SIMLESA CA: Overview of state of achievements in Malawi and Mozambique Isaiah Nyagumbo GCAP Planning Meeting Mexico

Introduction ● SIMLESA is an Australian (ACIAR) funded project operating in 5 countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzanzia) ● The project has 5 main objectives and managed by CIMMYT ● Activities kick started in 2010 ● CIMMYT plays mainly a backstopping role while most activities on the ground are implemented by NARS (who manage their own budgets).

The Focus of SIMLESA Objective 2 To test and develop productive, resilient and sustainable smallholder maize- legume cropping systems and innovation systems for local scaling out

Key outputs 6 key outputs within objective

Operational Areas in Malawi 6 districts in central Malawi falling into mid- altitude and low altiutude agroecologies: Kasungu Mchinji Lilongwe (Mitundu) Salima Ntcheu Balaka

Angonia (R10) (Communities of Ciphole and Cabango) Sussundenga (R4) Community of Sussundeng-sede R10: Community of Rotanda Manica (R10&R4) Community of Chinhadombwe) Gorongoza (R4) Community of Canda-sede ) Gorongoza (R4) Community of Canda-sede ) Testing sites

Status of achievement: Obj 2: Mw/Mz MilestoneAchievementsRemarks/ Comments 2.1 options for systems intensification identified: -list of technologies prepared for Mw and Mz by Oct 2010 Maize-legume systems and CA options defined for exploratory trials by Aug 2010 Research, extension and farmers stakeholders involved in options selection 2.2 Functional innovation systems: Innovation platforms established in each agro-ecology -Framework established for Identification of key partners for innovation platforms Status:20% Data collection of key players active and required in each community in progress in each country 2.3 Exploratory trials set up -community awareness meetings held in each target community Oct Farmer research groups established by Nov Exploratory trial sites established Soil samples collected for characterization Trials established with 36 farmers in each country (Mz/Mw) Achieved successfully Achieved 100% Samples collected: cropping history targeted for June 2011 Generally on track. Trials being implemented but residue application a problem in most trials

Status of achievement: Obj 2 Mw/Mz MilestoneAchievementsRemarks/ Comments 2.4 On-farm research programme defined by Oct Research issues refined Oct Component trials established by Researched managed long term trials established Soil quality studies by Dec Annual eval &plann meetngs Long term sites identified: Chitala (Mw): Angonia (Mz);Chimoio (Mz) Outstanding Planned for Aug 2011 On-farm research issues to be defined Data collection for APSIM still to be agreed upon by Aug 2011 Most activities still on track 2.5 Improved farmer access to input/output markets by March 2013 Not yet implemented but on track To be linked to innovation platforms work 2.6 Farmer own experiments initiated by 2011 Not yet but on trackInnovation platform partners to be mobilized for synergy 2.7 Farmer learning tours and exchange visits initiated by Dec 2010 and after Not yet doneTargeted for March/April Note:Mw-has budget problems. In Mz ok

Capacity Building: Obj 5 MilestoneAchievementsRemarks/ Comments 5.3 Short Term CA training of national partners by March 2011 Call-system courses Community awareness courses Pre-harvest training course for NAREs partners One course held for 23 partic in Chimoio and 28 partic Lilongwe by November Trainings on use of Comm. Aware protocol held in Mitundu (Mw) and Manica (Mz) in Oct 2010 One day course held for 14 NAREs part on 1 March 2011 at Chitedze (Mw) -Successfully conducted -Need for formal farmer training also identified Pre-harvest training still to be held for Mz

What worked well so far? ● Project working approach enabled establishment of 36 single replicate host farmers in each country with high quality CA in sites with good coordination and supervision ● Use of herbicides in the CA exploratory trials has been very effective towards improved weed control: Glyphosate and Harness ● Training helped to capacitate partners on CA and running awareness meetings

Training addressed theory and practical aspects of CA CA training participants on a field visit in Mozambique Demonstrating effects of CA on water holding capacity and aggregate stability in Malawi Old CA site provide valuable learning sites for new sites. Participants to this site were shown residue application techniques and had first hand feedback from practising farmers in Chipeni, Malawi.

The process Community awareness meetings Farmer consultations and agreement on treatments Identification of 6 host farmers per community On-station trials: Established long term trial with 12 treatments in Mozambique: Sunhemp under CA Exploratory trials establishment and monitoring: An exploratory trial in Sussundenga Sede, Mozambique Exploratory trials establishment and monitoring: An exploratory trial in Northern Mozambique Farmer field days A field day in Balaka, Malawi: Farmers involved in discussions. The press was also there!

Challenges Experienced ● Project implementation system suffers from usual government beauracracy hence flow of resources from research to field extension staff has not been very efficient resulting in poor supervision and monitoring of trials: late planting, weed control problems on some sites. ● Residue application highly variable within and across sites and in some cases even none existent

Termites! Weeds! Challenges

Lessons Learnt and future perspectives ● Careful timely planning and monitoring of activities essential if success is to be achieved in working through government systems ● Commitment/ motivation of local extension partners is a key driver for success ! ● There is need for more intensive farmer training on CA concepts as we move into the second season ● Strengthen innovation platform players role for increased synergy

Insights from Mexico field tours ● Mexican systems not directly transferable to SA ● Strong equipment development

Thank you!