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+{"metadata":{"gardian_id":"120692206096ef183dd243f941e0cb34","source":"gardian_index","url":"https://cgspace.cgiar.org/rest/bitstreams/95f5fb17-cd14-4e32-a813-1ba31657521b/retrieve","id":"-1867681145"},"keywords":[],"sieverID":"d95b48de-73b1-42a0-a5ad-42c0428b165c","pagecount":"80","content":"The long term goal of the IPMS project is 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.The medium term purpose is to strengthen the effectiveness of the government's efforts to transform agricultural productivity, production, and rural development in Ethiopia to a more market-oriented agricultural development.To achieve this purpose four key components are targeted: Knowledge management  Innovation capacity development of partners  Participatory marketable commodity development  Development and promotion of recommendations for scaling out Gender, HIV/AIDS and environmental considerations are mainstreamed in each of these components.Capturing of knowledge using study tours by project partners has been practiced and institutionalized by all PLWs. The report provides examples on knowledge captured and applied by the participants. A more detailed assessment is planned for the coming year.To share knowledge several approaches were used including field days for scaling out.While the concept of field days is known in Ethiopia, variation in the application of this method are considered in each PLW in terms of who organizes the field day (OoARD rather than the research sector as practiced in the past), what is shown (various interventions along the value chain vs just technology), who participates (local administrators, value chain partners, including farmers, private sector, research) and how is it organized (discussions, reflections combined with field visits). Experiences and impact are being documented. Adoption of these \"new\" forms of field days is becoming part of the scaling out strategy in the PLWs. The use of Woreda Knowledge Centers and Farmer Training Centers as sources of knowledge for agricultural staff is gradually gaining ground and is improving with improved Internet access. Some of the FTCs now have Internet access through fixedwireless telephone connections. The distribution of offline copies of the EAP portal has also contributed to this development. Similarly, FTCs are increasingly being used by farmers to share knowledge. An interesting example is one of the FTCs in Goma where the recently established honey association uses it for its meetings and has also been assigned a small office inside the FTC. The content managers group for populating the agricultural portal with information on market-oriented agricultural development was active during this reporting period but needs formal endorsement by the MoARD to become more effective.IT equipment for the zonal knowledge centers, which are an integral part of the scaling out/up strategy, was purchased and installed in eight of the 10 Zones.Technology exhibitions for scaling out technologies from different sources, including innovative farmers was first tested in Tigray by the BoARD and IPMS in 2007 and it was observed that during this reporting period exhibitions/farmer festivals are now adopted at National and Regional levels with government funding. In some regions, such as Tigray, agricultural technology exhibitions are organized at the district level, and even at PA levels. Cattle fairs have recently been introduced in Mieso, as another means to demonstrate performance, share knowledge and link markets related to a specific commodity.Innovation capacity development of partners During this reporting period, the project continued with its scaling out strategy in 3 of the Zones in Amhara Region in which the PLWs are located (also see promotion).The project also conducted capacity building trainings on the mainstreaming of gender and HIV/AIDS for extension workers in all 10 PLWS. Training targeted DAs, health extension workers, HAPCO staff and staff from the Women's Affair Desk.Training on rapid market assessment and linking farmers with markets was provided to marketing staff from the whole of Amhara Region. This was followed by training of Woreda level staff throughout the Region. This training was financed by the BoARD/IFAD.Various technical trainings to improve the skills of staff of the OoARD and farmers were organized in the PLWs as part of the scaling out strategy. Most of these training are conducted by project partners including staff from the BoARD, WoARD , RARIs and Small and Micro Trading Industries Office. Topics covered include training on poultry development, irrigated agriculture/drip irrigation, pump maintenance and fattening.Training was also provided to input producers including forage seed production, fruit nursery operators, marketing agents including rice dish preparation for restaurants and bars. Support was provided for rural cooperatives formation through technical assistance, credit and training. A special training on retailing/processing of agricultural products was provided in Bure and Fogera for shop owners, youth and HIV/AIDS infected women (Fogera). The use of audiovisuals and practical training are now a common feature in most training programmes.Training manuals for many of the technical subjects can be found on the EAP. The project has also produced draft training materials on the following topics:  Introduction to market-oriented participatory extension  Manual on marketing extension  Manual on result-based monitoring and evaluation  Gender and HIV/AIDS mainstreaming in a market-oriented agricultural development context: A training manual for frontline workers.  Applying Innovation Systems Concept in AR4D  Basic Concepts and Methods of Rapid Market Appraisal and Linking Farmers With Markets These materials have been tested in the various trainings and will be published in the coming project year as part of the project's scaling out strategy.Training modules on water management has been completed and is in the final stages of print preparation will be reproduced and distributed, as part of the scaling out strategy.To improve the skills of University staff supervising the IPMS sponsored MSc students, training was provided at Haramaya Univesity on \"Applying Innovation System Concept in Agricultural Research for Development\". A workshop was organized with Hawassa Universities with staff from the MoARD, BoARD, Agricultural Universities, EIAR and RARIs on \"Improving partnerships for enhancing the relevance of graduate research in advancing agricultural sciences and development in Ethiopia\".A National Advisory and Learning Committee workshop was organized in Bahr Dar to share experiences between the project's PLWS.All PLWs have started administrating (part of) the project's operational funds for commodity development, including knowledge management and capacity development activities in support of commodity development. All PLWs have also developed draft plans and budgets for 2009/10. Based on lessons learned during the NALC it has been emphasized that interventions should ideally be introduced by the partner institutions, even though IPMS staff initially is a major partner in the process. In all communications, it is therefore better to stress the 'IPMS approach' rather than the 'IPMS project'. Moreover, the main trust of the project is to get the IPMS approach adopted by partners.Detailed observations on (un)successful interventions were made in the output outcome assessment section in the previous progress report. Attention has therefore this time been directed to the application of the participatory market-oriented agricultural development approach, and the following observations are made:PLWs are capacitated to use a participatory market-oriented value chain approach for the development of a commodity. Since the project is learning, different approaches are used based on some overall guidance but also based on initiatives taken in the different PLWs.The extent to which emphasis is given to the different value chain components (production, input supply/services, and marketing) varies by PLW and commodity. In principle such differences are the result of the assessment of problems/opportunities in each of the components by the stakeholders. It is observed that the value chain approach is used for most commodities in all PLWs, so we can be happy with that achievement. However, the extent to which individual components in the commodity value chain are addressed varies considerably between PLW and commodities. In some cases, this seems justified because of the assessment made, resulting in addressing key constraints only. For example in Fogera, focusing on marketing and onion seed production led to a very successful increase in onion area coverage. However, as observed recently by irrigation specialists, productivity/production increases can also be obtained by paying more attention to proper water management interventions. Involvement of a variety of stakeholders, each of whom can bring \"fresh\" knowledge on different components of the value chain should be encouraged to ensure proper attention to each of the value chain components. All PLWs should review their program to apply best practices and to ensure compliance with a knowledge based value chain approach.To create demand for production/natural resource management interventions, different knowledge management/capacity development approaches were used. For most commodities, demand was created in some PAs with intensive technical assistance by Woreda Subject Matter Specialists (SMS), Development Agents and IPMS staff. These sites served as \"demonstration'. This was then followed in subsequent seasons by scaling out to other PAs using a combination of knowledge management and capacity development approaches, including farmer-to-farmer knowledge/skills transfer. It is observed that this demand creation approach worked well in several PLWs and outstanding examples of this are found in Metema with the introduction of a new banana variety and in Atsbi with the introduction of the grazing land improvement technology. Also, fattening of large ruminants in Bure and fattening of small ruminants in Goma follow this pattern. However it is also noted that scaling out from selected PAs to the \"recommendation domain\" PAs is not as successful and/or not documented. Part of the reason is lack of repayment of innovative credit, hampering issuing of new loans. While this is correct, it should be noted that credit is only one of the contributing factors to the introduction of production technologies. Several technologies can still be introduced without the use of credit, as demonstrated with the initial cattle fattening in Metema. It is also observed that the MoARD's efforts to support the scaling out of successful production interventions in the PLWs may not always follow the demand driven approach. All PLWs should review their program to apply best practices and to ensure compliance with a demand driven production intervention approach.Regardless of the approach used for the introduction of production technologies, an essential element of the overall market-oriented agricultural development approach is that interventions to address bottlenecks/opportunities for the supply of inputs and services and marketing of outputs are addressed. This is considered to be an important factor for the adoption of production technologies. Different approaches have been adopted to deal with these interventions at PA and district level. When an input/marketing intervention is PA specific (e.g. fruit nursery, paravet service), a clear linkage with the producers in the same PAs, involved in the adoption of production interventions, is encouraged. When an input/marketing intervention is at higher/district level, e.g. input shop, linkages with producers are assumed to be created by the project partners and/or develop naturally. It is observed that many PLWs follow this linking principle especially in the PAs which have received intensive production intervention support. However, there are also examples which show a geographical disconnect between PA specific production interventions and PA specific input supply/service interventions. Linkages between input/marketing interventions and non demonstration PAs are not clear and should be better documented. All PLWs should review their program to apply best practices and ensure compliance with these value chain linkages principles Finally, an integral part of the approach is to aim for a gender and HIV/AIDS sensitive approach. Much of the capacity development and knowledge management approaches have been geared to this and positive experiences are presently documented by the team. While progress is made, a proper review of all commodities to bring greater impact is required.Development and promotion of recommendations for scaling out. In the past six months the project published 4 more Working Papers, including a working paper on HIV/AIDS, highlighting farming system specific risks in the PLWs and possible responses. All working papers and completed students thesis were uploaded on the project website. . The project also produced one more newsletter and 3 videos on project interventions on bee colony splitting in Bure, onion marketing in Alamata and fruit development in Metema.The project has increased its attention to the promotion of its findings on interventions and approaches to a wider audience. Some of the promotional activities are pre-planned; others are based on demand and or a combination of the two. Part of the planned strategies is geographical targeting to scale out within the Zones in which the PLWs are located. While a start was made with Zones in Tigray in the previous reporting period, introductory workshops and participatory planning for selected Woredas in 3 Zones in Amhara Region took place in the past six months. This will be followed with more skills development in the next season. Similar scaling out initiatives to promote the MoARD/IPMS participatory market oriented approach and interventions will take place in the coming year. The Steering Committee did however; caution that this promotion strategy should only be considered when scaling out in the PLW itself has reached a satisfactory level. It is also noted that the MoARD on its own has initiated a nation wide inventory of best practices (including IPMS PLWs) and has also planned a scaling out/up strategy for the country as a whole. Discussions are required to stimulate integration and avoid duplication of efforts.Another interesting development which has taken place in the past six months is the involvement of IPMS staff in various policy related initiatives by the Government and donors. As mentioned in the report, project staff is involved in the development of a Livestock Master Plan. With the help of the CIDA office in Addis, linkages are also made with the donor group/GoE (REDFS) which are in the process of reviewing the existing Food Security Program and developing a new Agricultural Growth Program.It is also good to note that the project has attracted the attention of the national TV media who produced/feature documentaries on the PLWs in Oromiya during this period. IPMS PLW staff have also received awards for the efforts made in their respective Woredas.Still, while this increased demand is encouraging for the project staff and partners, it is noted that more attention needs to be placed on proper documentation including synthesis and analysis of on-going activities. Several of these studies are on-going including cases studies on priority commodities.Project monitoring and evaluation Monitoring of project outputs and outcomes for the third project year (and part of the 4 th year) was completed in all PLWs. Summary findings for knowledge management and capacity development have been included in the respective assessment sections. The detailed quantitative report will be submitted separately.The CIDA external monitor also visited the project, this time Amhara Region, including field visits to Bure and Metama. His findings have also been included in this report.The expected outcome from the project's knowledge management component is the creation of a functional agricultural knowledge management system operationalized at Woreda and Federal levels, highlighting innovations and appropriate technologies. The realization of such a system will involve assessment of knowledge gaps, identifying and securing resources to narrow the identified knowledge gaps, and facilitating methods, approaches, and processes to share knowledge acquired during implementation or lessons-learned from IPMS and/or other experiences. In addition, it is also important to have the necessary tools, infrastructure, and human resource capacity to bring about such a system in a more efficient manner.In this section, a summary of the on-going knowledge management activities and outputs are presented together with an assessment of the achievements of the intended outputs and