Cassava value chain innovation platform

From Cassava Value Chain to the Agricultural Innovation Platform plan for post June 2011

The Cassava Innovation Value Chain Platform, which became a registered multipurpose cooperative federation, changed its name to Agricultural Innovation Platform and has embarked upon a diverse range of programmes, including agricultural mechanisation (tractor hiring services), collaboration with the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) on the propagation of cocoa-yam and yam-seed, fertilizer distribution and other self-help initiatives which are in line with current national agricultural priorities. The platform has:

• increased the number of subscription-paying member-organizations from 25 in February 2009, to 77 as at March 2011
• introduced a monthly thrift contribution for its members
• developed plans to raise funds from providing technical assistance to groups in Imo and Bayelsa states in the formation of innovation platforms
• established a strong relationship and credibility with the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture
• formed a very productive working relationship with the Abia State Agricultural Development Programme which recently donated a five-hectare plot of land to the innovation platform for cocoa-yam and yam-seed production as a commercial venture

See RIU news: Nigerian Cassava and Aquaculture Innovations Platforms plan for post-RIU era 19 May 2011

RNRRS outputs:

• Improved high‐yield white‐coloured varieties suitable for production of cassava flour (CCP22)
• Combating cassava mosaic disease pandemic through use of disease‐resistant varieties and other control methods (CCP24)

Nigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava.

RIU Nigeria worked through its Cassava Innovation Platform, established February 2009, on a series of interventions which they believed would help to reduce poverty, improve livelihoods and have a positive impact on food security.

The Cassava Innovation Platform was a network of interested parties brought together from along the cassava value chain to identify opportunities and bottlenecks. Activities included evaluation of existing policies and practice as they affect the functioning of the cassava value chain.

The Cassava Innovation Platform work programme

Worked with farmers to promote and facilitate access/uptake of prosumer-preferred varieties, leading to these varieties are being adopted by farmers:

• identifying prosumer-preferred varieties
• sourcing reputable producers of planting materials of preferred varieties
• linking farmers to producers of planting materials
• selecting and engaging out-growers to ensure availability of planting materials
• providing technical assistance to target farmers
  
  

In the post harvest area the production of a locally fabricated hand-held cassava peeling machine increased the productivity of the farmers and enhanced business opportunities for local fabricators of cassava processing equipment:

• identifying the need for a hand-held cassava peeling device
• facilitating trial and testing of fabricated equipment
• identifying and selectingt capable local fabricators of hand-held cassava peeling device
• facilitating synergies between fabricators of hand-held cassava peeling device, financiers, and institutional resources to provide access to prototypes.
  
  

Trained processors to achieve acceptable quality cassava flour to enable it to be traded:

• identifying training needs of cassava flour processors to produce acceptable quality products
• selecting the trainers and trainees
• organising training on improved cassava processing
  
  

Facilitated institutional capacity development for effective participation in research into use approaches to R4D in collaboration with RIU:

• identifying capacity development needs of national institutions
• identifying and engage trainers
• organizing trainings and other activities
  
  

Supported capacity of innovation platform members to foster synergies among themselves as well as resource organizations:

• identifying capacity needs and opportunities of innovation platform members
• identifying and engage trainers
• organizing trainings and other activities
  
  

Fostered networking between farmers and others in the value chain, (including credit institutions):

• identifying reliable input/output markets and credit
• facilitating linkage of farmers with reliable input/output markets and credit

Advocated new policy, largely through the production of policy briefs for policy makers:

• forwarding evidence to policymakers and facilitating advocacy towards an enabling environment for the cassava sector; leading to demand-driven research approach being adopted by National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Service (NAERLS)
• up- and out-scaling of research outputs to intended users being implemented
• preparing and presenting a policy brief to policymakers and legislators
• participating in the public hearing on the Cassava Bill
• evaluating existing policies as they affect cassava flour value chain
• identifying and engaging consultants to carry out the appraisal on existing policy on cassava flour
• facilitating presentation of findings to stakeholders forum
  
  

Capacity building the sector and documenting the learning:

• providing assistance for institutional capacity development for effective participation in research into use approach to research for development in collaboration with RIU's Central Research Team
• providing feedback and facilitate the awareness of stakeholders on status of policies that are related to cassava value chain
• enabling the capacity of stakeholders to improve awareness of RIU approaches and foster synergies amongst themselves
• facilitating interventions to build the capacity of stakeholders to use, document and share lessons from implementing research into use approaches to research for development.

An evaluation, undertaken in September 2010 by the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), found a strong sense of ownership amongst the platform members, good evidence of partnership working with mainstream development and research agencies, and progress in terms of wide adoption of improved farm inputs (planting materials) and skills and knowledge transfer. They found that there was further capacity building work to be undertaken by RIU and others for the platform to reach its full potential. Whilst most of the necessary linkages were strong, the platform had more work to do in the area of facilitating access to credit.

This evaluation was presented at the RIU Nigeria learning event in Obudu Cross River State, in early November 2010.