About the project Project title: SIMLEZA-AR Project website: http://africa-rising.net Project start date: 01/12/2011 Project end date : 30/09/2015</p Citation APA Harvard MLA Vancouver Chicago IEEE CSE AMA NLM Turabian

AVRDC conducted a survey on nutrition related issues, which was planned jointly with ICRISAT. While AVRDC will make the detailed results available as appropriate, the following indications are important for the future development of these research activities; The survey found that women who were participating, or had participated (Year 1) in the Nutrition Field Schools had a much better understanding of mal-nutrition, as well food groups, and food requirements to avoid malnutrition. There appear to be some differences in the recipes on preparing children’s porridges between villages that had training, and those that had not, however, the study was conducted while the training was still going, and so the participants had not fully covered all the topics. The final results of this study will guide further detailed studies. About the project Project title: Sustainable Intensification of Key Farming Systems in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of West Africa Project abstract As part of the Feed the Future Initiative, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is supporting an innovative multi-stakeholder agricultural research program, the Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa RISING). The program’s main objective is to identify and validate scalable options for the sustainable intensification of key African cereal-based farming systems to increase food production and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and at the same time conserve or improve the natural resource base. Project website: http://africa-rising.net Project start date: 01/01/2011 Project end date : 12/31/2016 Citation APA Harvard MLA Vancouver Chicago IEEE CSE AMA NLM Turabian

This study contains yield data of the two crops from tow representative sections of a field on plots 10m by 10m. Data taken on each of the plots included agronomic practices undertaken including plant spacing, pest and disease control, organic/inorganic fertilizer applications and field history according to a protocol implemented in AfSIS. Each field was geo-referenced. About the project Project title: Identification of the Key Biophysical Production Constraints to Crops and Livestock at Farm and Landscape Levels Project abstract This project will undertake soil survey to characterize two sentinel sites (Long and Matufa) and agronomic survey to estimate farmers' actual yield. Project website: http://africa-rising.net Project start date: 01/11/2012 Project end date : 01/10/2013</p Citation APA Harvard MLA Vancouver Chicago IEEE CSE AMA NLM Turabian

Abstract

The Food Consumption and Nutrition Survey 2001–2003 (FCNS) was a national project looking at the nutritional status of women and children in rural and urban populations across Nigeria through data collection on the nature and extent of food security, food and nutrient intakes, and anthropometric and biochemical parameters.

The overall goal of the FCNS is to assess the prevalence and spread of micronutrient deficiencies and determine the nutritional status and nutrient intakes of the rural and urban populations in Nigeria. Specific objectives • Determine the level of food insecurity, nutritional status, and nutrient intakes of the rural and urban populations in Nigeria. • Assess the vitamin A, Iron, zinc, and iodine status of under-5 children, mothers, and pregnant women from food intake and biochemical indices. • Elicit from household and communities information on home health practices, food processing, and preference.

Analysis unit

Communities Households Individuals

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The 2001 FCNS was a national survey from which data on the nature and extent of food security, food and nutrient intakes, and anthropometric and biochemical parameters were collected and used to determine the nutritional status of women and children in rural and urban populations in Nigeria. The survey design targeted the entire federation of Nigeria. Because of the obvious and documented relationships between (a) the agroecological zone (AEZ) and type of farming systems; (b) crops grown and foods consumed; and (c) type of food consumed (intake) and micronutrient deficiencies, the federation of Nigeria was initially stratified according to major AEZ and predominant food crops within AEZ. (Figs 1 and 2 of the attached Survey Report under External Resources).

Twelve states, representing a third of the states of the federation were randomly selected. A total of 72 LGAs, 216 enumeration areas (EA), and 30 households from each EA were selected from the selected states, making a total of 6480 households. A subsample of 1080 pregnant women was also included.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The main data collection instrument (questionnaire) had several sections: - Questionnaire identification, - Household/demographic information - Socioeconomic characteristics of households - Food security (food availability and affordability, food consumed away from home, and food-related coping strategies), - 24-hr dietary recall - Health and care - Anthropometry - Biochemical measurements.

