. A total of 18 MSc students from Bureau of Agriculture (6), South Agricultural Research

Institute (3), Bureau of Health (2), Bureau of Women and Children (1), Bureau of Marketing and

Cooperatives (2), Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (1) and Higher Learning Institutions (3)

were enrolled into Agriculture, Applied Human Nutrition, Agri-Business, Gender and Family Study

Programs. Three of the 19 MSc students discontinued their studies due to different reasons and the

remaining 15 are expected to complete their studies by January 2018. In addition, two (2) HU Nutrition

faculty are currently enrolled in the PhD nutrition program at the UofS. Both have undertaken field work

related to addressing food and nutrition security in Ethiopia (described in Objective 3).

The project has also supports a post doctorial research fellow in gender and social relations; two

manuscripts have been submitted, (described earlier) February 2017. The position is part funded by the in

collaboration with the Global Institute of Food Security (GIFS) UofS. A second post-doctoral research

fellow carried out field work 2016 on “investigating innovation dissemination pathways and diffusion

networks and the role of social learning and social networks in the adoption of improved chickpea and

haricot bean varieties” The position was carried out in partnership with CIFSRF MicroVeg project. A

third partner-ICRISAT undertook and reported on a major study to investigate “innovation dissemination

18

pathways and diffusion networks in the adoption of improved chickpea and haricot bean varieties”

(CIFSRF, 2016). Capacity building and training remains one of the strongest achievements of the project

to-date.

Figure 5: Framework for understanding Dissemination of Pulse Innovations

Study 1: Innovation dissemination pathways and diffusion networks

The ICRISAT team conducted research on innovation dissemination pathways and diffusion networks.

Nine project kebeles in 6 districts of southern Ethiopia were selected for the study. These included 135

seed producing clusters, and 45 grain producers. The study critically assessed the effectiveness of

innovation dissemination tools for scaling of legume-based agricultural technologies and nutrition

interventions, and sought answers to two basic questions: (1) what determines a household's decisions to

share or disseminate a given technology; and (2) how can we use these determinants as an entry point for

further scaling-up/out. Pertinent to this, data were collected from a sample of 170 participating farmers,

representing different scaling-up/out scenarios. The collected data were analyzed using qualitative and

quantitative methods of analyses. Figure 5, depicts a Framework for understanding the Dissemination of

pulses innovation for this CIFSRF project.

The way in which farmers share information about new technology differ from location to location (Fig

6). In general, the one-to-five government structure (1:5) is found to be the primary technology platform

in most study sites. It is a formal network established by the local government, facilitated by kebele

administration, aiming at facilitating participatory learning, communication and partnership among

farmers. The leader, selected by the team members should be a model farmer and be trusted by the

members and recognized as best community mobilizer. However, it is important to note that this structure

may overlap with other informal rural social networks; for example, with Iddir, equb, and debo.

19

The team developed a tool, Technology Diffusion Mapping (TDM) (Figure 7) to trace how agricultural

and nutrition innovations move from farmer-to- farmer and community-to-community. Early findings

suggest that farmers with better absorptive capacity for technologies are quicker to disseminate the

innovations, which supports the Model-Follower farmer approach adopted by the project. Farmers who

are food secured and have better access to resources (e.g. land, livestock, off-farm income) were more

proactive in sharing good technologies and practices than food-insecure households; thus justifying the

argument to produce more and then disseminate more. On the other hand, those farmers who are

producing for subsistence may have the willingness to share, but may be limited in their ability to share.

As shown in Figure-9, 92% of the households who took part in the dissemination process are non-

subsistence farmers.

In terms of knowledge translation, most farmers in the project area belong to multiple and overlapping

social networks that intersect within and across many communities, where they easily share project

knowledge, information and technologies through these networks. The project will need to systematically

track the flow of new project technologies both to demonstrate the extent of technology diffusion within

the project and to gain more detailed information about the social networks through which new

technologies are disseminated from farmer-to-farmer and community-to-community. As shown in the

following diffusion map, on average, a farmer participating in the project has donated or gifted 20 kg of

improved variety chickpea to family members, 9 kg to labor sharing member, 6 kg to ox-sharing member,

11 kg to friend and 7 kg to neighbors.

