IPMS – Some reflections
Dirk Hoekstra
ILRI Ethiopia projects meeting
Addis Ababa,11 March 2013

Our Goal
 To contribute to
improved agricultural
productivity and
production through
market-oriented
agricultural
development, as a
means for achieving
improved and
sustainable livelihoods
for the rural population.

How are we trying to achieve that goal ?
 By trying new and
innovative approaches
and technologies to
strengthen the
effectiveness of the
Government’s effort to
transform agricultural
productivity and
production, and rural
development in Ethiopia
through market-oriented
agricultural development

How is IPMS trying to improve the efficiency
of the MoARD?
 Participatory commodity development using a value
chain approach (production, input and output
marketing, rural finance)
 Improved knowledge management by the actors
 Improved capacity of the actors to innovate, learn
and link
 Development and promotion of strategies, policies
and approaches for scaling out

IPMS research and development system
Technology, organizational, institutional
interventions
RESEARCH
Recommendations for scaling out

Pilots in 10 Districts in 4 Regions

Project design
• Research for development project conceived in the
early 2000 at the request of the MoARD and CIDA
– ILRI interested because of impact focus
– Science council less enthusiastic (2007) – not scientific enough
– Action research is not science and hence not research
• Impact (development) oriented project, which included
funds for development action controlled by project
– Many thought that such money should have been managed by a
development partner, like the EADD/ILRI model

Project approach
• Value chain and innovation systems
perspective
– Unlike previous projects which focused mainly
production technologies
• Production technology generation not part of
the project (donor determined)
– Often debated by research partners

Value chain versus channels
Agro processing
industry
(Peri- )urban Urban
specialized fluid consum
milk farmers ers
Fluid milk traders
Rural mixed crop
and livestock butter Butter traders Rural consumers
producers

Evolution partnership from subsistence towards a
market oriented agricultural development system
farmers
OoARD/EARS
Private sector/coop
IPMS
time
Knowledge interactions
Input/service supply/marketing

Project implementation
• Mostly full time staff dedicated to the project
• Silo within ILRI – poor linkages with the rest – little chance to
create social capital with other scientist when travelling
• Some partners subcontracted to conduct certain tasks
– Research partners
• Most researchers not used to development driven research and
performance contract – too little money, insufficient commitment,
insufficient capacity.
• Good experiences with involvement thesis students
– Development partners
• Good experiences with - district offices, video and radio producers
• Mixed experiences with credit institutions – amounts too small

Conclusions recommendations
• Good agricultural practices need to be
complemented with other vc interventions
• Developing alternative input/service supply
system important in Ethiopia
• Creating linkages between value chain actors
based on mutual (economic) benefits has high
pay off and is sustainable – may be initiated by
innovation platforms
• Emerging new products/channels for local and
export market

Value chain approach
Inputs and markets
services
production
extension

Conclusions recommendations
• Development is a continuous process which requires new
knowledge and skills over time – no static blue prints
• Extension system for market oriented agricultural
development requires more quantity and quality – e-
extension
• Farmer to farmer exchange of knowledge and skills
important at this stage of development
• Involvement of women in knowledge and skills
development activities contributes to more gender
balanced development