Development and delivery of bean varieties in Africa: The Pan- Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) Model

Common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has evolved rapidly in Africa and is steadily transforming from a traditional subsistence to a market-oriented crop, with major impacts on household incomes, food and nutritional security, and national economies. However, these benefits are yet to be felt in many parts of the continent because of multiple constraints that limit bean productivity. The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) has been at the forefront of efforts to accelerate the transition of beans from a subsistence crop to a modern commodity in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper presents a unique partnership model and the breeding and seed delivery strategies used by PABRA to reach millions of beneficiaries with improved bean varieties. The breeding strategy involved the paradigm shift from a monolithic approach where varieties were bred for yield or resistance to single environmental stresses, to a grain type-led and market-driven approach. The PABRA model comprises partnerships between and among Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), public and private sector actors along the varied bean product value chains, and technology end-users. This model led to the release of over 200 varieties during 2003-2011, including beans with resistance to multiple constraints (biotic and abiotic), high iron and zinc content, and those for specific niche markets. PABRA reached 7.5 million households with seed of improved bean varieties during 2003- 2008 and is expected to reach an additional 14 million by 2013. From this undertaking, aspects that lend to policy recommendations to key stakeholders in the common beans value chain include: facilitation of access to credit; promotion of breeder and foundation seed production; easing of restrictions on the release of varieties; facilitation of collective marketing schemes; and deliberate policy frameworks to encourage the use of complementary integrated crop management practices.En Afrique, le haricot commun ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) a connu une \ue9volution rapide se transformant d\u2019une culture de subsistance traditionnelle en une marchandise commerciale avec des impacts majeurs sur les revenus, la s\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire et nutritionnelle des m\ue9nages ainsi que sur l\u2019\ue9conomie nationale. Toutefois, ces avantages ne sont pas tellement per\ue7us dans nombreuses r\ue9gions du continent en raison de multiples contraintes (biotiques et abiotiques) qui limitent la rentabilit\ue9 et la commercialisation du haricot. L\u2019Alliance Panafricaine de Recherche sur l\u2019Haricot (PABRA - Pan Africa Bean Research Alliance) est \ue0 l\u2019avant-garde des efforts visant acc\ue9l\ue9rer cette transition du haricot en Afrique sub-saharienne. Cet article pr\ue9sente un mod\ue8le de partenariat unique, et les strat\ue9gies de s\ue9lection et vulgarisation des vari\ue9t\ue9s utilis\ue9es par PABRA pour faciliter l\u2019acc\ue8s des millions de b\ue9n\ue9ficiaires aux vari\ue9t\ue9s am\ue9lior\ue9es du haricot. La strat\ue9gie de s\ue9lection exigeait le changement d\u2019une approche monolithique o\uf9 les vari\ue9t\ue9s \ue9taient s\ue9lectionn\ue9es pour leur rendement ou leur r\ue9sistance aux stress environnementaux simples, \ue0 une approche bas\ue9e sur le type de grain et ax\ue9e sur le march\ue9. Le mod\ue8le de PABRA comprend les partenariats entre et parmi le Centre International d\u2019Agriculture Tropical(CIAT), les syst\ue8mes nationaux de recherche agricole (NARS), les acteurs publics et priv\ue9s le long des diff\ue9rentes cha\ueenes de valeur du haricot, et les utilisateurs de nouvelles technologies. Ce mod\ue8le a conduit \ue0 l\u2019enregistrement de plus de 200 vari\ue9t\ue9s durant la p\ue9riode 2003-2011, y compris les haricots avec r\ue9sistance \ue0 multiples contraintes (biotiques et abiotiques), un contenu \ue9lev\ue9 de fer (Fe) et du zinc (Zn), et ceux pour les march\ue9s de niches sp\ue9cifiques. PABRA a atteint 7,5 millions de m\ue9nages facilitant leur acc\ue8s aux semences de vari\ue9t\ue9s am\ue9lior\ue9es de haricots durant la p\ue9riode 2003 2008 et devrait atteindre quelque 14 millions de personnes suppl\ue9mentaires d\u2019ici 2013. Les recommandations aux d\ue9cideurs politiques qui visent \ue0 renforcer le d\ue9veloppement et la vulgarisation des vari\ue9t\ue9s am\ue9lior\ue9es du haricot comprennent: la facilitation de l\u2019acc\ue8s au cr\ue9dit; promotion de la production de semences de base et pr\ue9-base; assouplissement des restrictions sur la diffusion des vari\ue9t\ue9s; facilitation des r\ue9gimes de commercialisation collective; et des cadres de politique visant \ue0 encourager la gestion int\ue9gr\ue9e des cultures chez les cultivateurs de haricot

Taking technologies to a greater scale

Open Access ChapterThis chapter presents a definition of 'scaling' and outlines the key elements for success based on the experiences gained from Africa RISING research and dissemination in East and Southern Africa (ESA). Three examples are presented: (a) research and development partnerships; (b) community based scaling through seed systems; and (c) outdoor advertising for orange-fleshed sweet potato. It presents experiences and lessons learned from using these approaches to transfer and scale the technologies

Measures of attributes of locomotor capacity in older people: a systematic literature review following the COSMIN methodology