Figure 7: Technology Diffusion Mapping (TDM) for Chickpea and Haricot Bean Vanities

Figure-2: Technology Diffusion Mapping (TDM) for Chickpea and Haricot Bean Varieties

Recipient Chickpea given as GIFT

Quantity Age Distance

Family 20 49 1.14

Labor-group 9 40 0.1

Ox-sharing 6 38 0.123

Friend 10.7 32 0.5

Neighbor 7.3 49 0.58

Recipient Chickpea EXCHANGED with local variety

Quantity Age Distance

Family 15 60 0.167

Neighbor 60 40 0.07

Recipient Chickpea SOLD to nearby community

Quantity Age Distance

Family 100 45 1.5

Neighbor 10 45 0.167

Recipient Chickpea SOLD in markets and to Seed

Enterprise

Quantity Distance Market 161 3.35 Seed Enterprise 353 1.05

Recipient Haricot Bean EXCHANGED

Quantity Age Distance

Labor-sharing group

5 25 1

Haricot Bean SOLD in markets and to seed Enterprise

Recipient

Quantity Distance

1091 1.14 Market

579 0.64 Seed Enterprise

Recipient Haricot Bean LOANED

Quantity Age Distance

Family 50 47 0.18

Friend 10 38 0.5

Neighbor 12 30 0.17

Recipient Haricot Bean given as GIFT Quantity Age Distance

Family 12 42 0.9 Labor-group 4 50 0.5 Ox-sharing 53 35 0.21 Friend 8 35 0.22 Neighbor 9 42 0.87

Chickpea Haricot Bean

20

Study 2: Investigating the Role of Social Learning and Social Networks in the Adoption of Improved

Chickpea and Haricot Bean Varieties (Felicitas Egunyu, CIFSRF-Microveg)

Study 2, investigated factors that influence the adoption of improved pulse varieties in Taba Kebele in

southern Ethiopia. Specific objectives were to: (1) Examine the social networks that underpin the spread

of agricultural innovations, (2) Describe the type of social learning that occurs within social networks, (3)

Identify the factors that influence agricultural technology adoption amongst village farmers; and (4)

Identify influential farmers who facilitate technology adoption.

Results from surveys and focus group meetings with farmers showed the most important sources of

agricultural information in decreasing order of importance were: agriculture extension agents, researchers,

and fellow farmers. Most of the farmers learned about new farming practices and improved pulse varieties

through facilitated processes such as seminars, visits to research centers and demonstration farms. The

results also confirmed that farmers were cultivating improved pulse varieties obtained from multiple

sources but originated predominantly from government agricultural extension systems.

The study sites, Ade Taba and Gido Kodo sub-villages are located within the same village (Kebele) and

separated by less than five kilometres and yet social network analysis revealed that they show distinct

differences in terms of information sources and types of knowledge, food, and labour networks. Most of

the farmers who participated in the household surveys were connected to other farmers either through

knowledge, food/seed sharing, or labour sharing networks. The adoption of improved pulse varieties

seemed to be enabled by the multiple networks (knowledge sharing, labour sharing, and food sharing

networks) that farmers participated in. The farmers’ networks were not limited to their village but rather

extended regionally to other villages and districts.

Communication and Knowledge Sharing: Functional online WIKI platform was established and became

operational, where projects partners display lessons and key documents. Six policy briefs and four reports

have been written by the team to share key research findings on scaling-up approaches and to suggest the

next steps. The briefs targeted key issues including evaluation of project’s innovations, barriers and

enabling environment for scaling-up, success factors, and the seed systems and its key players (please

refer to annexes).