The following manuals were developed: Survey design and operations manual Interviewers’ manual Food instruction booklet and other survey supporting documents

This data study contains data on the farm characterization survey conducted in the villages of Sirakele, Sibirila, and Dieba. About the project Project title: Africa RISING- Research in Sustainable Intensification of Cereal-Based Farming Systems in the Guinea-Sudan-Savanna of West Africa Project abstract Sustainable intensification of mixed crop livestock systems is a key pathway towards better food security, improved livelihoods and a healthy environment. As part of the US government’s Feed the Future initiative to address hunger and food security issues in sub-Saharan Africa, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is supporting three multi-stakeholder agricultural research projects to sustainably intensify key African farming systems. Project website: http://africa-rising.net Project start date: 01/01/2012 Project end date : 01/01/2014

The soil data used in this map were obtained from profile observations and soil survey from IITA research sites over the last 10-15 years for Nigeria. Additional soil data was obtained from the ISRIC compilation of Africa Soil Profiles Database obtained from soil survey reports and field research conducted in Nigeria

Alluvial fan in Foulke Fjord looking north. Iita (Etah) located on the west side of the river.

The Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) used by AfSIS was employed to conduct a systematic biophysical assessment of various ecological and soil health metrics. The LDSF was based on a hierarchical spatially stratified, random sampling approach consisting of 100 km2 sentinel landscapes, which were statistically representative of the variability in climate, topography, and vegetation of the study area under consideration. To predict soil properties for areas where samples were not collected, relatively large number of samples from representative locations were taken. To overcome the huge cost of analyzing large soil samples using conventional laboratory techniques, near and mid-infrared spectroscopy approaches were used. About the project Project title: Identification of the Key Biophysical Production Constraints to Crops and Livestock at Farm and Landscape Levels Project abstract The project undertakes soil survey to characterize 2 sentinel sites (Long and Matufa); and agronomic survey to estimate farmers' actual yield. Project website: <http://africa-rising.net/ Project start date: 01/11/2012 Project end date : 01/10/2013 </p Citation APA Harvard MLA Vancouver Chicago IEEE CSE AMA NLM Turabian

In collaboration with AR partners, contribute to the integration of R&D activities at project level and the joint planning & implementation of activities. This may include the following: • In collaboration with Internal Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), plan and carry out nutrient analysis of crop residues suitable as animal feed such as broad beans residues and wheat straw (led by ILRI) • In collaboration with International Center for tropical agriculture (CIAT), follow up on value chain work on priority crops and livestock and contribute to the development of value chain activities (led by CIAT) • In collaboration with International Water Management Institute (IWMI), explore the use of small scale irrigation facilities for the production of high value crops such as potato during off season periods (led by IWMI) • Identification and exploitation of potential synergies between International Potato Center's (CIP) AR component and the Humid Tropics program • Explore opportunities with International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and national partners to initiate joint system level research and development (R&D) activities. About the project Project title: Contribute to the integration of AR activities into coherent project programmes Project abstract In 2014, participatory community analyses (PCA) were undertaken by multi-disciplinary facilitation teams in 8 kebeles in the Amhara, Tigray, Oromia and SNNPR regions, producing a list of priority farming enterprises, their current bottlenecks, as well as farmer-perceived opportunities for improving income, food security and/or reducing overall risks by intensifying farm enterprises. The PCA was carried out in discussions with kebele members and local leaders, with over 250 men, women and young people. Feedback on the results will be given to the farmers and future participatory planning and implementation of activities based on the results of the PCA and feedback sessions. Project website: http://africa-rising.net Project start date: 01/01/2014 Project end date : 12/31/2014

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in rural to moderately-urbanized areas of Akwa-Ibom, a state identified as having high cassava consumption and high vitamin A deficiency prevalence among children. The specific aims were: 1) to quantify the cassava and nutrient intake, and 2) to assess the vitamin A and iron status among preschool children and women of childbearing age.

Geographic coverage

Sub-national coverage, rural to moderately-urbanized areas.

