1.International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org

2. Presentation Introduction on Regionaloutlines Research Networks (RRN) Key products of RRN The case of Southern Africa Root & tuber crops Research network (SARRNET) Challenges and difficulties of setting up/running RRN International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 3. Justification of a RRN1. Complementarities and synergy2. IAR4D efficiency3. Information sharing4. Efficient technologies dissemination in homologue sites within the region5. Collaboration with various partners6. Efficient utilization of increasingly scarce human & financial resourcesInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 3 4. Categories of Based on RRNs Commodity (e.g. legumes,R&T crops etc) Field of specialization (e.g.breeding, Seed system,policy etc) Eco-region and/or specificdevelopment/researchpriorities (ChinyanjaTriangle, disease/pestcontrol, etc)International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 5. Achieve economies of scale Key products of in research RRN Research involves high(summarized from CGIARTAC: Regional approach startup costs to Research for theCGIAR and its partners) Small/poor countries,difficulties in achievingthese economies of scale A logical response is toseek a regional divisionand exchanging results, ororganizing research as aregional networkInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 6. Key products Matching funds for under-(ctd) investment on R4D at national level Most African countries tend to under-invest in agricultural research Cooperation to plan investment at the regional level is a logical approach to reducing under- investment in research. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 7. Key products Provide accountability and (ctd) resilience to capture: A regional approach helps create greater visibility and accountability to the use of funds More impartial external audits can be used to track use of funds and impact achieved. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 8. At the regional level, research priorities need toKey products be established as part of a(conclusion) shared comprehensive development framework This framework needs to be widely owned by stakeholders in the region To achieve this, it has to be developed through inclusive consultations and dialogue with regional stakeholders International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 9. SARRNETDR Congo International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 10. SARRNET ObjectivesExpand the utilisation of cassava and sweetpotato inSouthern Africa through : Development and promotion of improved production systems (improved varieties, IPM and crop and soil management practices) Exploration and development of new markets and applications in close collaboration with private sector partners Development of processing technologies that fit the needs/capacity of rural and industrial processors Providing technical support/training to national partners International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 11. STRATEGY (contd)R4D on commodity chain approach Food Feed Raw industrial materialsInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 12. Functional roleCoordination Unit - LilongweFunds Sourcing & DisbursementSARRNET Coordinator Day-to-day Project Management(SARRNET Admin/Technical Staff)Germplasm & Information Exchange Monitoring and Evaluation Regional Advisory CommitteeNARS, USAID, SADCApproval of Work Plan IITA, CIP, University, NGOs Funding Allocation Pvt Sector, Extension, Farmers National Task ForcesNARS, UniversityPrivate Sector National Implementation Farmers Associations, NGOs, etc.International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 13. SARRNET focal countries Under SACCAR leadership: 4 main countries (Mlw, Tz, Zam & Moz); 4aver. (Ang, S.A., South DRC & Zim); 4weak (Nam, Bot, Swa & Les)From 2004: Focus to Chinyanja Triangle (Parts ofMlw, Moz & Zambia with Nyanja ascommon language) and Angola Donordriven Survived SACCAR era by direct contactIITA and USAID/SA International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 14. Regional Germplasm development strategyRegional Specific studiesTechnologyTesting & Post-graduate trainingcapacity On-job trainingbuilding Exchange visits, scientific workshops, annual meetings Publication of ROOTS, proceedings, journal articles Etc. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 15. Improved germplasm in SA region1614Number of varieties121086420 e iaae caawbwqu bilgo rim al biAfbaAnZa Mammh utZi oz So M International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 16. Regional Best landraces cleaned inbenefits RSA and distributed to SARRNET countries Cassava TMS 60142 and S/P SPN/O released in more countries International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 17. Regional screening for SBSD in Mtwapa(EARRNET and SARRNET)International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 18. Cassava and sweetpotato research in Malawi successful program: Yields20,0002,5002,000Yield (Kg/ha)Yield (Kg/ha)15,0001,50010,0001,000 5,0005000 0 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 Harvest yearCassava S.potatoes Maize International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 19. Example of tech. Sharing:cassava silageInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 20. Figure 1: Effect of cassava root and leaf silage on milk production1816141210 8 6 4Cass silageMaize silage 2 0International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 21. Cyanogen levels in cassavasilage during preparationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 22. Effect ofensilingmethodon HCNlevels incassavasilageInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 23. Effect of feeding cassava silage onquality of milk Milk from animal fed from cassava silagehad high butterfat content of 3.6% onaverage as compared to the control thathad 3.2% Economic analysis indicated that everyKwacha invested in cassava silagebrought a return of K49.20 ($0.55) asopposed to K14.00 ($0.15) from theinvestment in maize and grass silageInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 24. Farmers can undertake silage production commercial enterprise especially using the plastic bags.Commercial Commercial farms could use theproduction ofplant density of 40,000 whilecassava silage smallholder farmers could use 22,200. Pit ensiling despite less profit margin should be promoted more than bag ensiling as it preserves CP which is very important for dairy production Motorized choppers should be developed to easy the heavy workload on manual chopping roots and leaves International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 25. Cassava Tested and validated fromsilageMalawi Introduced to Tanzania Zimbabwe Cost in Malawi: US$20,000 Cost in other countries forvalidation: US$500International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 26. Example 2: Model of linking farmers toPilot starch and marketsflour processing Community ownershipplants Individual/private ownership Pilot Starch factory Tanzania Malawi Sustainability in Malawi on pvt ownership International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 27. Cassava starch processingat Masinda in Nkhotakota International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 28. Challenges and difficulties of settingup/running RRNInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 29. Commissioned studiesCompetitive grants Regional Weak countriesapproach/activities eliminated Team work Segmented R4D activities Complementarities ofat regional & nationalactivities btn weak & levelsstrong NARS Appropriation of funds by Bias on funds individual grant winnerallocation to NARS Good proposal writers(influential SC members,but poor implementerslaziness with fundsassurance) International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 30. The regional groups apparently tend to do aWeak link with reasonable effort at bringingpolicy makersthe agricultural stakeholders together, but they do not always manage to forge institutional linkages with policy planners (Gvts & SADC-FANR) and the political machinery that makes decisions about development and investments. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 31. SADC-FANR vs.Strong SRO for Absence of efficientSARRNETSRO since SACCAR closure Weak leadership in the region No catalytic institution for NARS, CG centers etc. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 32. National pride onChallenges shared and(ctd) complementarities activities e.g. breeding capacities in each country Namibia/Swaziland vs. Malawi/Zambia Some NARS refusing to share germplasm International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 33. SARRNET Mainly by USAID/SA (highFUNDINGrisk for sustainability) SADC govts not investingin the network but wish tosustain it with externaldonor funds Difficulties in fundsjustification by someNARS/univ.International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org 34. ThanksInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture Institut international dagriculture tropicale www.iita.org