To sustain the platform structure and keep track of the progresses in the project, the second platform

meeting was organized in Nov 2016 aiming to create a forum for dialogue among various stakeholders

along the pulse value chain. It served as an arena where value chain actors and support institutions come

together to jointly solve critical problems that hinder the processes and/or activities of scaling-up pulse

innovations. In the workshop, participants shared their experiences, challenges and success stories while

implementing project activities. The key discussion points included: i) Issues and challenges that may

need IP support; ii) Future roles to be played by the regional platform; iii) Challenges in platform

operationalization and v) Strategies for promoting further scaling-up legume interventions.

The Project’s website was launched in January 2017. In October,2016, Researchers from Canada and

Africa gathered at the UofS, to explore how to scale up innovations in crops, vaccines, nutritional

supplements and gender empowerment into wide use in African homes and farms during the two-day

conference at the University of Saskatchewan entitled CIFSRF Scaling-Up Innovations for Impact:

21

Meeting the Food Security Challenge - A Canada-Africa Collaboration. The event featured five major

CIFSRF projects in four areas: vaccine, pulses, underutilized vegetables, and micronutrients.

5. Synthesis towards AFS Themes: (AFS) Themes

As described in detail in Annex 1, this project addresses, and informs policy for, AFS themes of:

availability by increasing agricultural productivity; accessibility by improving access to resources,

markets and income; and utilization by improving nutrition.

6. Project implementation and management

For project implementation and management two working groups were involved, one led by HU and the

other by U of S. As a multi-stakeholder partnership intervention, the implementation of the project was

guided by a regional steering committee in southern Ethiopia. The steering committee is chaired by Vice

President for Research and Technology Transfer at HU, and consists of Deputy Heads of Bureaus of

Agriculture and Health; Directors of South Agricultural Research Institute and Ethiopian Public Health

Institute; Head, Bureau of Women and Children Affairs; and Managers of South Seed Enterprise; South

Farmers’ Cooperative Federation and Guts Agro Industry. The project PIs serve as secretary. The Steering

Committee looks into overall project coordination, and monitors and periodically evaluates the operation.

The Project Steering Committee (PSC) led by HU met twice (on 15 August 2015 and 17 December

2016), to evaluate the reports and to provide advice to make necessary adjustments to meet the progress

towards the planned milestones. PSC and other policy makers have participated in Farmers’ Field Days

conducted on 17 and 18 December 2016 in Meskan and Sodo districts.

Additionally, the Project Scientific and Impact Advisory Board oversaw the overall progress, reviewed

and assessed outcomes, and provided guidance. The Scientific Impact Advisory Committee (SIAC) is an

independent international committee that has been established to ensure the greatest possible development

impact and delivery of development outcomes. The SIAC is expected to support, advise, question and

challenge the work of the project team in relation to achieving project objectives and outcomes over the

course of the project. Members of SIAC met first in Rome with the project leads and P.I.s, then in

Ethiopia (Hawassa) May 12-14, 2016 for a review of Months 1-12, and finally at the UofS with team

members following the CIRSF meetings (October, 2016) to discuss the way forward and plans for further

development, months 12-24.

Challenges: Constraints to wider adoption of pulse technologies

Scaling-up is limited by the availability of resources to address request for seeds and other agronomic

techniques, especially from farmers who have experienced the new varieties and others who have seen the

results and would like to participate. Said one female farmer “we want more”. Expanded partnership may

be needed to increase seed availability to address increasing demand from participating famers and others.

Pests: When asked what they didn’t like about the new varieties or what was constraining the adoption of

the new varieties, participants singled out pests. It seems the new varieties of chickpeas are more

susceptible to pod borer and Fusarium wilt compared to the farmers’ variety. When farmers were asked

what limited adoption, they mentioned the pod bollworm, the fact that it was an aggressive pest that could

not only devastate a field in few days (three to four days) but it also could transfer from field to field. For

example, the fields of individual farmers in Taba Kebele are often very close together. Farmers said they

needed to be vigilant in monitoring their chickpea crop and they also needed to have neighbours who

22

could afford to spray their crop. They also pointed out that it was sometimes futile to spray your field if a

neighbour didn’t because your field could get infested in spite of the care you took. If the spray is done on

time however, the farmers could benefit from the higher yield and price per unit yield of the new

varieties.

