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Many partners, big numbers? Estimating the extent of reach and use of innovations under the CGIAR Research Initiative – Diversification in East and Southern Africa
No full textAs resource envelops to fund international development activities become tighter, it is increasingly critical to demonstrate value for money. This is difficult for various reasons; chief among these is the failure to embed evaluation frameworks right from the start of projects. The multiplicity of scaling partners, and their interests and levels of involvement, makes it even more complicated to ensure consistent monitoring and evaluation. This paper develops and applies a replicable, population-based survey methodology based on computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) that can be used to assess the extent of reach, adoption and potential impacts of international development projects in contexts where baseline data are missing. We apply this method to the CGIAR Research Initiative – Diversification in East and Southern Africa, also known as Ukama Ustawi (UU) implemented with several scaling partners, across 12 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa: Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. This assessment was restricted to five countries only (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). The goal of the assessment was to measure the extent of reach and use of agricultural innovations promoted under UU across five project countries. We used quantitative primary data collected through CATI from a random sample of 6,445 rural people across 27 districts in five project intervention countries. The sample was randomly selected from all intervention districts using population-weighted sampling approaches to allow for inference to the population level within the sample districts. Awareness of technologies was notably high in Zimbabwe (97%), Zambia (65%), and Malawi (72%), although this did not translate to similarly high usage rates. For livestock-related practices, Kenya showed the highest awareness levels, with Zimbabwe following in second place. The study found a consistent gap between awareness and use of technologies across all countries. For instance, while 61% of the study population in Zimbabwe were aware of two-wheel tractors, only 10% used them. Similarly, despite high awareness of post-harvest technologies in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, usage rates remained lower at 59%, 21% and 19%, respectively. However, Ethiopia demonstrated lower awareness levels for minimum tillage and rotation/intercropping/mulching practices due to the shorter exposure period that Ethiopian districts received from UU interventions. Overall, approximately 1.05 million people (about 8.4%) out of the 12.5 million rural population in target districts were aware of UU activities, with Kenya and Zambia showing the highest awareness at 16%. Through various interventions and across the project sites in the five project target countries, a total of 164,363 people benefited from UU through using various innovations promoted by UU as of September 2024. Among these, 135,767 people or 82% were direct beneficiaries in districts where specific interventions were implemented and are users of unique interventions (i.e., without spillovers), whereas the higher number also represents people who benefitted from “spillover effects”. More than half of the beneficiaries (52%) were female and 56% were youth aged 18-35. These results demonstrate that UU exceeded the end of initiative outcome of 100,000 farmers by 36% without spillovers and 64% with spillovers, and the 40% women and 40% youth participation target by 12 – 16%. In terms of adoption of the promoted technologies, Zimbabwe showed the highest rates for minimum tillage and post-harvest mechanization technologies, closely followed by Malawi most likely due to a strong focus by the Government (e.g., the Pfumvudza program in Zimbabwe) and non-governmental organization partners promoting these technologies alongside UU. The study provides important insights into how international agricultural development initiatives can cost-effectively, measure their impacts and the extent of reach. The study also highlights the need for targeted approaches in project design and implementation to enhance technology adoption among smallholder farmers in East and Southern Africa. The success of the UU Initiative, particularly in countries like Malawi and Zimbabwe, provides valuable lessons on the need to build on from previous projects. This approach is a practical guide to future agricultural development programs in East and Southern Africa. The additional costs of nudging people to adopt technologies are lower in places where target innovations have been promoted before. Leveraging these advantages requires intentional efforts to build synergies and harmony to minimize conflicts, duplication and competition among development practitioners. National governments have a big role to play to actualize a harmonized approach to development facilitation by guiding where interventions are needed in the countries. Development practitioners too, need to do a better job to identify ongoing projects and find ways to build synergies. The methodology applied in this study can be easily replicated and applied in different settings. One potential improvement is to use cluster randomized sampling approaches and computing sampling weights at different clusters.28 page
