ENHANCING FOOD SECURITY IN CASSAVA-BASED FARMING SYSTEMS IN MALAWI AND ZAMBIA PROJECT

Transcription

1 ENHANCING FOOD SECURITY IN CASSAVA-BASED FARMING SYSTEMS IN MALAWI AND ZAMBIA PROJECT PROJECT SUMMARY REPORT: SEPTEMBER 2008 JULY 2009 Prepared by TOTAL LANDCARE Malawi Vincent Kaitano July

2 BACKGROUND AND KEY OUTPUTS The project is supported by FAO and is being implemented by TLC and IITA. The goal is to improve the livelihoods of 5,000 rural livelihoods in the districts of Nkhotakota, Lilongwe and Salima which are important cassava growing areas in the central region. Interventions are being implemented through demand-driven participatory approach and value-adding through increased production of improved planting material, agro-processing and linkages to markets. Key expected outputs in the first three months included: 1. Capacity building of farmers and farmer group strengthened and upgraded through training and enhanced communication and information flows 2. Capacity of support service providers strengthened 3. Linkages established between farmer groups and agribusiness service providers 4. productivity, value addition and income of cassava producers enhanced 5. Marketing strategies and promotional campaigns launched to raise the profile and status of cassava in food security and economic growth Key outputs for the six month period (January June, 2009) included: 1. Support to nurseries through monitoring and training farmers in field operations such as distribution, planting, weeding, disease & pest control in association with government staff 2. Strengthen cassava producer groups and links to service providers: Continue mobilizing farmers to form Associations and Cooperatives, identify providers of support services to cassava production, marketing and utilization, link farmer groups to service providers according to group needs, conduct ToT in group management, leadership and group dynamics, conduct ToT in farm business management and onfarm value addition and, assist farmers identify potential cassava markets 3. Communication campaign using mass media to promote improved varieties and sustainable production techniques: Assess existing communication channels, develop a Participatory Communication Strategy and implement approved communication strategy 4. Facilitate market information exchange: Assess current market information system for cassava: players, users, and suitability for early warning system, identify least cost and effective communication channel (s) for cassava marketing development and early warning system, linkup with cost effective info system for cassava marketing and early warning system 5. Field Level Trainings/demos and w/shops to promote primary level processing and packaging: Conduct ToT to introduce and demonstrate use of village level processing equipment and packaging, organize farmer groups to access loans to access processing and packaging equipment, follow-up visits to farmer-group training on use of village-level processors and packaging 6. Linking producers to markets: establish linkages in the value chain 1

3 Key outputs for the twelve month period (July 2008 June 2009) included: 1. Facilitate expansion of area under cassava production and the number of participating farmers; 2. Enhance cassava system and quality control through distribution of improved planting materials and support to nurseries 3. Strengthen linkages among players in the cassava value chain 4. Facilitate development of cottage industry and investments in SMEs aimed at enhancing value addition of specialized cassava products 5. Develop and disseminate technical messages on cassava production, processing and marketing and advocate for policy support and investment in the cassava sector 6. Build capacity in cassava farmers groups and associations through training 7. Monitor and evaluate project to determine impact on the livelihoods measure in place for sustainability after project support phases out. SUMMARY OF KEY RESULTS ACHIEVED Nkhotakota District Below is a Table with key results by District: EPA ZIDYANA LINGA MTOSA CHILUA Type of Seed Seed T/As Villages Clubs Club Membership M F Total Ha Bundles Distributed 1, , , , ,

4 Nkhotakota (cont d) Type of EPA Seed LINGA MTOSA T/As Villages Clubs Club Membership M F Total Ha Bundles Ddistributed , , ,265 Salima District Below is a Table with key results of the activities conducted during this period: EPA NATENJE Type of Seed T/As GVHs Villages Clubs Club Membership M F T Ha Bundles Distributed ,510 Above: Offloading cassava stems for distribution to farmers Below: Fenced cassava field with female owner 3

5 Success Story Left: Gogo Watson March Zambwe and his Wife standing In front of their crop which is the most successful garden in the whole of Nkhotakota Farmers during the exchange visit in Nathenje 4

6 Lilongwe and Mchinji Districts Below is a Table with key results of the activities conducted during this period: EPA CHILAZA MING ONGO MSITU [MCHINJI] UKWE CHIGONTHI NATHENJE CHIWAMBA Type of Seed TA Kalolo Khongoni Kabudula Malili Masumbakhunda Kalolo GVHs Villages Clubs Club Membership M F T Ha Bundles Distributed , ,095 Mavwere ,705 Kabudula Kabudula Chadza Chimutu DISTRIBUTION OF CASSAVA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT TO NTREPRENEURS District EPA Name Nkhotakota Zidyana Chitheka Y. Chibowa Equipment Received Hammer Grater Chipper Press Mill Linga A. Chisi G.Chikaonda Mtosa L. Kasiyamaliro 1 1 Salima Matenje M. Mkandawire 1 1 Iness Mbewe Jeffrey Chikaonda Kasiyamaliro Small-Scale Entrepreneurs Selected to Participate in the Project 5

7 EQUIPMENT USED FOR PROCESSING CASSAVA INTO CHIPS AND FLOUR GRATER CHIPPER 6

8 PRESS HAMMER MILL 7

9 Linking small-scale processors to industry processors Dried Cassava Offloaded at Njuli Farm Owned by Universal Training: processing and business, financial management Eight selected entrepreneurs and ten field staff from TLC and IITA received an intensive training on the actual processing of cassava into flour. This involved hands-on exercises where every participant had the opportunity to operate the machines and get a firsthand knowledge of their operations. 8

10 FARMER TRAINING The following Table gives key results of the trainings conducted across the project areas: Activity No. of Trainings conducted Male Female Total Pests and Diseases Demonstrations Record Keeping ,027 Gross Margin calculations and analysis ,250 Farmer Business Schools Agronomic practices 120 2, ,560 Leadership and group dynamics Association formation Cassava Tubers 9

11 Undergoing processing into cassava chips or raw flour (below) 10

12 And ultimately into flour or bread (10% cassava) for sale in retail outlets: 11