Presented by Abdou Tenkouano (AVRDC) at the Africa RISING West Africa Review and Planning Meeting Tamale, Ghana, 23-25 October 2012

1. Vegetables and associated best management
practices in cereal‐based crop production systems
to improve income and diets of rural and urban
households in northern Ghana and southern Mali
Abdou Tenkouano (AVRDC)
Africa RISING West Africa Review
and Planning Meeting Tamale,
Ghana, 23-25 October 2012

2. Implementation strategy (partners)
 AVRDC is under contract of IITA with functional oversight
by IITA for maize-based systems, Africa Rice Center for
rice-based systems and ICRISAT for sorghum/millets-based
systems
 Northern Ghana - AVRDC works through CSIR-SARI and
UDS with detailed implementation protocols and regular
monitoring visits
 Southern Mali - project implementation unit coordinated
by ICRISAT with support from non-project staff posted in
Sikasso and NGOs (MOBIOM, PROGEBE, AMASSA)

3. Outcome 1: Sustainable increase of whole-farm
productivity
Output 1.1 Integrated crop and livestock production
systems developed, evaluated, and effectively delivered to
end users
Activity 1.1.10: Carry out participatory appraisals on
production systems to document existing vegetable
varieties, assess relative share of vegetables in
production landscape, estimate relative prevalence
and performance of vegetable intercropping options
[in northern Ghana – maize/rice-legume systems]
[in Southern Mali – sorghum systems]

4. Maize/Rice-Legume Systems (Ghana)
 Survey protocols developed by UDS with AVRDC support
(12-13 July 2012) and survey carried from mid-July 2012.
 Data analysis underway – preliminary report available
Balma Yakubu Issaka, Judith Seidu and George Nyarko,
University for Development Studies, Faculty of Agriculture,
Nyankpala Campus. Tamale
Victor Afari-Sefa
AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Arusha

5. 24% of vegetables harvested in Ghana in
2007 (GLSS, 2008).
Northern Ghana
Predominantly rain-fed and integrated
with major field crops like maize, millet
and sorghum.
Onion and tomato are exceptions
Rain-fed vegetable production is secondary to
field crops and undertaken to supplement
household income and food.
•border crops In the Upper East and
Upper West regions
•sole crops on small lots for women in
the Northern region

6. Northern Ghana
Every household grows at
least, 3 different types of
vegetables - wide variety
but small quantities
% Households
100
90
80
70
60
50 Maize-vegetable farmers
40
30
20
make an average GHC 122
10
0 per annum from vegetables
(about 21.3% of their total
revenue)

7. Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)
 The survey protocols developed for northern Ghana have
been adapted to the southern Mali context
 Consultancy arrangements are in progress for the surveys
to be carried out in October 2012
 (a no cost extension was agreed with IITA for this).

8. Outcome 1: Sustainable increase of whole-farm
productivity
Output 1.1 Integrated crop and livestock production
systems developed, evaluated, and effectively delivered to
end users
Activity 1.1.14: Introduce, evaluate and promote high
value vegetables to improve system productivity in
northern Ghana
Activity 1.1.11: Introduce, evaluate and promote high
value vegetables to improve system productivity in
southern Mali

9. Maize/Rice-Legume Systems (Ghana)
 CSIR-SARI established participatory evaluation and seed
bulking plots at Nyankpala and Manga (Navrongo) with more
than 80 lines of 10 species received from AVRDC in early June
– results in 2-3 months.
 Site selection for testing in farmers' fields at locations chosen
by IITA (maize) and AfricaRice (rice) has been completed (12
communities with both maize and rice systems).
Mashark Abdulai, CSIR-SARI, Nyankpala. Tamale
Albert Rouamba, AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Bamako

10. Outcome 1: Sustainable increase of whole-farm
productivity
Output 1.1 Integrated crop and livestock production
systems developed, evaluated, and effectively delivered to
end users
Activity 1.1.14: Introduce, evaluate and promote high
value vegetables to improve system productivity in
northern Ghana
Activity 1.1.11: Introduce, evaluate and promote high
value vegetables to improve system productivity in
southern Mali

11. Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)
 Planning meetings held to estimate seed needs for on-
farm testing in order to plan seed bulking
in Bougouni on 31 May 2012
in Koutiala from 4-6 June 2012
 Seeds of one variety each of amaranth, African
eggplant, hot pepper, okra, Roselle, sweet pepper, and
tomato are under production at Samanko
Albert Rouamba, Theresa Endres, Keriba Coulibaly
AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center, Bamako

12. Vegetable seed production status in Mali
Crops Variety Sowing/Transplantin Area Current growth Expected seed
g dates (m²) stage quantities (kg)
Amaranth A2002 24 August/N.A. 2205 Vegetative, no 50
flower yet
African L10 28 June/31 July 1598 Early fruit ripening 30
eggplant
Hot Nisondia 2 July/6 August 1890 Early fruiting stage 20
Pepper
Okra Sasilon 10 August/N.A. 1890 Early fruiting stage 95
Roselle L28 22 August/N.A. 1890 Vegetative, no 40
(Hibiscus) flower yet
Sweet Wassa 20 July/23 August 338 Vegetative, no 2
Pepper flower yet
Tomato Xina 21 June/17 July 1890 Seed drying 4 (3.7 already
harvested)

13. Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)
 Available seed stocks used to establish farmer-managed
participatory trials with NGOs:
Bougouni (MOBIOM, 3 cooperatives, 36 farmers,
including 15 men and 21 women)
Koutiala (PROGEBE, 11 cooperatives, 46 farmers,
including 23 men and 23 women)

14. Outcome 4: Increased nutritional and economic
levels of the target population (especially women
and children)
Output 4.4. Evidence based dietary strategies for target
population developed, tested and communicated
Activity 4.4.2 Carry out participatory appraisals on
diets to assess and document existing dietary
diversity, assess relative share of vegetables in
diets, and estimate nutritional performance of
existing dietary options in northern Ghana

15. Maize/Rice-Legume Systems (Ghana)
 Carried out in conjunction with Activity 1.1.10.
 Data processing is underway – preliminary report available
 Promotional food preparations of nightshade and Roselle
carried out at Nyankpala.

16. Percentage Households consuming listed
vegetables daily or weekly

17. Reason for consuming vegetables
Reason for consuming vegetables Frequency Percentage
Give blood to the body 41 34.2
Boost to the immune system 33 27.5
Protects the body against diseases 19 15.8
Promote growth and development 15 12.5
Provide balanced diet 11 9.2
Vegetables make food tasty 1 0.8
Total 120 100

18. Outcome 4: Increased nutritional and economic
levels of the target population (especially women
and children)
Output 4.4. Evidence based dietary strategies for target
population developed, tested and communicated
Activity 4.4.1 Carry out participatory appraisals on
diets to assess and document existing dietary
diversity, assess relative share of vegetables in diets,
and estimate nutritional performance of existing
dietary options in southern Mali

19. Sorghum-millet Systems (Mali)
 Survey protocols developed
 Consultancy arrangements in progress for the surveys to be
carried out in October 2012
 Project nutritionist returned to Bamako after precautionary
evacuation from mid April to early September

20. Links with other research and development projects
 USAID Mali (ICRISAT) - “Improving Vegetable Production
and Consumption in Mali” - best practice demonstration
and dissemination hubs (new varieties, crop management
practices and water delivery systems) - Sikasso
 CORAF (MDTF) - “Enhancing Productivity, Competitiveness
and Marketing of Traditional African (Leafy) Vegetables for
Improved Income and Nutrition in West and Central Africa“
- first quarter of 2013 in northern Ghana

21. Concluding remarks (Lessons learnt)
 Cascade approach to partnerships - too complex, particularly
on contractual and reporting requirements.
 Centralized project implementation unit for logistics and
contracts (Mali) - an excellent idea, but this could also cause
delays - better planning and execution
 Complementary (Yes), Integrated (Yes), Interdependent (???)

22. Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation
africa-rising.net