Empowering Africa's Next Generation: The AI Leadership Blueprint
IPMS—Some reflections
1. IPMS – Some reflections
Dirk Hoekstra
ILRI Ethiopia projects meeting
Addis Ababa,11 March 2013
2. Our Goal
To contribute to
improved agricultural
productivity and
production through
market-oriented
agricultural
development, as a
means for achieving
improved and
sustainable livelihoods
for the rural population.
3. How are we trying to achieve that goal ?
By trying new and
innovative approaches
and technologies to
strengthen the
effectiveness of the
Government’s effort to
transform agricultural
productivity and
production, and rural
development in Ethiopia
through market-oriented
agricultural development
4. How is IPMS trying to improve the efficiency
of the MoARD?
Participatory commodity development using a value
chain approach (production, input and output
marketing, rural finance)
Improved knowledge management by the actors
Improved capacity of the actors to innovate, learn
and link
Development and promotion of strategies, policies
and approaches for scaling out
5. IPMS research and development system
Technology, organizational, institutional
interventions
RESEARCH
Recommendations for scaling out
7. Project design
• Research for development project conceived in the
early 2000 at the request of the MoARD and CIDA
– ILRI interested because of impact focus
– Science council less enthusiastic (2007) – not scientific enough
– Action research is not science and hence not research
• Impact (development) oriented project, which included
funds for development action controlled by project
– Many thought that such money should have been managed by a
development partner, like the EADD/ILRI model
8. Project approach
• Value chain and innovation systems
perspective
– Unlike previous projects which focused mainly
production technologies
• Production technology generation not part of
the project (donor determined)
– Often debated by research partners
9. Value chain versus channels
Agro processing
industry
(Peri- )urban Urban
specialized fluid consum
milk farmers ers
Fluid milk traders
Rural mixed crop
and livestock butter Butter traders Rural consumers
producers
10. Evolution partnership from subsistence towards a
market oriented agricultural development system
farmers
OoARD/EARS
Private sector/coop
IPMS
time
Knowledge interactions
Input/service supply/marketing
11. Project implementation
• Mostly full time staff dedicated to the project
• Silo within ILRI – poor linkages with the rest – little chance to
create social capital with other scientist when travelling
• Some partners subcontracted to conduct certain tasks
– Research partners
• Most researchers not used to development driven research and
performance contract – too little money, insufficient commitment,
insufficient capacity.
• Good experiences with involvement thesis students
– Development partners
• Good experiences with - district offices, video and radio producers
• Mixed experiences with credit institutions – amounts too small
12. Conclusions recommendations
• Good agricultural practices need to be
complemented with other vc interventions
• Developing alternative input/service supply
system important in Ethiopia
• Creating linkages between value chain actors
based on mutual (economic) benefits has high
pay off and is sustainable – may be initiated by
innovation platforms
• Emerging new products/channels for local and
export market
14. Conclusions recommendations
• Development is a continuous process which requires new
knowledge and skills over time – no static blue prints
• Extension system for market oriented agricultural
development requires more quantity and quality – e-
extension
• Farmer to farmer exchange of knowledge and skills
important at this stage of development
• Involvement of women in knowledge and skills
development activities contributes to more gender
balanced development