IMPROVING DELIVERY OF RESEARCH OUTputS for THE BANANA INDUSTRY Improving scalable banana agronomy for small scale farmers in highland banana cropping systems in East Africa IMPROVING DELIVERY OF RESEARCH OUTputS for THE BANANA INDUSTRY

Challenges Limited basic knowledge on banana agronomy for smallholder banana systems Intensification of banana cropping systems is not informed by appropriate decision support tools Limited uptake banana agronomy recommendations Picture

Banana production status On farm ---10 ton per ha per year Research station= 60ton per ha per year India produces 120 tons per ha per year LINTUL Banana estimates 130 tons per ha year It is therefore possible to increase productivity 4 times higher to about 40tons per ha per year. Pictures

Research for greater impact System wide research; synergies and tradeoffs Driven by bridging the yield gap Addressing stress is a means rather than ends Most limiting constraint Wider stakeholder involvement; tapping into their networks

Urgent need for intensification of banana production in ECA Boost banana productivity to meet increasing demand from the rising population pressure. Research on key constraints is quite advanced Banana nutrient norms, Dynamic crop growth model, and a Effective pest management practices However, these efforts are isolated in constraint, in space and in time. Consequently, the synergies from various efforts are not sufficiently exploited to bridge the yield gaps.

Possible to increase productivity on-farm Source: Wairegi et al. 2010

Benefit of integrated management

Possible to increase productivity

Project objectives I. Reducing the yield gap… Generate basic information on interaction of banana growth, pest and disease management, moisture and nutrient requirements Develop site specific recommendations based on smallholder farmer resources II. Reducing the extension support gap… Develop a decision support framework for development partners interacting with smallholder banana farmers Develop capacity within the Zonal research and extension systems

Conceptual Framework

Theory of change: Delivery of project vision of Success. Challenges Interventions ..achieving.... ..leading to... Limited basic knowledge on banana agronomy for smallholder banana systems Modify banana simulation models (e.g. LINTUL) Develop site specific banana agronomy recommendations Geo-referenced database on soil and agronomy-related constraints to banana intensification Geo-spatial information to develop decision support applications for priority use cases. Evidence base for the development of site-specific agronomy recommendations Diversified input packages for banana cropping systems Intensification of banana cropping systems is not informed by appropriate decision support tools Produce gender responsive banana agronomy tools to meet partner demands Mass test and validate the tools on-farm Banana agronomy decision support tools fitting use case demands. A package of demonstrated effective agronomic recommendations A large number of partner organisations engaged in promoting banana agronomy recommendations Limited uptake banana agronomy recommendations Train research scientists on innovative agronomy, geo- spatio analysis Facilitate the use of decision support tools by extension and development community Sufficient scientific capacity to further the field of banana agronomy development and validation Capacity at the development community to provide the right banana agronomy information to farmers Improved scientific capacity for National zonal agricultural research system in agronomy research. Capacity for extension and scaling agents increased for the uptake of banana agronomy recommendations. Substantial uptake of above recommendations by banana farmers in the target areas and beyond

Anticipated impact of the project Increased productivity of diverse banana cropping systems Food security, nutritional status, and income enhanced and poverty reduced Enhanced continuity of supply of banana to markets Sustainable use of natural resources and agro-inputs

Probable impact value at project sites Use case No. Scaling agents Total HH reached (N) Total production increase (ton/yr) Total value (Price = US$120 /ton) Enhance soil fertility (manure +fertiliser) 5 1500 1,013 115,425 Pest and disease management 1,215 138,510 Water conservation 7 2100 1,134 129,276 Intercropping 10 3000 1,080 123,120 Optimum planting density Staggered follower sucker selection ISFPM 270 30,780 Total 52 5000 6,871.5 783,351 Total number of households benefiting directly 25,000 Total value created at the end of the project in Uganda and Tanzania (US$) 14,256,988 Total value created 5 years after the project in Uganda and Tanzania (US$) 64,622,873

Banana distribution in Uganda and Tanzania Nakaseke Rwimi Birere Bukoba Arusha Mbeya

Partners IITA Bioversity LZARDI ARDI-Tengeru AfSIS ICL-fertiliser CABI Wageningen