outcomes.The project staff in collaboration with the respective Woreda Office of Agriculture & Rural Development and increasingly with actors at zonal, regional, and federal levels work on identifying the knowledge input needed to develop priority commodities. Interventions are taken based on the results of such assessments. Such knowledge gap assessments are done on a continual basis. Knowledge gaps at varying degrees exist at every stage of the commodity value chain such as identifying the appropriate and right amount of inputs, information on \"best bet\" technologies, and access to and accurate interpretation of market information.Numerous methods, processes and tools are available to assist knowledge generation, capturing and synthesis. The project focuses on a few tools and methods that seem to be relevant and practical to the \"on-the-ground realities\" of the daily lives of extension staff, DAs, and farmers in the Woredas in which IPMS operates and the absorption capacity of the system in general. Every so often, a new tool, method, or process (indigenous and/or introduced) comes along that seems to work particularly well and we try to adopt such tools and/or methods. In this reporting period we have added to the collections of materials (electronic and print) available in WKCs. Video is emerging as one of the more effective tools for knowledge capturing as well as knowledge sharing. The TV sets and DVD players provided by the project for all WKCs and selected FTC are proving to be good tools that have found enthusiastic reception by Woreda staff as well as farmers and DAs in the targeted FTCs. Knowledge centers are also being established at zonal and regional levels. The extent of use of specific tools, processes, and methods vary from PLW to PLW. Therefore, we have prefaced each entry with the PLW where it is been used. Papers produced for conferences/proceedings/scientific publications  An overview of papers prepared for workshops/conferences and scientific publication is shown in Annex 1. An overview of the presentations is summarized in section 4.6. The rate of addition of new material to the Ethiopian Agricultural Portal has been less than desirable. Even though a content managers group with a membership of the extension directorate (four seats), the health & regulatory directorate (three seats), agricultural inputs and marketing directorate (one seat), and natural resource directorate (one seat) of the MoARD has been established, the rate of appropriate document identification, selection, and upload to the portal has not been that great. IPMS as a project will increase its efforts to change this trend and will also focus on all issues that will increase the institutionalization of the agricultural portal at federal and regional levels.As part of this effort, additional members from our regional partners will be added to the EAP content managers group. On a positive note, offline copies of the portal are now widely available in all PLWs, Regional BoARDs, the four RARIs and most of the zonal offices overseeing the IPMS PLWs.Addition of books, leaflets, CDs, and DVDs for WKCs and FTCs  The number of relevant books, leaflets, CDs, and DVDs in PLW and FTC knowledge centers has been steadily increasing. Some of these are provided from the project headquarters while a bigger volume is from sources identified as useful by the PLW staff. Examples of headquarters provided material include HIV/AIDS mainstreaming and analysis toolkits prepared in English and local languages. On the PLW front, Bure PLW now has 61 CDs and 384 books, 184 magazines, 14 manuals, 41 brochures, 104 newsletters, 40 bulletins, 2 thesis and 2 journals in the WKC. The PLW managed to get a large number of manuals, books and brochures from offices of Woreda experts and made these available to all users by reserving it in the WKC. Similarly, FTCs in the PLW have appropriate manuals, leaflets, posters and VCDs. Bure PLW's IPMS staff also prepared leaflets on potato production, honeybee colony splitting technique, conservation agriculture, poultry production & livestock fattening to disseminate lessons to wider audience within and outside the PLW. These leaflets were distributed during farmers' festivals at district, zonal and regional levels. The leaflets were also distributed during the NALC meeting held in Bahir Dar. Alaba produced leaflets that explain availability and desired aspects of \"new\" haricot bean varieties (Dimitu and Nasir) to households that volunteer to multiply the seeds for these varieties. They also produced a leaflet on pepper seed treatmentan important commodity for the PLW. The number of CD titles available in knowledge center as of March 2009 is 110 and the number of books was 633. Mieso PLW prepared leaflets on urea treatment of crop residues. Fogera PLW translated the IPMS-prepared participatory market-oriented training materials (utilized during previous IPMS organized trainings) into the local language (Amharic) to enhance its accessibility by concerned partners. Fogera PLW is also revising a previously published beekeeping training manual to add more/better designs and pictures of beehives and beekeeping equipment. The training manual will be ready for publishing later this year. They have also prepared three training modules on beekeeping skills needed during the various beekeeping seasonal activities in a calendar year. Metema PLW has acquired CDs and/or manuals on grafting and budding, a video on rice production, a set of CDs that contain the full complement of community development library titles, vertisoil management, virtual library CD, information network on post harvest operations, a set of CDs on \"appropriate technology\" (low-tech) collections, natural resource management, as well as various IPMS training resource materials and books purchased by HQ for various knowledge centers. Metema PLW is also trying to link the WKC with international agricultural literature publishers and distributorsfocusing on those publishers who offer free publications to developing country-based organization. Goma PLW has prepared thirty-three awareness creation materials, source documents, guides, manuals, etc in the area of livestock, apiculture, fruits, and marketing and these were duplicated or photocopied and placed in the woreda knowledge center and in four IPMS-supported FTCs.Local study tours and experience sharing visits (outside the PLW) continue to be the more frequent and immediate means of getting farmers and extension workers to witness achievements and good practices from those that face similar challenges and opportunities as they are. The project attempts to find the closest and most efficient way to share practical knowledge with selected farmers, extension workers, and targeted administrative staff. A summary of participants can be seen in Annex 2.  During this reporting period, Bure PLW took fruit growers, DAs, and experts in an experience sharing tour to show the economic importance and propagation techniques of highland fruits (apple) in Awi zone (immediately north of Bure PLW). Dairy farmers, DAs and experts were shown backyard forage development, dairy product marketing system, and the economic importance of dairy in East Gojjam Zone. The PLW also took selected participants to areas around Addis Ababa to show them fodder baling activity, its profitability, seed production, processing and marketing business, and pepper and honey trading.Participants also visited a multipurpose cooperative union in Ada'a (also near Addis Ababa)  Goma PLW took WALC members to Ada'a and Mieso PLWs to share experiences with their counterparts in these PLWs.  Dale also facilitated a one-day consultative meeting and a study tour for 47 bean seed producers and their corresponding DAs, their service cooperative representatives and beans research officer from Awassa Agricultural Research Centre to Leku market in the adjoining Shebedino Woreda. The meeting and visit was held to determine the quality and grade of bean seeds to be collected and to agree on the prices for different grades and quality. A researcher from ARC assisted by describing and presenting his knowledge regarding quality seed production and the experience within the country while based on the experience gained quality and grade of beans and their corresponding price were determined.Dale PLW also had a study tour for beans producers, cooperative leaders and Woreda staff to visit the Melkassa Agricultural Research Centre (the national centre of excellence in this area), beans seed producers in and around Huruta town in Arsi, and the Adma Lume Farmers Cooperative Union. The visit had been an eye opener to everybody due to the scale and dimension of operation (the huge number of contractual farmer seed producers and volume of seed and grain transacted through the union) compared to what has just started in Dale. Upon returning to the Woreda, the group assembled to synthesize the lessons of the visit and decided on the way forward. The study tour has been instrumental in planning the scaling out of the operation in Dale for 2009/10. Researchers on beans from ARC also took part in organizing and leading the tour.Knowledge sharing greatly increased during this period, both within and outside the PLWs. In this section, particular attention is given to the knowledge sharing within the PLW as a system to scale out knowledge within communities and the Woreda as a whole. A summary of these activities can also be found in Annex 2.Targeted-seminars at various levels promote/encourage a culture of knowledge sharing. Access to timely and relevant market information enables farmers to seek better prices for their products and encourages them to produce in response to market demands. The project has been working with Woreda-level and other partners to establish sustainable systems of market information delivery. Below are examples of efforts carried out this reporting period: Bure PLW has been working in handing over the weekly agricultural commodity market price collection and dissemination responsibility to the Bure OoARD marketing team. The project has been the main actor in this task and now this task has been partially transferred to the OoARD in the Woreda. In addition, the project established linkages with the BoARD's marketing department in order to receive weekly market price information of different commodities collected from major towns of Amhara Region using the Internet.  In Alaba, the project has been partnering with an Italian NGO (LVIA) to establish a market information delivery system. In this reporting period, the NGO provided eight bicycles for market data collectors. Market data collection from three local market sites has continued and it is regularly disseminated in two market sites. Market information is disseminated using loudspeakers mounted right in the local markets where farmers come to sell their produce and purchase what they need.The woreda also uses the same setup for disseminating HIV/AIDs related information and to provide seasonal agricultural information such as mitigation of crop disease or recommended technologies  Ada'a PLW shares weekly local market information on livestock and crop prices through billboards provided by the IPMS project and erected in three FTCs  Alamata PLW uses similar billboards setup in two PAs to share market information on vegetables  Atsbi OoARD has been continuously collecting market information from four market places within the PLW and from the nearby towns such as Mekelle and Adigrat in collaboration with TAMPA. The market information is printed and posted bi-weekly in public areas including FTCs and schools in 16 PAs within the Woreda  Mieso posts weekly market price information at selected FTCs. The PLW also shares pertinent marketing information during public forms at FTCs such as the need to track market trends, the value of group marketing, market intelligence, and the practice of staggering when products saturate the market. The Woreda public and media office is actively engaged in a weekly market information provision in an Oromiffa radio program  Fogera OoARD has started weekly market information collection in four local markets in the Woreda. The compiled report is sent to the BOARD marketing department. While the potential of collecting such information is obvious, the Woreda experts frequently described the collection process and format as tedious and time consuming (which often puts sustainability in question). For example, for each commodity, samples are taken from producers, wholesalers and retailers.In each sample prices are collected from up to 5 venders' and the information is compiled and reported to the Amhara BoARD. The format is more complicated for livestock because grading for each type of livestock is essential. Although the project is not able to dictate the BoARD in such matters, efforts will be made to shed light on simpler approaches that may provide similar results. A market information billboard has recently been erected in the middle of the Woreda town where most people gather. Lists of price for commodities have been posted there every week making it easier and efficient for all interested to see the prevailing market prices in their community. FTC level market information delivery in selected (locally relevant) commodities has started in this reporting period for some FTCs in the Fogera PLW  Metema PLW marketing extension service has improved markedly in recent monthscoincidentally after training was provided by IPMS on marketing extension and after the implementation of the new BPR initiative. The Woreda staff collect market information in various market places and disseminates the information to farmers and to the zonal office of agriculture. IPMS has facilitated the provision of four billboards for posting market information in four local markets.  ECEX (supported by IPMS) provided market information bulletins on commodities traded in the exchange. This information was disseminated to each PLW  The MoARD's marketing department has not yet initiated a national Market Information System, which can be used to link to the PLWs.Radio/TV promotion for scaling out/up within and outside the PLWs Mass media remains one of the key and cost effective means to promote good ideas that have shown results to a broader audience including policy makers and policy influencers.Although more focused and better planned media campaigns are still desired, the project has taken advantages of media opportunities. Following are examples from this reporting period. Bure PLW has popularized its lessons on conservation tillage, bee colony splitting and fruit grafting and year round livestock fattening using the Amhara Region mass-media agency TV and radio programs. For example, a discussion on the construction and management of defused light onion storage is well underway in two onion bulb producing PAs  After some initial challenges, the Metema WKC is now fully operational and all the IT and communication equipment are installed and in use although there is still no internet access at the WKC. However, as indicated in a previous section, numerous CDs, DVDs, and leaflets on numerous topics are available and are being used by the patrons. Moreover, staff has started to read and borrow books from the librarian (KC coordinator). This is a good start and a beginning of new habit and attitude. Computers in the WKC are still used for many clerical jobs but that is acceptable too since the next step is often exposure to and desire of getting more information  Alaba WKC continued to act as venue for assembling, capturing, and sharing knowledge. The OoARD continued to organize a series of meetings, trainings, seminars and discussion in the center. Internet connection was available in one of the computers in the WKC. Due to increased demand for Internet access, networking the existing computers in the center is being considered. The OoARD has moved the knowledge center from a small room to a much bigger hall to accommodate the demand by staff. This is the third progressively larger room the Woreda has assigned happily to accommodate increased use of the center. The OoARD has also connected the TV set provided by IPMS to a satellite dish and staff are now getting news, entertainment, and documentary programs and they were never able to get before this.Workshops for scaling out within and outside PLWs  Atsbi PLW held a one-day workshop followed by a field visit to promote and enhance improved and intensive cropping systems under irrigation (2-3 times harvesting/year) and improved use of irrigation water. Activities in the workshop included presentation on best irrigation experiences within and outside the PLW plus discussion with participants on the application of best irrigation practices to their situation. Based on the discussed experiences, integration of natural resources management and irrigation are becoming emerging success stories in watershed areas which can improve the development of market-oriented commodities in the