Climate change-drought, heavy rainfall leading to floods and loss of harvest.

In the 2015 growing season, temporary drought struck caused by El Nino was the major problem in

production of haricot bean and chickpea (Figure 8). Late onset of rain, poor distribution during the

growing period and drought at the flowering stage caused failure of haricot bean, particularly at Halaba.

The district Bureau of Agriculture and the NGO Farm Africa provided farmers in the districts with seed

of chickpea, thanks to the CIFSRF project that identified the viability of chickpea growth in the district.

However, chickpeas were also affected by drought during seed emergence and growth at Halaba and other

sites with light soils.

Figure 8. Chickpea and pepper fields affected by drought in 2015, Halaba site

In 2016, heavy rainfall and flooding were the major problems to haricot bean production. However, the

variety Hawassa Dume, which was used for scaling up across the 15 districts, was not affected by

flooding. This variety was tolerant to the heavy floods, as it stood erect during the growing season.

Additionally, the variety gives better yield than others and possesses the red color preferred on the local

market. Consequently, farmers in all districts are looking for this variety to plant in the coming growing

season.

Turnover of Experts and Development Agents:

Turnover of subject matter specialists (SMS) and Development Agents (DAs) has been another challenge

in dissemination of the technologies. The SMS and DAs at district and kebele levels respectively, leave

for further training or other assignments without proper handover of the project activities. In all such

cases, the project makes arrangement for training, although lag in the speed of dissemination would be

inevitable.

23

Annex 1: AFS Themes

This is a more detailed list of questions you should consider when filling out question #5 “Synthesis

towards AFS themes” in the main body of the report. Keep in mind it is not expected that each project

will respond to ALL of the AFS themes – focus on the most significant contributions).

Increasing agricultural productivity (Availability): How is the project leading to new and improved

agricultural solutions that increase food productivity?

The project does so by: (1) scaling up of proven packages of practices (improved high yielding varieties,

along with optimum rate of inorganic fertilizer and Rhizobium inoculation and agronomic practices); (2)

making use of new technology and innovative approaches, farmers can boost production and profits,

while at the same time improving soil quality; (3) providing them also with the capacity to feed their

households with nutritious foods. The project continues to undertake research to fine tune and /or

develop new insights into effective use of agricultural technology (high yielding, drought resistant seeds,

use of N-fixing microorganisms) and uptake pathways. In doing so, farmers working alongside

researchers are able to develop research skills. In a recent visit to the field, female farmers explained that

the desi type is preferred for cooking shiro because it requires less coloring, while the kabuli type is sold

for income (visit November, 2016). This may be a consideration for the future to provide both types of

seeds to farmers, especially female farmers.

Mitigation for food security? (e.g., mechanisms that cope with the impacts of climate change and

other shocks such as food price volatility). Chickpea is considered as risk-mitigation crop, particularly

when the main season cereal crops fail. In 2015, temporary drought caused by El Nino resulted in massive

failure of cereals as well as pulses during the main growing season in several project districts. Providing

farmers with chickpea seeds was taken as risk-mitigation both by the government Bureaus of Agriculture

and NGOs such as Farm Africa.

Addressing gender specific constraints to agricultural productivity? (e.g. reducing women’s

drudgery or workload/time spent in agriculture; involving men and women in the development and

evaluation of the solutions). The project devises mechanisms to augment women’s access to, and control

over, resources. It raises awareness of women farmers and health experts in particular by promoting and

training in nutrition education, recipes, processing methods and pulse-cereal blended food.

The project introduced double cropping of chickpea after harvesting the main season cereal crop to utilize

the free land and slack labor with minimum residual moisture. This technology was taken as a policy

issue by the regional government for enhancing production and productivity. Our past efforts have

developed intervention packages for scaling-up adoption that includes pulse-cereal blend complimentary

food products. These include flours, snack products and recipes for family use. These will be

incorporated in home consumption and for local commercial use. A key to this will be the development of

women microenterprises.

