Context and platform
background
Maize and beans are among priority crops for food
security in Rwanda. However, the value chain of
the two crops is not well developed and the
productivity is still low especially because of low
technology uptake by the smallholder farmers.
Since 2012, SIMLESA Project funded by ACIAR
through CIMMYT sought to intensify maize-
legumes systems through Innovation Platforms
(IPs) in Rwanda. In this regards, four IPs were
established in two districts namely Kamonyi and
Bugesera located in two agro-ecological zones not
far from Kigali-City, the main agricultural product
consumption area.
Opportunities and constraints
Opportunities:
• Good participation of farmers in Innovative
platform
• Using sisal ropes as staking materials
• Technologies scaling up and improved
nutrition
Constraints:
• Lack of IP facilitators skilled in integrated
approaches to development and
unpredictable weather changes in Rwanda?
Capacity Building
• Avail information on climate change and
adaptability
Pictures
Conclusions and ways forward
Platform progress
Fifteen researchers and extensionists and 8
development stakeholders have been trained on the IP
approach and conservation agriculture (CA) technologies
while 60 farmers have been trained in CA and 168
fellow farmers were involved in mother baby
demonstrations.
Four maize-legume innovation platforms have been
established in two selected districts for the project. They
are benefiting 360 various actors in the IPs, most of
whom are farmers (>70%). In total, 228 farmer
beneficiaries have taken up at least one improved
technology from SIMLESA project to demonstrate
innovation platforms advantages in the maize-legumes
intensification.
Platform facilitation and
learning
Need skilled , neutral and strong
leadership
The committees choose a reporter in
each meeting
The platform influences the type of
research for development in suggesting
technological needs. It also facilitates
the implementation of crop
intensification programs.
L. Dusengemungu, J. Tuyisenge and N. L Nabahungu
nabahungu@yahoo.com / leonidasdusenge@yahoo.com● Kigali Rwanda.
Prepared for a capacity development workshop of the
CGIAR Research Program on Humidtropics, Nairobi, 29 April – 2 May 2014
http://humidtropics.cgiar.org/
This document is licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution –Non commercial-
Share Alike 3.0 Unported License April 2014
April- May 2014
Platform characteristics
After a training on IPs, the process of
establishing SIMLESA Innovation Platforms (IPs)
involved meetings with key partners and local
leaders from district and sector levels to
introduce the IP approach. Thereafter,
researchers and extensionists and local leaders
selected sites and farmers to host maize-beans
systems demonstrations. They also conducted a
participatory needs assessment, identified
priorities, set-up governance and IP committees,
and developed and implemented action plans.
Intensifying Maize-Legumes Systems Through Innovation Platforms in Rwanda:
Experiences from SIMLESA Project, 2012-2014
L. Dusengemungu , J. Tuyisenge and N.L.Nabahungu
The IP approach requires the participation of a wide range of stakeholders in the
value-chain and their commitment to actively participate.
Operationalising innovation platform requires establishment of functional and strong
linkages where all actors’ interests are taken into consideration.
Activities call for a good number and skilled to facilitators lead the implementation
process of the IPs.
Scaling out successful technologies, especially to the neighboring districts or sectors
can be done by any championing development project with focus on public-private
patnerships.