Presentation by CAPAD, ISABU, ITEC and the Wageningen University at the 2016 annual meeting of the European Forum on Agricultural Research for Development (EFARD).

1. Seed potato quality innovations for small scale
farmers in Burundi
A user-led research and development innovation
CAPAD (leader, farmer based ), ISABU (Research), ITEC(private for profit),
Wageningen University
Astère Bararyenya, Annick Sezibera, Pierre-Claver Nahayo, Anicet Nduwimana, Pierre Niyonzima,
Déo Nyawakira, Jean-Pierre Sindihebura, Ernest Vyizigiro, Vital Ndayishimiye, Anton J. Haverkort

2. } Potato is an important and a cash crop for farmers
where it is grown and seed quality is their greatest
concern
} There is a need to develop demand-driven research
and innovation partnerships
} End-users need not be seen as the “study-object”
but as the co-owner of R&D
} Co-creation with end-users delivers assures
addressing right problem and applicable results

3. Through partnering (PPP), why?
} To complement own experiences, skills and capacities;
} To create “synergies‟ through the complementary golden
triangle business-government-science
} To build and develop skills and knowledge in partners that
can be sustained
} To leverage resources of growers and their fields, scientist
and their innovations, extensionists, policymakers and
funding agencies

4. Address the central problem of what
“farmers” and “researchers” know
Places more reliance on the myriad actions of farmers screening and diffusing locally
adapted seed materials.
Supervised learning: Breeders know what
works, and the aim is then to increase
adoption superior genotypes)
Unsupervised learning:
The “farmer first” approach. May be superior
in complex networks for the exchange and
utilization of genetic information
the idea that
Knowledge
acquisition
process is
distributed across a
network of actors
Model of learning

5. Valuing different sources of knowledge
including local knowledge
Bringing together of “multiple
perspectives, multiple realities‟ through
dialogue, joint analysis, reflective learning
Developing trust
- With farmers, private sector?
- Local innovations becoming always an entry point for
building partnerships
- Relevant
innovation
- Success
story
Model of learning cont’

6. Assumption: Proper technology, farmer based knowledge and efficient
knowledge governance

7. Treatment Results
New variety 20 % yield increase**
Improved seed 80 %, increase***
Early harvest 30 % lower yield* but less BW**
Early harvested seed
replanted
Drastic increase BW**, not expected
Seed from DLS 30 % yield increase*
Chemical fertilizer use 50 % yield increase***
Fungicide sprays 60 % yield increase***
Results highlights from 580 on-farm plots

8. Full season training, training of trainers, mother plots with farmers, extension
services and administrative officers

9. Low cost but very effective facilities

10. Document
Success stories
Flyers, posters,
Brochures and one
scientific peer reviewed paper in
Potato Research
On-farm experiments on improved
propagation material and cultural
practices of potato in Burundi
Astère Bararyenya1, Pierre-Claver Nahayo2, Anicet
Nduwimana2, Pierre Niyonzima1, Déo
Nyawakira1, Jean-Pierre Sindihebura3, Ernest
Vyizigiro1, Vital Ndayishimiye3Anton J.
Haverkort4.5

11. - Production is not an end,
- Market and quality of
produce are challenging

12. } Maintaining consortium dynamic (motivation of
technical teams, funding mechanisms and their
sustainability, coordination, …)
} How do we deal with power relationships in multi-
stakeholder partnerships?
} How do we make partnerships more representative
(farmers, gender, private sector, policy, etc)?
} How are we monitoring and evaluating our
partnerships, what tools and methods?
} How do we foster institutional change processes
within our partnerships?

13. Thank you for
your attention