Background: Locomotor capacity (LC) is an important domain of intrinsic capacity and key determinant of functional ability and well-being in older age. The United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) calls for strengthening data and research on healthy ageing, including the measurement of older persons’ LC. To advance the measurement and monitoring of LC, there is pressing need to identify valid and reliable measures. Objective: To identify all the available tools that were validated for measurement of LC or of its specific attributes in older people and to assess the methodological quality of the studies and measurement properties of the tools. Design: Systematic review. Setting: Anywhere (Community-dwelling; long-term care facility; etc.) Subjects: Older people. Methods: We used highly sensitive search strategies to search the following databases: Medline, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL and PsycINFO. The study was conducted following the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) methodology for systematic review of outcome measurement instruments. Results: A total of 125 studies were included, which assessed tools for balance (n = 84), muscle power (n = 12), muscle strength (n = 32, including four studies about tools for balance and muscle power) and endurance (n = 1). No studies on tools for muscle function, joint function, or locomotor capacity overall, were retrieved. We identified 69 clinician-report or objective assessment tools for balance, 30 for muscle strength, 12 for muscle power and 1 endurance assessment tool. The GRADE assessment of quality of evidence showed that only a few tools have high quality evidence for both sufficient validity and reliability: The Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest), the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Conclusions: A few tools with high quality evidence for sufficient validity and reliability are currently available for balance assessment in older people that may be recommended for use in clinical and research settings. Further validation studies are required for muscle strength, muscle power and endurance assessment tools

Attributes and definitions of locomotor capacity in older people: a World Health Organisation (WHO) locomotor capacity working group meeting report

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Access to Early Generation Seed: Obstacles for Delivery of Climate-Smart Varieties

Changing climates in eastern and southern Africa will require farmers to adjust which crop varieties they grow in order to adapt to changing patterns of weather, pests and diseases. Delivering more suitable, climate-smart crop varieties requires well-functioning seed systems in which actors work in harmony across the supply chain. Although a great deal of previous development funding has been used to breed new varieties and to encourage farmers to adopt them, the availability of early-generation seed (EGS) continues to be limited by bottlenecks in the supply chain. These problems are particularly significant for non-hybrid varieties and less-commercialized food crops developed by public-sector institutions. This study uses two contrasting case studies from Kenya to illustrate the importance of making improved bean seed varieties available to farmers. The first case study documents a successful instance of EGS transfer, whereas the second highlights the types of barriers that can prevent successful variety adoption. Improved coordination among system actors is necessary to reduce the barriers surrounding EGS provision and production, and thereby strengthen climate-adaptive and adaptable seed systems

Replication Data for: What influences transfer of training in an African agricultural research network?

Purpose: A study was conducted to determine the extent to which transfer of training back to work among trainees from national partners of an international bean research network in Africa was perceived to have taken place; and to determine the factors that predicted transfer of training back to the job. Methodology/approach: Online data collection using the Learning Transfer Systems Inventory (LTSI) from 139 respondents was made and analyzed using bivariate correlations and hierarchical multiple regression. Findings: An average of 75% of the training skills were perceived as transferred. Personal capacity significantly predicted transfer, while motivation to transfer, transfer design, supervisor and peer support positively correlated with training transfer. Theoretical implications: The Learning Transfer System Inventory factors remain relevant explanations for training transfer with in African agricultural research and development organizations. Certain work environments are likely to have new factors such as ‘Peer and supervisor’ support which operated as one explanatory factor for training transfer, showing the closeness of peers and supervisors in agricultural research and development settings. Practical implications: The international agricultural research network needs to pay attention to the trainees’ ability to transfer new training, particularly on workload related hindrances. Originality/value: The study has tested out the applicability of the LTSI for international agencies that conduct training for agricultural research and development in Africa. Understanding personal capacity to transfer is critical in this context, suggesting that institutions need policies that enhance trainee capacity to transfer enacted, facilitated and enforced

Crop improvement, adoption and impact of improved bean varieties in Sub Saharan Africa

The crop improvement research effort of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) centers and their national agricultural research systems (NARS) partners has had a large impact on world food production. Although bean impact has been documented in a number of past studies, the last comprehensive study of the international crop improvement effort, organized by the Standing Panel for Impact Assessment (SPIA, formerly the Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group), was based on data collected a decade ago (Evenson and Gollin, 2003 based on 1997-98 data). Important changes have occurred in the funding and conduct of the international crop improvement effort and in the general climate for agriculture in the developing world since the completion of the Evenson and Gollin study. The level and focus of funding for research in the NARS and in the CGIAR centers have fluctuated greatly, and the role of the private sector has evolved. Yet, the importance of the CGIAR/NARS crop improvement effort in feeding the world is arguably as important today as it has been at any time in history. The steady uptake and turnover of crop varieties is fundamental to realizing a Green Revolution in Africa, and it is still important for helping achieve income growth for numerous poor rural households. But our present understanding of improved variety adoption—by crop, by location, by adopter and by source—is limited in Africa. The data seeks to redress this anomaly, by providing a versatile database on bean variety adoption by crop, by location, by adopter and by source in sub-saharan countries. The following countries are covered: Burundi, DRCongo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia

Bean production areas in sub-Saharan Africa

176 bean production areas were identified and reviewed using a form of the Delphi method of consensus building among experts from almost all bean producing countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Data were collected for: bean production, cropping systems and producers; seed systems; bean use and marketing; bean grain types and varieties; and abiotic and biotic constraints to bean production and storage. Data on harvested area and production were compiled from a variety of sources and allocated among bean production areas using local expert knowledge and/or sub-national statistics. Bean environments were computed and allocated to each bean production area. The dataset includes raw data from each workshop; for some variables the data were later standardised to ensure that the cumulative values were 100%. We recommend using the standardised data. (2019-11-27