Participatory Evaluation of Resilient Potato Varieties in Climate-Smart Villages of Lushoto in Tanzania

This three-year study conducted by the International Potato Centre (CIP) in collaboration with Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) was based on demand by Lushoto farmers through the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). This participatory action research (PAR) was aimed at developing more resilient potato varieties that can grow in both long and short rainy seasons and give higher yields. The approach involved training-of-trainers (ToT) and participatory varietal selection (PVS) experiments. The ToT comprised five training events using modules. Three training events were done in the long rainy season and two in the subsequent short rainy season. The topics covered in the first round of training were on integrated crop management, from land preparation to seed storage. The second round of training was participant-driven whereby topics emerged from the first training. A total of twenty-one participants representing farmers, extension services and local non-governmental organizations were trained. The training was supported by field experiments using the CIP Mother and Baby Trials model. The trials were carried out in five villages: Kwesine, Boheloi, Maringo, Kwekitui and Milungui. Experimental materials comprised six advanced and heat tolerant clones from CIP (CIP390478.9, CIP388767.1, CIP392797.22, CIP300055.32, CIP398208.29 and CIP397073.7), two local varieties (Kidinya and Obama), an improved variety recently registered in Tanzania (Asante) and a popular farmer’s variety but registered in Kenya (Shangii). A cross-analysis of field and culinary data combining quantitative and qualitative assessments from the three seasons of field evaluations showed a certain consistency in the high yielding ability and acceptability of four genotypes, namely Asante, Shangii, CIP392797.22 and CIP398208.29. The two clones were then named by farmers and proposed for official release while Shangii was proposed for registration for commercial use

ICT4Agroecology part I: Outcomes for cassava production system

This study discusses the results of a 5-year Agroecology Research and Advocacy project at three Tanzanian field sites in different agroecological zones. We investigated four common agroecological practices: compost application, mulching, intercropping, and biological pest control either alone or in combination. Two custom-built ICT tools - AgroEco Research (AER) and AgroEco Analysis (AEA) application - supported the field research. AER and AEA integration allowed secure data storage and real-time automated visualization and statistical analyses without programming. At no field station did legume intercropping or biological pest control increase cassava yields. The Chambezi field station had the highest yields even under untreated control conditions and only here, soil fertility amendments further increased root weights. Intercropping with cowpea legumes, alone or in combination with other practices, had no significant effect on cassava plant size or survival at the Mumbaka and Vianzi field sites and even negatively affected one or both parameters. Organic pest control had no effect on any target variable, except for plant size at Chambezi. Therefore, labor-intensive and expensive pest control practices may not be worth the investment at least when virus-resistant cassava varieties like Kiroba are used.ISSN:2168-3565ISSN:2168-357

ICT4Agroecology: a participatory research methodology for agroecological field research in Tanzania

Agroecology has become increasingly popular but locally optimized agroecological production methods and information and communication technology (ICT) support tools are limited. This study was conducted at three different geographic locations across Tanzania; we co-developed an integrated participatory field research methodology consisting of two components, each supported by a specifically developed, complementary ICT tool, with maize and cassava as the two focal crops, to examine soil fertility and conservation (compost and mulching), increased biodiversity through intercropping (legumes), and organic pest control measures. Two specifically developed ICT tools, the AgroEco Research application (AER) and AgroEco Analysis application (AEA) were used for data gathering & storage and visualization & statistical analysis, respectively. Further, farmer-managed satellite experiments were performed to further test the research premises and validate their outcomes in the "real world" of smallholder farmers, which was supported by a smartphone application called "Ugunduzi" - enabling farmers to collect, store, and evaluate data generated at different stages of their research. Farmers were free to choose any type, number, and combination of the agroecological practices tested in the field research. This study serves as a methodology reference for a number of companion publications reporting on the findings of this project.ISSN:2168-3565ISSN:2168-357