Building a knowledge infrastructure for Transformative Innovation Policy (TIP). An analytical approach based on the experimental TIP conference 2022
No full textTackling social and environmental challenges requires communities that can create, integrate, use, and contextualise diverse knowledges. The Transformative Innovation Policy (TIP) seeks to respond to these challenges through collective action enabled by experimental and inclusive approaches. This paper focuses on examining the kind of knowledges, structures and practices required to build a knowledge infrastructure (KI) for TIP, taking the TIP Conference 2022 as a case study. The conference aimed at building a sustainable and inclusive KI for systemic transformation pathways, providing the basis for a TIP KI framework. The framework includes tangible and intangible infrastructures that support broadening and deepening networks, learning, unlearning, and aligning visions. These are the constituent elements to build communities of practice that can integrate knowledge towards transformation pathways. Furthermore, the paper explores how conferences can contribute towards transdisciplinary and action-oriented research as part of their developing strategies
Agronomic performance and resistance to maize lethal necrosis in maize hybrids derived from doubled haploid lines
No full textMaize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most widely cultivated grain crops globally. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), it plays an important role in ensuring both food and income security for smallholder farmers. This study was conducted to (i) assess the performances of testcross hybrids constituted from maize lethal necrosis (MLN) tolerant doubled haploid (DH) lines under various management conditions; (ii) estimate the combining ability effects and determine the nature of gene action in the DH lines; and (iii) identify DH lines and testcross hybrids for resistance to MLN, high grain yield, and other important traits. Eleven DH lines were crossed with 11 single-cross testers using the line-by-tester mating design, and 115 successful testcross hybrids were generated. These hybrids, along with five commercial check hybrids, were evaluated across four optimum management conditions, two MLN artificial inoculations, and one managed drought environment in Kenya. Under each management condition, the effects of genotypes, environments, and genotype-by-environment interactions were significant for grain yield (GY) and most other traits. Hybrids T1/L3, T10/L3, and T11/L3 exhibited higher grain yields under at least two management conditions. A combining ability analysis revealed that additive gene effects were more important than non-additive effects for GY and most other traits, except for leaf senescence (SEN) and MLN disease severity score. DH line L3 exhibited a desirable general combining ability (GCA) effect for GY, while L5 was the best general combiner for anthesis date (AD) and plant height (PH) across all management conditions. DH lines L2, L6, and L7 showed negative GCA effects for MLN disease severity. Single-cross testers T11 and T10 were good general combiners for GY under all management conditions. Hybrids T2/L11, T9/L10, and T2/L10 demonstrated high specific combining ability (SCA) effects for GY under all conditions. This study identified DH lines and testers with favorable GCA effects for grain yield, MLN resistance, and other agronomic traits that can be used in breeding programs to develop high-yielding and MLN-resistant maize varieties. Better-performing testcross hybrids identified in the current study could be verified through on-farm testing and released for commercial production to replace MLN-susceptible, low-yield hybrids grown in the target ecologies
Rising strong: Resilient farming through seed and mechanization
