1. a multi-discipline effort to provide options for sustainable intensification of African smallholder farming systems Ben Lukuyu 2, Adebayo Abass 1, Mateete Bekunda 1 1- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture 2-International Livestock Research Institute Speed Dating Presentation, CGIAR Consortium Board Meeting Dar es Salaam. 18 March 2014.

2. A Program of the Feed the Future Initiative Goal: Create pathways out of hunger and poverty for smallholder families through sustainably intensified farming systems Three Research Themes: Advance the production frontier Improve nutrition and food safety Transform key production systems Sudano-Sahelian Systems in WA (Ghana, Mali ) Ethiopian Highlands Maize& Livestock mixed Systems in ESA (Tanzania Malawi, Zambia)

3. …is in line with Humidtropics CRP Africa RISING Outputs Humidtropics Strategic research themes Selected tools and methods common to both programmes RO1. Situation analysis and program-wide synthesis SRT1. Systems Analysis and Synthesis (includes M&E) Random selection of action and control sites Action area characterisation and critical entry points Visioning the outcomes of the R4D platforms Base, mid and end line surveys RO2. Integrated systems improvement SRT2. Integrated Systems Improvement Trade-off analyses and typologing On-farm multi-location research campaigns Value addition and market integration Agroecological intensification (GxExMxM1 framework) RO3. Scaling and delivery SRT3. Scaling and Institutional Innovation Econometric and meta-modeling Crop growth simulation models Costed templates for scaling by development investors Validate scaling approaches for integrated systems RO4. Monitoring and Evaluation Validation of indicators and impact pathways Ex-ante assessment of outcomes, impacts, spillovers Assessment of nutrition and gender outcomes Target adoption and impact studies

4. What problems are we addressing? Situation analysis revealed several indicators to low smallholder productivity: Poor agronomic practices (planting periods, spacing, weeding, IPM, crop mixtures, pre-harvest technologies) Variable and high crop yield gaps (average 30% of potential yield) Poor post-harvest management (value addition, storage & utilization, agro-processing) Very high harvest product losses (up to 40%) Poor conservation of natural resources High resource degradation Low use of external inputs (as low as 3% fertilizer usage)

5. What problems are we addressing? Situation analysis revealed several indicators to low smallholder productivity: Lack of appropriate seed (crops and forages):-tolerant to draught, pests, diseases; variety diversification Livestock management (knowledge gaps, inadequate feeds (quantity and quality), poor feed processing) Under fed livestock (only 65% of the feed needs met under best conditions) and seasonal feed variations Poor market access: organizational, opportunities, niches Lack of capacity building, information and communication Institutions: innovation platforms, farmer organizations, networks

6. How are we solving these problem? WP Linking farmers to markets RO1 Characterization and synthesis WP Crop management WP Livestock and land management WP Mycotoxin management WP Post-harvest handling WP Vegetable integration WP Poultry husbandry RO3 Scaling Development partners, R4D platforms, farmer groups Markets Farm RCTs Integration Babati concept of integration

7.  Random testing of farmer-prioritised technologies to assess HH typology-based adaption and aggregated impact  Multi-stakeholder engagement as a means of scaling and adoption  Transmit the lessons learned by the project to the wider research and development community Current activities and next steps

8. Crop-Soil-Livestock integration in Babati district: A n example of fodder and feed – led SI research Objectives: Utilize the introduction of exotic diary fodder and feed crops as drivers of sustainable intensification of crop livestock systems. Enhance the recycling of crop residues through feed processing technologies

9.  Situation analysis using FEAST  Prioritisation of Entry points based on ability to: o Increase feed quantity and quality o Increase soil fertility through BNF o Minimise degradation – reduce soil loss  Validate prioritised technologies (research outputs)  Plan scaling (outcomes) Research Sequencing

10. Achievements to date: Results from situation analysis 1. The systems are dominated by crop production Contribution to livelihood Area committed to forage production is on average 0.04 ha per household only

11. 2. The cattle are hungry and the land is degrading  The cattle are underfed most of the time (40% wet season; 80% dry season)  There is poor storage, processing and utilization of crop residues  There is some fodder trading especially of crop residues happening at small scale  There is lack of information about fodder, feeds and feeding  There is evidence of land degradation due to overgrazing of community and public land.

12. Prioritized intervention niches Potential nichesRationale 1. Fodder banks Demonstrate the impact of committing planted fodder to livestock (farmers can realize benefits quickly) 2. Planting fodder on field boundaries and soil conservation structures This intervention suits farmers who face land and water constraints. Maximizes land use, strengthens soil against erosion and retains sub surface water for crops (efficient water use). 3. Intercropping cereals with forages (Cereals/forage legumes or planted fodder/forage legumes) that add nitrogen to the soil. Where land is scarce intercropping option is one way of spatially integrating fodder into intensive farming systems. Is an entry point of introducing forages into existing systems and forms a basis of studying potential benefits of introducing forages on land management 4. Community fodder nurseries For sustainable adoption of the technologies enhancing access to forage seed through establishment of community forage nurseries is essential. 5. Introduction of feed processing Increase the feed value of crop residues and eventual return to the soil as quality manure

13.  Bulking plots for planting materials set up at LITA, Tengeru, Arusha. (16 different species of improved fodder (grasses and legumes)  Participatory action research trial designs representing these forage species and niches have been installed on 9 farms in 3 villages of Babati district.  Three community fodder nurseries have been set up in each of the three villages and will double up as a learning platform for farmers  Small scale mobile forage choppers purchased for feed processing trials after harvest Validation of technologies

14.  At least two forage ‘best fit’ species suitable for target niches identified in different farming systems  A package for integrating forages in existing system formulated and delivered to farmers and extensionists  A package for processing and utilizing crop residues described and delivered to farmers and extensionists  A verified impact of these trials on soil, water and nutrient cycles on farmers fields Expected outputs

15. Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation africa-rising.net Thank you