Transcript Innovation Platforms for better performance of the

Innovation Platforms for improving
performance of the agricultural sector: the
case of MIRACLE
Therese Gondwe(PhD)
Technology Dissemination Specialist
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
A member of the CGIAR consortium
www.iita.org
Outline
• Background to MIRACLE
• Challenges faced by HIV/AIDS affected people
• How is an IP formed under MIRACLE
• What has been done -Testimonies from the field
• Challenges faced on Innovation Platforms
• Conclusion
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What is MIRACLE
• A project: ”Making Agricultural Innovations Work for
Smallholder Farmers Affected by HIV and AIDS in Southern
Africa”
• Location: HIV/AIDS hotspots in Malawi, Mozambique,
Swaziland and Zambia
• Project AIMS: To improve the health and nutritional status,
food security, and income of people affected by HIV/AIDS
through the production, consumption, marketing of
nutritionally-enhanced crop and livestock products
– Advocating supportive agricultural and health policies, a
– Strengthening the capacity of key stakeholders engaged in
agricultural activities.
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Challenges faced by HIV/AIDS Affected people
• Social exclusion due to stigma issues
• Weak immune systems hence limited capacity to do
farming activities
• Low production per unit area e.g cassava
• Limited markets
• Lack of interest to grow nutrient dense due to limited
knowledge on processing techniques
• Weak institutional support to support technology
generation and dissemination
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An innovation systems approach
Knowledge generation
Supply - push
Stakeholders
NGOs
Extension
Traders
Processors
Financiers
Communication
Others
Information
market
Demand - pull
Increasing farmer capacity
to use knowledge
Putting knowledge into use
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How IPs were formed in MIRACLE
• Strategic level IPs at National and District level e.g
Swaziland
• Operational level IPs at community level – with
membership from same stakeholders as
Strategic level IPs
• Innovation Platform members monitor project
implementation and provide advice and
direction to tackle agriculture and nutrition
issues
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Operational level IPs
• Malawi – Village Development committees
(22)
• Mozambique – Comité Consultivo Local (16)
• Swaziland – Inkhundlas (18)
• Zambia – Camp Agricultural Committees (12)
In each case local farmer groups (or CBOs) were
represented on the IP and activities undertaken
to support and build their capacity
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What made the Innovation Platforms
successful?
• MIRACLE project was facilitating the process at the
beginning
• Used existing community based structures
• Use of Participatory Research and Extension
Approaches (PREA) i.e social mobilisation
(community analysis and priority ranking) , action
planning, learning while implementing and sharing
experiences
• Meetings were scheduled following the PREA cycle
• Production for the market and nutritional needs-winwin situation
• There were strong & committed partners
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Participatory Research and Extension Approach
Technical
backstopping
Training
midSeason
evaluation
Trying
out new
ideas
PREA
Learning Cycle
Training
PREA Training
End of
season review
and process
monitoring
Training
Prioritising
needs and
problems
Entering
community
build trust
Raising
awareness
Identifying
local organisations
Feedback
To
community
Identifying
needs &
problems
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Action
planning
Exchange
visits
Searching
for
solutions
Mandating
local
institutions
Consider
options
Planning
for next
learning
cycle
MIRACLE
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Innovation Platform on Cassava Value chain in MansaNorthern Zambia
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Innovation Platform on Soybean seed
production
• Shortage of soybean seed was identified as a
challenge
• Local IP identified the need and potential seed
growers
• IITA with Ministry of agriculture facilitated training
and provision of basic seed
• Through scheduled IP meetings a seed company got
interested and decided to be giving farmers direct
contracts.
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An ofagrodealer found a market for chemicals www.iita.org
such as
Challenges
• Involvement of the private –limited at the
beginning unless they see business
• Needs more time and commitment by all
partners for building trust
• Challenge to get hard core scientists
committed to the process
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Bringing partners together
Local
participants
R&D
Organisations
Private
Sector
Phase 1: Engaging with
stakeholders
Interest
Leadership
Interest
Phase 2: Planning,
learning and assessing
Facilitation
Collaboration
Backstopping
Commercial
opportunity
and farmer
support
Time
Collaboration
Phase 3: Ensuring
sustainability
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Ownership
Leadership
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References
Adekunle, W (2013): Partnerships and Strategic
Alliances for better performance of the agricultural
sector in Africa. Forum for Agricultural Research in
Africa (FARA)A paper presented at an African Crop
science Society Conference Entebbe, Uganda, October,
2013
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Thank you
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