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Feasibility Study on Striga Control in Sorghum
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Sorghum remains an important food security crop in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and especially in the marginal areas where other crops do not do well. Sorghum production in SSA is estimated at 26 million MT with Nigeria being the leading sorghum producer in Africa and the second in the world after USA. Mali ranks second in Africa and sixth in the world with Ethiopia ranking third in Africa and eighth in the world. Sorghum is primarily a smallholder crop grown primarily for household food security. Commercialisation of the crop is rather limited and its value chain is under developed. Striga remains a major constraint not only to sorghum production but also to other cereals and other crops (including sugarcane). In Ethiopia, for instance, Striga affects all cereal crops and unlike other countries like Kenya it is also found in the highlands where the soils are fertile. Annual sorghum losses attributed to Striga in SSA are estimated at 22–27% and specifically at 25% in Ethiopia, 35% in Nigeria and 40% in Mali. In terms of monetary value, the annual cereal losses due to Striga are estimated at US$ 7 billion in SSA. In Ethiopia, Mali and Nigeria, the annual losses are estimated at, US$ 75 million, US$ 87 million and US$ 1.2 billion, respectively. This study demonstrates that there are potential benefits in terms of yield gains and farmer incomes from use of HR sorghum varieties. The anticipated yield increases are between a minimum of 17.5% in Ethiopia and a maximum of 36% in Mali, depending on the level of protection achieved.
Click here to download publication
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WEMA Progress Report - March 2008–March 2011
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In Report:
- The project
- The partnership
- Key activities: March 2008 – March 2011
- Drought-tolerant gene for WEMA
- WEMA breeding and testing programme
- Awareness campaign
- Strengthening capacity to deliver droughttolerant maize
- 'Seeing is believing' study tours
- Stakeholders rate WEMA
Click here to download publication
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A Study on the Relevance of Chinese Agricultural Technologies to Smallholder Farmers in Africa
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The study identified key Chinese agricultural technologies that may be used to improve productivity in SSA. These include improved crop varieties; multiple-disease resistant high-yielding wheat; multiple disease resistant high yielding maize; slow release fertilisers; dryland technologies, water conservation and harvesting techniques, supplementary irrigation, micro-irrigation and plastic mulch; land management practices and policies; re-organisation of a moribund agricultural extension system; technologies for reducing post-harvest losses; mechanisation with appropriate technology to increase labour productivity; and integrated aquaculture farming that focuses on joint production of fish, livestock and crops. This study proposes that to facilitate technology access and delivery, FOCAC could be used as a conduit for disseminating agricultural technologies. Click here to download publication |
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GMOs for African agriculture: challenges and opportunities - published by Academy of Science of South Africa
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The Workshop proceedings report is the product of a two-day workshop hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) from 17-18 September 2009 with an introduction by Dr Gospel Omanya, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF).
Click here to download publication |
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Science and Innovation for Development - Gordon Conway & Jeff Waage with Sara Delaney
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Science and Innovation for Development is a path-breaking book that reconnects development practice with the fundamental, technical processes of development outlined more than 50 years ago. It is a refreshing reminder that development is a knowledge intensive activity that cannot be imposed from the outside.
