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Learn more about the International Year of the Potato

CIP-SSA PROJECTS.

Dr. Juan Landeos SSA Projects

COUNTRY (LOCATION): KENYA

EMAIL ADDRESS: j.landeo@cgiar.org

PROJECTS DESCRIPTION
1). Promotion of late blight-resistant advanced clones among SSA countries.
CIP's breeding program at headquarters has already developed advanced late blight resistant breeding populations and oustanding clones in a variety of agro ecological zones similar to those in SSA potato production areas and elsewhere. Samples of these clones extensively tested for resistance to late blight, agronomic, productivity and quality traits for table and industry are being promoted in SSA countries for release of new varieties. Majority of national programs in SSA region are not able to sponsor a full breeding programs and indicated their preference to receive advanced clones from CIP although, in the long term they inetend to develop breeding programs to expand their capacity to cross breed, generate progenies and select locally. The project's strategy includes the introduction of disease-free in-vitro plants from CIP HQ to kenya through the Plant Quarantine Station (PQS) of KEPHIS (Kenyan Plant Health Inspectorate Service), production of minitubers and distribution to SSA countries in the region. Recipient countries also receive a multi-stakeholder accelerated participatory variety selection scheme (AVSS) to release varieties in 4 to 5 years and have at least 30 tm of clean basic seed to initiate variety diffusion.

2). Variety selection and diffusion of alreday released and new varieties from CIP's origin.
A new variety selection scheme based on extensively tested clones decribed above are being promoted in SSA countries to speed up the release of new varieties in shorter time than previous lengthy one. The scheme's strategy involves the release of varieties in 4 to 5 years, increase the rate of adoption by the participation of multi-stakeholders (farmers, taders, consumers and processors) and bulking seed through out the selection process of at least 30 tm at release time. Common bottle neck for variety diffusion in SSA countries is availability of clean seeds in suffcient amounts and adequate strategy. This project intends to strengthen national programs varity releases pipeline, capacity to produce pre basic and basic clean seed stocks of new and existing varieties and look into the private sector for involvement on sustainable larger scale pre basic and basic seed production to expand availability of seed supply for private seed suppliers and enhance diffusion of new varieties with increased qualities. New technologies for minituber production such as "aeroponics" are also being adapted and considered to increase the production rate per plant in 10- fold, lower the cost per tuber unit and reduce risk of soil borne diseases as it uses nutrient solution instead of soil substrates.

SAMMY AGILI'S SSA PROJECTS

PROJECT TITLE: Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato For Alleviating Vitamin A Definciency in Sub Sahara Africa

COUNTRY (LOCATION): KENYA

PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE: Dr Regina Kapinga; Dr Jan Low

EMAIL ADDRESS: s.agili@cgiar.org

PROJECTS DESCRIPTION
Sweet potao germplasm conservation, cleaning of the regional land races at PQS Muguga and dissemination of the same to the region. Sweet potato pupulation development through strategic crossing for the generation of high beta carotene, high dry matter content clones.
Coordination of sweet potato breeding activities with the National programs through population development and conduct of adapatbility studies.
Coordination of planting material conservation, multiplication and dissemination in collaboration with national programs, local NGO's and local CBO's. Sweet potato drought screening, evaluation and selection in collaboration with the national programs and local university.
Coordination of Kilimo trust fund Orange-fleshed activities in Busia, Kabondo (Kenya) and Arumeru district of Tanzania. Training of farmers on Rapid Multiplication techniques for sweet potato planting material. Actively involved in the promotion of sweet potato leafy vegetables consumption in some selected divisions of Kiambu district.
Assting students from local universities on sweet potato related projects.

PARTNER'S
1). Kenya Agriculture Research Institute
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2). Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
3). Kenya palnt Health Inspectorate Services
4). The University of Nairobi
5). Rural Energy Food Security Organization
6). Ministry of Agriculture
7). Farm Concern International (FCI)

START DATE: on-going activities
DURATION:

DONOR'S
1). HARVEST PLUS
2). KILIMO TRUST

RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS
1). Sammy Agili and J.R Pardales Jr. Influence of Moisture and Allelopathic regimes in the soil and the development of Cassaava and Mycorrhizal Infections of Its Roots during establishment period. Philipp. J. Crop Sci. 22
2). Kidmose, U; L.P Christensen, S.M Agili and S.H. Thilsted. Pro-vitamin A Carotenoids in different colored sweet potato varieties. Special Issue of Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies, Hohenheim University, Germany, Section plant Foodstuff Technology
3). R. W. Njeru, R. Kapinga, M. Potts, S.M Agili, T. Munga and Muinga. Orange-fleshed sweet potato for enhanced food aand nutritional security in Coastal Kenya. In proceedings (Eds) The 7th Annual Crop Science Society Conference. 5th -9th, Dec 2005
4). S.M Agili, J.P Ndolo, J.K.Mugo. 2005. Genotype-by Environment Interactions for some selected Sweet potato Clones under different Agro-Ecological Zones in Kenya Paper presented at the 9th the International Symposium for Tropical Root AND Tuber Crops (ISTRC-AB), Mombasa, Kenya.31st October- 5th November 2004
5). S.M Agili, 1995 GENETIC STUDIES OF SOME CHARACTERS OF CORN (Zea mays l.) with emphasais on Resistance to infection of stalk rot caused by Erwinia chrysanthemi

Dr. Berga Lemaga's SSA Projects

PROJECT TITLE: DEVELOPING REGIONALSYSTEMS FOR SWEETPOTATO PLANTING MATERIAL SUPPLY AND POLLUTION MITIGATION.

