Cassava processing and marketing Regional Cassava Processing and Marketing Initiative FIRST REGIONAL MEETING OF IFAD ROOTS & TUBERS PROJECTS November 2007 Hotel Somatel - Douala, Cameroon

Cassava processing and marketing GHANA ROOT AND TUBER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME (RTIP) Five Components 1.Planting Material Multiplication and Distribution 2.On-farm Adaptive Research 3.Integrated Pest Management 4.Community Support and Mobilization 5.Programme Management and Co-ordination

Cassava processing and marketing INTRODUCTION ROOT AND TUBER IMPROVEMENT AND MARKETING PROGRAMME (RTIMP) Goal: to enhance incomes and food security to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor in Ghana

Cassava processing and marketing ROOT AND TUBER IMPROVEMENT AND MARKETING PROGRAMME (RTIMP) Four Components 1.Support to Increased Commodity Chain Linkages 2.Support to Root and Tuber Production 3.Upgrading of Small-Scale R&T Processing, Business and Marketing Skills 4.Programme Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation

Cassava processing and marketing RTIP MAIN ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS 1.Planting material Multiplication and Distribution Develop a multiplication and distribution system for improved root and tuber planting materials in order to increase their availability to smallholder farmers. Three (3) main activities 2. Integrated Pest and Disease Management Develop an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system to reduce the incidence of diseases and pest in smallholder root and tuber crop systems.

Cassava processing and marketing 3. Adaptive Research Strengthen the adaptive research system for root and tuber crops in order to increase the flow of new technologies to resource-poor farmers RTIP MAIN ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS

Cassava processing and marketing IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES Planting Material Multiplication and Distribution Three tier system established Primary(Agencies) Secondary (Growers) Tertiary(farmer groups) Planting material Inspection Teams (PMITs)

Cassava processing and marketing IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES Integrated Pest and Disease Management 1.Provision of infrastructure, equipment and training to enhance capacity to improve plant health. 2.Mass production release and monitoring of bio- agents for the control of pests and diseases. 3.Establishment of farmer field schools to enhance farmers’ management of pests and diseases as well as general crop management.

Cassava processing and marketing IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES ADAPTIVE RESEARCH 1.Provision of infrastructure, equipment and training to enhance capacity to develop and adapt technologies, particularly with farmers. 2.Research management system decentralised with the designation of Zonal Coordinators to improve inter- institutional collaboration, monitoring and reporting. 3.Provision of adequate funds for multiple on-farm farmer-participatory research trials to enhance farmer innovation and adoption.

Cassava processing and marketing ACHIEVEMENTS Planting material Multiplication and Distribution StageCassavaYamSweet potato Primary1,00250, Secondary11,409 (138.7%)20, (113.8%) Tertiary (farmers involved) 109,788(104.8%)27,149 (187.3%) A total of 708,435 farmers provided with improved cassava planting material

Cassava processing and marketing ACHIEVEMENTS Integrated Pest and Disease Management Two newly built insectaries and existing one furbished and equipped to produce bio-agents. 15 Post graduate training and 12 on the job training held for various categories of workers. Over 3.5 million bio-agents for the control of cassava Green Mite produced and released. 81,590 predators for control of the Larger Grain Borer produced and released. 32 farmer field schools completed.

Cassava processing and marketing ACHIEVEMENTS Adaptive Research More scientists, researchers and farmers involved in root and tuber crops research than ever before. Increase in rate of technology development. Technologies adapted to local conditions, with potential to transform R&T production. 10 varieties of Cassava, 3 varieties of yam, 5 varieties of sweet potato. 12 crop management technologies (soil fertility, intercropping, seed production, weed management) adapted for local R&T production. Over 10,000 copies of seven field manuals produced and distributed.

Cassava processing and marketing Farmers supplied with improved cassava had average yields of 20.2 t/ha whilst farmers outside the programme obtained 13.3 t/ha (52.0% increase). Farmers who participated in FFS obtained 29.2 t/ha. Average net revenues increased by 75.5% from ¢606, for the local varieties to ¢1, IMPACT OF ACTIVITIES

Cassava processing and marketing 40 – 80% reduction population for CGM achieved. Reduction in damage lowered to between 14% and 18% in released fields. 50% reduction (estimate) in the level of cassava chips/ “konkonte” storage pest infestation The use of biological control measures resulted in higher returns to farmers (¢1, million) than consumers (¢ million). IMPACT OF ACTIVITIES

Cassava processing and marketing LESSONS LEARNT  Institutionalising PMMD for root and tuber crops helped to raise awareness and value (at least of cassava and sweet potato) of R&T planting material ;  The characteristics and market potential of varieties (farmers’ needs) is crucial for sustainability of the PMMD system as well as income of producers;  Field inspection is an important element of a PMMD system.

Cassava processing and marketing LESSONS LEARNT (cont’d) Farmer Field School (FFS) has accelerated the dissemination and adoption of technologies; Decentralised and closely networked research and extension system enhanced targeting, focus and system productivity); Development of location specific varieties or technologies, in contrast to those for “wide adaptation” increased returns to investment in research activities.

Cassava processing and marketing NEW CHALLENGES RTIMP Restore confidence of farmers in cassava production and markets by means of:  Market Information systems;  Business development Training;  Capacity building to enhance bargaining power. Support producers to increase resilience to market risks by:  Increasing productivity;  Reducing costs.

Cassava processing and marketing NEW CHALLENGES (cont’d) RTIMP Further improve the value of planting material by:  Piloting of commercial multiplication and distribution system Attain sustainability of field inspections by:  Institutionalising inspections  Rationalising costs Improve on the responsiveness of the decentralised research management system to farmers through the:  Competitive Research grant system  Larger Role for Zonal Coordinators

Cassava processing and marketing  Increasing the efficiency (costs and coverage) of Farmer Field School through: Farmer Field Fora Increased number of trained facilitators  Implement mechanism(s) for effective linkage/integration into commodity chain, such as: Contract farming Out-grower schemes Cooperatives  Develop mechanisms for “backward” linkages (Inputs etc.). NEW CHALLENGES (cont’d) RTIMP

Cassava processing and marketing Conclusions The RTIMP is designed with innovative features as a results of the lessons learned from RTIP The innovative features support the modernisation of production and development of efficient, coordinated supply chains with small-scale producers

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