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Improving farmer and other stakeholders' access to quality information and products for pre- and post- harvest maize systems management in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania
Start Date: 15/01/2005
End Date: 15/01/2006
R Number: R8422
DFID Programme: Crop Post Harvest
Funding Department: Central Research Department
Related Documents: View Related Documents
Managing Institute: Natural Resources International Limited (NRIL)
Lead Institute: Agricultural Research Institute, Uyole (ARI)
Collaborating Institutes: Farm Input Promotion Scheme (FIPS); Natural Resources Institute (NRI); DAI PESA; Highlands Seed Growers Ltd; INADES Formation Tanzania; Mbegu Technologies
Regions: Africa, Eastern Africa
Countries: United Republic of Tanzania
Geographic Area: Southern Highlands
Objectives:
New knowledge is generated and promoted into how national innovation systems can be mobilised to sustain uptake and adoption of CPH knowledge for the benefit of the poor. Specifically to provide innovative learning tools and products, to address the pre- and post- harvest training needs identified by maize seed system stakeholders in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, using both existing and novel promotion pathways.
Background:
While working on improving farmers' access to and management of disease resistant maize cultivars, the demand for further information and post-harvest training tools for use by stockists, public sector service providers, private companies and farmers was raised again and again, reflecting the changing context in which these stakeholders are operating. This action research project aims to support the validation and where necessary the creative and innovative adaptation and/or development of learning tools/methods and pathways demanded, examples of which include small packets of inputs to facilitate stakeholder experimentation with different products, post-harvest training module for FFS facilitators, radio programmes on successful marketing partnerships. The process of developing tools and approaches will in itself offer learning opportunities for the project partners and other key players, particularly policy makers.Intended Outputs:
Access to agricultural information and materials to facilitate experiential learning on*maize varieties
*fertility management practices
*grain and seed storage practices
*maize business information
*small packets of seed and other inputs
enhanced for farmers managing maize in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.
Capacity, effectiveness and morale of government and NGO agricultural trainers, and stockists and distributors of agricultural inputs improved as a result of increasing their understanding of the issues and products they deal with and their access to relevant demand-driven information.
Progress and Impact:
The Inception workshop was held in February 2005 and was attended by 28 participants from the extension service, research, training, NGOs and the private sector. The workshop reviewed and shared information and developed a workplan, its report is being finalised. In April 2005, the validation survey was conducted in 2 villages in each of 5 districts namely Iringa, Njombe, Mbarali, Mbozi and Ileje. Both farmers and inputs stockists were involved in the validation survey.Total Cost to DFID:
£46,884
Aries Code: 112685
MIS Number: 781648003