COUNTRY (LOCATION) - Uganda (Sites at Nakivubo River in Kampala),
Kenya (Sites at Nzoia River in Kisumu), and in Tanzania (Sites at Mirongo River in Mwanza)

PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE: Dr Berga Lemaga (Managing partner and Agronomist); Prof. Geoffrey Njuguna Kamau (Chemist); Mr. Nsumba James (Agronomist); Prof. F.B. Mwaura (Micro-Biologist); Mr. Merumba Steven (Breeder/Agronomist); Mr. Philip Ndolo (Breeder); Mrs. Asia Kapande (Nutritionist); Mrs. M. Ishika (Socio-economist); Mrs. Muwanguzi Gloria (Electronics Engineer); Mrs. J. Nakiranda Kawooya (Socio-economist) Mr. Kanyesigye Christopher (Water Quality Scientist)

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: Dr Berga Lemaga (b.lemaga@cgiar.org); Prof. Geoffrey Njuguna Kamau (genkamau@yahoo.com) Mr. Nsumba James (nsumba@cipuganda.co.ug); Prof. F.B. Mwaura (fbmwaura@uonbi.ac.ke); Mr. Merumba Steven (merumbason@yahoo.co.uk or marukuardi@yahoo.com); Mr. Philip Ndolo (ndolophilip@yahoo.com); Mrs. Asia Kapande (taheamwanza@yahoo.com); Mrs. M. Ishika (ishimshagu@yahoo.com); Mrs. Muwanguzi Gloria (pgomje@yahoo.com or muteesa1royaluni@yahoo.com); Mrs. J. Nakiranda Kawooya (knakiranda@educ.mak.ac.ug); Mr. Mr. Kanyesigye Christopher (kanyesigye@nwsc.co.ug)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Improved economic growth, livelihoods and enhanced quality of the environment in East Africa constitute the project’s goal while the purpose is to develop and utilize sustainable wetlands-compatible systems for increased productivity, health and reduced environmental pollution.
Background/Rationale:
Sweetpotato is increasingly becoming a major source of carbohydrates for the poor rural and urban dwellers in East Africa; particularly in the Lake Victoria zones of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda where the major food staples: bananas and cassava are increasingly succumbing to diseases. Faced with the chronic shortages of good quality planting material of improved varieties to improve food security and income needs of various end-users, farmers often resort to producing the crop from wetlands especially during the dry season, hence degrading the environment. This multidisciplinary research geared to meeting three major objectives namely:

(i) The development for potential on-farm and commercial applications, of wetland compatible methods/systems for the year-round production of quality sweetpotato planting material of improved varieties;
(ii) Investigating sweetpotato’s potential to trans-locate heavy metal pollutants in view of mitigating pollution; and
(iii) Investigating the suitability for human consumption of sweetpotatoes grown in polluted areas. Achieving these will, among others contribute to;
(a) Year-round on-farm production of quality planting material without affecting the wetlands in the three target countries: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
(b) Potential realization of a novel plant-based industrial system for water purification and recovery of metal pollutants for recycling, thus contributing to reduced environmental pollution and related health risks
(c) improved local capacity in staff and facilities to conduct and exploit integrated research on phytoremediation for industrial, health and environmental improvement in East Africa.

PARTNER'S
1. Kenya: The Chemistry Dept. University of Nairobi-Kenya; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) Kakamega; Gamalenga Women Farmers and Processors Association Food processors: Kirinyaga Milling Factory
2. Tanzania: National Roots and tubers programs at Maruku and Ukiriguru Agricultural Research Institutes; Tanzania Home Economics Association (TAHEA), Kishimba Milling Company and POWERFOODS
3. Uganda: National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Muteesa 1 Royal University, School of Education, Makerere University-Uganda; The Uganda Sweetpotato Development Association-USPDA, Uganda's Namulonge Research Institutes; Kasawo Grain Millers Association; Maganjo Millers-Kampala
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START DATE: January 2005
DURATION: 3 Years

DONOR'S
1. The Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (Sida/SAREC) through a grant from the Lake Victoria Research Initiative (VicRes) under the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA)
2. Tremendous in kind support from CIP Office in Kampala-Uganda

LINKS
1. www.vicres.net/
2. www.prapace.org/
3. www.kari.org/Centres/Tigoni
4. www.naro.go.ug/

RELEVANT PUBLICATION'S
1. Berga L., J. Nsumba, G. Kamau , F. Mwaura and S. Merumba. 2008. Developing Regional Systems for the Year-Round Supply of Sweetpotato Planting Material in East Africa’s Lake Victoria Zone (In Press).
2. Berga L., J. Nsumba, G. Kamau , F. Mwaura and S. Merumba. 2008. How Safe Is Eating Sweetpotato Grown On Lake Victoria’s Urban Wetlands (In Press).
3. Berga L., J. Nsumba, G. Kamau , F. Mwaura and S. Merumba. 2008. Could Sweetpotato In The Lake Victoria Region One Day Industrially Serve To Mitigate Pollutant Heavy Metals (In Press).

