Vegetables and associated best management practices in cereal‐based crop production systems to improve income and diets of rural and urban households in northern Ghana and southern Mali Abdou Tenkouano AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center Tamale, October 2012

 AVRDC is under contract of IITA with functional oversight by IITA for maize-based systems, Africa Rice Center for rice-based systems and ICRISAT for sorghum/millets-based systems  Northern Ghana - AVRDC works through CSIR-SARI and UDS with detailed implementation protocols and regular monitoring visits  Southern Mali - project implementation unit coordinated by ICRISAT with support from non-project staff posted in Sikasso and NGOs (MOBIOM, PROGEBE, AMASSA) Implementation strategy (partners)

Output 1.1 Integrated crop and livestock production systems developed, evaluated, and effectively delivered to end users Activity : Carry out participatory appraisals on production systems to document existing vegetable varieties, assess relative share of vegetables in production landscape, estimate relative prevalence and performance of vegetable intercropping options [in northern Ghana – maize/rice-legume systems] [in Southern Mali – sorghum systems] Outcome 1: Sustainable increase of whole-farm productivity

 Survey protocols developed by UDS with AVRDC support (12-13 July 2012) and survey carried from mid-July  Data analysis underway – preliminary report available Maize/Rice-Legume Systems (Ghana) Balma Yakubu Issaka, Judith Seidu and George Nyarko, University for Development Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Nyankpala Campus. Tamale Victor Afari-Sefa AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Arusha

Rain-fed vegetable production is secondary to field crops and undertaken to supplement household income and food. border crops In the Upper East and Upper West regions sole crops on small lots for women in the Northern region 24% of vegetables harvested in Ghana in 2007 (GLSS, 2008). Predominantly rain-fed and integrated with major field crops like maize, millet and sorghum. Onion and tomato are exceptions Northern Ghana

Every household grows at least, 3 different types of vegetables - wide variety but small quantities Northern Ghana Maize-vegetable farmers make an average GHC 122 per annum from vegetables (about 21.3% of their total revenue)

 The survey protocols developed for northern Ghana have been adapted to the southern Mali context  Consultancy arrangements are in progress for the surveys to be carried out in October 2012  (a no cost extension was agreed with IITA for this). Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)

Output 1.1 Integrated crop and livestock production systems developed, evaluated, and effectively delivered to end users Activity : Introduce, evaluate and promote high value vegetables to improve system productivity in northern Ghana Activity : Introduce, evaluate and promote high value vegetables to improve system productivity in southern Mali Outcome 1: Sustainable increase of whole-farm productivity

 CSIR-SARI established participatory evaluation and seed bulking plots at Nyankpala and Manga (Navrongo) with more than 80 lines of 10 species received from AVRDC in early June – results in 2-3 months.  Site selection for testing in farmers' fields at locations chosen by IITA (maize) and AfricaRice (rice) has been completed (12 communities with both maize and rice systems). Maize/Rice-Legume Systems (Ghana) Mashark Abdulai, CSIR-SARI, Nyankpala. Tamale Albert Rouamba, AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Bamako

Output 1.1 Integrated crop and livestock production systems developed, evaluated, and effectively delivered to end users Activity : Introduce, evaluate and promote high value vegetables to improve system productivity in northern Ghana Activity : Introduce, evaluate and promote high value vegetables to improve system productivity in southern Mali Outcome 1: Sustainable increase of whole-farm productivity

 Planning meetings held to estimate seed needs for on- farm testing in order to plan seed bulking in Bougouni on 31 May 2012 in Koutiala from 4-6 June 2012  Seeds of one variety each of amaranth, African eggplant, hot pepper, okra, Roselle, sweet pepper, and tomato are under production at Samanko Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali) Albert Rouamba, Theresa Endres, Keriba Coulibaly AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Bamako

Vegetable seed production status in Mali CropsVariety Sowing/Transplantin g dates Area (m²) Current growth stage Expected seed quantities (kg) AmaranthA August/N.A.2205 Vegetative, no flower yet 50 African eggplant L10 28 June/31 July1598Early fruit ripening30 Hot Pepper Nisondia2 July/6 August1890Early fruiting stage20 OkraSasilon10 August/N.A.1890Early fruiting stage95 Roselle (Hibiscus) L2822 August/N.A.1890 Vegetative, no flower yet 40 Sweet Pepper Wassa20 July/23 August338 Vegetative, no flower yet 2 TomatoXina21 June/17 July1890Seed drying4 (3.7 already harvested)

 Available seed stocks used to establish farmer-managed participatory trials with NGOs: Bougouni (MOBIOM, 3 cooperatives, 36 farmers, including 15 men and 21 women) Koutiala (PROGEBE, 11 cooperatives, 46 farmers, including 23 men and 23 women) Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)

Output 4.4. Evidence based dietary strategies for target population developed, tested and communicated Activity Carry out participatory appraisals on diets to assess and document existing dietary diversity, assess relative share of vegetables in diets, and estimate nutritional performance of existing dietary options in northern Ghana Outcome 4: Increased nutritional and economic levels of the target population (especially women and children)

 Carried out in conjunction with Activity  Data processing is underway – preliminary report available  Promotional food preparations of nightshade and Roselle carried out at Nyankpala. Maize/Rice-Legume Systems (Ghana)

Percentage Households consuming listed vegetables daily or weekly

Reason for consuming vegetables FrequencyPercentage Give blood to the body Boost to the immune system Protects the body against diseases Promote growth and development Provide balanced diet Vegetables make food tasty 10.8 Total

Output 4.4. Evidence based dietary strategies for target population developed, tested and communicated Activity Carry out participatory appraisals on diets to assess and document existing dietary diversity, assess relative share of vegetables in diets, and estimate nutritional performance of existing dietary options in southern Mali Outcome 4: Increased nutritional and economic levels of the target population (especially women and children)

 Survey protocols developed  Consultancy arrangements in progress for the surveys to be carried out in October 2012  Project nutritionist returned to Bamako after precautionary evacuation from mid April to early September Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)

 USAID Mali (ICRISAT) - “Improving Vegetable Production and Consumption in Mali” - best practice demonstration and dissemination hubs (new varieties, crop management practices and water delivery systems) - Sikasso  CORAF (MDTF) - “Enhancing Productivity, Competitiveness and Marketing of Traditional African (Leafy) Vegetables for Improved Income and Nutrition in West and Central Africa“ - first quarter of 2013 in northern Ghana Links with other research and development projects

 Cascade approach to partnerships - too complex, particularly on contractual and reporting requirements.  Centralized project implementation unit for logistics and contracts (Mali) - an excellent idea, but this could also cause delays - better planning and execution  Complementary (Yes), Integrated (Yes), Interdependent (???) Concluding remarks (Lessons learnt)

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