The Imperial College, London, in conjunction with AATF, gave the book an African launch in Nairobi on 7 April 2010
Sir Gordon Conway is a member of the AATF Board of Trustees
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| Baseline Study of Smallholder Farmers in Striga Infested Maize Growing Areas of Central Malawi |
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This report presents the results from a livelihood study of smallholder farmers carried out in Striga stricken maize growing areas in four districts of central Malawi namely Dedza, Kasungu, Mchinji and Lilongwe. Maize is the major staple in Malawi and the Central Region as the major maize growing area. Given its pivotal position in the national food basket, maize is marketed in both rural and urban centres. The maize sub-sector has been constrained by many factors of which Striga is among the more significant production constraints. A selective sampling strategy was used to select the four districts from which 40 villages mostly hit by Striga were randomly selected. Seventy-five (75) households in each district were randomly selected for interviews. Click here to download publication [pdf 1,550 k] |
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Baseline Study of Smallholder Farmers in Striga Infested Maize Growing Areas of Eastern Uganda
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This report presents the results of a livelihood study of smallholder farmers undertaken in Striga-infested maize growing areas in four districts of eastern Uganda, namely Tororo, Busia, Budaka and Namutumba. Maize is an important crop in this region but its production has been constrained by a number of constraints of which Striga is ranked first. A structured sampling strategy was used to select the four districts from which 40 villages mostly affected by Striga were randomly selected. Seventy-five (75) households in each district chosen were randomly selected for interviews. Click here to download publication [pdf 1,230 k] |
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Baseline Study of Smallholder Farmers in Striga infested Maize Growing Areas of Eastern Tanzania
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The report presents findings from a livelihood study of smallholder farmers in Striga-infested, maize growing areas of eastern Tanzania using the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF). The report provides baseline indicators against which the progress of future interventions to control Striga can be objectively measured. The study was conducted in five districts, namely Morogoro, Mvomero, Muheza, Mkinga and Handeni. The selection of districts was based on two criteria; maize being among the major crops and Striga being a major constraint to maize production. The study was conducted in five districts involving a total of 20 villages covering a sample size of 301 households. Click here to download publication [pdf 1,400 k] |
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Feasibility Study on Technologies for Improving Banana for Resistance against Bacterial Wilt in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Banana Bacteria Wilt (BBW), a bacterial disease with a potential to wipe out a thriving banana industry, was first reported in Uganda in 2001. It has since spread to almost all the main banana growing regions in the country and crossed into Kenya and Tanzania. In Rwanda the disease was officially reported first in July 2006. It is believed to have crossed from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Rwanda through trade and importation of bananas. In Kenya the disease has been identified in Teso and Bungoma districts which border Uganda. In Tanzania, the disease is concentrated in the Kagera region and is said to have originated from Uganda. While the disease affects all types of bananas, in Uganda it has been reported to affect the sweet type bananas, which are used for beer making more than the other types.
– Click here for publication [pdf 794 k]
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| Development, testing, regulation and deployment of transgenic cowpea in Africa: Proceedings of a Cowpea Project Review and Planning Meeting |
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The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) brought together partners and stakeholders from west Africa to examine progress made regarding cowpea improvement via genetic transformation and plan for additional work. The overall objective of the meeting was to review the progress made in research, synthesise the results and focus on what needs to be done in the coming years. The meeting focussed on aspects of product development (transformation and introgression), regulatory and biosafety issues, and how to deal with the general area of Bt cowpea technology acceptance to ensure full scale utilisation of GM technology in Africa. The requisite governance structure for the project was discussed to shed light on the roles and responsibilities of partners engaged in this initiative.
– Click here for publication [pdf 499 k]
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Baseline Study for Impact Assessment of High Quality Insect Resistant Cowpea in West Africa
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The study, initiated by AATF and executed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and Purdue University aims to:
- elicit consumer preferences, acceptability, willingness to pay and adaptability of Bt cowpea to local conditions in west Africa
- assess the competitiveness and potential market niches for Bt cowpea
- identify strategies for capacity building of west African seed organisations for Bt cowpea
- assess the ex-ante economic impact of Bt cowpea at farm, country and region levels.