KEYWORDS
1. Sweetpotato
2. Lake Victoria
3. Wetlands-compatible
4. Phytoremediation.

PROJECT TITLE: Wealth creation through integrated development of the potato production and marketing sector in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.

COUNTRY (LOCATION): Ethiopia: West Shoa and Gurage zones; Kenya: Bomet and Molo districts; and Uganda: Kabale and Kanungu districts

PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE: Berga Lemaga (Project Coordinator); Ian Barker (Managing policy and regulation review; advisor); Graham Thiele (Socio-economics, monitoring and evaluation and impact assessment advisor)

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: Berga Lemaga (B.Lemaga@CGIAR.ORG); Ian Barker (I.BARKER@CGIAR.ORG); Graham Thiele (g.thiele@cgiar.org), Jan Low (J.Low@CGIAR.ORG).

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate poverty reduction among target smallholder potato farmers in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda through parallel interventions in seed potato production and marketing on one hand, as well as implementing improvements in the ware potato production and marketing chains on the other. As outputs, such integrated sectoral development is expected to result in the establishment of potato stakeholder forums at local, national and regional levels; the establishment of direct specialized potato marketing linkages between producers and processors / retailers; economically sustainable seed potato enterprises; improved production and marketing of seed and ware potato both in terms of quality and quantity; a proper assessment of opportunities and constraints for the potato sector on the national, regional and international markets; the development and presentation of national potato development plans to policy makers; and the exchange/sharing of information among potato sector representatives within and out of the three pilot countries. Moreover, lessons learnt will constitute valuable information that will help to shape up scaling up the approach to other sub- Saharan potato producing countries and beyond. The approach of implementation will emphasize public-private-partnership (PPP)

PARTNER'S
1). Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Trade and Markets Division (ESTM)
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2). Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)
3). Ministry of Agriculture Kenya (MoA Kenya)
4). DEEPA industries (Kenya)
5). Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research (EIAR)
6). Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development-Ethiopia, represented by Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) in the Gurage Zone Agric. Office and West Shoa In Oromia Zone
7). Solagrow PLC, Ethiopia
8). National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO)-Uganda
9). Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (KAZARDI) of NARO, Ministry of Agriculture Uganda (MoA Uganda)
10). TomCris enterprises-Uganda

START DATE: 07 2008 (July 2008)
DURATION: 48 Months

DONOR'S
1). Common Fund for Commodities (Netherlands)
2). NAREs of Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda and private sectors (Solagrow, DEEPA Industries Ltd), TomCris)

LINKS
1). www.prapace.org/
2). www.eiar.gov.et
3). www.kari.org/Centres/Tigoni
4). www.naro.go.ug/

RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS
(The project is New and has not produced publications yet, but the following are relevant).
1). Low J., Barker I., Bonierbale M., Crissman C., Forbes G., Berga Lemaga and Priou S. 2007. Emerging Trends and Advances in Potato Research Relevant to Defining the Way Forward for the Potato Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa. Paper presented at the 7th APA Conference. Alexandria, 22 – 25 October 2007. Alexandria, Egypt. (In Press).
2). Agajie Tesfaye, J. A. Mwakasendo, Z. Nzohabonayoz, J. Mutware, K.y Wanda , P. M.Kinyae , Berga Lemaga, C. Crissman and G.Thiele. 2007. Market for fresh and frozen potato chips in the ASARECA region and the potential for regional trade: the case of Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi and Uganda. CIP working paper 2006 48p.
3). Ferris, R.S.B; Okoboi,G.; Crissman, C.; Ewell, P.; and Berga, L. (2004). Performance and growth prospects if Irish potato as a component for the development of strategic exports in Uganda. ASARECA/IITA monograph 2. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
4). Okoboi G. and Shaun F. 2001: The marketing potential of Potatoes in Uganda and market opportunities for Rwanda.

KEYWORDS
1). Wealth Creation
2). Poverty reduction
3). Smallholder
4). Ware potato
5). Seed Potato
7). Market Link

PROJECT TITLE: TRANSFER AND DISSEMINATION OF PROVEN AND EMERGING AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES IN ORANGE FLESHED SWEETPOTATO

COUNTRY (LOCATION): Uganda (northern Uganda) Kenya (western Kenya), Tanzania (The lake Zone), Rwanda, and Ethiopia (southern Ethiopia)

PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE: Dr Berga Lemaga (Coordinator); Dr. Regina Kapinga (Sweetpotato Breeder CIP-SSA); Mr. Engida Tsegaye (Head of Ethiopia's National sweetpotato Program); Mr. Philip Ndolo (Head, Sweetpotato Program, KARI-Kakamega,Kenya); Mr. Jean Ndirigue (Head of Rwanda's National Sweetpotato Program); Geoffrey Mkamilo (National coordinator, Root and Tuber Research Program-Tanzania); and Dr. Robert Mwanga (Sweetpotato Breeder, Uganda National Program);

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: Dr Berga Lemaga (b.lemaga@cgiar.org); Dr. Regina Kapinga (r.kapinga@cgiar.org); Mr. Engida Tsegaye (etaz2003@yahoo.com); Mr. Philip Ndolo (ndolophilip@yahoo.com); Mr. Jean Ndirigue (); Dr. Geoffrey Mkamilo (gmkamilo@hotmail.com); and Dr. Robert Mwanga (rmwanga@naro-g.org);