area. Exhibitions for scaling out within and outside the PLWs The project facilitated the first agricultural innovations and technology exhibition about three years ago. Since then, agricultural exhibitions (at local, regional, and national levels) have flourished around the country. They are used both for disseminating knowledge to a broader audience and to showcase community and individual achievements in the agriculture sector. IPMS participates in exhibitions when opportunities for sharing our experiences and when appropriate target audience (farmers, private sector, policy makers) with whom the project would like to interact are present. Following are some examples. In Ada'a PLW, OoARD staff participated in a livestock exhibition fair organized by Mieso PLW and in Oromia zonal level farmers' field day exhibitions. IPMS also featured experiences and outcome examples from its three Oromia PLWs in an annual Oromia regional agricultural exhibition which was immediately followed by a national agricultural exhibition. The IPMS stand was visited and complemented by H.E. Ato Tefera Derebew, Minister of MoARD and by several thousand farmers and individuals during this four-day event  In March 2009, the Tigray Region BoARD held a regional agricultural technology exhibition in Mekele. Thirteen Woredas showcased good practices samples. One of the Woredas selected to share experiences was Atsbi PLW. The PLW presented what it considers are good and innovative practices using nine posters and actual market-oriented products. Featured topics were forage development, small ruminant fattening, apiculture, watershed development, and storytelling of successful innovative farmers. The Woreda displayed actual fattened sheep, different vegetables, fruits, and honey products. Atsbi honey was promoted and sold to the visitors (in small glass jars of 250gm) at a price of ETB 70/kga remarkable indication of its brand recognition and demand for it  Mieso PLW held a livestock fair for the second year in a row and received good media coverage and has been successful in linking farmers and traders. Mieso also celebrated a knowledge management day during this reporting period and participated in a regional farmers' festival held in December 2008, in Bahr Dar, Amhara region and sent two input suppliers to the Oromia exhibition held in February in Nazareth town  Amhara Regional Farmers Festival was organized in Bahir Dar and the project attended the eventprimarily by featuring the three IPMS PLWs in the Amhara Region. Five hundred (500) lead farmers, development agents, Woreda experts, invited high-level government officials, and private companies involved in the agriculture sector attended the exhibitions as guests and/or exhibitors. Fogera PLW, in collaboration with onion seed producers, women group involved in rice processing, safflower collectors and marketers, and dairy cooperative representatives; displayed posters and samples in seven different technologies and practices  Fogera PLW also partly sponsored small Woreda-level exhibitions and bazaars conducted in an adjacent Woreda in December 2008. The project contribution was used to purchase T-shirts printed with ILRI-IPMS logo and to prepare posters for billboards promoting major IPMS-supported commodities in the area. Attendees came from all Woredas in South Gondar Zone as well as officials from the regional government. The exhibition was opened by the Regional President  Metema held a local photograph exhibition that demonstrated the overall development activities in the PLW. It was organized by the Woreda office of information.  Alaba PLW participated in a regional exhibition held in Awassa (SNNPRS Region) January 2009.Newsletters are good tools to keep everyone updated on what is going on. The project prepares frequent newsletters at the headquarters level and several PLWs prepare their own versions targeting the OoARD staff and other interested audiences about noteworthy happening in their PLW. In this reporting period Bure, Alaba, Mieso, and Fogera prepared PLW level newsletters or contributed to OoARD-published newsletter in the respective Woreda.The Ethiopian Agriculture Portal (EAP) and the MoARD email system are the corner stones of the project's KM activities at the federal level. The fact that MoARD has taken ownership of both systems is a good beginning. There were a couple of meetings of the EAP content managers group during this reporting period and progress has been made in reaching a consensus about document upload/publishing. At this point all members of the content managers group are from various units of MoARD. This membership will be expanded to include content mangers from the Regional BoARDs and/or RARIs in order to have a representation from a cross section of major actors in GoE agriculture sector entities.The project has been supporting the MoARD's connectivity to broadband Internet partly to encourage the use of the EAP by a broad audience (since the EAP is hosted at MoARD) and also to encourage MoARD to increase its use of electronic communications for official business for the sake of increasing the overall efficiency of the ministry's service delivery.The project has essentially completed its planned ICT network and infrastructure capacity building efforts at federal, regional, zonal, woreda, and FTC levels. Because of this capacity building efforts, we now have 28 knowledge centers each with five computers, a printer, and some shelves, desks, and chairsand a good starting inventory of appropriate content, distributed strategically along the agriculture service delivery structure of the GoE. The distribution spans 10 PLWs, four Regional BoARD, four RARIs, and 10 Zones. In addition we have in place a computer, printer, DVD player, a couple of shelves and chairs, and a generator (wherever necessary) in 40 FTCs. The early results of this investment are beginning to show both in terms of easier access to The project completed its third year output/outcome monitoring for the 10 PLWs. A detailed report will be submitted separately. Some summary output and outcome assessments for knowledge management are provided below:Third year outputs  DAs/SMS increasingly started to use the different knowledge management approaches promoted by IPMS (video recording of successful innovation in Ada'a, Metema, Astbi using their own resources, organizing KM events such as exhibition and field days, exchange tours etc)  Farmers and DAs /SMS have increasingly started to seek knowledge from different sources. They started to use linkages and institutional platforms facilitated by IPMS or/and develop new links to share knowledge.  Officials supported institutionalization of knowledge management approaches (e.g assigning budget for renovation/construction of WKCs and assigning responsible person to manage WKCs, encourage staff to initiate and engage in knowledge management activities)  The availability of knowledge in oral/lecture, printed/recorded or demonstration form has improved. Quantitative analysis M & E data showed that farmers' access to information about selected priority commodities in year 3 is better in intervention PAs than the same PAs during the base year; and also better than non-intervention PAs in year 3.  Farmers and DAs also reported about a change in the form in which information is delivered. Even though oral/lecture remained the main form in which information is delivered to farmers in both intervention and non-intervention PAs, more information in demonstration form; and to a little extent in printed form are reported in intervention PAs than in non-intervention PAs. The increased role of audio-visuals for knowledge sharing reported in Metema, Alaba and Meiso where technological and market related information provided by radio; and in few PAs which received audio-visual equipments of IPMS.The expected outcome of knowledge management is the institutionalization of functional knowledge management system established at PLW level. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the M & E data showed that the desired changes to institutionalize functional knowledge management system have been realized in part in all PLW at various degrees.The following are few points that show KM outcomes as expressed in usage and institutionalization of the knowledge management outputs:  Experts and to some extent DAs in nearby PAs reported that they use WKCs to get relevant information about production and marketing of priority commodities.WKCs are also actively used as a center for staff development where OoARD staff read reference books, magazine/newspapers, learn computer, and browse internet. It is also used as a venue for conducting other knowledge sharing activities such as workshops and seminars.  Improved use of computers at WKCs is reported. In addition to writing regular office reports, computers at the WKCs are also being used to communicate and access electronic information either from internet or CDs. PLWs such as Bure, Goma and Astbi also use to store basic agriculture related data of the Woreda in these computers.  Despite improved utilization of WKC facilities, shortage of relevant printed and electronic materials (especially in national or local languages), frequent failure of computers in the WKC and lack of local capacity to maintain the ICT equipment and weak linkage with (domestic and foreign) knowledge generating institutions are some of the problems observed.  The use of FTCs as a hub for knowledge sharing is at early stage and achievements are scattered across various PAs. Although availability of printed materials is on the rise, it remains far short of the needs. Quantitative analysis of M & E data showed that the usefulness of information received by farmers is significantly better in intervention PAs than non intervention PAs.  OoARD staff participation in knowledge sharing is increasing, but their involvement in knowledge gap assessment and capturing is low.  These knowledge sharing events significantly influenced participating farmers, DAs and experts to test innovative production, input supply and marketing initiatives in their own setting. For example farmers in Fogera convinced to test land enclosure after their visit to Astbi, Alaba and Goma farmers reported improved apiary site management after exchange visit to the south, and dairy farmers in Almata incorporate improved dairy farm management after visiting farmers in Ada'a. Similarly an individual in Alamata started poultry processing plant after training and visit to Ada'a.The CIDA monitor concludes on his last 2 visits to Tigray and Amhara Region concludes to IPMS is near to achieving its outcomes for knowledge management. However, while he observed progress in IT based knowledge management, he is skeptical about the application of this across all sites in the near future.We can safely say that IPMS knowledge management interventions have been successful in at least making sure the identification, generation, capturing, and sharing of knowledge is considered as an important input in agricultural extension work in particular and agricultural development in general. This can be seen from practical actions being taken from IPMS PLW OoARD and lately in zonal, and in some cases regional level BoARD activities (for example in Tigray). There is still work to be done in getting our partners from Woreda all the way to MoARD to actively commit to knowledge capturing (be it as content for the EAP or capturing indigenous knowledge of farmers) and leveraging that for better impact. In the remaining time of the project, our focus in the knowledge management front will be making sure the investments made so far are leveraged for maximum impact and the approaches, tools, and methods that have shown promise are institutionalized at appropriate levels of the GoE.The expected outcome of the project's capacity development component is strengthened innovation capacity of farmers, pastoralists, community-based and private sector organizations, and agriculture and natural resource management public organizations to support the development of small-holder, market-oriented agricultural production systems.In this section, a summary of the on-going capacity development activities is presented together with an assessment of the achievements of the intended outputs and outcomes.Annex 2 provides details on participation in the capacity development events. Representatives were all woreda administrators of selected woreda in each zone, heads and deputy heads of woreda offices of agriculture and rural development; heads and deputy heads of zonal administration; heads and deputy heads of zonal bureau of agriculture and rural development, and some ATVET instructors. The first day of the workshop was for presentations by IPMS headquarter staff on knowledge management, commodity development, marketing extension, and the IPMS approach. RDOs presented their respective PLW experiences and achievement on market oriented agricultural development. The next day was spent on field visits to see the commodity development and knowledge management activities in each PLW. The third day was practical session for the participants to evaluate the current extension system vis-a-vis market oriented agricultural development, and start planning for market oriented development in their respective districts.  A course was conducted on 'Rapid market assessment and principles of marketing extension' in Amhara Region (also see 2.1.9). OoARD staff from the 3 PLWs in Amhara Region took part (Fogera, Bure and Metama) in this training and started applying some of the principles for the collection and distribution of market information and linking producers with traders/processing. This TOT training was followed by zonal level training organized by the zones (IPMS staff acted as resource persons for some of these trainings)  Training materials on 'Participatory extension' was translated to the local language (Amharic) in Fogera through employing an external consultant and is ready for use. experience in using the tools. This was followed by data analysis and interpretation of field findings and brainstorming on opportunities to mainstreaming gender and HIV/AIDS into on-going activities. At the end, the participants prepared action plans at FTC and woreda levels, which will be monitored and evaluated by IPMS to assess how effectively they were able to utilize their acquired skills and knowledge to address gender and HIV/AIDS issues and work differently after the training.  From the outset of the training design it was recognized that the style of the learning environment and the methods of the training are as important as the technical material to be delivered. In each session, attention was paid to the use of appropriate participatory methods and emphasis was given on making the training interactive and attention-sustaining by using problem solving pictures and warm up activities. The methods chosen were those that development agents could replicate easily in their working environment.  The draft manual has been revised and edited following it's testing during the PLW level trainings. The layout and Amharic translation will be made in the next quarter. No specific training was planned for this period. Some of the MSc students conducted their research in NRM related aspects and thus increased their capacity to deal with environmental issues. Also natural resource management training was conducted in a number of PLWs as an input to commodity development. The planned M&E trainings for Oromiya and SNNPRS did not take place due to unavailability of staff.  The project completed its third year output/outcome monitoring for the 10 PLWs. A detailed report will be submitted separately. Some summary output and outcome assessments are provided below:Third year output assessment:  Significant improvement in knowledge and skill in production, input supply and marketing of crop or livestock enterprise is reported by farmers, who directly participated in IPMS facilitated intervention, by farmers who benefited indirectly from farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing or by farmers who participated in successive trainings given by DAs/SMSs.  From the private sector, improvement in knowledge and skill is observed among individual input suppliers and cooperatives/unions, which reflect the change in knowledge by entering in to market oriented production, input supply and marketing activities. For example, paravets, private bull station owners, fruit seedling producers, pump mechanics and other agricultural input suppliers got the needed knowledge and skill which helped them to enter in to business. A change in knowledge is also reported among marketing groups, cooperatives and unions who got training and advisory service which helped them to better engage either in production, input supply or marketing of a particular commodity.  Likewise SMS & DAs from the public sector reported that the various knowledge management and capacity building efforts helped them to improve their technical knowledge and skills in production, input supply and marketing of priority commodities.  