Contributing to environmental sustainability, and considering the potential environmental impacts,

both positive and negative, of the applications being developed? The project adapts environmental

resilient cropping systems by promoting double cropping of chickpea and this solution became part of the

government plan for enhancing chickpea production and productivity. It involves the production of

pulses, which fix atmospheric nitrogen for their own growth and benefit to the subsequent crops. Thus,

24

the activities reduce the use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers and hence contribute to environmental

sustainability.

Improving access to resources, and/or markets and income (Accessibility). How is the project (for

the most vulnerable, particularly women and children): contributes to improved access to

resources? (e.g. land, water, agricultural inputs, finance, extension or credit, ICTs). The project

provides men and women farmers with improved varieties of common bean and chickpea, bio fertilizer,

agricultural inputs (inorganic fertilizer, DAP) and chemicals (insecticide). It also helps the farmers to

better utilize their land and get additional benefit from the same unit of land by applying double cropping

practices. Moreover, the project seeks to empower women through training in marketing, finance and the

setting up of cooperatives to sell nutritious pulse foods and well as high yielding seeds. These initiatives

have helped to improve women’s decision-making skills and by extension household consumption of

nutritious foods. Nutrition education and skills training in recipe development/preparation have provided

skills in complementary food preparation for young children.

Addressing bottlenecks and constraints to markets (e.g. financial, institutional, gender constraints,

youth engagement). This CIFSRF project organized 675 common bean and chickpea producers (male

and female farmers) and facilitated marketing of their produce with Southern Ethiopian Seed Enterprise

with a stated additional 15% premium price. This shows that farmers were linked with market for their

production. Female farmers within cooperatives have received training on developing a business model,

accessing finance and marketing. Importantly, some of the cooperatives are themselves able to link new

females joining the cooperatives with such access.

Contributing to improved income? The project supported supply of certified common bean and

chickpea seeds to farmers organized in clusters. The groups received an additional 15% premium price

leading to improved income of beneficiaries. The microfinance model of sale for nutritious pulse food by

women cooperatives was launched in February, 2017 in partnership with GUTS AGRO industries.

Through this initiative pulse-cereal blend food products are available on a large scale to farm households

and urban consumers. We expect to reach at least 10,000 customers by the end of the project

Contributing to successful partnership models? (E.g. public-private sector-partnerships, civil

society, NGOs). To deliver impact to scale the project has established a Regional Pulse Innovation

Platform for effective technology uptake pathways. The Platform consists of all stakeholders (public,

Private, NGO, CG Center) and is linked with national platforms. It is considered as exemplary for scaling

up innovations.

Improving nutrition (Utilization). How is the project contributing to: Adequate and diversified

diets, particularly for women and children? (E.g. balanced diets, improved diet quality, nutrition

education, food safety practices, food fortification, addressing underlying factors related to

nutritional outcomes). The project is scaling-up the adoption of pulse-based food products though

nutrition education and training using behaviour change communication channels. This includes

providing training on processing methods, recipe demonstration, and through home visits for follow up

and utilizing the national health extension program. The main outcome targets are helping more women

and children to have adequate diet diversity, with fewer members of the affected population having macro

and micronutrient deficiencies. Recent studies show that 50% of mothers surveyed knew the right

25

combination of pulse and cereal to prepare complimentary feeding, compared to less than 20% in earlier

studies by the project, suggesting that more and more mothers are retaining the lessons learned.

Improved post-harvest food processing and storage techniques for better nutrition, quality and

safety? Linkages between agriculture to nutrition? (E.g. Pathways from food production, income and

women’s empowerment to nutritional outcomes). Pulse crop production on farms provided with seeds in

the project is used for preparation and consumption and for sale. Training is provided to male and female

farmers in the same settings in most cases on production, processing, preparation, and consumption.