DESCRIPTION
The project seeks to contribute to improving the livelihoods of resource poor farmers in Eastern and Central Africa (ECA) by enhancing uptake and adoption of Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) technologies initially targeting Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The project will focus on transfer and promotion of proven, available, and emerging technologies for the production, storage and processing of orange-fleshed sweetpotato into higher value products as well as providing market information, linking farmers to markets and the development of agro-enterprises. High yielding Vitamin A rich Varieties (OFSP) constitute one of the key technologies, as these significantly influence productivity and better nutrition. Success stories on impact of transferred technologies on the livelihoods of the poor people in the target areas will be translated into best practices or lessons learnt for broader scaling up and scaling out in the region. Technology transfer to farmers and end-users is conducted through a participatory approach involving concerned stakeholders, within participating countries, through applied and adaptive research using the Innovations Platform for Technology Adoption (IPTA) approach. The project is expected to culminate into several outputs including: the generation and promotion of best bet approaches for scaling up OFSP technologies; availing OFSP technologies for uptake pathways in target countries; strengthening of capacities for disseminating and scaling up of OFSP technologies in the production-to-consumption continuum; and availing information to intermediate and end users in ECA on best bet uptake approaches and OFSP technologies.

PARTNER'S
1).Ethiopia: NARIs: Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR): Awassa Research Center; Ethiopian Nutrition and Health Research Institute , NGOs: CRS, WVI, Plan Ethiopia
Phone: + +255754 430675
2). Kenya: NARIs: Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) NGOs: CRS, Family Concern CBOs: Gamalenga Women Farmers and Processors Association Food processors: Kirinyaga Milling Factory
3). Rwanda: NARIs: ISAR-Rubona Agricultural Research Institute, NGOs: DEAF, World Vision, CRS, Lutheran World Federation, CARITAS
4). Tanzania: NARIS: Department of Research and Training (DRT): Maruku, Ukiriguru and Kibaha Agricultural Research Institutes; Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center (TFNC) NGOs: Catholic Relief Services (CRS),Tanzania Home Economics Association (TAHEA), True Food, Plan International (Tanzania) CBOs: TSAE (Tanzania Society for Agriculture and Education) Food processors: Kishimba Milling Company and POWERFOODS
5). Uganda: NARIS:National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO): Kawanda and Namulonge Research Institutes; NGOs: Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Abuket Sweetpotato Processing and Marketing Association; Food processors: Kasawo Grain Millers Association
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START DATE: August 2008
DURATION: 4.5 Years

DONOR'S
1. The African Development Fund (ADF)
2. FARA
3. SRO
4. NARs of Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda

LINKS
1). www.cipotato.org/vitaa/
2). www.prapace.org/
3). www.eiar.gov.et
4). www.kari.org/Centres
5). www.naro.go.ug/

RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS
1. Anderson P., Kapinga R., Zhang D., Hermann M. 2007. Vitamin A for Africa (VITAA): An entry point for promoting orange-fleshed sweetpotato to combat Vitamin A-deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa. In Proceedings of 13th ISTRC symp.Pg. 711
2. Yanggen, D., and S. Nagujja. 2006. The use of orange-fleshed sweetpotato to combat vitamin A deficiency in Uganda. A study to of varietal preferences, extension strategies and post-harvest utilization. International Potato Centre (CIP), Lima, Peru. 2006. 80 p.
3. Jeremiah S.C., Kulembeka H.P., Kanju E., Chirimi B. and.Amour R. 2007. The role of community based organizations, NGOs and farmers in technology transfer. In Proceedings of 13th ISTRC symp.Pg. 686
4. Akelola R., Karuri E.,Muroki N M. and Mwaniki D. 2007. The effect of orange fleshed sweetpotato on vitamin A and nutritional status of pre-school children in Nambale division Busia district. In Proceedings of 13th ISTRC symp.Pg. 721
5. Assefa Tofu,Teshome Anshebo, Engida Tsegaye and Tesfaye. 2007. Summary of progress on orange-fleshed sweetpotato research and development in Ethiopia. In Proceedings of 13th ISTRC symp.Pg. 728
6 Masumba E., Kapinga R., Tollan S.M., Mary O., Yongolo and Kitundu C.D. 2007. Adaptability and acceptability of new orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties in selected areas of Eastern and Central zones of Tanzania. In Proceedings of 13th ISTRC symp.Pg 737

KEYWORDS
1. Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato-OFSP
2. Platform
3. IPTA

Dr Ricardo Labarta's SSA Projects

PROJECT TITLE: Best practices for Multiplication and dissemination of OFSP and their Dissemination through a Strengthened VITAA network (REU-SEED-OFSP).