In addition to the technical knowledge, they also reported knowledge and skill improvement in participatory extension approaches and methods, credit proposal preparation, marketing extension, mainstreaming environment, gender/HIV and many others.  Different commodity platforms were formed across different PLWs since the beginning of the project. Most of the initial commodity platforms are weak or ceased to exist as permanent institutional arrangements to promote institutional collaboration and coordinating. Besides applying the technical knowledge public sector staff also reported using some of the innovative extension approaches such as participatory extension methods, market information collection and dissemination in Meiso, Fogera, Bure and Astbi, mainstreaming gender and HIV issues etc.  Even though most of the initial platforms are weak or cease to function, working with ad-hoc committees to solve specific problem across the value chain has become the usual practice in most PLWs. These ad-hoc committees do not have permanent structures and draw members from different disciplines and stakeholders; and established to solve mostly marketing or input supply problems for a particular season. Examples are onion marketing committees at Woreda and PA level in Alamata, onion marketing committee in Fogera, etc  The WALCs in all PLWs are working well in the project activities, awareness about the project objective and approach is high. Involvement of WALC in the project planning, budgeting is well functioning. The learning function of WALC has also shown significant progress from the previous year. On the contrary activities of RALC in all the four regions were minimized to that of approving annual plan and budget. RALC members found it difficult to conduct the regular meeting and review project progress collectively due to their engagement in the extended BPR process. However, chairpersons of RALC reported they were following project progress individually with RDOs in informal settings.  Partner linkages among actors are serving participants to solve production and marketing problems. While some of these linkages have ceased to function continuously beyond their initiation, other linkages continued to flourish without further facilitation of IPMS. For example, following linkages created between farmers and researchers for demonstration of a particular intervention observed in many cases to lead to other arrangements in similar or different enterprise. The other external factor which exacerbates the problem is lack of proper handing over procedures and taking printed materials with personal belongings when transferred. Similarly, even though the horizontal and vertical transfer of SMS who benefited from short term and long term capacity building efforts hamper the realization of their contribution in their PLW, they are facilitating the scaling out and up of project approaches.  Institutionalization of major project concepts and approaches such participatory value chain approach for commodity develops is low. Application of these approaches beyond IPMS/OoARD facilitated and funded intervention is at early stage. However, as mentioned earlier, application of some components of these approaches is reported in different occasions. Apart from resource limitation both in terms of manpower and finance, the nation wide and regional extension policies and practices doesn't allow lower level practitioners in PLWs to adopt these innovative approaches individually.  Previously reported weakness with regard to capacity building efforts in terms of transferring knowledge in to action is improved in year 3. SMSs reported proper targeting of participants and action plan to link capacity building with commodity development contributed to this improvement.  Capacity development efforts given to cooperatives/unions is shallow and mainly limited to technical matters, giving advisory service and promoting linkage with relevant actors. However, OoARD and CBO officials pointed out the need of capacitating CBOs officials in issues of leadership, organizational and business management as well as record keeping and market analysis. Similar problem but to a lesser extent is also observed in capacity building efforts of private input suppliers.  DAs/SMS reported the audio-visual equipments and other demonstration materials made their extension service to be practical, interactive and interesting. Moreover, fodder species planted in FTCs for demonstration purpose are also serving as a free source of planting materials for farmers and other FTCs.  Some of the students who completed formal training are supporting the activity, some others have been appointed in different posts. Those appointed at higher levels are contributing for scaling up.  According to WALC members, the initial experience of working with platform promoted the culture of working together by coordinating the inputs of multistakeholders improved in most of the PLWs.. So now it is common to see ad hoc committees which are established to meet one time objective and other are informal. Increasingly these type of institutional working arrangements among collaborating organizations are influencing officials who are starting to modify their approaches to include other partners External Monitor Also the CIDA's external monitor suggests that the project is well on the way to achieve its outputs and outcomes for capacity development in the 2 Regions he visited recently and has recommended to put more energy in building the capacity of other actors to scale out the projects Summary While the project is pleased with these findings, it is not convinced that newly gained capacity is applied consistently in all PLWs/PAs (also see assessment commodity development) for the development of market oriented commodities. More detailed studies are planned for the coming year to check on the effectiveness of the training and also on the extent of the value chain based commodity development.The expected project outcome for the project's participatory commodity development component is the adoption of appropriate technologies, innovative input supplyoutput marketing, and financial services in order to improve agricultural productivity and market success in the PLWs.In this section, a summary of the on-going participatory commodity development activities and outputs are presented together with an assessment of the achievements of the intended outputs and outcomes. All PLWs, under the guidance of the WALC, completed the commodity plans for 2009/10 including the supporting knowledge management and capacity development activities aimed at scaling out the approaches and interventions in the PLWs  Credit from the innovation fund was provided/revolving through the PLW selected lending institutions on the basis of projects prepared by the project partners. During this period, an agreement was signed with a new lending institution (Omo Micro Finance Credit and Savings Company) to provide loans for Alaba, since the Mencheno Union proved to be incapable of administering the loans issued so far. Discussions were also held with OCCSCO to service loans for Mieso from their Asebe Teferi office. Proposals for fattening are being prepared.Annex 4 provides an overview the projects approved and the amounts disbursed/revolving by PLW/credit institution  A consultant reviewed the performance of part of the individual loans. Annex 5provides an overview and some of the results are discussed below in the following text. Detailed reports have been requested from each of the lending institutions.In Ada'a  In Godino, out of the 11 matings (from the bull station), 9 cows become pregnant of which 4 delivered (2 male and 2 female calves). The bull service in Godino has been terminated due to the sudden death of the bull. Bull service in Denkaka has continued, so far out of 10 matings, four calves have been born (1 male and 3 female calves, of which one died). Thirteen crossbred cows were distributed by Ada'a OoARD to Godino farmers following training on dairy management and milk hygiene  The AI technicians in Godino and Denkaka did not perform insemination during the reporting period due to a problem in the supply of semen and liquid nitrogen  Farmers were provided with forage genetic materials for backyard fodder production. Another demonstration on better use of straw after processing with urea-molasses was given  Urban-Rural linkage in terms of commercial forage production in Godino has started and the process of selecting and identifying volunteer farmers has been completed. The co-operative promotion office will organize these farmers into groups or a co-operative have better benefits from the forage plots. They rent their forage plots for 10-20 times more than the unimproved forage plots.In Alaba  The Urban PA dairy farmers group comprised of 9 HHs (one female) became with a part of the \"Small Scale and Trade Industry Department\" and was able to continue operating with credit from Omo Micro Finance. It was supported with fodder interventions and technical advise  The rural dairy groups (30 male farmers) still need to be re-organized as a milk collection and marketing group  Forage seed bank are being established by farmer groups around FTCs  The private forage shop continued to supply forage seeds to farmers in the Woreda. Production of forage continued in a private nursery established adjacent to Bilate River in Gedeba PA (with innovative credit). The nursery has continued to provide forages seeds, cuttings and other fruits seedlings to farmers  The six community animal health service providers (PARAVETS/CHAWs) continued to provide service to the community  Market information collection and dissemination continued in three of the main market sites (Kulito, Besheno and Guba) using Billboards.In Fogera  The four Fogera bulls owned by farmers in Woreta Zuria Kebele serviced 39 cows. So far, 21 calves were born and the remaining 18 cows are still pregnant. These bulls were introduced in collaboration with ARARI. Local people don't generally appreciate the breed (as compared to the exotic breed) and so far no payments for services have been made  One privately owned Holstein Friesian bull breed from Woreta Zuria Kebele serviced 39 cows during the breeding time. These cows belong to 30 cow owners and most of them are from Woreta town. Due to better milking yield the bull was highly preferable as compared to the Fogera breed by the cow owners and the service charge was 30 birr per service  After Amicala weed clearance in 2008, livestock exclusion area was delineated and closed from grazing as of June 8, 2008 in two PAs. The first clipping was made in August 5, 2008 and samples were taken from 4 sites at random, the average fresh weight was calculated and converted into ha. The result was 258 tons for one PA 9 Kuhar Michael) in a total of 6 ha of land  The second harvest was made on December 27, 2008 in the same site and the sample was taken in the same way with the first sample and the total fresh weight harvested in 6 ha of land was 525.60 tons and distributed to 183 people who are members of this forage development intervention  In Shina PA, the total harvest from the first clipping was 314.30 tons in 7 ha of land and this was distributed to 126 members. Stock exclusion area was abandoned due to conflicts among members  Two dairy cooperatives are assisted i.e. Dehansit in Woreta and Yabebal in Alem Ber. General assemblies were held by Dehansit and it was decided to start construction in the new sites planned for milk collection and processing. Awareness raising seminars were conducted to Yabibal dairy cooperative members and non-members in Alember Kebele for three days. In this seminar the principles of cooperatives, roles and responsibilities of cooperative members, requirements for membership etc has been presented and discussed.In Bure  Farmers, DAs and experts acquired lessons on backyard forage development, dairy cow handling and marketing systems of dairy products. About 10 forage species including fodder beet have been distributed to dairy farmers in two urban and two rural PAs  IPMS project provided technical advice to an individual to supply and market industrial by-products as feed for dairy farm owners. In addition, the dairy cooperative members have been linked to an oilseed milling factory for the supply of seed cakes  The project collects and distributes market price information on dairy products to users every week in collaboration with the OoARD and BoARD's marketing departments  The project in collaboration with ACSI provided Birr 12,500 credit for the Bure Damot dairy cooperative to purchase refrigerators for preserving dairy products and to buy a mule and cart for milk collection from distant areas. As a result, the volume of milk supplied to the shop and sold to users has increased. So far, the cooperative has paid back 58.3% of its credit.In In Dale  Consecutive meetings have been held with the Abosta Dairy Cooperative and milk collection groups for expansion of the milk catchments area. Milk price for producers and five collection points had been agreed upon. In addition a loan of Birr 16,130 has been secured from IPMS to invest in cooling and local transport equipment.In Mieso  Community consultation on improving the quality of milk has been started in some pastoralist PAs  Two batches /20 animals/ of Boran cattle (male and female) that were purchased by some of innovative farmers around Asebot, Kora and Mieso towns have arrived in Mieso  Sites for improved(spineless) cactus have been identified in some of the pastoralist areas  One milk selling center in the Bordode area is under construction Gorbo women milk group took part in the livestock fair and has done promotional activities by demonstrating milk processing and marketing  Several women milk producers and 'milk selling afoshas' have managed to see milk processing on display during the livestock fair that took place on 1 st Jan 2009In  In all the scaling out areas, Community Based Insurance and supplementary feeding technologies have been introduced successfully, with the following improvements coupled with some new approaches: a) Sheep purchase arrangement: In the first phase, purchase was left up to individuals and this created a number of problems such as buying low standard sheep, totally or partially using the money for other purposes etc. To minimize such problems an agreement was reached with target members so that purchasing would be effected with the presence of grass root level saving and credit leadership and DAs working in the PA b) Alternative feed source: Target farmers in urban agriculture suggested the use of leftover in the grain mills abundantly available in Agaro town because of low cost, while farmers in the rural continued using cotton seed meal c) Premium for community based insurance: Premium per sheep collected during the last exercise was per cycle but some farmers preferred to pay premium for 3 cycles. Target farmers in urban agriculture accepted the idea and contributed 20 Birr per each sheep as premium for 3 cycles. However, the target farmers in the rural areas preferred to contribute premium after each cycle through their grass root level SCG. In Alaba  Sheep groups produced improved and local forages in Hulegeba Kukie, Galato and Asore PAs. Credit funds were transferred through a new lending institution (OMO Micro Finance) for a fattening proposal, but funds have not been issued due to repayment problems of previous credit funds. The Galato groups have also established forage seed bank  FTCs are also being used as forage seed banks  Market information was provided (see knowledge management).In Fogera To improve the breed, three Washera breed rams and one Washera ewe were purchased by two farmers from Guramba Kebeles and more Washera rams have been requested by three other Kebeles. In Mieso  To improve feeding of goats, the supplementation of tree legume leaves feeding was demonstrated, the creation of some modalities to foster the use of developed fodders to animals in relation to FTC level training was facilitated, various mineral soil bases (useable for goats) locally were identified  Three women groups (with 305 members) have been identified to expand goat fattening enterprise with credit funds  Goat community development has been started in some of the pastoralist PAs at Obeynsa, Buri and Godachele.  