East and Southern African Regional Root Crop Network (ESARRN) / Phase I Terminal Report
Date
1992-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) provided technical assistance at the
onset of the project and later the International Potato Centre (CIP) and the International Institute
of Biological Control (IIBC) all provided technical backstopping to the East and Southern
Africa Root Crops Research Network (ESARRN). All collaborating national programs made
efforts to fulfil the objectives of the network; namely: Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe. These objectives were also those of the respective programs. Phase I of the project
was executed from June 1987 to September 1992. This document presents the summary of
what the network achieved.
Three hybridization centres have been established for the purpose of superior
population improvement. Three centers, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia have produced new
populations which are having impact on raising yield performance and enhancing other
important agronomic traits. These centres will continue to generate new types adapted to the
various agro-ecologies of the region.
Multiplication and distribution systems are being rap}dly adapted and attracting support
from NGO's and other development agencies. This intervention is assisting the delivery of
healthy planting materials of improved root crop varieties to farmers.
A post harvest development facility has been established in Malawi to investigate
improved drying systems which are now at on-farm testing stage. Village level processing
constraints are being monitored and interventions developed to address them.
Trained manpower in the region has been greatly improved as compared to the situation
before the network started. Several hundred technicians and some researchers have been
trained. They have also advanced professionally and improved their skills. They now freely
exchange scientific and technical ideas among themselves and interact with each other at regular
intervals through seminars, meetings, workshops and exchange visits.
The overall thrust of transferring technology to NARS and then to farmers through a
network of partnerships with extension and adaptive research teams in the national ministries of
agriculture, farmers' groups and other NGOs is progressively bearing fruits in many
programs. The network's steady success to date is so encouraging that other groups now seek
to emulate its strategy.
Description
Appendices included
item.page.type
IDRC Final Report
item.page.format
Text
Keywords
EASTERN AFRICA, SOUTHERN AFRICA, ROOT CROPS, FOOD SECURITY, PLANT BREEDING, TRAINING PROGRAMMES, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, RESEARCH NETWORKS, INSTITUTION BUILDING, CASSAVA, SWEET POTATOES