COUNTRY (LOCATION): Mozambique & Uganda

PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE: Ricardo A. Labarta

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS:r.labarta@cgiar.org

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
CIP is one of the leading partners of the Reaching End Users (REU) project that is looking to disseminate broadly and cost-effectevely the biofortified Orange Flesh Sweetpotato (OFSP). OFSP is one of the few crops that can provide high amounts of bioavailable beta-carotene and complement other strategies targeted to combat vitamin A deficiency in rural areas. CIP is leading the Seed systems Operations Research component of the project and its main activities include:
1) Understand and document willigness to pay for vines and farmers' preferences for sweetpotato planting material.
2) In collaboration with the Mozambican and Ugandan implementation teams assess project vine distribution policy.
3) Assist the implementation teams in identifying and training suitable vine multiplication partners.
4) Lead agronomic research on improving underlying technologies regarding planting material production.
5) Understand the contribution of OFSP to the farming system and conduct trade-off analysis for growing OFSP compared to alternative crops.
6) Establish a monitoring system for proejct extension cost and intensity.
7)Assess profitability from vine and roots sales by medium scale and other farmers.
8) Evaluate OFSP area and yield evolution among project participants.
9) Disseminate REU results of intervention/research through the VITAA platform.

PARTNER'S
1. Harvest Plus, IFPRI, Washington
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2. Natural Resources Institute (NRI), University of Greenwich, UK
3. World Vision International (Mozambique)
4. PRAPACE, Uganda
5. National Organization for Agriculture Research (NARO), Uganda
6. National Insitute for Agricultural Research (IIAM)., Mozambique

START DATE: 01 of April 2006
DURATION: 4 years

DONOR'S
1. Harvest Plus
2. Bill & Belinda Gates foundation

RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS
1. Integrating Agriculture And Nutrition Extension To Combat Vitamin A Deficiency Through Cost-Effective Dissemination Of Beta-Carotene-Rich Sweet Potato In Rural Central Mozambique - Ricardo Labarta and Jan Low, International Potato Center

KEYWORDS
1. Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato
2. Cost effective extension models
3. Integrated agriculture, nutrition & Marketing approach
4. Vitamin A
5. Suitanable seed systems

Dr Lieven Claessens SSA Projects

PROJECT TITLE: Participatory development and testing of strategies to reduce climate vulnerability of poor farm households in East Africa through innovations in potato and sweet potato technologies and enabling policies.

COUNTRY (LOCATION): Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia

PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE: Lieven Claessens

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: l.claessens@cgiar.org

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project is using the Tradeoff Analysis methodology to evaluate the impacts of new potato and sweet potato technologies and enabling policies to help East African farmers to adapt to climate change. The goal of this project is to reduce climate vulnerability of poor farm households in East Africa through adoption of potato- and sweet potato-based technologies and enabling policies that increase the resilience and sustainability of agricultural systems.In collaboration with CIP scientists and collaborators in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda, the project will develop climate change adaptation strategies using innovations in potato- and sweet potato technologies that have been shown to increase resilience of agricultural systems and reduce vulnerability of poor farm households to climate change. Specific outputs include:
1) Regionally-specific technology and policy strategies to reduce vulnerability of poor farm households to climate change;
2) Enhanced national and international capacity to utilize new research methods for analyzing impacts of technologies and policies affecting farmers’ adaptation to climate change;
3) Policy impact pathways identified and actual and expected policy changes assessed.

PARTNER'S
1). Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Nairobi, Kenya
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2). Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
3). Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research (EIAR), Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
4). Max-Planck Institute for Metereology (MPI-M), Hamburg, Germany

START DATE: Mar-08
DURATION: 3 years

DONOR'S
1). German Development Agency (GTZ/BMZ)

LINKS
1). www.tradeoffs.montana.edu
2). www.tradeoffs.nl

KEYWORDS
1). Climate Change
2). Adaptation
3). Tradeoff Analysis

Wachira Kaguongo SSA Projects

PROJECT TITLE: Sweetpotato Technology Impact Assessment & Enhancement
COUNTRY (LOCATION): Kenya & Ethiopia
PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE: Wachira Kaguongo
EMAIL ADDRESS: n.kaguongo@cgiar.org

DESCRIPTION: Over the years CIP and its partners have invested in development and promotion of improved sweetpotato technologies, such as high yielding, virus resistant and orange flesh sweetpotato varieties (OFSP). The CIP’s impact enhancement division conducts adoption and impact studies to evaluate the effectiveness of these development and promotion efforts. The objectives of adoption and impact studies for Kenya and Ethiopia include documentation of economic impact of the development and promotion efforts, drawing lessons from the studies in regard to the effectiveness of variety development and promotion strategies in the three countries, identifying key factors for successful variety introduction to give fed back to the sweetpotato breeding and variety selection programs of CIP and its research partners.

The studies start with rapid appraisal to map out the major sweetpotato growing areas, understand the key players and have a general overview of strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in sweetpotato sector of each country. During reconnaissance surveys sweetpotato farmers, key informants and stakeholders provide relevant information for the study. Rapid appraisal is followed by baseline and adoption studies which involve interviewing randomly sampled farmers from major sweetpotato growing districts in each country using structured questionnaires which allow in-depth evaluation of adoption patterns, seed systems, market preference, and impact of improved sweetpotato technologies.