One 'MUM' input supplier has started operatingin Bordode town  Market information provision (see knowledge management)  Formation of women market groups with their own resourcesIn Ada'a  IPMS, Erer union and five PA leaders (where IPMS credit for fattening was delivered) in the past, had a meeting on repayment of the credit funds to revolve the credit for a second round fattening scheme. About two of the five PAs have repaid all the credit; and have been allowed to continue with the second round of the fattening scheme  The IPMS intervention was in capacity building of DAs and farmers in terms of selection of animal stall feeding ration formulation, farmers' group formation for input supply, option for value adding of straw and fodder intervention  To scale out of the fattening intervention in all PAs of Ada'a, a training was given to all DAs and supervisors at Woreda level.In Bure  Farmers did not practice year round cattle fattening at Bure, and one of their reasons is shortage of feed during the dry season. IPMS project together with OoARD promoted the possibility of year round cattle fattening through using urea treated crop residues, other locally available feed resources and backyard forage production. During this reporting period, 113 farmers from seven PAs participated in year round cattle fattening. In addition, this practice has now been scaled-out into two new PAs. Moreover, investors have adopted the technology and knowledge and have started year round cattle fattening around Bure town. One of the trained DAs quit his government job and started his own cattle fattening activity  Farmers started cattle fattening by feeding oilseed and cotton seed cakes purchased from Gonder. This practice is new to the PLW  The project released 463,050 Birr in credit for year round cattle fattening activities in 2007. ACSI distributed 418,950.00 Birr to 95 cattle fattening farmers living in seven PAs. Farmers paid back their credit on time and reported the importance of the credit. Considering the importance of the credit and request from the beneficiaries, IPMS project approved to revolve this credit fund for one more year  The project distributed seeds of 10 forage species to cattle fattening farmers in 10PAs to demonstrate the importance of backyard forage development. This has created demand for forage seed supply in some PAs. Consequently, IPMS project in collaboration with Andassa Research Center planned to supply seed of Rhodes grass  Farmers established a cattle fattening cooperative at Woreda level for collective input supply. This cooperative purchased cotton seed cake from Gonder and supplied it to its members. In addition, cattle fattening farmers have been linked with a locally available oil crop milling factory to get industrial by-products  To solve animal health problems, IPMS project has planned to train private animal drug shop owners on major animal diseases  The project provided two balers for cattle fattening farmers in Wangedam and Arbisi PAs, and in collaboration with OoARD demonstrated the operation of balers  Cattle fattening farmers used to sell animals individually in the local market.However, IPMS organized farmers as a cooperative in order to sell their animals collectively both in the local and foreign market  They have also been linked to Birrshelko military camp and Asheref meat processing factory in Bahir Dar  Market information was provided (see knowledge management)In Metema  The woreda OoARD staff are assisting cattle fatteners on timely feed collection, feed conservation and on feeding practices. In the reporting period cattle fattening expanded to 10 PAs as shown in the following  Additional fodder interventions were planned/initiated including: rehabilitation of enclosures, selection of rangeland sites for rehabilitation, demonstration of elephant grass cut utilization and maintaining the following season's sources of planting materials  Paravets, operational in the pastoral system have used the first round stock of veterinary drugs and started replenishing their drugs with their own cash  Two (2) more MUM/MUB input and other commercial feed resources suppliers were established at Kora and Bordode areas. Two more suppliers have already been identified at Husemendhera and Buri PAs. One of the MUB producers at Asebot town managed to sell 500 pieces of MUB (400gm each) to an NGO called 'IRC' in December 2008  The OoPRD purchased some of the fodder seeds such as cowpea from the one produced in Mieso PLW. Identified smallholder sweet potato vines and leaves suppliers around and outside the PLW. Enhanced farmer to farmer fodder feed seed supply system. Facilitated supply fodder seeds of cowpea, lablab and sweet potato cuts and elephant grass cuts/ locally to some farmers for replication. Three tree legume seedling suppliers identified  Two cooperative level commercial livestock feed supplying village shops are about to emerge soon through credit funds to be made available by IPMS  A livestock fair has been organized for the second year in a row  Market information was provided (see knowledge management)  Consultative (market forums such as meetings) at FTC level  Three market groups are about to start operating with credit fundsproposal reviewed and to be submittedIn Fogera  A total of 300,000 birr was released in January 2007 for fattening commodity development. From these funds, 117,000 birr was dispersed to 6 fattening group members in the same year and the repayment rate was 100% Attempts to formulate a follow up proposal have so far not been successful (partly because of the problems experienced by the fishery loan repayment). Some of the farmers have however continued fattening with other sources.In Goma  Goma is known to produce honey dominantly from three major flowers. The fourth honey type from a flower which is locally named Beto is produced in small amounts in the PAs located in the western periphery of Goma and it is snow white in color. This white colored honey is abundantly produced in Gera Woreda bordering Goma. However, the major market for this white honey is Goma or Agaro town  Usually honey from the coffee flower is mixed with honey from Vernonia flower because both coffee and Vernonia plants flower at the same time (February-March). In this particular year, coffee plants flowered twice and during its second flowering time Vernonia flowers had already disappeared and according to farmers pure coffee honey was harvested in mid March. Samples have been collected from each category for lab analysis by Holeta Apiculture research Center  Though Goma is endowed with abundant flora, there are times when bees face severe feed stress which usually results in frequent absconding or very weak bee colonies. To address this challenge bee forage seed of the Loloita species from Alaba and was distributed to some bee farmers and beds for seedling raising were also established. The seedlings are performing well and now are at flowering stage. Three bee farmers were provided with 300 Loloita seedlings and these are also well established  As indicated in last year report, IPMS is working with 24 model farmers in 2 PAs with the objective of improving the overall production system with special emphasis on introducing the transitional hive and marketing potential. These 24 new farmers have received an official certificate from the appropriate office in Jima zone and are officially known as the \"Wogin Gudina Hone Producers Association PLC.\" Moreover the association prepared their three year plan which includes production and marketing as well as a list of basic assets required for effective production of honey such as wax stamp and various types of processors.The association also collected capital amounting to ETB 2,900.00 by selling shares to members and have a long term plan to expand members as well as capital by selling more shares. Bulbulo PA provided a small office to the honey producers association in the FTC located near the association members  A new honey producer group with 20 members in Limu Sapa PA about 30km from Goma town has been established. The group was very interested in moving from a traditional bee keeping system to a system based on transitional hives, and IPMS and the Livestock Agency Office also provided strong support to promote this concept and training was provided to this group with trainers from Jima University. The training was also geared to Transitional or Kenya Top bar management. This group was provided with a loan for the Kenya Top bar hive and each member collected a minimum of five Bars each totaling 120 Kenya Top Bar hives with a loan of about ETB 30,000 which was released through OCSSCo. This group is expected to provide a good lesson both to the community and the project in management of the Kenya top bar, its advantages over the transitional hive in terms of easy handling and productivity.In Ada'a  Demand for honey production in Ada'a is increasing. The government has provided modern beehives to youth in Godino, but other accessories are lacking. The project and Ada'a OoARD have trained landless youth on modern apiary. It was also proposed to organize the youth in a group to avail credit for the purchase of the modern beehive accessories  Honey production per hives with one of the model women farmers, W/zo Elfnesh, was encouraging. She obtained 210 kg of honey from 10 transitional beehives. She sold the honey at Birr 40 per kg. Many farmers visited her and shared her experience. Another apiary woman farmer, W/zo Atenafua, got 7 kg of honey from local beehives, 30 kg from two transitional beehives and 10 kg from one modern transitional beehive. The major challenge for bee keepers is the spray of herbicides and insecticides on crop fields. The chemical spray crushes the bee colony size at a time crops set flowers, which would have been fertile ground for bees to boost honey yield. As result honey production in October has dropped.The \"October honey\" has shifted to \"May Honey\" that yields following the small rainy season in March and April  Currently there are about 19 farmers with transitional beehives and about 100 farmers with modern beehives. To expand the scaling out of apiaries in 20 PAs; 80 DAs and 49 farmers were trained on modern apiary. A transitional beehive constructor in Addis was linked to Apiary co-operatives and farmers  The credit request for transitional beehives improved, but the absence of guarantees from primary co-operatives hindered the lending process. IPMS, Erer Union and Ada OoARD are trying other options of credit facilitation for farmers such as group collateral  The best market for honey is the road side business of selling honey combs. At present there are about 19,272 honey bee colonies (6,012 colonies in modern and 13,260 in traditional hives, yielding an income of about Birr 18-21 million from honey and colony sale benefiting about 10,878 households (19% FHHs).  Credit material for colony multiplication was undertaken during the reporting period at a cost of Birr 32,475.00 (15 farmers, 7 women). Delay in supply of material obviously will result in delay of credit payment and may need credit payment extension by one year. The project has purchased demonstration material for improvement of traditional bee-hives. A bee-forage multiplication site has been envisaged for the coming period in 2 sites  Quality honey handling: Changed from grain sack to plastic containers, grading honey on harvesting date and type of beehive  Bee forage seed (Lonorus) was sold to the adjacent Woreda (Badawatcho).  Market information was provided (see knowledge management)In Fogera  Beekeeping input supply shop opened in Woreta town. The project assisted the linkage of this shop with regional beekeeping equipment suppliers. Different beekeeping accessories are also available at reasonable prices.In Alaba IPMS project embarked on 2 innovative methods of chicken supply in the PLW. The first is water charcoal hatchery method and the second is hatchery using the \"Tegene\" incubator  Several training and demonstrations were organized (see knowledge management and capacity development)  The project provided demonstration materials in terms of 2 generators at a cost of 3,800 Birr, a brooder at a cost of Birr 1,100, and a poultry house at a cost of Birr 1,900. The project covered the demonstration costs of training on poultry feed and vaccination of chicken that are produced using local hatchery technology  Two of the animal feed shop owners (Ato Endale Rago and Gizaw Assefa) continued to supply poultry feed. However the quantities sold were minimal and so far not economically sustainable  Market information was provided (see knowledge management)  Poultry credit fund (136,000.00 Birr) was not used due to farmers' deciding they no longer wanted to take day old chicken as indicated in the proposal. The approved proposal is still pending and may need the WALC's decision.In Bure  IPMS project in collaboration with Andassa Research Center and a graduate student, trained farmers on poultry feed formulation and preparation of feeding and drinking equipment from locally available materials. Trained farmers started preparation of poultry rearing equipment and formulation of feed from locally available resources. In addition, IPMS project distributed seeds of Sesbania and alfalfa to poultry rearing farmers in order to establish poultry feed in their backyards  Poultry is an important commodity for the landless youth and female headed households. Due to inadequate improved poultry breed supply, most farmers' rear local poultry breed. Consequently, the profitability of poultry rearing activity is very low  To solve this problem, IPMS project established a private day-old chicken multiplication center. The project released 118,650.00 birr in credit to increase the capacity of this farm. From this credit fund, ACSI provided 90,000 birr to this farm in 2008. Currently this farm has paid back 16.7% of its credit. As a result of this intervention, two additional improved poultry breed suppliers have been established at Bure town. These enterprises started marketing of fertile eggs to farmers. However, so far they have failed to supply day-old chicken due to frequent power supply interruption  IPMS project collects the price of poultry products and disseminates the information to users every week in collaboration with marketing teams of the OoARD and BoARDIn Fogera  A private enterprise that grows improved day old chicks started operating. Eight hundred day old we hite leghorn breed chicks arrived from the Andassa poultry farm. This growing center will be used to supply improved breeds of pullets and cockerels to the local community.In Dale  The project partners held discussions with the pullet producers (see previous report) with the aim of developing a new proposal aimed at increased ownership of the input supply system, including incubator and small fridge to keep vaccines. The egg layers which received training in the previous period are being monitored..In Fogera  From seven fishery groups a total of 27,370.75 birr has been repaid out of a total loan of 410,200.00 Birr. This repayment is behind schedule since no appropriate linkages between credit repayment and fish marketing have been established and in the group the group had expectations of getting the loan for free  Following the last two months fasting period, fish supply and demand has been increasing. The seven groups established in collaboration with ACSI, WoARD etc have been quite active  In collaboration with the Woreta town municipality, Woreta town agriculture provided land for fish processing and marketing. One of them has already started operation with four deep freezers and has been collecting fish from 7 fishery groups over the last four months.In Fogera,  During the last production season, a total of 196 households in 14 Kebeles participated in upland rice seed production. The program is implemented by the WoARD and Adet Research Center and IPMS. The average productivity per hectare ranged from 28 quintals in Guramaba to 33 quintals in Aboakokit. As per field observations, these differences were due to management. Farmers who weeded their fields 3 times obtained more than those who weeded less. It is estimated that around 1,568 quintals of upland rice (NERICA-4) seed have been harvested from an estimated acreage of 53 hectares  Following the promotion of upland rice seed production in the PLW during the scaling out workshop, World Vision project working in Gondar Zuria requested for 300 quintals of upland rice seed from Fogera  Assuming that the upland rice for seed/grain production will replace some of the existing cereal crops grown (finger millet, sorghum, teff) the potential impact can be assessed in terms of additional gross and net production value. For the 53 ha grown in the past season the increase in gross production value is estimated at 53 ha x 30 qt/ha x Birr 600/ha = Birr 954,000 (gross production value rice) minus 53ha x 10qt/ha x Birr 550/qt = Birr 291,500 (gross production finger millet) = Birr 635,500. Assuming that more seeds will be available for this year's season, the increase in gross production value will increase further  Parboiling of rice was tested in Fogera with SG2000 and Adet Agricultural Research Centre, Food Science Department It had a significant impact on the quality of the rice (grains were not crushed). A market test was done and the price was considerably higher than the ordinary rice polished without parboiling (Birr 9 vs Bir 6.3/kg).In Metema,  Efforts have been underway to become self