Abstract

This project is IDRC's contribution to Phase II of the African Highlands Initiative, an effort supported by Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) and the Government of Netherlands, among others, and implemented by a coalition of national and international research and development (R&D) agencies. IDRC provided pioneering support for developing the concepts and partnerships that constitute the African Highlands Initiative today. The goal of the Initiative is to improve the nutritional security and income of agricultural communities in the intensively cultivated highlands of East Africa by maintaining a sustainable natural resource base. This is to be accomplished through R&D on critical issues of natural resources management related to soil productivity and land use efficiency in selected highland locations. Specifically, the project aims to improve natural resources management by farmers and communities in one of the benchmark locations, Kabale, Uganda, by improving soil and water management; addressing socioeconomic constraints to soil and water management; increasing community involvement in natural resource management; promoting technology transfer and exchange related to natural resource management; and strengthening extension methods to make the most of R&D efforts to improve soil and water management.

Post-Project Summary

Working with farmers on eight sites, the African Highland Initiative (AHI) undertook to diversify crops and intensify crop management; conduct nutrient flow studies (to help farmers understand the impact of their practices on soil fertility); improve soil and water management; better integrate livestock into agro-ecosystems; combat pest and disease damage through enhanced soil fertility; improve the procurement of inputs and marketing of outputs; and invest in micro-dams. They gathered quantitative data and made detailed situation analyses of agro-ecosystems, and developed and applied improved methodologies for use at the farm, watershed and benchmark levels. They improved links between farmers and technology transfer agents within and between sites. Farmer-to-farmer visits proved especially useful. One such exchange convinced a group of farmers (Lushoto, Tanzania) to invest in soil conservation structures (terraces) and plant them with fodder crops and multipurpose trees. The AHI team organized short-term training for research staff, extension workers and other stakeholders in participatory research and priority setting, and supported long-term training in strategic areas for researchers from participating countries. They organized seed system stakeholders' workshops in Kenya and Ethiopia, and supported the establishment of seed production enterprises. Throughout the project, farmers were trained in experimentation techniques, composting, using manure products to fight pests and diseases, zero tillage, potato production and storage, animal health, soil conservation, nursery management, and tree planting. Indeed, this phase saw a shift toward farmer-designed trials and farmer-led investigation. Farmer research groups were formed on all project sites. In one case, 25 farmers volunteered to test the a local shrub (Tughutu) reputed to be a good fertilizer, and were trained in monitoring, record-keeping and assessing outcomes. These efforts encouraged farmers to conduct small-scale experimentation and be more proactive in seeking information and services from research and extension organizations. Although the AHI was not an intervention project as such (i.e., expected to generated measurable results in a given population with a specified period of time), there was evidence that the research activities were having the intended effect in the participating communities. An evaluation team was impressed with the skills demonstrated by the on-site teams, but noted a gap between the enthusiasm of the researchers at ground level and the "wavering commitment of some senior managers in both NARIs and IARCs [national and international agricultural research institutions" (Collinson et al. 2000). Work continued in a third phase (101592).

Recipient Institution(s)