PARTNER(s)
1. Regional Potato and Sweetpotato Improvement Program for Eastern and Central Africa (PRAPACE)
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2. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)
3. Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Kenya
4. Ethiopia Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR)
5. Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Ethiopia

START DATE: October,2006
DURATION: 4 years

DONOR(S)
1. CIP's Impact Enhancement Division
2. PRAPACE

KEYWORDS
1. Improved sweetpotato varieties
2. Orange flesh sweetpotato (OFSP)
3. Clean planting material
4. Value addition

PROJECT TITLE: Traditional Foods Project

COUNTRY: Kenya and Tanzania

PERSON'S RESPONSIBLE: Wachira Kaguongo and Stefan

EMAIL ADDRESS: n.kaguongo@cgiar.org

DESCRIPTION
Traditional Foods project is implemented in Kiambu, Kabondo and Busia in Kenya and Arusha in Tanzania. The project aims at increasing adoption, commercialization and consumption of Orange Flesh Traditional Foods project is implemented in Kiambu, Kabondo and Busia in Kenya and Arusha in Tanzania. The project aims at increasing adoption, commercialization and consumption of Orange Flesh Sweetpotatoes (OFSP) and Traditional African Vegetables (TAVs) and evaluating the effectiveness of the process of the Commercial Village (VA) approach in improving incomes, increasing micronutrient intake, and other indicators of well-being of all players and their families along the value chain. A Commercial Villages (CV) approach is a concept that involves commercialization of various farmer groups clustered in a village to ensure that highest numbers of members of a village are practicing commercial farming. In this approach farmers are organized into Markets Support Units (MSUs). An MSU is a group of farmers who are evolved from the social orientation and their capacity built to become a commercial unit which can effectively and consistently market their produce as a group.

The role of impact enhancement division in TF project is monitoring and evaluation of project implementation and measuring and documenting effectiveness and impact of the project and Commercial Village Approach. Monitoring and evaluation activities involve regular field visits by monitoring team to take audit of activities, outputs and outcomes of project implementation. Engendered baseline and impact surveys of producers, traders and consumers and focus group discussions are among the studies and approaches used to evaluate adoption and impact of improved sweetpotato and TAVS technologies, production practices, consumption of nutrient rich crops and increased market access.

PARTNER(s)
1. Farm Concern International (FCI)
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2. World Vegetable Center (AVRDC)
3. Urban Harvest (UH)

START DATE: April, 2007
DURATION: 3 years

DONOR(S)
1. Kilimo Trust

KEYWORDS
1. Traditional Foods
2. Orange flesh sweetpotato (OFSP)
3. Traditional African Vegetables (TAVs)
4. Improved Income
5. Increased market access
6 Commercial Villages

PROJECT TITLE: Traditional Foods Project

COUNTRY: Kenya and Tanzania

PERSON RESPONSIBLE: Wachira Kaguongo and Stefan

EMAIL ADDRESS: n.kaguongo@cgiar.org

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Traditional Foods project is implemented in Kiambu, Kabondo and Busia in Kenya and Arusha in Tanzania. The project aims at increasing adoption, commercialization and consumption of Orange Flesh Traditional Foods project is implemented in Kiambu, Kabondo and Busia in Kenya and Arusha in Tanzania. The project aims at increasing adoption, commercialization and consumption of Orange Flesh Sweetpotatoes (OFSP) and Traditional African Vegetables (TAVs) and evaluating the effectiveness of the process of the Commercial Village (VA) approach in improving incomes, increasing micronutrient intake, and other indicators of well-being of all players and their families along the value chain. A Commercial Villages (CV) approach is a concept that involves commercialization of various farmer groups clustered in a village to ensure that highest numbers of members of a village are practicing commercial farming. In this approach farmers are organized into Markets Support Units (MSUs). An MSU is a group of farmers who are evolved from the social orientation and their capacity built to become a commercial unit which can effectively and consistently market their produce as a group.

PARTNER'S
1. Farm Concern International (FCI)
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2. World Vegetable Center (AVRDC)
3. Urban Harvest (UH)

START DATE: April, 2007
DURATION: 3 years

DONOR'S
1. Kilimo Trust

KEYWORDS
1. Traditional Foods
2. Orange flesh sweetpotato (OFSP)
3. Traditional African Vegetables (TAVs)
4. Improved Income
5. Increased market access
6 Commercial Villages

Urban Harvest SSA Projects

PROJECT TITLE: Combating HIV/AIDS in urban communities through food and nutrition security: the role of women led micro-livestock enterprises and horticultural production in Nakuru town.

COUNTRY(LOCATION): Nakuru Municipality, Kenya.

PERSON REPSONSIBLE: Principal investigators; Prof. Nancy Karanja - Urban Harvest Regional Coordinator SSA, Prof. Fiona Yeudall - School of Nutrition Ryerson University Canada.

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: nancy.karanja@cgiar.org , fyeudall@ryerson.ca