sufficient on rice seed since 2006, in collaboration with the Gondar Agricultural Research Centre and the OoARD. Three (3) upland varieties (NERICA 3, NERICA 4 and SUPERICA) were used on 37 farmers' fields. These varieties were planted in 4 PAs (Kumer, Genda wuha, Agame wuha and Kokit) on 6.75 ha of land in 2006. Currently, upland rice for seed and grain is grown in 15 PAs on a total of 217.25 ha and 365 participating farmers (352 male and 13 female). The estimated yield was about 30qt/ha. Since all the rice was grown on \"new\" land the estimated gross production value is 217ha x 30qt/ha x Bir600/qt is Birr 4 million.In Ada'a  Teff varieties and agronomic management demonstrations were carried out in 6 FTCs (Deko, Ude, Yatu, Denkaka, Hidi and Katela) in Ada'a. Denkaka site was visited by many farmers, while others were visited during field days and trainings which were organized locally in the respective FTCs. The impact of this form of demonstration is still to be assessed  Kuncho (DZ-37) variety multiplication was carried out in 4 PAs (Garbicha, GendeGorba, Yatu and Hidi) on 6 ha for basic and 2 ha for certified seed. Eleven farmers signed contractual agreements to multiply this variety with Erer Farmers Union (training was provided by staff from EIAR DZ). The recent report shows that farmers declined to sell back the seed to Erer Farmers Union, because farmers learnt that Kuncho is better yielding (up to 26, qt/ha as compared to other varieties yielding not more than 12 qt/ha) and farmer to farmer exchange offers better price when compared to the agreement made between the farmers and the Union. This shows that farmers are responsive to technology and market if they are provided with appropriate technology, knowledge and market information.In Alaba,  Teff seed multiplication production continued for the third year during the main rainy season in 2 PAs (Guba Sheraro and Hulegeba Kukie). In order to help them gain experience, a field visit was organized for 38 people (5 women) to Debre Zeit. These included farmers and OoARD staff. Teff seed multiplication field day was also organized for 277 partners (23 women). Improved teff seed for the multiplying farmers was supplied through OoARD with support from the Union. The farmers involved were 121 (5 women) on 85 ha  The total amount of seed produced was 709 qt. All seed was sold to the Ethiopian Seed Enterprise at Birr 1,015.80/qt (15% higher than the market price). The total sale value was Birr 720,202. Thirty eight qt was rejected because of inferior quality. The average income of a household from seed multiplication was estimated at Birr 5,950 in the season  Assuming that all seeds will be used for grain production in Alaba in the coming planting season (insufficient information available on distribution), this amount of seeds would be able to cover 2,700 hectares (roughly half of the teff acreage reported in 2004)  Private crop protection service provider established by the project partners continued providing service for field crops and for granaries, including teff  The input shop established by Mencheno Farmers' cooperative Union resumed service after discontinuing for 4 months due to management problems. Report on utilisation of credit is still due  Market information was provided (see knowledge management)  A private farmer started working on threshing small cereals since two years ago with credit money from IPMS. Over the reporting period, the machine threshed 140 qt of teff and finger millet grains and served 60 households scattered in 6 PAs. The machine worked for 95 hrs over 2 months period with an hourly charge of Birr 40/hr\". Report on credit utilization/repayment is till due. WALC is expected to make suggestions to the project partners about how to introduce more machines to the PLW in 2009/10. WheatIn Ada'a  Wheat varieties and agronomic management demonstrations were carried out in the same FTCs as for teff. The number of visitors in each FTC is similar to that of teff because this was conducted at the same time as for teff. The role of IPMS is supply of different wheat varieties along with input and manuals to DAs at FTCs. Wheat seed multipliers were provided with technical training.In Bure  Bread wheat is a new crop and is an expanding marketable crop. It is planted on fine seedbed in the middle of the rainy season. This aggravates soil erosion and then loss of soil fertility. To tackle this problem, the OoARD/IPMS organized field days to demonstrate wheat production by means of conservation tillage using roundup to experts, DAs, higher officials and farmers in two PAs. After these efforts, many farmers started to ask DAs for the supply of the herbicide. To solve the roundup problem, the project partners facilitated the supply of roundup through cooperatives and private agro-chemical suppliers. 626 liters was used during this reporting periodthis covers roughly 150 hectares (at a rate of 4 l/ha).Because of the increased demand, there are 4,340 l (roughly 1,000 ha) available for the coming season (3,040 by cooperatives office and 1,300 l by 2 private input suppliers). Although the price of this herbicide increased to 155 birr per liter, farmers have already started purchasing the herbicide for the coming cropping season  The possible economic benefits from the introduction of this technology have still to be assessed. Field observation shows that productivity of wheat on conservation tillage was better (28-40 qt/ha) than the wheat produced with the conventional tillage (28-36 qt/ha) system. Conservation tillage also allowed poor farmers to plant their fields on time and female farmers to fully benefit from their croplands because of higher land rent and/or better yield if they manage to crop their fields. There are now also requests by many farmers to use this technology on other crops  Although the area under wheat production is steadily expanding every year in Bure, farmers only know and grow one variety, Kubsa (HAR 1685). This variety is not recommended because of possible disease outbreaks. In addition, Kubsa also has a sprouting problem whenever there is extended rain. To solve these problems, the project partners demonstrated how to grow new bread wheat varieties including, Galema (HAR 604) and Gassay and Kubsa, last year, where 40 farmers, 3 DAs and 3 experts were involved. Galema was better than the other 2 varieties  From a study tour to Ada'a PLW by the project stakeholders a year ago, it was observed that there is a possibility of certified seed production, processing and marketing by a multipurpose cooperative union. Following this, the project partners demonstrated certified seed production of the best varieties on farmers' fields at Zalema PA during the last cropping season. One farmer produced, 9 and 7 qt of certified seed from Galema and Gassay varieties, respectively. Also, Damot multi-purpose cooperative union began to buy the certified seed produced, process and market it back to farmers in Bure. The bottleneck in this activity is shortage of breeder seed from research centers. At the moment, bread wheat seed is supplied only by the Ethiopian Seed Enterprise, which usually is inadequate and late  Market information was provided (see knowledge management)  The project provided technical advice to Damot Multipurpose Cooperative Union to establish a wheat flour factory in the area. The Union then prepared a project document and received land to construct the factory at Bure.The main intervention is the development of an alternative seedling input supply system for improved marketable fruit varieties. The interest of potential private nursery operators is raised after which training in grafting and producing of rootstock takes place. Since no improved varieties are available (from which scions can be collected) the nursery operators are also issued with grafted seedlings, which will become a future source of scions (also referred to as mother trees). In the mean time, scions are provided from research stations, in particular Melkassa Agricultural Research Center (MARC).Besides these input supply interventions, several PLWs also generated interest/demand for the introduction of improved (grafted) varieties for future fruit production. Seedlings are then usually supplied through government programs.In Goma  Six (6) innovative farmers and DAs were trained on improved fruit management including, grafting. During the training exercise these trainees grafted 1,000 seedlings with survival rates of up to 85%. Presently 4,371 grafted avocado seedlings (5 varieties) are ready for transplanting. One of these farmers already sold 750 grafted seedlings at Birr 25 each and obtained Birr 18,750. Many are now interested to follow in this farmer's footsteps. The PLW is devising a strategy to enable OoARD to effectively monitor the quality of the technology multiplication so that adulteration will be avoided  Farmers were also issued with avocado mother trees (300 in total for 6 farmers)for the first time in the district which has an average altitude of 1,700 masl. Survival rate of HASS variety was the best followed by Fuerte and Ettinger. Survival rate of the mother trees from various fruit varieties bought from Upper Awash state farm and planted on each innovative farmer's plots is also high. These are expected to be the sources of scion for future multiplication (2010)  During the training, farmers also filled 3,000 poly bags in preparation for root stock establishment. After the training, farmers themselves increased the number of rootstocks to 6,000, most of which are now grafted with scions from MARC  A visit was organized in Beshasha PA to one of the innovative farmer's fruit farm/nursery that was established last year. Participants were all model farmers in 8 PAs bordering Beshasha PA, DAs and supervisors working in the area, technical staff of OoARD, WALC chairman and OoARD head. Major lessons learnt were easy multiplication of improved fruit varieties particularly avocado through grafting  Based on demand, a 3 day training program was launched for all plant science DAs working in the Woreda including all experts and supervisors in the PLW. In addition to these, the Zonal Office of Agriculture and Rural Development requested training for additional 11 experts from 11 neighboring Woredas.Trainers came from Melkassa Agricultural Research Centre (Tropical fruits improvement/management) and Kale Heywet Church on highland fruit (apple) improvement/management. Relevant reference materials were also distributed to each trainee and a copy was also placed in FTCs and Woreda Knowledge Centre.In Dale  Six (6) experienced and 1 follower fruit nursery operators raised a total of 4,348 grafted seedlings of which 3,134 are avocados and 1,224 were apple mangoes. Four varieties of avocado, namely Bacon, Fuerte, Ettinger and Hass and one variety apple mango were grafted. In addition to this, 1,200 seedlings from both avocado and mango will soon be grafted raising the total number of grafted seedlings to 5,500 which will be ready for the planting season from July-October 2009. Among these seedlings, 1,245 avocado and 298 mango seedlings are currently ready for planting during this season  The improved grafted seedlings (about 2,600) planted 3 years ago have now started bearing fruits. A survey will be carried out to assess the possible production level and for possible linkage with markets. It is expected that these improved planted varieties will also start yielding scion for farmer operated nurseries this year. Based on this, it is expected that Dale could become self sufficient in improved fruit seedling production in the coming year  Farmers have already expressed their appreciation of the new varieties, not only because of their better fruits, but also because of a much shorter period to fruit bearing as compared to un-grafted local varieties and a much more manageable tree height.In Metema  According to the OoARD report, irrigated fruit and vegetable production is expanding throughout the 18 PAs and a total of 182.6 ha have been developed. Of this, 47% is under production while the rest is under land preparation. There is a strong interest by the Woreda and zone authorities to develop irrigation agriculture. Hence, potential irrigable areas were identified and the OoARD has planned to develop 1,860 ha under irrigation. To scale out the horticultural crop production interventions in general and fruits development in particular, various events, like field days and capacity building activities were facilitated by OoARD and IPMS  As a result of the efforts of IPMS and OoARD to develop the fruits and vegetables enterprise, the BoARD and OoARD facilitated delivery of 65 water pumps by Ambasel Trading house for distribution to farmers through the government's credit system (ACSI). These are expected to support the vegetables and fruits production in the future  Farmer to farmers sucker supply system is well established in Metema. Staff of the OoARD, including DAs, are engaged in facilitating input linkages among growers and new entry farmers within and out side of the Woreda. In addition, efforts are under way to establish private nurseries in order also to support a sustainable improved fruit seedling supply system (like the other PLWs).  Banana ripening was one of the challenges for banana growers. To tackle this problem, ripening training was organized for farmers and traders in 2007. Following this, one lead farmer started a ripening business in Genda wuha town (Metema). During this reporting period, 5 trucks (with a capacity of 50 qt each) of banana were successfully ripened using kerosene burners. To support this, the project partners also facilitated banana market promotions in Metema.In Alamata  Based on farmers demand (created some years ago through study tours), 1,470 banana, 506 mango and 258 orange fruit seedlings were distributed (from government nurseries) to farmers in 3 PAs (Kulgize Lemelem, Laelay Dayu & Timuga) in October 2008.In Ada'a  Fruit development is being carried out in collaboration with MARC and Ada'a OoARD. Forty farmers from Godino and Denkaka PAs, who received technical training on fruit production, are managing their fruits well. MARC, IPMS and Ada'a OoARD regularly followed up and provided technical back stopping  Harvesting of fruits has started in Godino. A farmer from this PA reported sale of 50 kg lemon (sweet lime) at the rate of Birr 8 per kg. This time, about 20 farmers reported their avocado, mango, banana, orange, papaya and lemon have started to bear fruits which they will begin selling in the coming month. Each farmer planted 5 each for most fruits, except for banana and papaya which were 10 each. Banana suckers and papaya seedlings are being used for expanding their own plots and sale to other farmers. As in Dale, farmers have commented positively on the characteristics of the grafted improved varieties  Farmers with grafting and nursery management skills continued selling improved fruit seedlings to fellow farmers. A private fruit nursery operator from Denkaka sold about 400 grafted seedlings at Birr 15 per seedling. The seedlings were sold to other IPMS PLWs, private investors and to Ada'a farmers.In Bure  Twenty six (26) farmers, DAs and experts were trained on fruit grafting during the last reporting period. As in other PLWs, the major challenge on this intervention is inadequate scion supply. To solve this problem the project partners obtained 917 avocado scion twigs from 2 varieties from MARC and provided them to fruit grafting farmers. Currently, there are 10 farmers/landless youth who are involved in the raising and selling of improved fruit seedlings in Bure. Fruit seedling multiplication and marketing has now become a lucrative business. In this reporting period, 6 farmers in 3 PAs raised over 2,000 avocado seedlings for rootstock. Two farmers have more than three hundred grafted avocados and have been popularizing them during farmers' festivals.  