Photo report prepared for the Ethiopian highlands project team exchange visit in West Africa, Ghana, 17–21 June 2019

1. Photo report: Africa RISING in the Ethiopian
highlands project team exchange visit in West
Africa
17–21 June 2019

2. Introduction
The Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa
RISING) program comprises of the West Africa, South and East Africa and Ethiopian
highlands research for development projects. The program has attempted to
strengthen cross project experience sharing and learning through exchange visits,
learning events and periodic virtual discussions between the chief scientists and
project managers. As part of this effort, an exchange visit was organized in Ghana
from 17–21 June 2019. The West Africa project team shared lessons and field
experiences on nutrition, mechanization, livestock, irrigation and soil and water
management interventions with the South and East Africa teams. There was also a
time allocated to draft joint manuscripts across the three Africa RISING (Ethiopian
highlands, West Africa and South and East Africa) projects based on the five thematic
areas. The Ethiopia team who participated in the exchange visit include Kindu
Mekonnen (ILRI), Melkamu Bezabih (ILRI), Lulseged Tamene (CIAT), Mupangwa
Walter (CIMMYT), Mestawet Gebru (Bioversity) and Desalegne Tegegne (IWMI). The
photo report describes four major areas: regions and capitals visited in Ghana,
research and capacity development activities observed during the visit, lessons
learnt and suggestions for future consideration.

3. 1. Regions and capitals visited in Ghana

4. Fred Kizito, Africa RISING chief Scientist for west Africa and MSc student attached to the
project, demonstrating A-frame and its application for marking contour lines that can help to
construct SWC structures. The gathering is composed of Nyangua community (Upper East
Region, Ghana) and exchange visit participants from the three Africa RISING projects.
2. Observations

5. Demonstration of maize shelling machines (diesel-powered, left; electric-powered, right)
introduced by Africa RISING West Africa project. The gathering is composed of Nyangua
community (Upper East Region, Ghana) and exchange visit participants from the three
Africa RISING projects.

6. Demonstration on vegetable production under irrigation and rainfed approaches. Mother
trials are established on lead farmers hubs. This intervention enhances more vegetable
consumption by farmers for improved nutrition.

7. Demonstration of improved feed troughs
constructed by Africa RISING West Africa
project in north and upper east regions of
Ghana. The feed troughs help to reduce
feed wastage, contamination and time
spent in feeding small ruminants.
The feed troughs are constructed from
industrial products. The model feed
troughs constructed in the Africa
RISING project West Africa sites are two
sided and meant for small ruminants.

8. Discussions at Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Industrial Service
(GRATIS) Foundation. GRATIS is a leader in designing, manufacturing and selling
of precision agro food processing and sanitation equipment.

9. Discussion with Chehoyi community specifically the Africa RISING West Africa
project women group empowerment activities and dynamics.

10. 3. Lessons learnt from the exchange visit
The Africa RISING project in West Africa has successfully engaged women groups in various
research and capacity development activities. This has been seen in northern and upper east
regions of Ghana. For example, the project allocated funds and supported women groups to
strengthen their rice processing and marketing business. This effort impacted the livelihood of
the communities engaged in the rice processing business. However, the project hasn’t designed
proper research and generated information that can be used for policy intervention.

11. The West Africa project team is closely working with local research institutions, input
suppliers, government offices, community chiefs and farmers. The chiefs in the local
communities are powerful and influential. Their role is tremendous in mobilizing local
communities. Working with this type of partners helps in reaching more farmers and speed
up the dissemination of new technologies.

12.  Small scale
mechanization activities
are at the infant stage in
many visited areas.
Capacities can be
enhanced through
exchange visits in other
Africa RISING operating
regions or countries
where there are more
experiences. The same
can be done for NRM
interventions.
4. Suggestions
 Most areas visited during the exchange visit are plains (0–5% slopes). However, the
area is facing soil erosion. The problem of soil erosion can be addressed collectively
through watershed and/or wide area planning approaches. Farmlands with similar
features can be clustered and better managed through the wide area planning
approach either collectively or individually.

13.  Some Africa RISING innovations such as NRM requires government attention and
policy interventions. Africa RISING projects in West Africa, and southern and eastern
Africa need to further engage in policy dialogue platforms with government and other
concerned bodies to bring the issue of NRM as priority agenda. This effort will foster
NRM reconsideration and institutionalization.

14.  Tree species dominantly
covering the landscape in the
visited areas include teak
(Tectona grandis), neem
(Azadirachta indica), shea
(Vitellaria paradoxa), baobab
(Adansonia spp.) and gliricidia
spp. Communities are cutting
ruthlessly to fulfill their
requirements for wood, food,
feed and get farmlands. Africa
RISING project of west Africa
can initiate some sort of
studies and interventions to
halt deforestation and land
degradation.

15.  Use of locally available tree
species for feed in addition to
crop residues and other forage
species need to be explored.
Quick assessment of the feeding
value of the locally available
tree species and feed rationing
is necessary. This effort will
strengthen the current feed
troughs demonstration and use
in the project operation areas. It
is also useful to demonstrate
farmers construct feed troughs
from locally available material
such as wood rather than
focusing more on industrial
produced wood material. The
later approach would help to
speed up adoption of the feed
trough intervention.

16.  Poultry farming at household level is
common in the visited areas.
However, management looks
conventional. Chicken are
scavenging their feed in open areas
and spoiling the environment. There
is a need to introduce interventions
(feeding, housing, health) and
improve productivity and economic
benefits.

17. Africa RISING CGIAR partners in Ethiopia

18. Credits
Produced by Africa RISING Project in West Africa
Compiled by Kindu Mekonnen (ILRI)
Photos: Kindu Mekonnen
Our appreciation goes to the Africa RISING team,
farmers and local partners in West Africa and those
who participated in the exchange visit.

19. Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation
africa-rising.net
This presentation is licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.