This document discusses activities of WorkStream 4 of the African Cassava Agronomy Initiative project. It provides an overview of the general approach, which is to develop and facilitate use of site-specific agronomy recommendations at scale. It discusses project outcomes such as targeted increases in cassava root yield and additional supply to processing industries. It also outlines various dissemination activities including training events, promotion events, and demonstrations. Finally it discusses monitoring, evaluation and learning activities and timelines for decision support tool development and validation in 2019-2020.
1. An introduction to WorkStream 4 activities
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2. The African Cassava Agronomy Initiative: General approach
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Develop and facilitate use of site-specific agronomy recommendations at scale…
Understanding of A × E interactions
(Agronomy × Environment)
Extrapolate recommendations
across target intervention area
Supply recommendations
Practical field tool
Model processes
Build prediction models
Scale the use of the tools
within partner networks
3. The African Cassava Agronomy Initiative: Project Outcomes
Project outcomes
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Target:
+2,500 tonnes
new cassava
fertilizer blends
+8 t/ha
additional cassava
root yield
+2 t/ha
additional cassava
root yield, and
+500 kg/ha
additional intercrop
yield
+4 t/ha
additional cassava
root yield (or
equivalent cost
saving)
+10 tonnes
additional supply
of cassava roots to
the processing
industry
+5 tonnes
additional supply
of cassava starch
to the processing
industry
Number of Extension Agents involved:
NA 445 124 496 150 44
Number of households reached:
NA 94,000 46,800 104,200 18,750 15,400
Number of households impacted:
NA 28,200 35,100 42,900 6,563 7,700
4. The African Cassava Agronomy Initiative: Project Outcomes
Number of Extension Agents involved as at Dec 2018
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445 124 496 150 44
251
56%
114
92%
199
40%
173
115%
21
47%
OYSCGA
94 79 14
14
79
6
2701051
100
target
trained
TanzaniaNigeria
6. WorkStream 4 activities
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Grassroot eventsValidation exercises
(2nd series)
Training events Training materials Farmer-friendly videos
Promotion events Awareness campaigns Cluster meetings
Tool demonstration
ACAI aims to facilitate the integration of DSTs
into the partners’ dissemination activities
(not directly support dissemination).
7. Ongoing exercise
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Partner Dissemination strategy Format Support needed from ACAI
NOTORE • Demo plot: FR data collection and monitoring
• Field day: Effect of FR relative to farmers practice
• VVS: EAs and Farmers training on the use of DST
technology
• Cluster meeting: Training and transfer of DST Technology
especially from SVP/VPs to farmers
• Radio: Transfer of DST technology and opportunity to
advertise new technology and opportunity to advertise
new technology and product to farmers
App and
Table
format
1. Support organization of additional mega field day to
engage with farmers using app and table format
2. More slots to create awareness on radio about the
preferred format in order to mobilize more farmers
3. Support training of farmers on fertilizer application
4. Study on demand quantification to assist roll out of
fertilizer blend
PSALTRY • Demo plot : App, IVR, USSD, map and table formats
• Radio: Mobilize lots of new farmers to be shown workings
of the DSTs for adoption and use by them (use radio
programme to talk about DSTs)
• Video: Farmer based documentary in local language on
the steps involved in SP through which the different of DSTs
will be introduced to the farmers
App/IVR
and/or
Paper
format
1. Support awareness creation on radio about the preferred
format (Psaltry has an on-going radio programme)
2. Support organization of demo/field day in order to
engage with more farmers using app and table format
3. Support development of video format to support
dissemination
CAVA II • Demo plot: BPP
• Training of farmers
• Field day/SPAT: SP (CAVA II developing Cassava Map
and could be harmonized for use)
App/IVR
and/or
USSD
1. Support organization of additional mega field day to
engage with farmers using app and table format
2. Organize meeting with management of ADPs with CAVA
II in order to sustain farmers already mobilized
SG2000 • Demonstration
• Field days
App and
paper
format
1. Support organization of additional mega field day to
engage with farmers using app and table format
2. Organize meeting with management of ADPs with CAVA
II in order to sustain farmers already mobilized
OYSCGA • Farmer’s farm visit (Table format for farmers/USSD & App
for EAs)
• Pre-season sensitization (Table format)
Table
format and
IVR
1. Support profiling of existing farmers in the network of
OYSCGA
2. Organize meeting with farmers and get feedback on BPP
and develop strategy on how to engage other farmers
(based on list to be developed above)
8. Monitoring, evaluation and learning
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$$$
We want to track farmers who…
…were reached …gained insights …continued
using the tools
…changed
their practices
…benefited
… and understand why (not) !
9. Trade-off between cost/effort/time and tailoring
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We want to learn what formats
are most effective in terms of
reach and learning, affect use
and behaviour and generate
impact, in relation to their cost to
implement these…
11. Infrastructural setup
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Calculate
recommendations
Log requests
?Any other…
• Current formats are a frontend to the real
product (DS system, integrating primary
crop response data, secondary data
products on soil, climate and price
information, prediction models and
geospatial and temporal extrapolation).
• Current tools serve to showcase, test and
validate the DS system, and obtain
feedback through pilot studies and panel
surveys.
• The long-term aim is to attract interest of
service providers who deliver agricultural
data products and networking services to
farmers and other cassava value chain
actors, and integrate agronomic decision
support into these services.
12. 2019
Timeline
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D J F M A M J J A S O N D J
DST development sprint 1
DST development sprint 2
DST development sprint 3
Nigeria WS4 planning
Tanzania WS4 planning
Start 2nd series of DST validation exercises
Partner feedback 1
Partner feedback 2
Partner feedback 3
2020
Pre-launch event
Planning of partner-specific activities
supporting the integration of DSTs into
dissemination and promotion events
(and add to timeline)
Launch pilot tools for independent testing in primary DP networks
13. Tomorrow’s break-out sessions
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1. Consolidate feedback on tool formats
• Constitute groups of 5-10 people per format who volunteer to test
tools in the next 3 months; agree on a leader per group.
• @David: google doc per format to collect feedback
• Evaluate documented feedback on tools by the rapporteurs
• Add any omissions, and list major remarks
• Agree on action plan to complete list by January 10th
2. Consolidate individual partner feedback
• Any common requests for support from ACAI?
• Can we harmonize? Joint events for training, field days, etc…
• What is needed in preparation of the planning meeting early 2019?
14. Thank you very much !!!
Questions and discussion
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