Assessment of the demand-supply match for agricultural innovations (ITAACC)

7-8 May 2014, Nairobi, Kenya. ICIPE.  International Workshop. ITAACC Demand-Supply Assessment Bridging the gap between agricultural research and farmers’ practice. Participants included farmer organizations, NGO, private and public sector, international agricultural research centers, FAO, EU, regional agencies, and GIZ representatives.

OBJECTIVES 

1. Present, discuss and validate findings on the assessment of the demand-supply match for agricultural innovations in Africa.
   See: Assessment of the Demand-supply Match for Agricultural Innovations North & West Africa Workshop Report 19th and 20th March 2014 in Cotonou, Benin
2. Provide a platform for practitioners in Africa to share experiences and discuss  recommendations for bridging the gap between agricultural research and practice 
3. Draw lessons learnt for all stakeholders (farmers, NGOs, Governments, national and international Agricultural Research) for best options for strengthening innovation systems and ultimately providing good service to farmers with a view to bettering the livelihood of the rural poor on the continent.

Extract:

Group work validating findings on links ITAACC and collect opinions on three major pathways of improving uptake of innovations 

1. The German government will support the set-up of 10 innovation centers in Africa. How can they fit in, or improve, the current innovation system? Host Jörg Lohmann (GIZ) 
2. What can IARC do to increase the relevance of their work? Host Bari Abdallah ICARDA) 
3. One model to improve the uptake of innovations is through extension services, what are the strength and weaknesses of this model, how can it be improved. Host Jean Pierre Mvondo (Cameroon University extension outreach) 
4. One model to improve the uptake of innovations is through innovation platforms, what are the strength and weaknesses of this model, how can it be improved? Host Brigid Letty (GFA/INR) 
5. One model to improve the uptake of innovations is through farmer-led, or participatory, research, what are the strength and weaknesses of this model, how can it be improved (e.g. some donors are funding FOs instead of IARC)? Ann Waters-Bayer (PROLINNOVA) 
6. How can FOs be supported to facilitate access to innovations. Host Jean Nyemba (GFA) 
7. Knowledge management: How can existing solutions to farmer problems be made better known to farmers? Host Kinuthia Njeri (Biovision Kenya) 

Some Presentations:

Farmer problems and solutions (Marc Bernard)
Bridging the gap between research outcomes and farmer practice (Biovision)
CGIAR reform and approaches (Hassan)
EU Approach to Research and Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition
Pathways for Integration of Agricultural Research with Farmers and Extension in Kenya (KARI)
Knowledge transfer platform icipe (Zeiske)
Overview of PAEPARD II (FARA)

Results:
GFA ITAACC Demand-Supply Assesment

GFA ITAACC Farmer needs
GFA ITAACC good matches
GFA ITAACC Key actors in the innovation system
GFA ITAACC Linkages between actors

Background:

ITAACC supports various innovation transfer projects and closely integrates agricultural scientists and practitioners in Africa. The projects are designed in collaboration with international agricultural research centres and realised in conjunction with various partners, including private sector and non-overnmental organisations.

The basis for this is a knowledge transfer platform that matches offers to agricultural demand. All ITAACC projects are embedded in at least one of the following international programmes:

• Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the African Union;
• CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS);
• G8 New Alliance for Food Security.

This means that practical innovations for agriculture can be made available quickly across the entire continent.

Hereunder is the report made by the PAEPARD supported consortium Benin-Soja: SOJAGNON-NGO