Sector Seed Systems in Kenya and T

Q2 July 2015
Using Modern Agricultural Technologies, New
Regional Partnership Seeks to Strengthen PrivateSector Seed Systems in Kenya and Tanzania
An Integrated Farming Systems for Sustainable Livelihoods in East Africa (INFAS)
project has been launched in
Arusha, Tanzania with the
twin goal of transferring
modern agricultural technologies to farmers while helping
to strengthen private sectordriven seed systems.
Africa Harvest is implementing the 36-month project
funded by the International
Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The project
targets rural farming communities in the Kagera region of
Tanzania and the Kisii and
Nyamira Counties of Kenya.
“Our big goal remains poverty reduction and increasing
food and nutritional security
through the dissemination of
proven technologies in crop
and soil management,” says
Africa Harvest CEO, Dr.
Florence Wambugu.
“However, our experience
is that long-term sustainability requires strong private
sector seed companies; we
are therefore working with
some well-established companies in Kenya and Tanzania”.
IFAD Senior Programs Officer, Dr. Malu Ndavi, told
participants at a launch meeting that “INFAS is structured
as a public-privatepartnership. We expect INFAS to exemplify modes of
good practice in achieving
food security for other to emulate.”
Speaking at the launch, the
Director of Research and De-
Farmer sensitization meetings and training took place in
velopment in the Ministry
Tanzania in Kitobo (top) and Ngenge (below)
of Agriculture in Tanzania,
Dr. Fidelis Myaka, said the
project is very timely and fits
into the governments strategic goals for the Kagera region. “This project exemplifies the vision of East African
regional integration. I’m
gratified to note that the INFAS project will use modern
agricultural technologies and
help strengthen private sector
-driven seed systems.”
Dr. Wambugu said the partnership would play a key role
in making the project a success. “There is strong private
sector emphasis in INFAS;
but we must underline the
equally strong public sector
participation. Through the
Kenyan and Tanzanian gov-
Contd Page 2
Q2 June 2015
Apart From Poverty Alleviation, We Need
Strong Private Sector Seed Companies,
Says Africa Harvest CEO
ernment support, public research
institutions critical to the success
of the project are fully on board.
They include the Maruku Agricultural Research Institute. Crop
Bioscience Solutions (Tanzania)
and Aberdare Technologies Limited (Kenya) are the two private
sector companies participating in
the project.
Nyamira County Executive for
Agriculture Mr. Peris Mon’gare
says the county is targeting bananas and legumes in several flagship projects. “The banana value
chain is being promoted for commercialization and for rural livelihoods, while beans are targeted as
an important food security crop.”
In Tanzania, INFAS will be
implemented in Muleba and
Musenyi Districts in Kagera Region. In Kenya, Kisii and Nyamira Counties will be the focus areas
of the project
During the launch, Africa Harvest, the International Centre for
Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and
Crop Bioscience exhibited their
work, each highlighting to stakeholders the various roles they will
play in the implementation of this
project. INFAS stakeholders also
made presentations during the
launch.
INFAS Project Manager, Mrs.
Wangari Kiragu gave an overview
of how the project will run. She
said the project targets 12,000
households in the course of three
years. She emphasized that partnership and teamwork will be key
to the success of the project.
Maruku ARI Officer in Charge,
Dr. Innocent Ndyetabula, also
shared the importance of cassava,
banana and legumes in the Kagera
region. He thanked Africa Harvest
for trusting Maruku to be a key
implementation partner in Tanzania.
A regional planning meeting led
by Mrs. Kiragu, and the Africa
Harvest Monitoring & Evaluation
Manager, Mr. Antony Aseta, was
held to discuss project implementation
INFAS Project Kicks Off In Tanzania
Delegates after the Project Inception Workshop in Kagera and the INFAS
Team made a courtesy call on Mrs. Elizabeth Kitundu, the Executive Director of Missengi District of the Kagera Region in Tanzania