Various business strategies (nutritious pulse-based food products sold through women cooperatives, and

traditional recipes adapted for consumption and for use in school feeding program) are being tested to

ensure market and service provision across the value chain.

Informing policy: How is the project informing and/or influencing the development and

implementation of food security policies? More specifically: How did the project directly engage

policymakers and decision-makers at different levels? (Please specify who the policymakers are.

E.g. ministers, members of parliament, senior government officials, advisors, technocrats? Please

also specify the level of government. National, provincial or regional, local government?).

The project engages policy makers though the national and regional pulse platform (the second policy

forum was held December 2016 in Addis Ababa) and in other venues and workshops carried out in

Ethiopia. International engagement was carried out at the technical workshop held at the UofS, October,

2016. Has there been a clear demand for the research results from the policymakers? At the request of

national and international policy platforms we have shared results for dialogue and uptake. Results were

shared also at the Micronutrient Forum, October, 2016, Cancun, Mexico, the CIFSRF meeting, October,

2016, and several other venues.

What evidence or research results were presented to policymakers or decision makers? Is there

evidence that policymakers or decision makers are using the results from your project? There are

clear uptakes in agricultural practices; we are working with national organizations in health.

What were the critical success factors or bottlenecks for engaging with and informing policymakers

and decision makers? The project adapts environmental resilient cropping system by promoting double

cropping of chickpea and this solution became part of the government plan for enhancing chickpea

production and productivity. Policy makers (Heads/Deputy Heads of regional Bureaus of Agriculture,

Women and Children Affairs, Research Institutes, Managers of Seed Enterprise and Farmers’ Cooperative

Federation) are included as members of the Steering Committee and were involved in planning during the

inception of the project.

26

Annexes

Annex Table 1. Grain yield qt/ha at each location and mean across locations

Variety Damot-Woide Kucha Daramalo Mean Rank

Habru 29.18cd 7.99cd 4.82e 13.99 8

Arerti 40.29a 6.73cd 6.87cde 17.96 3

Shasho 31.61cd 8.18bcd 5.93de 15.24 7

Ejerie 29.52cd 6.04cd 7.77bcd 14.45 5

Mastewal 28.48d 9.14abc 8.40bc 15.34 6

Natoli 32.65cd 11.47ab 7.44bcd 17.19 4

Dalota 37.17ab 12.41a 9.57ab 19.71 1

Teketay 33.00bc 11.54a 10.74a 18.42 2

Local 28.83cd 4.94d 4.60e 12.79 9

Mean 32.30 8.72 7.35 16.12

Cv% 7.87 21.98 18.15

LSD at 5% 4.40 3.32 2.31

NB: quintal (qt) is equivalent to 0.1 tons

Annex Table 2. Post-harvest selection results at Damot-woide district

Character variety Yield qt/ha Rank given by

farmers

Yield Arerti 40.29 1

Dalota 37.17 1

Teketay 33.00 2

100-seed wt.

Seed weight Dalota 37.63 1

Teketay 31.87 2

Ejere 33.87 3

Market (color) Habru 29.18 1

Shaso 2

Ejere 29.52 3

Over all Habru 1

Arerti 2

Ejere 3

27

Annex Table 3. Grain and total biological yield responses of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to

differences in plant nutrients

Treatment

code

N:P:K:S:Zn in kg ha-1

Grain Yield (t/ha)

Locations

Taba Gacheno Shone-1 Shone-2 Halaba

1 24:0:0:0:0 3.11 2.23b 4.01 2.50b 2.4

2 24:20:0:0:0 3.17 2.43ab 4.50 3.31a 2.52

3 24:20:60:0:0 3.48 2.74ab 3.62 3.34a 2.02

4 24:20:60:8.5:0 3.16 2.70ab 4.43 3.10a 2.4

5 24:20:60:8.5:1 3.4 2.59ab 3.86 3.26a 1.87

6 24:20:60:5.5:0 + Biofert. 3.04 2.81a 3.95 3.04a 2.07

LSD (P< 0.05) NS 0.5 NS 0.32 NS

CV (%) 16.9 13.5 22.9 6.8 27.5

Total Biological Yield (t/ha)

