1. Association for Strengthening Agricultural
Research in Eastern and Central Africa
(ASARECA): An Introduction
Presented at the Maize Lethal Necrosis Diseases Mini Workshop,
25th
June 2015, Juba-South Sudan
Brian E. Isabirye, Ph.D
SAFN-ASARECA
b.isabirye@asareca.org

2. Eastern and Central Africa
(ECA)
• Similar challenges to improve
agriculture’s performance.
• Food production in the region is
consistently lower than population
growth (377, 955, 000; 2013), (By 2050,
an additional 370M to feed)
• Similar agro-ecological zones, hence
same TIMPs.
• Opportunity to share research results as
a result of regional collective action,
collaboration and specialization...
• Need for regional leadership…

3. ASARECA
……
Vision
Regional leader in agricultural research
and development for improved livelihoods
in Eastern and Central Africa
Mission
Enhance regional collective action and
leveraged agricultural research for
development…in Eastern and Central
Africa.
Goal
Enhanced sustainable productivity, value
added and competitiveness of the sub-
regional agricultural system

4. • Facilitate the generation of appropriate technologies,
innovations and management practices for the sub-
region.
• Disseminate and up-scaling of appropriate TIMPs
across borders.
• Ensure an enabling policy environment for agricultural
transformation.
• Enhance institutional and stakeholder capacities for
innovation generation
• A regional hub and think tank for agric knowledge,
information and learning.
ASARECA does

5. • Three Themes were identified in consultation with
stakeholders and in consideration of current priorities
• Exact number and nature of the themes is fairly dynamic
to address changing situations
• Proposals were/ are formulated under each theme to
address prioritised, sub-regional challenges and/or
opportunities
ASARECA Thematic Approach

6. Technical and policy issues
relating to natural resource
management
CAADP Pillar IV: Integrated
Natural Resource Management
and Policy for Sustainable
Agriculture
1. Natural Resource Management and Eco-systems Services

7. Commercialisation and access to
input and output markets to promote
value addition to agricultural products
Value chains and innovation systems
and importance of trade in driving
market processes
CAADP Pillar IV theme of
Development of Sustainable
Market Chains
2. Market, Market Linkages and Trade

8. Biotic and abiotic constraints of livestock
and crops climate change, pests and
diseases
Nutrition and food security, mechanisation,
harvest processes, post-harvest handling,
storage and management
CAADP Pillar IV through Theme of Adaptive
Management of Appropriate Germplasm.
3. Sustainable Agriculture and FN

9. Maize in ASARECA
Goal:
To enhance sustainable productivity,
value added and competitiveness of
the Maize production systems in ECA
Purpose:
To enhance utilization of TIMPs for
sustainable productivity of Maize
production.

10. Our Maize Research themes
1. Identification and management of information and
technologies (Germplasm) of regional importance to
maize; knowledge management, utilization and learning.
2. Addressing regional threats to sustainable improvement
in the productivity and competitiveness of maize in ECA;
frameworks for response, and strategic agricultural
research to address the region’s agricultural production
threats (e.g. MLN)
3. Enhancing productivity, value addition and improving
access to regional and global markets of maize; Support
to regional trade and value chains

11. MLN in ASARECA
Integrated Management of Maize Lethal Necrosis
in Eastern and Central Africa
By
University of Nairobi (UoN), Kenya
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT)
National Agricultural Research Laboratories Institute (NARO), Uganda
Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Tanzania
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KARLO), Kenya
Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), Rwanda
Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU), Burundi
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Ethiopia
East African Seed Co. Ltd (EASEED), Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
CAB International (CABI)
Ministry of Agriculture Forestry Cooperative and Rural Development (MAFCRD),
South Sudan
Managing Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease in Eastern
and Central Africa: Regional Strategy
Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central
Africa (ASARECA)
September 2013
Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa
(ASARECA)
ASARECA Secretariat | Plot 5 Mpigi Road | P.O. Box 765, Entebbe - Uganda

12. Presentations
• Anne:
 Overview of MLN, Management (Case of Kenya),
and Recommendations/ Way forward
• Luka:
 Experience and efforts in management of MLN in S.
Sudan
• Douglas:
 Preliminary findings of the MLN survey in S. Sudan

13. Shukran!!!