– Click here for publication [pdf 2133 k]
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Farmer Perceptions of Imazapyr-Resistant (IR) Maize Technology on the Control of Striga in Western Kenya
 A perception study aimed at documenting the perceptions of early adopters regarding the IR maize technology and its effectiveness in controlling Striga was done. The perception study involved monitoring the sub-sample (400 households) of 802 households included in the AATF/IITA 2005/06 baseline survey. The baseline farmers had less than one year exposure in using the technology. It also included 434 households experimenting with IR maize technology served by the WeRATE consortium. Their experience with using IR maize was more than one year. The objective of the perception study was to document the level of initial adoption and the perceptions of users at the early stage of their exposure to IR maize. Specifically, the study aimed at: (1) examining the characteristics of IR maize in relation to farmer preferences; (2) assessing the performance of IR maize in terms of productivity changes, advantages and disadvantages; (3) documenting the changes in farm management practices induced by IR maize technology; and (4) assessing the adoption pathways. This was done based on the assumption that a better understanding of the farmer perceptions on the technology will identify preliminary factors that facilitate or impede adoption of IR maize at this early stage of the technology dissemination process and will help address these constraints with a view to enhancing its adoption/adaptation for greater impact on the poor rural farmers. – Click here for publication [pdf 985 k]
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Improving rice productivity in nitrogen-deficient and saline environments of Sub-Saharan Africa Proceedings of a Consultative Meeting
 These proceedings summarise the tripartite consultative meeting of The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Africa Rice Center (WARDA) and Arcadia Biosciences Inc, held at the WARDA headquarters in Cotonou, Benin on 27 March 2006.
The partners:
- Recognising the importance of rice as a food crop in Sub-Saharan Africa whose demand outstrips current local production and supply
- Signifying the declining soil fertility trends as a major rice production constraint in the major rice producing areas of Africa in general and west Africa in particular
- Aware that nitrogen deficiency is a leading constraint to rice productivity in over 80% of west Africa’s rice lands
- Understanding the challenge posed by soil salinity to rice production in lowland flooded and mangrove environments of Africa, and
- Recognising previous and current R&D efforts targeting rice productivity in Africa by various national and international institutions,
jointly committed themselves to this initiative for adding value to rice productivity in Africa by undertaking to work towards improving rice varieties with traits for nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and salinity tolerance (ST).. – Click here for publication [pdf 759k]
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Intellectual Property/Innovation Management Handbook now Online
 A new and unique resource in intellectual property and innovation management has been launched: the Online version of the Handbook of Best Practices. Speaking at the Global Forum for Health Research in Beijing, Anatole Krat-tiger who led the effort said: “Thanks to the foresight of and support from the Rockefeller Foundation, MIHR and PIPRA [the publishers] were able to capitalize on the Web 2.0. The Online version of the resource gives us the ability to weave new connections and pursue new directions. The global IP revolution, increasingly led by the public sector, is just beginning. It amplifies the important contribution of sound IP management and how the public sector can put intellectual property to work for a better, healthier, and more equitable world.” – Click here for press release
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Baseline Study of Striga Control using IR Maize in Western Kenya
 The report presents the results of a baseline study undertaken to assess the status of Striga damage, the general livelihoods and livelihood strategies of the rural poor in western Kenya. A stratified random sampling method led to the selection of 8 districts, 16 sub-locations, 32 villages and 800 households. A combination of techniques for data collection was used, including literature review, GPS recordings, focus group discussions and interview of individual households. The study revealed that households are small in size and dependency ratio is high. There were about 26% of households headed by females. The level of education is low for the heads of households and all members of farm families. Households are endowed with a multitude of assets for their livelihoods. Maize is the major food crop and a source of cash income. Farmers grow both local and improved (hybrid) maize varieties, but the productivity is low. – Click here for report [pdf 1,454 kb]
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The African Agricultural Technology Foundation approach to IP management – chapter in Handbook of Best Practices
 For smallholder farmers in Africa, yields of major staple crops (maize, sorghum, millet, cassava, cowpea, bananas/plantains) have remained stagnant or even declined in the past 40 years. Numerous biotic and abiotic stresses have contributed to this dire trend. Local research efforts to overcome these stresses have been hampered by declining support for agricultural research, limited access to elite genetic material and other technologies protected by IP rights, and the absence of commercial interest in these crops from private owners of agricultural technologies. – Click here for book chapter [pdf 290 kb]
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Managing Liability Associated with Genetically Modified Crops
 Recent years have seen intense global debate about whether or not agricultural biotechnology—particularly genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically modified crops (GM crops)—should be covered by a specially designed liability regime. This chapter examines common and statutory law theories of liability, various attempts at the national and international levels to design liability regimes for GMOs, and liability risk-mitigation measures.
