A presentation prepared by Ergano, K.; Duncan, A.; Adie, A.; Tedla, A.; Woldewahid, G.; Ayele, Z.; Berhanu, G. and Alemayehu, N. for the International Conference on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and Food, Montpellier, 28 June-3 July, 2010.

1. MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PLATFORMS STRENGTHENING SELECTION AND USE OF FODDER TECHNOLOGIES IN ETHIOPIA : SOME LESSONS Ergano, K., A. Duncan, A. Adie, A. Tedla, G. Woldewahid, Z. Ayele, G. Berhanu and N. Alemayehu

2. Outline Context Hypothesis Approaches Outcomes Lessons Conclusion

3. Context Low productivity and subsistence-oriented livestock production are common features in Ethiopia Feed scarcity is primary constraint to livestock production Years of unsuccessful efforts to promote uptake of fodder technologies

5. Premises of Fodder Adoption Project – Need for Business Unusual Recognize innovation evolves through continuous interaction among stakeholders Hypothesis: Fodder scarcity is not just about technologies but also about the collective capacity of a network of individuals and organizations Use innovation system framework for engagement of multiple actors Focus: generating innovation rather than mere research products or technologies

6. Approaches Technical fodder interventions were used as an entry point Actors associated with livestock value chain were included in the platform through: Formal and informal invitations Personal contacts and Self interest over the course of the project implementation A range of value chain issues were addressed by stakeholders as they emerge

7. Focus group discussions

8. Training and arranging supply of appropriate inputs e.g. seed or planting material

9. Planted forages in farmers’ fields

10. Field learning with multiple stakeholders at Mieso, October 2009

11. Innovation processes in Ada’a Ethiopia Technical intervention Institutional innovation Land o Lakes Land o Lakes Eden Field Eden Field Seeds Seeds Crop Grow Crop Grow plc plc FAP Farmers NARS NARS FAP FAP NARS NARS Land o Lakes Land o Lakes Eden Field Eden Field Seeds Seeds Ethiopian Ethiopian Meat & Dairy Meat & Dairy Tech Inst. Tech Inst. Ministry Ministry Farmers FAP NARS NARS IPMS IPMS Ethiopian (extension) (extension) Meat & Dairy Ministry Ministry IPMS IPMS Tech Inst. (extension) (extension) FAP Ministry Ministry IPMS IPMS (extension) (extension) Godino Dairy Godino Dairy Ada ’ a Dairy Ada ’ a Dairy Co - op Co - op Co - op Co - op May 2008 Seed sourced 44 farmers plant on own fields X-bred cows sourced Farmers purchase seed 60 farmers plant on own fields Milk transport issues voiced Dec 2009 11 Fodder options identified Dairy co-op formed FAP Farmers Milk transport negotiations ongoing

12. Emerging outcomes Farmers’ awareness about planted forages improving Innovation platform dealing with constraints along dairy value chain A young dairy cooperative supplying milk to market regularly Local partners taking over the role of stakeholder platform facilitation Out-growers scheme for forage seeds emerging Commercial fodder production becoming a competitive business enterprise

13. Lessons/Observations Participatory selection of priority farmers’ priority problems Stakeholder platforms should not be simply a ‘talk shop’ Embedding fodder innovation in livestock value chain issues is critical for successful adoption of forage technologies Functioning inputs and output markets and basic development infrastructure are key to innovation

14. Lessons/Observations … Strong convening agency with skilled personnel Pragmatism to adapt to changing circumstances and uncertainty Trust, mutual respect and patience, especially in the face of frustration and slow progress Innovation processes takes longer than regular tech transfer Monitoring and self evaluation of the process: meeting logs

15. Concluding remarks Stakeholder platforms can foster innovation where market access is good and the range of actors is reasonably broad Forage development is largely driven by urbanization and markets – platforms can accelerate the process Need for enhancing learning throughout the broad innovation system at all levels of organization (individual, organization and system wide) Concrete evidences is needed to showcase and bring large-scale institutional and policy change

16. Acknowledgement

17. Thanks!!!