No full textThe 2024 Seed and Mechanization Fair, held in Masvingo province, Zimbabwe, emerged as a vital event, as smallholder farmers had faced an El Niño-induced drought during the 2023/24 farming season. Under the theme “Rising Strong: Resilient Farming through Seed and Mechanization,” the fair brought together 947 attendees, with women making up 72.5% of the farmers present. The event aimed at connecting farmers with access to climatesmart seeds, fertilizers, and mechanization solutions, focusing on drought-resistant crops and scale-appropriate equipment essential for smallholder farmers in semi-arid regions. A total of over 2,800 kg of seeds and inputs were sold, amounting to US780 in vouchers. Farmers benefited from access to drought-tolerant seed varieties and suitable mechanization tools, which are critical for navigating Masvingo's semi-arid climate. Notably, the Chengetai and Apiary Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSALs) from Ward 17 invested significantly with purchases of US761 respectively, and were rewarded with valuable agricultural tools—a peanut butter machine and basin digger, encouraging further community participation in agricultural advancements. The fair also facilitated knowledge-sharing sessions and highlighted the benefits of adopting conservation agriculture and drought-resistant varieties, crucial for improving farm yields under climate variability. The 2024 Seed and Mechanization Fair solidified its catalytic role as an invaluable hub for climate-smart agricultural solutions. It successfully bridged smallholder farmers with the resources, knowledge, and tools needed for resilient farming. Continued donor and partner support is essential to scale these impactful fairs, which drive climate resilience, gender inclusion, and economic empowerment among smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe’s vulnerable farming communities.18 page
Genetic mapping of stripe rust resistance in a geographically diverse barley collection and selected biparental populations
No full textBarley stripe or yellow rust (BYR) caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei (Psh) is a significant constraint to barley production. The disease is best controlled by genetic resistance, which is considered the most economical and sustainable component of integrated disease management. In this study, we assessed the diversity of resistance to Psh in a panel of international barley genotypes (n = 266) under multiple disease environments (Ecuador, India, and Mexico) using genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) (three on chromosome 1H and one on 7H) associated with resistance to Psh were identified. The QTLs were validated by mapping resistance to Psh in five biparental populations, which detected key genomic regions on chromosomes 1H (populations Pompadour/Zhoungdamei, Pompadour/Zug161, and CI9214/Baudin), 3H (Ricardo/Gus), and 7H (Fumai8/Baronesse). The QTL RpshQ.GWA.1H.1 detected by GWAS and RpshQ.Bau.1H detected using biparental mapping populations co-located were the most consistent and stable across environments and are likely the same resistance region. RpshQ.Bau.1H was saturated using population CI9214/Baudin by enriching the target region, which placed the resistance locus between 7.9 and 8.1 Mbp (flanked by markers sun_B1H_03, 0.7 cM proximal to Rpsh_1H and sun_B1H_KASP_02, 3.2 cM distal on 1HS) in the Morex reference genome v.2. A Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) marker sun_B1H_KASP_01 that co-segregated for RpshQ.Bau.1H was developed. The marker was validated on 50 Australian barley cultivars, showing well-defined allelic discrimination and presence in six genotypes (Baudin, Fathom, Flagship, Grout, Sakurastar, and Shepherd). This marker can be used for reliable marker-assisted selection and pyramiding of resistance to Psh and in diversifying the genetic base of resistance to stripe rust
Risk aversion, impatience, and adoption of conservation agriculture practices among smallholders in Zambia
No full textSustainable agricultural practices such as conservation agriculture have been promoted in southern Africa for nearly three decades, but their adoption remains low. It is of policy interest to unpack behavioural drivers of adoption to understand why adoption remains lower than anticipated. This paper assesses the effects of risk aversion and impatience on the extent and intensity of the adoption of conservation agriculture using panel data collected from 646 households in 2021 and 2022 in Zambia. We find that 12% and 18% of the smallholders were impatient and risk averse, respectively. There are two main empirical findings based on panel data Probit and Tobit models. First, on the extensive margin, being impatient is correlated with a decreased likelihood of adopting combined minimum-tillage (MT) and rotation by 2.9 percentage points and being risk averse is associated with a decreased propensity of adopting combined minimum tillage (MT) and mulching by 3.2 percentage points. Being risk averse is correlated with a decreased chance of adopting basins by 2.8 percentage points. Second, on the intensive margin, impatience and risk aversion are significantly correlated with reduced adoption intensity of basins, ripping, minimum tillage (MT), and combined MT and rotation by 0.02–0.22 ha. These findings imply a need to embed risk management (e.g., through crop yield insurance) in the scaling of sustainable agricultural practices to incentivise adoption. This can help to nudge initial adoption and to protect farmers from yield penalties that are common in experimentation stages