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Empowering African Farmers to Eradicate Striga from Maize Croplands
 This booklet calls for a comprehensive campaign to eradicate Striga from Africa's maize croplands. Striga is a parasitic weed preying upon cereal crops that has infested 2.5 million hectares of maize. This biological invasion results in economic losses of over US $1 billion per year and is a leading cause of food insecurity and rural stagnation. For decades, Africa's small-scale farmers were powerless to control this menacing plant parasite but recent technological breakthroughs are now available to reverse this situation.
- Click here for booklet [pdf 920 kb]
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A strategy for industrialisation of cassava in Africa: Proceedings of a small group meeting, 14–18 November 2005, Ibadan, Nigeria
 The current high cost of cassava production and low quality of cassava products in Africa stems from inefï¬ï¿½cient traditional production and processing methods, which severely limit the ability of the continent to enter local and export industrial markets and effectively compete with corn starch in global markets. For cassava to play a role in the economic growth of cassava producing countries in Africa, an integrated ap-proach combining large investments in industries using cassava as a raw material (for example food, feed, ethanol and starch) and small and medium scale investments by entrepreneurs in production, processing and delivery of high quality cassava products to the larger industries as well as adoption of labour saving devices in cassava produc-tion is considered essential. Indeed, a survey conducted by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation during the 2004 Triennial Symposium of the International So-ciety for Tropical Root Crops-Africa Branch (ISTRC-AB) revealed a consensus among African cassava experts that the single most important intervention to increase the competitiveness of the cassava industry was the adoption of mechanisation in cassava production. - Click here for booklet [pdf 1,000 kb]
Ua Kayongo Hybrid Maize: The Striga Killer
 Contents: Mobilising Kenyan farmers; Striga threatens farmers in Kenya;
Know your enemy!; The first line of defense; Conventional Striga management; Introducing Ua Kayongo: the Striga killer; Five easy steps to establish Ua Kayongo; Other benefits from planting Ua Kayongo; Questions and answers on Ua Kayongo
– Click here for booklet [pdf 1,073 kb]
Launch of STRIGAWAY® (IR-maize) technology for Striga control in Africa
 Contents: Background,Striga in Africa, Issues discussed by the participants, Institutional roles, Prioritising the countries, Country specific work plans, Variety recommendation, Available varieties, List of participants
- Click here for proceedings [pdf]
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Mycotoxin Control in food grains: Proceedings of a Small Group Meeting. 22-24 June 2004, Nairobi, Kenya
 Contents:
Executive summary; Opening; Introduction and welcome;
General objectives and procedures of the workshop; Presentations
Possible interventions; Task Force work; Closing remarks;
Way forward; Annexes
Click here for proceedings
A plan to apply technology in the improvement of cowpea productivity and utilisation for the benefit of farmers and consumers in Africa: Proceedings of a Cowpea Stakeholders Workshop. 10–12 February, Accra, Ghana
 Contents: Executive summary; Notes to the workshop; Summary of plenary presentations; Report of task force deliberations; Reports of Task Forces; Annexes Click here for proceedingsNew Approaches to Controlling Striga Infestation
 Reprint from the November-December 2004 issue of Farmer's Journal describing approaches to Striga control.
- Click here for reprint [pdf]
Intellectual Property Resources for International Development in Agriculture
 A December 2003 publication in Plant Physiology describes a number of organizations that have begun to address new approaches to inform researchers about the intellectual property landscape impacting agricultural biotechnology and to design strategies that will improve access to intellectual property, particularly for humanitarian purposes.
- Click here for reprint [pdf]
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Report of Small Group Meeting (SGM) on "Constraints to Cowpea Production and Utilization in Sub-Saharan Africa", held at AATF headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya, 10–11 July 2003.
- Click here for booklet [pdf]
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Report of Small Group Meeting (SGM) on "Improved Production of Bananas and Plantains in sub-Saharan Africa". THEME: Agricultural Technology Interventions for Increasing the Production of Bananas and Plantains in sub-Saharan Africa
- Click here for booklet [pdf]
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