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Introduction: In 2006, a consortium of agricultural research organizations, self-help groups, CBOs, health care providers, municipal policy makers and donors established an innovative partnership to build capacity for urban agriculture (UA) among PLWHAs in Nakuru, Kenya.
Lessons learned: In early 2007, we conducted a baseline survey of livelihoods and food and nutrition security status faced by154 Households with at least one PLWHA and one child 2 -5. Households commonly experienced severe food shortage (77%), eviction (37%), hospitalization (34%), job loss (26%), and/or death of an adult (17%). Female headed Households (45.2 % ) reported more crises (mean 2.83, 95% CI 2.52-3.13) compared to male headed Households (mean 2.10, 95% CI 1.80-2.40), more illness over the last month (67.1% versus 57.1%), greater perceived lack of medical care (50% versus 40%) and less access to land for farming (22.9% versus 44.7% ). While 33.1% of the children were stunted with 26.0% underweight. Food insecurity assessment showed that a mere 0.6% of the households were food secure; of the remainder 1.9% were mildly food insecure, 24.0% moderately food insecure and 73.4% severely food insecure.
Intervention:Since baseline, SEHTUA (Sustainable Environments and Health through Urban Agriculture) partners have provided training, starter seedlings, land access (for those from extremely poor neighbourhoods) and other inputs for production of African Indigenous and conventional vegetables. Consensus at self-help group meetings indicates improved access to vegetables for consumption and positive economic returns from local sale. Self-selected Households are raising dairy goats screened for illness prior to introduction and growing feed (sweet potato vines, Napier grass, and fruit and vegetable wastes from the market).
Next steps: Close monitoring and evaluation is on-going and should provide insights into pathways by which crop and livestock production can impact livelihood, food intake, and nutrition security status of HIV/AIDS affected HH. We will assess during follow up whether availability of goat milk provides safe infant feeding options for mothers with HIV/AIDS, an animal source food for young children, and earnings from sale.

PARTNERS
Urban Harvest the international Potato Centre
Ryerson University School of Nutrition
University of Toronto Centre for Urban Health Initiatives
Badili Mawazo Self Help Group
Presbyterean Church of East Africa (PCEA) Nakuru West Parish
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Livestock and fisheries
Ministry of Health
University of Nairobi
Egerton University
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Municipal Council of Nakuru (MCN).

START DATE: Jul-06
DURATION: 3 YEARS

DONORS: Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

LINKS
1) https://my.ryerson.ca.
2) Nakuru Canada-CGIAR Linkage project.

RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS
Natasha A. (2007) Assessment of sustainable livelihoods, food security and illness in HIV/AIDS affected households in Nakuru Kenya. M.A. Thesis. University of Toronto, Canada.
Mbugua S. (2008) Food and nutrition insecurity status of HIV/AIDS affected households: The case of Nakuru Municipality, Kenya. M.Sc. Thesis. Egerton University, Kenya. [In process].
Cole DC, Anderson N, Mbugua S, Karanja N, Yeudall F, Njenga M, Sellen D and SEHTUA partners (2008) Sustainable Environments and Health Through Urban Agriculture (SEHTUA): A community based project to strengthen livelihood and food security for households affected by HIV/AIDS in Kenya. Paper presented at the XVII International AIDS Conference, "Universal action now". 3rd - 8th August. Mexico City, Mexico.
Assessment of food security and nutrition status among households affected by HIV/AIDS in Nakuru Municipality, Kenya.
Andersen S., Mbugua S., Sellen D., Cole D., Karanja N., & Njenga M. (2008) Application of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework to Assess Households Affected by HIV/AIDS in Nakuru, Kenya. Paper presented at the XVII International AIDS Conference, "Universal action now". 3rd - 8th August. Mexico City, Mexico.
Mbugua S., Andersen N., Tuitoek P., Yeudall F, Sellen D, Karanja N, Cole DC, Njenga M, Prain G and the SEHTUA partnership (2008) Assesment of food security and nutrition status among households affected by HIV/AIDS in Nakuru municipality, Kenya.Paper presented at the XVII International AIDS Conference, "Universal action now". 3rd - 8th August. Mexico City, Mexico.

KEYWORDS
Food insecurity, HIV/AIDS, Urban Agriculture, Nutrition, livelihoods.

Dr. Regina Kapinga's SSA Projects

PROJECT TITLE: Orange-fleshed sweetpotato for alleviating vitamin A deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa

COUNTRY (LOCATION): Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, Nigeria, Zambia, Ethiopia and Madagascar

PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE: Regina Kapinga and Wolfgang Gruneberg

EMAIL ADDRESS: r.kapinga@cgiar.org; w.gruneberg@cgiar.org

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project of part of the wider goal under Harvest Plus challenge program to reduce micronutrient malnutrition among poor populations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The intermediate goal is to develop and disseminate beta-carotene dense varieties of sweet potato. Purpose: To improve the β-carotene content of the diet of micronutrient deficient populations in selected countries. Through the project life, activities have mainly been implemented under five themes.

a) Population development - where breeding populations have been generated through regional crossing blocks in Uganda, South Africa and Zambia as well as in country crossing blocks in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ghana. Additional breeding populations have been introduced in the regions from CIP HQ Lima. Also local accessions have been collected and characterised in most countries. In all countries, clonal evaluation and preliminary yield evaluations have been done to select the promising lines for further selection levels.
b) Adaptability and acceptability studies through farmer participatory Research - Advanced materials have been tested at advanced, multilocation and on farm trial studies in different countries leading to many variety releases.
c) Diversity, heritability and molecular studies for Iron, Zinc and ather nutrients -- Most of the work was conducted in collaboration with Louisiana State University. Related activities are being undertaken in Uganda under a PhD program with Makerere Univeristy.
d) Multiplication of basic planting materials --- Under this theme all countries every year ensured at least 1 ha of clean planting material for the released varieties to give out to NGO and CBO partners for dissemination.
e) Capacity building --- Different short courses, attachments and workshops heve been orgarnised for partners to enhance capacity especially in areas of sweetpotato breeding experimentation, data collection and analysis. Also degree research activities in sweetpotato breeding have been cosupervised with a number of universities in the region.