During this reporting period many farmers were advised on pruning of avocado and mango and de-suckering of banana. In addition, they were also advised on deflowering young avocado and mango trees  Bure RDO was requested by the Bure ATVET college to train 89 students and an instructor both theoretically but also with practical sessions regarding propagation methods of different fruit crops and improved orchard management techniques (pruning, grafting, irrigation, fertilization, sucker management, etc). The OoARD for the first time also planted grafted avocados in its compound as demonstration material  There is no excess fruit produced at present and hence farmers did not have market problems. However, the project partners are popularizing the availability of improved fruit seedlings for sale in different forums.In Mieso  Farmers during the last 7-8 months bought and planted over 1,600 grafted seedlings of mangos and avocados in 12 PAs. Monitoring of these seedlings by partners found that more 50% of the seedlings are growing successfully  Currently, a farmer has established a private nursery and has raised 240 mango and 50 orange seedlings that are ready for grafting. This farmer also has 500 papaya seedlings and over 100 banana suckers ready for sale at Birr 2/seedling and 5-10/sucker, respectively  Last season, 4 farmers living in 4 PAs, produced and sold over 1,600 grafted mangoes and avocadoes seedlings. These farmers generated Birr 14,000, 12,000, 7,500 and 1,050, for seeds which were sold at Birr 12 each  Several farmers who planted papaya (as many as 70) are now managing to generate incomes of up to Birr 1,800 from fruit sales.In Bure  It is estimated that about 8% of the total area in Bure is highland with access to irrigation water. However, farmers grow less value crops in these irrigated farmlands. The project partners introduced 75 grafted apple seedlings as demonstration from 3 varieties purchased from a nearby SIM nursery last year.The project also organized a study tour for farmers, DAs and experts to acquire lessons on propagation techniques, tree management and economic benefits of apple growing. This study tour motivated all participants who requested that the project supply planting material at their own expense for the coming rainy season. The OoARD also prepared to introduce and demonstrate apple in the highlands by purchasing apple planting material using IFAD funds.In Dale  In the past season, 47 farmers were involved in improved haricot bean seed multiplication (Dimtu, Nasir, Ibado and DRK). Twenty three (23) of the farmers sold 44 quintals (to the cooperativesee below) but the remaining farmers preferred to keep the seeds and sell them at a higher prices later on this season. Ibado (mottled red variety) is the one that is mostly desired and farmers are unwilling to sell it at the current price, which is the market grain cost plus 15%. Also some 7 farmers in Soyama and 2 in Debub Kege PAs have lost their crop due to un-seasonal rain  During the past six months, Weynenata cooperative obtained Birr 76,000 from the IPMS innovative credit fund and bought 44 quintals of haricot bean from four varieties. The seeds were treated and stored for the next planting season to increase the acreage of improved and more market oriented haricot bean.In Alaba  During the main rainy season in 2008, 8 qt of haricot bean seed from 2 varieties (Nasir and Dimtu) were multiplied by 60 farmers in 3 PAs (Hulegeba Kukie, Uletegna Choroko and Galto). Monitoring of haricot bean seed production was carried out by a multi-disciplinary team including scientists from Awassa Agricultural Research Centre  All 60 farmers returned 12.5 kg/each to establish a community seed bank. The project also purchased 3 qt of multiplied seed to strengthen the community seed bank and granaries made from local materials were also purchased for establishment of seed banks  In support of the haricot bean development, the Menchono Union shop provided inputs, and crop spraying services were used and market information was provided on bill boards (see knowledge management)In Ada'a  Varieties and agronomic management demonstrations were made in four FTCs (Ude, Yatu, Denkaka and Ketela. Denkaka Seed borne diseases are reported to cause yield losses in chickpea  Data analysis showed that application of Apron and inoculums increased yield and seed size by 10% as compared to the control (no application). This yield increase was encouraging, and hence, DAs and farmers were advised to use these technologies for the coming year during the refreshment training session.In Bure  Faba bean is an important marketable commodity for farmers in the cereals/potato/livestock farming system in 5 PAs. Research centers have released a number of improved varieties, but there are no varieties supplied to farmers in Bure. To solve this problem, the project partners demonstrated 3 faba bean varieties, namely, Adet Hana, CS-20DK and Degaga 2 years ago. Farmers selected Degaga variety based on its yield and bean size  Following this, the project partners then demonstrated certified seed production using this variety in Wundegi PA, last year. One farmer multiplied the seed from this best variety on a quarter of hectare land. The problem is again shortage of breeder seed from research centers but also faba bean is a highly cross pollinated crop making it difficult to produce genetically pure seed on small scale farmers' fields  Market information was provided (see knowledge management)In Fogera  Five hundred thirty (530) new water pumps were received, through a government program, of which so far 155 have been distributed. Capacity development for overall pump handling and maintenance was provided  In collaboration with Axum Greenline Private Limited Company, high yielding varieties of tomato and onion hybrid seed were introduced to 8 farmers' fields in 3 PAs  Onion seed production continued on 6.75 ha of land distributed in Aboakokit ( 7farmers, 4 ha), Shina (2 farmers, 1.25 ha) and Bebekis (4 farmers, 1.5 ha). From our previous production estimates, around 50 quintals of onion seed is expected to be harvested and can cover 2/3 rd of the Woreda's total onion seed requirement. However, demand for onion seed is also increasing from outside the PLW. In this reporting period, 4 quintals of onion seed (from the previous harvest) were sold to Raya Azebo (Woreda neighboring Alamata PLW) and another 6 quintals of seed were sold to Alamata. The price also increased from birr 140 to 160 per kilo. In the onion seed platform, we learned that more onion seed producers will be involved in the next season.In Metema  Vegetable production is expanding. The 65 new water pumps distributed on credit basis to support both the vegetable and fruit production will contribute to this. However, there seem to be some problems with pumps and many farmers have complained about them. Hence, capacity building on the management and maintenance of these pumps isvery important and timely. The potential irrigable area in the Woreda is estimated to be 1,860 ha. If this is well developed a number of vegetable crops could be developed  Currently, vegetable seed is supplied by private shops and input out put marketing co-ops like the one in Tumet, established with the support of the project partners.In some cases, farmers located near the border purchase vegetable seed from Sudanese suppliers. So far, shortage of vegetable seed has not been reported except that the suppliers are located far from where vegetables are grown.In Alamata  During the 2008 season, rain-fed and spate irrigated onion covered about 1,250 ha, compared to 57 ha covered by vegetables in 2005. All low lying 8 PAs produced onion during this period (93% of the area is planted with onion). Following the rainy season, from October 2008 to mid March 2009, 50 ha of land was under onion and 15 ha under tomatoes (3 PAs) using traditional irrigation systems, while onion grown on modern irrigation schemes covered 23 ha (Timuga PA). Also in Tumuga, 116 ha of land were under hot pepper production during the dry season, using traditional and modern irrigation  Disease prevalence on pepper was common, especially on the waterlogged PAs, like Timuga. The issue was discussed with experts in the Woreda who agreed to look for other source of planting materials. Accordingly, IPMS introduced 25 kg of pepper seed from Alaba PLW to substitute for the planting material in Alamata  Shewit Alamata Union participated in onion marketing (from the rainy season) through the linkage created with onion wholesalers in Mekelle with the help of IPMS. The Union also opened a retail shop in Mekelle to facilitate onion marketing  IPMS Alamata further created new linkages with traders and the Defense Force in Addis to sell higher volume of onion from the PLW. In addition, the project partners facilitated an awareness creation forum on onion marketing. This will help find a higher premium and also produce higher volume of onion  Also an expert was invited from the Tigray Agricultural Marketing Promotion Agency (TAMPA) for 1 day to train farmers and experts  Despite these increased marketing efforts, the price of onion bulbs fell during the season to Birr 1.50-2.00/kg because of continued rainfall (2 weeks) at harvest time, which caused many farmers to harvest and sell their onion quickly (for fear of rotting)thus flooding the market. However, those farmers who kept their produce until after these 2 weeks earned a better price of Birr 3.00-4.00/kg.In Ada'a  Farmers who were organized into groups and who already took credit money from Erer Union/IPMS (for pump operation and irrigated vegetable production) started vegetables production using the Mojo river in Hidi, Kality, Katila and Denakaka PAs  Out of the 13 water pumps purchased, only 1 had a problem but is being fixed. In fact many more farmers are now engaged in irrigation around the river. There are currently 42 irrigation groups (including the 13 groups who were credited by IPMS) organized by both OoARD and Cooperatives who own 73 water pumps on credit from the primary cooperatives. This number does not include privately owned water pumps which are also quite numerous. All these water pumps are expected to irrigate about 360 ha. This figure again does not include areas being irrigated using private water pumps  Women vegetable growers saving and credit group planted onion on a quarter of ha land in each member's plot. There are 10 women in the group with a capital of Birr 4,500. The crop stand and management is in good condition and follow up is carried out by the project partners. Ada'a OoARD and women affairs desk is determined to scale out this group within Godino PA and beyond.In Atsbi  All the PAs and farmers (women, men and youth) with irrigation facilities were targeted for developing vegetables. The development of household level water harvesting and other irrigation methods appears to trigger the expansion of irrigated marketable crops. According to estimates of the OoARD, about 11,393 households (33% of them women headed) grew vegetables on about 1,417 ha of land in 2008. Income from this activity was estimated to be about Birr 30-38 million. Because of the high market value, irrigated vegetable and spices are expanding and becoming major sources of income. In support of this, the project and its partners trained 185 (172 male and 13 female) farmers on irrigation development focused on drip irrigation for 3 days in the different PAs.  Excess water application is still a key limiting factor for the full realization of the benefits of the intervention. Irrigated crop growers (vegetables) can easily earn Birr 3,000-4,000/household per harvest. Incomes can be maximized by increasing crops harvests per year and the project partners are working towards that  Among the 10 farmers who were involved in garlic seed production research (MSc), 9 of them are engaged in garlic seed production at the moment. Some farmers in other PAs are also growing garlic for seed production. Data regarding number of farmers and area will be made available in the coming reporting period  Farmers with some skills and experience were also targeted for repairing and maintaining water lifting devices training. This was following the ToT of 30 OoARD staff in the Woreda  Women were targeted for vegetable marketing training. Service providers and beneficiaries managed to respond to emerging challenges with various options of optimizing income using market oriented commodities (learning by doing). Some of the innovative practices in relation to irrigated vegetables have successfully been scaled up and out among PAs using field visits, tours and platforms.In Bure  Farmers grow low yielding and late blight susceptible local potato variety. To solve this problem the project partners demonstrated performance of three improved potato varieties (Guassa, Zengena and Jaleni) on three farmer fields at Wundegi PA. A field day was organized to demonstrate performance of these varieties to farmers, DAs and experts. This created a huge demand for seed tuber  To address some of the demands, the Office of Agriculture and Rural Development purchased 40 qt seed tuber and distributed it to farmers using IFAD funds. Although research centers have released a number of varieties, there are very few seed tuber multiplying agencies  To solve this problem, the project partners established a seed multiplying farmers' group and organized an experience sharing tour to gain lessons on seed tuber storage techniques and the construction of Diffuse Light Storage (DLS) from locally available materials. These farmers constructed DLS and started selling sprouted seed tubers to other farmers at a price of birr 500/qt  The project partners also collect market price for potato and disseminates it to users every week. This is done in collaboration with the marketing teams of OoARD and BoARD  In order to increase the shelf life of vegetables, a zero-energy cool chamber was constructed in collaboration with OoARD and its use was demonstrated. Financial resources came from OoARD. The project partners also organized potato processing training to add value to potato, this time in collaboration with the Woreda office of Trade and Industry  Tomato production is increasing in the irrigated fields, but the varieties grown are mostly perishable. As a result, farmers are forced to sell in the local market at low market prices. To solve this problem the project partners in collaboration with Axum Greenline Trading Company and Adet Agricultural Research Center introduced and demonstrated three improved tomato varieties namely, Shanti, Melkasalsa and Melkashola. A field day was also organized to assess the merits of these varieties with farmers. Farmers reported the superiority of these varieties and requested for these seeds.. The new varieties were high yielders, less perishable and less affected by boll worm compared to Marglobe. In addition, farmers visited the zero-energy cool chamber and appreciated the importance of the technology to reduce post-harvest loss.In Mieso  One farmer produced 250 kg of onion from Adama red variety from 0.25 ha with technical assistance from MARC scientists. This is expected to be used as a seed source in Adele PA (Kora zone). This same farmer and another one (2 farmers) are ready to produce onion seed on half ha each during in the coming season. About 25 farmers have also produced local onion from 10 ha of land using bulbs as planting material  Over 50 farmers in 3 PAs are producing tomato variety, Sumbersana, on 6.75 ha and some of them used irrigation. This time, 4 farmers are ready to produce tomato seed on 2-4 ha for the next cropping season.In Alaba  Pepper is a major commodity produced by many farmers. Ten farmers and 4 DAs (1 woman, 13 men) were trained for 3 days on pepper seed multiplication. The training was held with an objective of establishing a community seed bank among the 10 farmers drawn from the 3 PAs. Pepper seed treatment was also demonstrated for the 10 farmers on March 27, 2009 in order to enable them to teach other farmers  A video film on pepper seed treatment was shown on March 21, 2009 in Kulito town for 217 people (77 women) and the film was shown again in Wanja PA and 101 people (20 women) attended. . MARC also demonstrated pepper seed treatment for 3 farmers in the PLW and is working to recommend most effective chemical protection and best pepper seeds  Private crop protection service continued to provide service for field crops and granaries, while the Mencheno Farmers' cooperative Union input shop also continued to operate  Market information was provided (see knowledge management)In Bure  The project partners demonstrated the performance of the improved hot pepper variety, Marekofana, in Wangedam, Zalema and Zeyewshewen PAs. Farmers observed that in terms of productivity, quality and being able to obtain a higher market price, Markofana is much better when compared to the local variety. However, it is difficult to maintain genetically pure seed from small scale farmers' because of cross pollination. Moreover, root rot has become a major disease affecting pepper  The project partners demonstrated farmer based hot pepper seed production in three PAs (Wangedam, Zalema and Zeyewshewen), considering cluster plots in order to minimize segregation. The project partners also demonstrated hot pepper seedling raising and marketing activity to female headed households and landless youth as an income generating activity in three PAs (Wangedam, Zalema and Zeyewshewen). Farmers involved in this activity obtained up to Birr 1,200 each in one season  The project partners also continued to collect the market price of pepper and disseminate it to users every week in collaboration with the OoARD and BoARD marketing teams.In Goma  Efforts have been underway to improve the quality of coffee since the engagement of IPMS in the Woreda in 2007. This included:  Engaging new farmers in quality improvement and providing them with training and facilitating access to inputs either on credit or on cash depending on their needs  Strengthening the capacity of farmers who have already been involved in coffee in terms of quality assurance through community quality control groups and monitoring by technical staff  Creating linkages between farmers and exporters.  