Cassava innovation platform

The Cassava Innovation Platform piloted sustainable community-based production of mosaic disease free cassava planting material through Farmer Field schools (FFS) in Gatsibo District (Eastern Province). Cassava was selected because it is a priority crop both at national level and in Gatsibo District and because the crop is not fully exploited in the district. It was also considered that the value chain for cassava could be diversified and enhanced. The informal seed sector is critically important in a move towards disease free planting.

This intervention draws on the previous RNRRS outputs [CPP24] that have provided evidence of winning the battle against cassava mosaic disease (CMD).

The Cassava Innovation Platform wanted to achieve more impact for the multiplication of planting materials from the new cassava mosaic-resistant varieties; the initial field observations indicated supply problems with clean planting materials despite previous projects funded to this end.

However, this was one of the work packages recommended for closure as part of the rationalisation programme. But at the suggestion of the Platform members, it will undergo a phased withdraw to try to ensure that some of the activities will continue. Members agreed to support the platform and the Gatsibo District representative agreed to help. A private sector representative offered to provide access to new markets.

As part of this transition process, a self-assessment workshop was completed in October 2009. This assessed the progress made to date and sought agreement on the future of the platform. This also meant that they needed to redefine their objects to build an increased sense of ownership. The key achievement of the workshops was the decision taken by each platform to go on after end of RIU direct support. This was a clear commitment of ownership by platform members and a first strong indication of sustainability. RIU Rwanda will ensure basic capacity strengthening during the transition period until March 2010 and contacts are already engaged with new partners who have shown interest to work closely with the platform in the future.

The activity was successfully launched in November 2009 in partnership with two NIC members: The Rwanda Development Organisation and ISAR - the National Agricultural Research Institute. Special learning sessions will be organised every three months until the end of the production cycle (12 months).

The platform set out to:

Address constraints related to cassava production, processing and markets

• addressing poor crop husbandy working with famers and cooperatives
• RADA(Rwanda Agricultural Development Authority) provided disease free planting material
• platform organised supply of planting material and inputs with the support of RIU

Use new knowledge and use knowledge by many people to increase profitability of the cassava value chain

• Achieve more impact from multiplication of planting material from new cassava mosaic resistant varieties, through piloting sustainable community based production of disease-free cassava planting material through Farmer Field Schools. Field observations indicating that there is no lasting availability of clean planting material with the previous multiplication schemes supported by some other projects. Farmer Field Schools were chosen because as a group learning approach, it can build knowledge and capacity amongst farmers to enable them diagnose their problems, identify solutions and develop plans and implement them with or without support from outside. This will be the first application of Farmer Field Schools in Rwanda piloting strong community involvement for creating/maintaining sustainable cassava planting material. RIU will provide support in defining the concept/methodology and providing some resources (human and financial) for testing this initiative in collaboration with ISAR and the Roots and Tubers Programme.
  
  The intervention is being conducted in collaboration with ISAR and Rwanda Development Organisation and by November 2009 involved a group of 100 farmers from four sectors of Gatsibo District (Murambi, Kiramuruzi and Kiziguro and Kabarore). It is expected that the action will reach 5,000 farmers through farmer field learning events and/or access to new improved cassava varieties. It is also expected that the lessons learned will be shared with local stakeholders as well as the Ministry of Agriculture for wider use

Develop improved organisational arrangements in the cassava value chain.

• farmers/cooperatives organised marketing of produced cassava cuttings.

A six-stage development process was put in train:

1. Stocktaking
2. Introduction to local authorities
   Meeting to secure support of the Mayor of Gatsibo District to introduce RIU to and the District authorities
3. Initial stakeholder mapping
   and an invitation to the first platform meeting
4. Launch
   Building understanding of the programme and principles; working with participants to establish constraints and solutions (30 members including farmers cooperatives, Government institutions involved in agricultural research and extension, as well as local NGOs and representatives of the business community signed up).
5. Initial xapacity strengthening
   Working sessions to increase roles and responsibilities within innovation platform and planning sessions and workshops to clearly define RIU support
6. Support to platform activities
   Agreement to play a leading role in addressing the lack of cassava mosaic resistant varieties. With support to platform members to multiply 5 new varieties of cassava developed by the National Agricultural Research Institute (ISAR) and promoted by the Rwanda Agricultural Development Authority:
   • MM 96/5280 (Seruruseke)
   • MM 96/7204 (Garukunsubire)
   • MM96/0287 (Mavoka)
   • MM 96/1961(Rwizihiza)
   • MM 96/3920 (Rwizihiza)

Achievements

• 30 Hectares of land were availed for cassava seed multiplication between November 2008 and November 2009:
    » Gakoni 5Ha
    » Kiziguro 5Ha
    » Murambi 7Ha
    » Nyabisindu 5Ha
    » Rugarama 5Ha
    » Rwankuba 3Ha
• There were 54 members of the Platform by November 2009 and an active committee was in place with plans to spread membership still further
• Draft work plan to March 2010 identifies new opportunities for partnership
• SWOT analysis of Cassava value chain completed

Strengths decision to continue platform activities even after end of RIU direct support decision for establishment of an investment group to deal with cassava processing comprehensive knowledge on constraints and opportunities related to cassava in Gatsibo District initial stock of cuttings of the 5 new Cassava Mosaic resistant varieties available for wider distribution/selling by the Platform members in October-November 2009. existing initiative in cassava processing and product diversification by a platform member support from District authorities active Platform committee

Weaknesses lack of clarity about what the platform should achieve in the long run: Business plan not yet developed. role in strengthening demand for research output not fully understood/developed role in policy dialogue not yet developed experience of the previous failed cassava processing unit is still discouraging certain producers

Opportunities The Root and Tubers Project operating under the MAAR is ready to collaborate with the Cassava Platform the Rwanda Development Organisation (a NIC member) is committed to work closely with the Cassava Platform for its future development financing was secured from PLAN-Rwanda to undertake the rehabilitation of the existing but non functional cassava processing unit. a local business man offered to provide support for access to new markets support of District authorities

Threats low market prices spread of new cassava diseases adverse climatic conditions lack cassava processing facilities