PN 1: Increased food security and income in the Limpopo Basin through integrated crop, water and soil fertility enhancing options and public private partnerships By Oswin Madzonga International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Presentation during PN 17 Workshop Johannesburg- South Africa. 14 – 18 June, 2008

INTRODUCTION The Limpopo basin of Southern Africa is characterized by Poor and unreliable rainfall Frequent droughts and periodic flooding in some parts of the basin These have resulted in smallholder farmers un able to to produce enough food and therefore suffer perennial food insecurity The basin also faces challenges posed by HIV and AIDS pandemic and these impacts negatively on household labour and well being In years of adequate rainfall, smallholder farmers produce surplus but cannot sell due to lack of markets and unattractive prices for their produce

Objectives of the CPWF - PN1 Delineate agro-ecological recommendation domains based on biophysical and socio-economic factors Validate and adapt integrated cereal and legume crop variety and soil management practices suitable for resource poor smallholders Use innovative research and extension methodologies and link public-private partnerships, to facilitate promotion and uptake of crop management options and strengthen linkages to input and product markets Strengthen capacity of farmer and partner institutions to develop and implement innovative research and extension approaches that strengthen public-private partnerships

Outputs Output 1 – Agro-ecological zonation, crop water productivity in the basin, socio-economic and institutional characterization of target population established Output 2 – Improved drought –tolerant crops and varieties integrated with improved soil, water and crop management technologies verified and promoted Output 3 – Alternative farmer market linkage models that provides incentives to adopt improved crop, soil and water management options evaluated, promoted in two countries.

Outputs Output 4- training and information needs of technical collaborators and farming communities identified and addressed Output 5- Impact assessment of drought – tolerant crops, new high –value crops, and soil, water and crop productivity enhancing technologies; policy recommendations developed. Output 6- Impact monitoring scheme and project management established

Participating Institutions ICRISAT CIMMYT CIAT – for only IWMI – Pretoria National Agricultural Research institutes Zimbabwe - Agricultural research Council of Zimbabwe; Agricultural Research and Extension (AREX) South Africa – Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, Pretoria; Limpopo Department of Agriculture, Progress Milling Company Mozambique – IIAM (Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique)

Project implementation Implementation started in 2005/06 season using mother-baby on-farm trials Improved crop varieties of maize, sorghum, millet & g/nuts were distributed to farmers Soil & water management technologies and fertilizers were incorporated in the project Project streamlined beneficiaries after 2 years of on-farm trials

Trials for season Crop Species Trials Maize variety Groundnut variety Sorghum variety Water harvesting x Variety x Fertilizer Water harvesting x Weed control x Fertilizer Water harvesting x Crop species

Progress in 2009 Water harvesting by tied ridges x Maize variety x fertilizer in Capricorn-South Africa Maize variety trial in Sekhukhune-South Africa Field day partipants viewing water harvesting x Mze variety x fertilizer trial in Capricorn Maize variety trial in Capricorn

Progress in 2009 cont’d.. A high yielding groundnut variety in Capricorn Field day pariticpants discuss after viewing technologies in Capricorn

A better season in CPWF –PN1 Project target areas Zimbabwe A river flow between Gwanda and Matobo in Zimbabawe during the rain season

Progress in 2009 cont’d.. Groundnut seed production field day participants in Matobo-Zimbabwe Field day participants viewing a sorghum x fertilizer trial in Matobo -Zimbabwe

Survey results: Farmers who started adopting the technologies brought by the Challenge Program in Zimbabwe DistrictProportion (%) of farmers that used tech after two seasons of trials Improved varieties Water mgtFertilizer Chiredzi Gwanda Matobo Total

Survey results: Change in seed quantity used Qty of seed used (kg) DistrictCropYear 1Year 2% change ChiredziMaize Sorghum P/millet G/nut GwandaMaize Sorghum P/millet G/nut MatoboMaize Sorghum P/millet G/nut Mze (172%), G/nut(128%), Sor (57%) & Pmt (6%)

Thank you