PARTNER'S
1. Dr. Robert Mwanga, National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) - Namulonge, Uganda.
add additional lines if necessary
2. Dr. Harrison Dapah, Crops Research Institute (CSRI) - Kumasi, Ghana
3. Ms Sunette Laurie, ARC Roodeplat, South Africa.
4. Mr. Ndolo Philip, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute – Kakamega, Kenya.
5. Dr. Martin Chiona, Mansa Technology Assessment Site (MTAS), Zambia.
6. Mr. Engida Tsegaye, Awassa Agricultural Research Centre, Ethiopia.
7. Mr. Jean Ndirigue, ISAR – Rubona, Rwanda
8. Dr. Maria Andrade, CIP Mozambique
9. Mr. Randrianaivoarivony Jean Marc, FIFAMANOR, Madagascar.
10. Dr. Evelyne Lukonge, LZARDI Ukiruguru, Tanzania
11 Ms. Ijeoma Egeonu and Mr. Solomon Afuape, NRCRI- Umudike, Nigeria
12 Mr. Silver Tumwegamire, CIP- Uganda
13. Mr. Sammy Agili, CIP- Kenya

START DATE: 2004
DURATION: 5 years

DONOR'S
1. Harvest Plus Challenge Program
2. Mc Knight Foundation
3. Governments of participating countries
4. PRAPACE
5. USAID- Mozambique

LINKS
1. Vitamin A for Africa (VITAA) partnership
2. ASARECA through PRAPACE

RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS
1. R. Kapinga, J. Ndunguru, G. Mulokozi. and S. Tumwegamire. 2008. Impact of commonly sweetpotato viruses on total carotenoids and root yields of an orange –fleshed sweetpotato in Tanzania. In press. Accepted for publication in Scientia Horticulturae
2. Robert O. M. Mwanga, Benson Odongo, Charles Niringiye, Putri Abidin, Regina Kapinga, Silver Tumwegamire, Berga Lemaga, James Nsumba and Edward Carey. . 2007. Release of two orange-fleshed sweetpotato cultivars, “ SPKK004” ( Kakamega) and ‘Ejumula’ in Uganda. HortScience 42(7): 1728- 1730.
3. Robert O. M. Mwanga, B. Odongo, C. Niringiye, R. Kapinga, S. Tumwegamire, P.E. Abidin, E.E. Carey, B.Lemaga, J. Nsumba and D. Zhang. 2007. Sweetpotato selection release: Lessons learnt from Uganda. African Crop Science Journal 15(1) 11-23. ISSN 1021-9730/ 2007
4. S. Tumwegamire, R. Kapinga, D. Zhang, C. Crissman, and S. Agili. 2004. Opportunities for promoting orange-fleshed sweetpotato among food based approach to combat Vitamin-A deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa. African Crop Science Journal Vol. 12(3): 241 – 252.

KEYWORDS
1. Orange-fleseshed Sweetpotato
2. Beta-carotene
3. Micro-nutrients ( Iron, Zn and Viatmin A)

PROJECT TITLE: Influence of environments and crop age on β-carotene contents of promising orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties
COUNTRY (LOCATION): Uganda
PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE: Regina Kapinga, Silver Tumwegamire
EMAIL ADDRESS:r.kapinga@cgiar.org

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The overall objective of the project is to establish variation of β-carotene levels across diverse environments as well as across different dates of harvesting. Therefore, the specific objectives include: i). To assess the influence of environment on β-carotene levels among the promising orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties in Uganda. ii) To assess the effect of time of harvesting, on ß-carotene content of the promising orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties in Uganda. Experiments were conducted in three different agro-ecologies of Uganda. The research covered in this project represents an expansion of the scope of activities under the HarvestPlus – sweetpotato breeding activities and is directly related to activities of the Reaching End Users project for dissemination of orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties in Uganda. Results obtained showed that the best time for harvesting OFSP is 5 months after planting when beta-carotene contents have accummulated to maximum. Also there is Genotype by Environment interaction on the beta-carotene accummulation. The best yileds of beta-carotene contents was obtained from warm, humid and mid-altitude environment and the lowest beta-caroeten accummulation is obatained in the higher and cold environments.

PARTNER(s)
1. Dr. Genrose Mulokozi, Tanzania Food and Nutrition Cantre, Dar es Salaam,Tanzania
add additional lines if necessary
2. Dr. Christine Hortz, HarvestPlus, IFPRI, USA

START DATE: May, 2007
DURATION: 1 year

DONOR(S)
1. Harvest Plus Challenge program

LINKS
1. Harvest Plus Sweetpotato Breeding project (Orange-fleshed sweetpotato for alleviating vitamin A deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa)
2. Harvest Plus Sweetpotato Reaching End User Project
3. Vitamin A for Africa (VITAA) Partnership
4. Tanzania Food and and Nutrition Centre (TFNC), Tanzania

KEYWORDS
1. Beta carotene
2. Environment
3. Crop Age
4. Sweetpotato

© International Potato Center. CIP-SSA Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya
CIP is supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)