N2Africa - Putting nitrogen fixation to work for smallholder farmers in Africa
South Cluster Partnership:
Achievements, Lessons & Way Forwards
Tulu Degefu, Samson Henta, Galfato Gabiso, Takele Petros, Amare Fufa and Dereje Mersha
• Seed quality ACOS
• Pest Infestation
• Root rot
• Erratic Rain and moisture stress
• Delayed budget transfer
Introduction
We acknowledge ILRI N2Africa project for financial support. We are also
grateful to all partners participated in South cluster
Acknowledgements
Challenges faced in Implementations
ILRI-N2Africa
Box 5689 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ● +251 11617 2200/25/33/35
ilri.org ● n2africa.org ● n2africa-Ethiopia.wikispaces.com
N2Africa project is funded by BMGF
This document is licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International Licence. May 2017
Main Achievements/Progresses
• Market opportunities and strong partnership
• Relatively better engagement of partners
• Growing interest of farmers willingness to adapt improved legume
technologies
• Using existing local institutions is crucial for technology transfer and
speed up the process of input –output market
Lessons Learned
• South cluster is currently working, according to the envisaged work plan
to meet the N2Africa project objectives, thus to improve productivity of
targeted legume crops (Common bean and Chickpea) in Southern
Ethiopia.
• Partners within South cluster: Hawassa University, Soddo Catholic
Secretariat, Melkasa Agricultural Research Center, MBI, Sidama-Elto &
Damota Wolaita Unions, and ACOS Ethiopia.
• Target locations: Four districts (Boricha, Halaba, Sodo Zuria and
Damote Gale, Shalla)
Way Forwards
• Earlier Planning
• Alternative variety (other than ACOS keyo) as another option
• Alternative market outlet (other than ACOS Ethiopia ) if ACOS Sticks
only to ACOS keyo
• Cooperatives and unions should work closely in the input –output
market chain
• Business Training to Unions
Capacity Development
• While 503 individuals were directly benefited, 3884 were indirectly
benefitted.
• 6 TOTs and 7 General training provided and 1039 participated including
Framers, DAs and unions on the training
Dissemination
• N2Africa technology dissemination technology were commenced mainly
through Demonstration, Adaptation, community based seed production.
• BoA and Unions mobilized and coordinated the participants (farmers)
• Input distribution and farmers selection were carried out through unions
and BoA
• Taken together a total of 294 females and 1454 males were reached
through different dissemination activities
• Relevant data (N2Africa using data tools) were captured and uploaded
• A total of 25 demonstration trials were established by HWU and EIAR-
MARC
• 9 variety by strain trials were established
• 397 farmers participated on adaptation trials
• Bean seed was multiplied on 30.5 ha at 5 woredas
Input Supply
• 71.15 quintals of seeds, 44.15 quintals fertilizer and 419 sachet of
inoculants were purchased and distributed to farmers
• ACOS keyo was sourced from ACOS Ethiopia and Nasser variety
sourced from Unions and SARI
• Both varieties of bean were used for seed multiplication and Adaptation
• MBI and Agro dealer were the source of inoculant.
• Input distribution was coordinated where all partners were involved
Market Linkages
• ACOS provided red bean variety seed (25 qt) for potential market links
• 30.5 hectare of land were used for seed multiplication in 5 woredas
• 90 farmers (in two woredas, all coops members) were involved.
• For market linkage agreement was signed between ACOS and Sidama
Elto union, and between MBI and Sidama Elto Union
• Agreement was also made between MBI and Agro dealer
Opportunities Identified
Rhizobiology work at Hawassa University
• Rhizobia nodulating faba bean,
common and chickpea were isolated,
authenticated so far
• Symbiotic effectiveness test for the
isolated strains is under progress
Nodules picture taken by Ashenafi Gunabo
(N2Africa PhD candidate)
SCS
• Active input supply and agro dealers
• The willingness of agro dealers and unions to come on board
• The awareness level of farmers increased