Seed potato quality innovations for small scale farmers in Burundi

A user-led research and development innovation

CAPAD (leader, farmer based ), ISABU (Research), ITEC(private for profit), Wageningen University Astère Bararyenya, Annick Sezibera, Pierre-Claver Nahayo, Anicet Nduwimana, Pierre Niyonzima, Déo Nyawakira, Jean-Pierre Sindihebura, Ernest Vyizigiro, Vital Ndayishimiye, Anton J. Haverkort

} Potato is an important and a cash crop for farmers where it is grown and seed quality is their greatest concern

} There is a need to develop demand-driven research and innovation partnerships

} End-users need not be seen as the “study-object” but as the co-owner of R&D

} Co-creation with end-users delivers assures addressing right problem and applicable results

Through partnering (PPP), why?

} To complement own experiences, skills and capacities;

} To create “synergies‟ through the complementary golden triangle business-government-science

} To build and develop skills and knowledge in partners that can be sustained

} To leverage resources of growers and their fields, scientist and their innovations, extensionists, policymakers and funding agencies

Address the central problem of what “farmers” and “researchers” know

Places more reliance on the myriad actions of farmers screening and diffusing locally adapted seed materials.

Supervised learning: Breeders know what works, and the aim is then to increase adoption superior genotypes)

Unsupervised learning: The “farmer first” approach. May be superior in complex networks for the exchange and utilization of genetic information

the idea that Knowledge acquisition process is distributed across a network of actors

Model of learning

Valuing different sources of knowledge including local knowledge

Bringing together of “multiple perspectives, multiple realities‟ through dialogue, joint analysis, reflective learning

Developing trust- With farmers, private sector? - Local innovations becoming always an entry point for building partnerships

- Relevant innovation

- Success story

Model of learning cont’

Assumption: Proper technology, farmer based knowledge and efficient knowledge governance

Treatment Results

New variety 20 % yield increase**

Improved seed 80 %, increase***

Early harvest 30 % lower yield* but less BW**

Early harvested seedreplanted

Drastic increase BW**, not expected

Seed from DLS 30 % yield increase*

Chemical fertilizer use 50 % yield increase***

Fungicide sprays 60 % yield increase***

Results highlights from 580 on-farm plots

Full season training, training of trainers, mother plots with farmers, extension services and administrative officers

Low cost but very effective facilities

Document Success stories

Flyers, posters, Brochures and one

scientific peer reviewed paper in Potato Research

On-farm experiments on improved propagation material and cultural practices of potato in BurundiAstère Bararyenya1, Pierre-Claver Nahayo2, AnicetNduwimana2, Pierre Niyonzima1, DéoNyawakira1, Jean-Pierre Sindihebura3, Ernest Vyizigiro1, Vital Ndayishimiye3Anton J.Haverkort4.5

- Production is not an end,- Market and quality of

produce are challenging

} Maintaining consortium dynamic (motivation of technical teams, funding mechanisms and their sustainability, coordination, …)

} How do we deal with power relationships in multi-stakeholder partnerships?

} How do we make partnerships more representative (farmers, gender, private sector, policy, etc)?

} How are we monitoring and evaluating our partnerships, what tools and methods?

} How do we foster institutional change processes within our partnerships?

Thank you for your attention