Analysis unit

Individuals

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The sample size was based on an estimated 30% prevalence of low serum retinol among children as a primary outcome among children aged 6–59 months and women of childbearing age. The final sample size of 660 households was calculated accepting a type I error of 0.05, a design effect of 2 and adjusting for a 15% drop out rate. The sampling procedure was a multistage cluster selection process of local government areas (LGAs) and further by enumeration areas (EAs), which is the smallest geographical cluster of households. The LGAs are grouped according to the level of urbanization (rural, moderate-urban, and urban) within each state. A comprehensive list of all EAs in selected local government areas was obtained from the State National Population Commission. Of the 31 LGAs in Akwa Ibom (16 rural, 10 moderate-urban, and 5 urban), 10 were randomly selected from the 26 non-urban LGAs, followed by the random selection of three EAs within each LGA. Therefore, each LGA comprised 3 clusters for a total of 30-cluster survey or 22 households per cluster for a total of 660 households.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

This data study contains data on the activities by concerned farmer organizations and focuses on household, farmers’ way of life, family members, property and income-generating activities through agriculture and livestock. About the project Project title: Sustainable Intensification of Key Farming Systems in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of West Africa Project abstract As part of the Feed the Future Initiative, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is supporting an innovative multi-stakeholder agricultural research program, the Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa RISING). The program’s main objective is to identify and validate scalable options for the sustainable intensification of key African cereal-based farming systems to increase food production and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and at the same time conserve or improve the natural resource base. Project website: http://africa-rising.net Project start date: 2011-01-01 Project end date : 2016-12-31 Citation APA Harvard MLA Vancouver Chicago IEEE CSE AMA NLM Turabian

This study contains data from a survey about yield cuts in Malawi. About the project Project title: Malawi: Yield Cuts Survey Project abstract The Malawi project has local theme 'Agro-ecological intensification in Malawi through action research with smallholder farmers' with a lot of emphasis on co-learning with farmers and other stakeholders.The purpose of the Africa RISING Malawi component is to enhance farmer knowledge and support sustainable intensification (SI) pathways for productivity gains in maize-legume diversified systems, that also integrates livestock-related enterprises such as improved fodder for intensified dairy production. The project is setting up a research approach that systematically assesses SI best-bet options that appropriately respond to the needs of resource-poor farmers - particularly female headed households. Building on successful examples of participatory action research and experiences from biophysical research on smallholder farms in Malawi over the past 2 decades, the research team has begun taping into these products of agricultural research to move towards more sustainable smallholder production systems. We envisage that farm-scale production strategies employed by different farm/farmer typologies will be further distilled through scenario analyses using farming systems simulation modeling approaches. The project works with an alliance of actors, (agro-dealers, extension services, NGOs, local government structures, etc) as R4D platforms for the two districts. Project website: http://africa-rising.net Project start date: 01/01/2012 Project end date : 30/9/2016 Citation APA Harvard MLA Vancouver Chicago IEEE CSE AMA NLM Turabian

Household-level panel survey (4 rounds) on 960 farmers in Siaya Kenya, including detailed information regarding all their crop activities (at the plot-level) for 4 agricultural seasons (short rain of 2014 (SR14), long and short rain of 2015 (LR15 and SR15) and long rain 2016 (LR16). Each dataset further contains household level information.This proposal aims to answer three research questions regarding small holder technology adoption of great interest to our partners and to the policy makers aiming for higher agricultural productivity in Africa. First is the heterogeneous and hidden quality of inputs a barrier to technology adoption? If so, this would lead to the recommendation of interventions that guide the farmers toward the right inputs, through regulations or through the diffusion of information. Second, do estimates regarding returns to new technologies coming from agricultural research in on-farm trials provide biased estimates for the response to inputs in real life conditions? If so, what are the most important sources of such bias, and how can trials be designed to avoid them? The study hence aims to reinforce the bridge between agronomic and development economics work. Third, does learning-by-doing and learning-from-others regarding new agricultural technologies differ depending on soils, skills and gender? And does this heterogeneity provide useful lessons for the design of more inclusive extension models and on the role of own experimentation in such models? To answer these questions we propose two Randomized Control Trials (RCT). The first "research trial RCT" will allow the farmers in the randomly selected villages to participate to the on-farm trials carried out by the agronomists of IITA in order to test inputs of different quality. Second, in the "technology dissemination RCT"; village based advisers will be trained in randomly selected villages to promote the best inputs identified in the research trials. For each RCT we will collect several rounds of panel data to study the dynamic adoption processes. This will be complemented with information from soils sample and with detailed information on farmers' cognitive, non-cognitive and technical skills. The study has been jointly designed with IITA scientists during a series of meetings and field trips, drawing on the expertise of agronomists and economists. A specific objective of the collaboration between PSE and IITA is capacity building for IITA social scientists in rigorous impact evaluation methods, through hands-on collaboration in all the different steps of the research. The research will provide guidelines on how to address the issue of heterogeneous input quality to our partners at IITA, and more broadly to policy makers and stakeholders interested agricultural productivity in Africa. It will also aim to provide guidelines for future research by scientists within and beyond the CGIAR, and provide key insights to economists and other social sciences studying the puzzle of low adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa. Enumerator-administered surveys. The data constitutes a household-level panel, with the variable bq1a containing the unique identifier. All data was collected electronically using tablets with the software Blaise, and exported to Stata. The excel file “Questionnaire_SR14_LR16” contains the excel version of the questionnaire. The first sheet indicates which sections were included in each of the 4 rounds. The subsequent sheets contain the detailed questions and related skip patterns for each survey section.