In support of improving the quality of coffee, efforts have been made to promote the use of coffee drying materials by bringing new farmers from target and non target PAs. From the 11 target PAs, there were 65 additional farmers registered to buy these drying materials with cash, while 218 farmers from both target and non target PAs preferred to do buy the materials on credit. However, due to a price increase of over 50% on these materials , all farmers decided not to buy them  In order to improve market access, the Woreda cooperative unit was involved in assisting with the legalization of the coffee marketing groups. This is intended to help the groups be able to export their produce directly. So far out of 11 target PAs two have finalized registration payment and share purchase and are currently ready to get their legal certificate. However many target farmers in the lower altitude PAs were reluctant due to poor coffee production this year  In addition to quality improvement, the project partners are also involved in vegetative hybrid coffee multiplication. Two innovative farmers started multiplying the hybrid coffee, Aba Buna. This required establishing a greenhouse made from polyethylene. On one of the innovative farms 75 seedlings were completely hardened out of 100 seedlings that were initially propagated (75% success rate), and this was unthinkable to farmer levels in the beginning. Following the success of this farmer, another farmer also started to raise 500 cuttings on his own and is now at the hardening stage. This exercise verified that farmers could handle intensive care requiring activities and other sophisticated operations which were bottle necks for various technology multiplications in the agricultural sector. After many discussions with the OoARD staff, plans are now in place to launch a scaling out operation in 4 directions in the PLW establishing one seedling multiplier for each direction. A three day training was also given in support of this activity by experts from Jima Agricultural Research Centre on coffee technology multiplication for DAs and experts in Goma and 11 neighboring Woredas.In Dale  The project partners are working to reintroduce and promote a CDB resistant Sidama cultivar, known as Angafa, in order to support specialty coffee to develop a future niche market. Awada Coffee Research Sub-centre has completed data collection in order to see the performance of this variety compared to the coffee berry disease (CBD) resistant varieties introduced from Western Ethiopia. The preliminary research showed that Angafa is performing significantly better than the CBD resistant varieties in production in the area in all parameters measured, except on stem nodes. The parameters measured include, stem girth, height, primary branches and others but does not include data on yield performance, as the plants not at bearing stage yet  Private coffee nursery operators were also given seeds of this variety for further multiplication and ultimately replacing the Western Ethiopian coffee varieties. Currently, there are 20 farmers that are growing 156, 000 seedlings of the Angafa variety. These farmers are also raising 100 Angafa variety mother trees as a future source of certified seed supply  In addition, there are 10 other farmers who received seed and are raising some 29,000 seedlings of Angafa bringing the total seedling production to 187,000.Planting has started and the biggest planting season will start in June-July 2009.Major partners are Awada Research Sub-Centre and the OoARD.PLWs are capacitated to use a participatory market-oriented value chain approach for the development of a commodity. Since the project is learning, different approaches are used based on some overall guidance but also based on initiatives taken in the different PLWs.The extent to which emphasis is given to the different value chain components (production, input supply/services, and marketing) varies by PLW and commodity. In principle such differences are the result of the assessment of problems/opportunities in each of the components by the stakeholders. It is observed that the value chain approach is used for most commodities in all PLWs, so we can be happy with that achievement. However, the extent to which individual components in the commodity value chain are addressed varies considerably between PLW and commodities. In some cases, this seems justified because of the assessment made, resulting in addressing key constraints only. For example in Fogera, focusing on marketing and onion seed production led to a very successful increase in onion area coverage. However, as observed recently by irrigation specialists, productivity/production increases can also be obtained by paying more Regardless of the approach used for the introduction of production technologies, an essential element of the overall market-oriented agricultural development approach is that interventions to address bottlenecks/opportunities for the supply of inputs and services and marketing of outputs are addressed. This is considered to be an important factor for the adoption of production technologies. Finally, an integral part of the approach is to aim for a gender and HIV/AIDS sensitive approach. Much of the capacity development and knowledge management approaches have been geared to this and positive experiences are presently documented by the team. While progress is made, a proper review of all commodities to bring greater impact is required.The use of innovative credit for different commodities is still evolving but it is observed that repayment is insufficient in several cases and that lack of repayment hampers new loan disbursements because of the group collateral principles applied.The expected outcomes of this project component are strategies, policy and technology options, and institutional innovations developed (from both research and lessonslearned), documented and promoted in order to enhance market-oriented agricultural development.In this section, a summary of the on-going research and promotion activities and outputs are presented together with an assessment of the achievements of the intended outputs and outcomes. An overview of the research conducted by graduate students is presented in Annex 6, while the research conducted with EARS is summarized in Annex 7.The following studies on knowledge management were completed, on-going or initiated: o \"Accessibility and utility of market information for market oriented commodities in Alamata and Ada'a\" and o \"The role of farmer to farmer knowledge sharing in innovation process:The case of Cavendish banana production technology in Metama.o The various student theses on different aspects of knowledge management will be summarized in the coming year.o A study/questionnaires was designed to study the effectiveness, use of various project knowledge management tools including WKC, FTCs, study tours, field days. Part of the data will be obtained from records kept in the centers.The following studies on capacity development were completed or initiated during this reporting period:Student thesis research  One student completed his research on \"Determinant factors and intensity of adoption of old coffee stumping technology on coffee farmers in Dale\"  One student started his research on \"Effectiveness of Farmer Field Schools in promoting coffee management practices; The case of Jimma and Sidama Zone\"  The synthesis of completed extension research (initiated with the help of an attachment student in the previous reporting period) is on-going  A number of students have started developing their proposals during this period focusing on modular trainings in FTCs and, commodity and service delivery innovationsPartner research  The livestock extension research initiated by SARI has been abandoned due to change priority setting IPMS research  A study/questionnaire was designed to study the effectiveness of the project's training activities. Samples for participant's interviews will be drawn from the capacity building data base maintained by the project.Market oriented commodity research is subdivided into i) commodity value chain componentsproduction/natural resource management, input supply and marketing, ii) innovation processes and iii) commodity synthesis research.The following studies on production, natural resource management and input supply are on-going, completed or initiated during this reporting period:Completed research  One student completed his MSc thesis research on \"Production and marketing system of local chicken ecotypes in Bure\"On-going research  Thirteen (13) students have on-going studies on production, input supply aspects o Characterization of goat production and marketing systems and on-farm evaluation of the growth performance of grazing goats supplemented with isonitrogenous protein sources in Metema Woreda o Characterization of small ruminant production system and on-farm evaluation of urea treated tef straw and concentrate feeding in sheep body weight change in Bure Woreda. o Characterization of sheep and goat production and marketing systems and on-farm evaluation of their growth performance in Goma Woreda, Jimma Zone, Oromia Regional State.  GIS based irrigation potential assessment of river catchments for irrigation development in Dale  Response of highland sheep in terms of body weight and intake to different feeding systems in Atsbi Womberta Woreda  Analysis of agricultural input supply system: the case of Dale Woreda.  Effectiveness of upland rice farmer to farmer seed production exchange system; the case of Fogera  Economics analysis of forage development for market oriented livestock analysis in Atsbi.  Assessment coffee quality problems in Jimma Zone  Current production system of Frankincense from Boswelia Papryfiera in Metema Synthesis  In the coming year, the different MSc thesis studies will be synthesized to draw commodity specific lessons, results for policy makers.Partner research  On-going research with regional research is on-going and can be seen on the IPMS website and Annex 7  Data collection in Dale on on-farm coffee nurseries/seed orchards and field assessment of a local coffee variety (Angafa) was completed by EIAR/Jimma ARC/Awada in collaboration with project staff. A technical report is being prepared.  A progress report on the on-going research activities with ARARI was received.While some projects show good progress, others have little or no information. A review meeting is scheduled with ARARI to decide on the future of these projects.  The livestock production research to be undertaken by SARI was rescheduled because of pre occupation with the BPR process. The research on soya bean was abandoned by SARI.  A (second) report on the livestock research activities with OARI is awaited.  In the coming year, the different MSc thesis studies will be synthesized to draw commodity specific lessons, results for policy makers  A synthesis of market development initiatives and experiences is planned for the coming year.Partner research  The vegetable marketing chain study for Atsbi by TARI was completed, a report is still awaited  The dried fish marketing study for Fogera by ARARI was completed, a report is still awaited. Small holder commercialization study: A survey of 1000 households across the 10 PLWS has started to study on the characteristics and operations of livestock, livestock input and output markets in the 10 PLWs. This survey will also provide cost/benefit data for the production interventions resulting from the use of the IPMS approach. These data will in turn be used for the commodity case studies.Dairy and forage innovation  Data collection at the community level for the dairy and forage innovation study was completed in eight PLWs covering 25 villages, where dairy is a priority commodity. The data have been synthesized and are being analyzed and a working paper will be developed based on this.Other commodity innovations  The commodity case study synthesis research (see 4.3.3) also includes data collection on the actors, actors linkages/processes involved in the development of these commodities.Credit innovations  The consultant submitted his report on the project's various credit innovations in the different PLWs. Since most interventions have been introduced recently and are still on-going, a follow up study is planned for next year in which the initial results will be included. See knowledge management and capacity development research This research is aimed at bringing together/synthesizing the different components, of the commodity value chain. Research and Development Officers in the PLWs over the years have been encouraged to start collecting data for such case studies, which are partly reported in the progress reports. Some have also started producing (draft) papers of which one (on banana innovations in Metama) was presented in a workshop in Mombassa during this period. (see promotion/communication). During this period we also received draft papers on \"sheep fattening in Goma'.  The project has now also started a multi site commodity synthesis case study research project for 6 commodities i.e. meat (fattening small and large ruminants, dairy, apiculture, vegetables, fruits and coffee)see Table ... A check list has been prepared for each of these commodities to capture changes from the perspective of the producers, service providers and input suppliers, including innovation processes and a gender perspective. Cost/benefit data on the farm level interventions will be collected through the HH survey (see 6.3.1.2) and special cost/benefit studies on input supply and service delivery mechanisms will be conducted by project staff/consultants. The cost/benefit data will be used as an In the past six month the project has increased its attention to the promotion of its findings on interventions and approaches to a wider audience. Some of the promotional activities are planned; others are based on demand and or a combination of the two. Part of the planned strategies is the geographical targeting to scale out within the Zones in which the PLWs are located. While a start was made with Zones in Tigray in the previous reporting period, introductory workshops and participatory planning for selected Woredas in 3 Zones in Amhara Region took place in the past six month. This will be followed with more skills development in the next season. Similar scaling out initiatives to promote the MoARD/IPMS participatory market oriented approach and interventions will take place during the next phase. The Steering Committee did however; caution that this promotion strategy should only be considered when scaling out in the PLW itself has reached a satisfactory level. It is also noted that the MoARD on its own has also initiated a nation wide inventory of best practices (including IPMS sites) and has also planned a scaling out/up strategy for the country as a whole. Discussions are required to stimulate integration and avoid duplication of efforts.It is also worthwhile to note that the technology exhibition with farmer's participation, which was initiated in Tigray by the BoARD/IPMS in March 2007, has now been institutionalized at the national and regional levels. In all these events, which took place during this reporting period, IPMS is now just one of the participants.Another interesting development which has taken place in the past six months is the involvement of IPMS staff in various policy related initiatives by the Government and donors. As mentioned in the report, project staff is involved in the development of a Livestock Master Plan. With the help of the CIDA office in Addis, linkages are also made with the donor group/GoE (REDEFES) which are in the process of reviewing the existing Food Security Program and developing a new Agricultural Growth Program.It is also good to note that the project attracts the (unplanned) attention of the national TV media who produced/feature documentaries on the PLWs in Oromiya during this period. Also, PLW staff has received awards for the efforts made in their respective Woredas.Still while this increased demand is encouraging for the project staff and partners, it is noted that more attention needs to be placed on proper documentation including synthesis and analysis of on-going activities.5 Project management Plans to recruit a replacement for the Goma RDA are already in place  Interviews have been held for the recruitment of an RDA for the Metema PLW however 2 more candidates will be interviewed in early October before finalizing the hire. Technical skill exams have also been completed for the driver recruitment at headquarter and interviews have been scheduled for mid-November.The project recruited several consultants during this period, namely:","tokenCount":"21399"}
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