1.
Fostering cross-program learning and experience sharing
Key take-aways from the recent Africa RISING Program exchange visit
17 - 21 June 2019
Africa RISING project sites in northern Ghana

2.
Introduction
The Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa RISING)
program comprises of the West Africa, Ethiopian highlands, and the East and Southern Africa
research in development projects.
The program aims to strengthen cross project experience sharing and learning through
exchange visits, learning events and periodic virtual discussions between project partners, the
chief scientists and project managers.
As part of these efforts, an exchange visit was organized to activity sites in Ghana from 17–21
June 2019. The West Africa project team (who were the hosts) shared lessons and field
experiences on nutrition, mechanization, livestock, irrigation and soil and water management
interventions. Part of the exchange visit also included interactions by scientists from the 3
project regions to draft joint manuscripts on the five aforementioned thematic areas.
This photo report describes the regions and activity sites visited, research and capacity
development activities observed during the visit, lessons learnt, suggestions for future
consideration and reflections by select members of the visiting delegation.

3.
Regions and activity sites visited

4.
Fred Kizito, Africa RISING Chief Scientist for the West Africa Project and an MSc student attached to
the project, demonstrate an A-frame and its application for marking contour lines that can help to
construct SWC structures.
Observations

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

6.
Demonstration of vegetable production under irrigation and rainfed approaches by the Africa RISING
West Africa Project. Mother trials are established on lead farmers plots. 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
prototypes promoted by Africa RISING in this
regions are two sided and meant for small
ruminants. This is one technology that is a
direct outcome of cross-learning and
exchange visits between the West Africa and
the Ethiopian Highlands Projects.

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 Women Group. The project also implements capacity building and
empowerment activities for the groups as a means for building longer term community resilience.

10.
Lessons learnt from the exchange visit
The Africa RISING project has successfully engaged women groups in various research and capacity
development activities. This has been seen in northern and upper east regions where 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 out of this.

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 these 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 of the visited areas.
Capacities of farmers can
be enhanced through
exchange visits to other
Africa RISING operating
regions or countries
where there are more
experiences. The same
can be done for NRM
interventions.
 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 those
aimed at NRM require)
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.
Partners from across the 3 regional project have met previously through
other meetings like like the Learning Event that was held in Malawi in
February 2019. Although those other events also had some field visits, this
particular one was more directly focused on cross-learning/fertilization of
knowledge and lessons sharing.
Individual reflections
MATEETE BEKUNDA
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Chief Scientist – Africa RISING ESA Project
Project countries: Tanzania, Malawi & Zambia
During the exchange visit, I deduced that the interest/commitment to publish what has been achieved
through experimentation needs to be strengthened further.
The logistical arrangements were commendable, as well as the open discussions. In my opinion, the
timing of the field visits, perhaps, could have been planned to coincide more with active field work,
which brings out more appreciation of the functioning of technologies. The Chief Scientists are
working quite well as a team.
“Initially, I expected more of researcher to researcher engagement in the field, but on
second thought, I think it was a good idea to also have some researcher to farmer
participation.”

18.
I have participated in the Africa RISING Field Exchange Visit programs on
several occasions. From experience, the previous Field Visit programs were
very useful.
I have learnt a lot from the interactions observations of the field trials. Also,
my expectation for this exchange visit program has been achieved.
KINDU MEKONNEN
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Chief Scientist – Africa RISING Ethiopian Highlands Project
Project country: Ethiopia
I observed that women participation in Africa RISING research activities and initiatives
were very strong.
I recommend the following:
• Strengthening research on fodder trees
• Establishment of demo plots on different Soil and Water Conservation
practices/technologies
• Strengthening platforms on Natural Resource Management
I suggest that the feed troughs should be constructed from locally available resources.

19.
Having participated twice in the Africa RISING field exchange visits, I
expected to see the integration of food and nutrition activities. I also
expected to see the scaling up of research on food and nutrition
aspects.
During the Field Exchange Visit, I was happy to observe the potential
use of Savings and Loans Groups for bringing in the nutritional
messages.
AGNES MWANGWELA
Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources (LUANAR)
Food and Nutrition Specialist – Africa RISING ESA Project
Project country: Malawi
I appreciate how the gender and cultural dimensions have been incorporated in the
Nutrition interventions.
With regards to my input on the modification of farmers’ activities, I would like to suggest the use of
sack gardens to intensify vegetable gardens and dietary diversity .

20.
I have gladly participated in the Africa RISING Field Exchange Visit
twice. Before this Exchange Visit, I expected interaction between
scientists from different countries/regions working on different
disciplines; overview of the kind of research they are doing and a bit of
interaction with the partners they are working with.
CHRISTOPHER MUTUNGI
IITA
Post harvest Specialist – Africa RISING ESA Project
Project country: Tanzania
This visit gave me the chance to observe an interesting engagement with public sector on
technology transfer (mechanization). I was excited to see a new model for technology
transfer- mechanical shellers.
I commend the great organization of the field exchange visit. The various aspects came out;
partnerships, technology transfer; farmer perceptions, group dynamics, science challenges etc. were
all well rounded. Farmers’ also participated sufficiently with appreciable sense of patience.
I personally learnt a lot about the technological transfer model being applied for the maize
shellers in West Africa sub-region.

21.
I have participated in the Africa RISING exchange visit just once. My
expectation was to learn from the implementation challenges and
solutions observed in the field. The visit revealed that the learning sites
were still in the formative stages and so activities were not to scale. For
instance, the feed troughs still need modification.
MAHAMA SAAKA
University for Development Studies - Ghana
Post harvest Specialist – Africa RISING ESA Project
Project country: Ghana
I recommend that future visits should be planned to really see dramatic innovations that are making
a difference on the lives of our target population.
The women groups and other farmer groups that are already existing in the communities are
potential entry points for areas such as nutrition education.
I have personally identified women’s groups that could be entry points for nutrition/health
interventions.

22.
This was my first ever field exchange visit. It has been very useful. I
learned that farmers’ in Ghana face similar challenges as in Mali.
Though the technologies are very relevant to improve productivity, their
adoption by farmers is still low due to high cost of implementation.
(Proposed technologies and innovation need to be refined and adapted
to local contexts).
MAHAMADOU DICKO
Association Malienne d' éveil au Développement Durable (AMEDD)
Farmer Engagement Specialist – Africa RISING West Africa Project
Project country: Mali
I suggest that the active participation of farmers and continuous capacity building of beneficiaries
must be encouraged to increase the uptake of SI technologies and Innovations.
Increasing farmer participation in the refinement and adaptation of the proposed
technologies may improve their wider adoption. It is also necessary to strengthen the
capacity of local craftsmanship using local materials in the adaptation of technologies
proposed by farmers.

23.
This is my first time to participate in the exchange visit. It was educative
as and my key take away lessons were on the improvised feed troughs
and group model for maize sheller management and owning system.
I was keen to lean about technologies being used in Ghana that we use
to intensify livestock production in Africa RISING Malawi.
FANNY CHIGWA
Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources (LUANAR)
Animal Nutrition Specialist – Africa RISING ESA Project
Project country: Malawi
Upon return to my project country (Malawi), I intend to share the Feed trough technology
to promote sheep, goat fattening for the market, goat marketing, and also group model
for mechanization.

24.
Credits
Produced by
Kindu Mekonnen (ILRI), Wilhelmina Ofori-Duah (IITA) and Jonathan Odhong’ (IITA)
Photos: Kindu Mekonnen, Wilhelmina Ofori-Duah
Our appreciation goes to the Africa RISING team, farmers and local partners in Ghana and those
who participated in the exchange visit.

25.
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.