This study focuses on how, apart from research, commercial seed initiatives and practices aimed at promoting and selling improved varieties also identified gendered trait preferences of cassava users along the value chain. Since 2015, the public cassava breeding program in Nigeria, led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in collaboration with the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), has carried out various research studies to determine the gendered trait preferences by different cassava users along the whole value chain. These studies inform which crop users the cassava breeding programs target, the traits to select, and the definition of product profiles considering gender. The commercial enterprises IITA GoSeed and Umudike Seeds have engaged cassava seed users who validated the findings of the previous studies. The formal cassava seed system in Nigeria is in a nascent stage. Feedback from this system through seed demand and sales is valuable for breeders. Therefore, this study focused on documenting a case study of how IITA GoSeed and Umudike Seeds commercial initiatives, aimed at promoting and selling improved varieties, identified additional gendered user preferences. A total of six key informant interviews were conducted with IITA GoSeed and Umudike staff. Furthermore, reports and sales data shared by the two companies were assessed. We found that traits such as plant architecture that suppresses weed (branched stems with widespread canopy) and food processing suitability were confirmed as important gendered traits while ratooning ability (allowing to cut stems from an existing plant without the plant being affected much) and sweet taste of tubers which can be eaten boiled without elaborate processing are new gendered traits identified by the two companies. IITA GoSeeds and Umudike Seeds identified that the variety TME419 has the highest sales records among men and women, with more recently released varieties gradually becoming more popular, and their branched soil covering or umbrella shape seems to be an important value-added and gendered trait. Notably, women village seed entrepreneurs (VSEs) showed a distinct preference and demand for the varieties Gamechanger and Farmers' Pride, surpassing the demand recorded among men from both companies. Our findings illustrate that the upcoming commercial seed market demand for different varieties coupled with integrated action research can capture emerging trends among cassava seed and root producers to guide breeding efforts, which is particularly important as breeding is a future investment.

In Tanzania, the project, led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), will be supporting cereal-based farming systems. Multiple participatory and adaptive agricultural interventions are currently taking place in Babati, Kongwa, and Kiteto, three districts in Tanzania, led by researchers from the IITA. Experts from IITA have supported or introduced intercropping, drought-tolerant crop varieties, water harvesting practices, and organic fertilizer application. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) leads the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities of the AR program. As part of the M&E activities in Tanzania, IFPRI contracted Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) to conduct baseline household and community surveys in Babati, Kongwa, and Kiteto districts. The main objective of this survey is to collect high-quality baseline household data to support the M&E activities of the AR program in Tanzania. More specifically, the survey aims to collect detailed information on the composition of the household, employment, health, agriculture, income and expenditures, credit, assets, subjective welfare and food security, shocks, and the anthropometric status of children and women.

The project aimed at testing the hypothesis that the application of sustainable intensification technologies (cereal-legume-vegetable-livestock integrated systems) by smallholder households in North Ghana changes the level of inter and intra-specific crop diversity managed on-farm at household level. The project included two main activities: (1) analyses of the baseline socioeconomic survey data gathered by IFPRI and IITA from a diversity perspective; and (2) implementation and analysis of a series of focus group discussions in 12 communities to assess the overall diversity of plant species that households manage and derive benefits from. Study title: Focus Group Discussions-Agrobiodiversity Assessment Study description: A series of FGDs in 12 communities were carried out during the earlier part of 2016. The objective of FGDs on agricultural biodiversity was to elicit the local knowledge about the agricultural and useful wild biodiversity present in the study areas in order to generate: (a) an ordered inventory (list) of all useful plants used by local communities for human food, animal feed, medicine, fuel, etc. and their local names; and (b) an inventory of species and other products bought and sold in markets that people attend. The aim was to have a subjective assessment of the overall diversity of species households manage and derive benefits from, how important each species is and how it contributes to the household’s food and income, as well as how it is used. Project website: http://africa-rising.net Project start date: 07/01/2015 Project end date : 06/30/2016

