Multi Stakeholder Approach to Linking Technical Options, Policy, and Market Access for Improved Land Productivity in the Northern Guinea Savannah Zone, Third Quarterly NGS Report on the Implementation, July 1st to September 30th, 2008
Abstract
This report highlights activities carried out by the NGS Task Force (TF) during the third quarter (1st July to 30th September) of 2008. The major activities concerned the continuation of the identification of potential actors at the grassroots level for the four innovation platforms (IPs): maize and legume, rice, Fadama vegetables and livestock. Community analysis in vegetables and IAR4D villages has been conducted. The baseline study at household and village levels is completed. Training is organised for implementing actors in Participatory Learning and Action Research (PLAR) processes. Skills developed are used to conduct PLAR activities in the fields. Five experiments were set up for the maize IP, five for the rice IP and agronomic monitoring is going on. Farmer skills in soil fertility and integrated crop management are strengthened through specific training and mutual learning in the field especially for maize and legume and rice IPs. Appropriate tools have been developed to jointly monitor on farm experiments with farmers. Contracts with all partner institutions are signed and efforts during the next quarter will focus on training about the learning cycle in IAR4D and participatory value chain analysis for the implementing actors. We have realised that many researchers urgently need more skills in the IAR4D learning cycle to work effectively in the IPs. The skills will be used to immediately implement research activities. A particular emphasis will be put on the official setting up of the four IPs and their description.
Citation
13 pp.
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