1 24:0:0:0:0 5.27 3.80b 6.58 4.42b 3.91

2 24:20:0:0:0 5.72 4.27ab 7.37 6.12a 4.76

3 24:20:60:0:0 6.4 4.85a 5.92 6.20a 3.77

4 24:20:60:8.5:0 5.61 4.85a 7.51 5.87a 4.61

5 24:20:60:8.5:1 6.05 4.52ab 6.52 6.18a 3.92

6 24:20:60:5:0 + Biofert. 5.27 5.00a 6.74 5.78a 3.85

LSD (P< 0.05) NS 0.7 NS 0.46a NS

CV (%) 16.7 11.3 22.6 5.35 26.3

Annex Table 4. Minimum, maximum and mean seed yield of chickpea scaling up in 11 chickpea

producing districts during "Meher" 2016

No Name of District Min. yield

(kg)

Max Yield

(kg)

Mean Yield

(kg) obtained

from 20 kg

seed)

St. Deviation CV %

1 Halaba 0 150 36.5 - -

2 Damot Gale 0 500 169.1 156.1 92.3

3 Damot Woide 75 475 246.3 105.4 43.8

4 Humbo 0 200 77.7 40.7 54.4

5 Kucha 0 400 120.7 87.4 72.4

6 Daramallo 0 110 66.3 37.4 56.4

7 Hulbareg 0 350 143.1 92.3 64.5

8 Silti 350 500 429.1 39.0 9.0

9 Meskan 0 800 522.0 231.5 44.4

10 Sodo 275 800 514.3 87.8 17.1

11 Abeshge 200 700 454.7 85.9 18.9

28

Annex Table 5. Mean yield of blend fertilizer and inoculation at Halaba and Taba

Treatment

Yield (t/ha)

Halaba Taba

No fertilizer (control) 0.7977 2.9001

0 N + 45 kgha-1

P2O5 0.7236 2.8455

6 kg N:22.5kg P2O5:2.5 S: 0.5 Zn kgha-1

0.7664 3.0525

12 kg N:45kg P2O5:5 S: 1 Zn kgha-1

0.6783 3.1863

18 kg N:67.5kg P2O5:7.5 S: 1.5 Zn kgha-1

0.7011 3.0614

6 N + 45 kgha-1

P2O5 0.6662 3.156

12N + 45 kgha-1

P2O5 0.6425 3.1915

18 N + 45 kgha-1

P2O5 0.8441 3.4049

LSD ns ns

Non-inoculated 0.722 3.1567

Inoculated 0.7329 3.0429

LSD ns ns

29

Annex Table 6. Places of teaching with number of people attending and social occasions

Project

Site/Woreda

Kebele Estimated

Number of People

Attending

Type of occasion

for gathering

Remarks

Boricha Hanja Goro 100 Meeting Kayo seed

multiplication

primary

cooperative

members meetings

Dorie Bafabano Ambolo Tekaga 50 Meeting Kebele arranged

the meeting

Damot Woidie Kindo Koyo 150 Soil and water

conservation

activity

Regular program

carried out though

out one month in

every year.

Damot Woidie Kindo Koyo 192 Farmers' field day One day during

harvesting season

Damot Woidie Tora Wilisho 30 Soil and water

conservation

activity

Regular program

carried out though

out one month in

every year.

Humbo Abala Sipa 150 '' ''

Abala Fircho 100 '' ''

Damot Gale Taba 80 '' ''

Hulaba Churiko-2 215 '' ''

Hulbarege Bilwanja 250 '' ''

Wacho Bisho 450 '' ''

Worabet 60 '' ''

Eilros Dorie 950 '' ''

Siltie Seda Berango 700 '' ''

Seda Berango 321 Farmers' field day One day in

harvesting season

Kucha Wuzetie 103 '' ''

Sodo Kiela Zuria 190 '' ''

Total 4111