As part of the US government’s Feed the Future initiative that aims to address global hunger and food security issues in sub-Saharan Africa, the US Agency for International Development is supporting three multi-stakeholder agricultural research projects under Africa Research In Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa RISING - AR) program. The overall aim of the program is to transform agricultural systems through sustainable intensification projects in Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Mali, and (potentially) Zambia. In Tanzania, the project, led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), will be supporting cereal-based farming systems. Multiple participatory and adaptive agricultural interventions are currently taking place in Babati, Kongwa, and Kiteto, three districts in Tanzania, led by researchers from the IITA. Experts from IITA have supported or introduced intercropping, drought-tolerant crop varieties, water harvesting practices, and organic fertilizer application. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) leads the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities of the AR program. As part of the M&E activities in Tanzania, IFPRI contracted Economic Development Initiatives (EDI) to conduct baseline household and community surveys in Babati, Kongwa, and Kiteto districts. The main objective of this survey is to collect high-quality baseline household data to support the M&E activities of the AR program in Tanzania. More specifically, the survey aims to collect detailed information on the composition of the household, employment, health, agriculture, income and expenditures, credit, assets, subjective welfare and food security, shocks, and the anthropometric status of children and women.

2019 Cassava Virus Study at Chitala Citation APA Harvard MLA Vancouver Chicago IEEE CSE AMA NLM Turabian

As part of the US government’s Feed the Future initiative that aims to address global hunger and food security issues in sub-Saharan Africa, the US Agency for International Development is supporting multi-stakeholder agricultural research projects under Africa Research In Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa RISING - AR) program. The overall aim of the program is to transform agricultural systems through sustainable intensification projects in Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Mali, and (potentially) Zambia. In Ethiopia, the project, led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), will be supporting crop-livestock farming systems. Multiple participatory and adaptive agricultural interventions are currently taking place in eight kebeles (Goshe Bado, Gudo Beret, Salka, Ilu-Sanbitu, Jawe, Upper Gana, Emba Hasti and Tsibet) in four regions (Amhara, Oromia, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP), and Tigray) in Ethiopia, led by researchers from the ILRI. Experts from ILRI have supported or introduced intercropping, new crop varieties, water conservation practices, and integrated tree cropping. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) leads the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities of the AR program. As part of the M&E activities in Ethiopia, IFPRI contracted BDS Center for Development Research to conduct baseline household and community surveys in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, and Tigray regions. The main objective of this survey is to collect high-quality baseline household data to support the M&E activities of the AR Program in Ethiopia. More specifically, the survey aims to collect detailed information on the composition of the household, employment, health, agriculture, income and expenditures, credit, assets, subjective welfare and food security, shocks, and the anthropometric status of children and women.

As part of the US government’s Feed the Future initiative that aims to address global hunger and food security issues in sub-Saharan Africa, the US Agency for International Development is supporting three multi-stakeholder agricultural research projects under Africa Research In Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa RISING - AR) program. The overall aim of the program is to transform agricultural systems through sustainable intensification projects in Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Mali, and (potentially) Zambia. In West Africa, IITA works with multi-disciplinary R4D partners in selected communities located in Northern Ghana and Southern Mali. More particularly, in Southern Mali the AR-WA project focuses on sorghum-millet-legume-vegetable-livestock systems in the Bougouni, Yanfolila and Koutiala districts, which are situated in the Sikasso region. The Africa RISING partners in Mali include several international institutions: the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC), the International Center for Research in Agroforestry or World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF); as well as local partners: L’Association Malienne d’Eveil et de Développement Durable (AMEDD), L'Association Malienne pour la Sécurité et la Souveraineté Alimentaires (AMASSA), Mouvement Biologique du Mali (MOBIOM).