ASARECA comprises 14 member countries: Burundi, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
It is in these member countries that ASARECA work is implemented. Ideally, this is premised on prior identified priorities agreed to by ASARECA and the member National Agricultural Research System (NARS). This is achieved through deliberations organised by ASARECA Secretariat, the ASARECA Council of Patron Ministers and the Committee of Director General of the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) supported by their various subject matter specialists and other national AR4D experts, stakeholders and clients.
ASARECA Stakeholders and clients
The key ASARECA Stakeholders are:
- National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs)
- Ministries of Agriculture
- Universities participating in Agricultural Research for Development
- National Agricultural Extension Service agencies and umbrella bodies
- The Private Sector
- Associated NGOs, and other strategic partners.
- Farmer’s associations
- National and sub-regional associations that coordinate agricultural research, extension, training and education
- Associations of processors of agricultural products and service providers
- Associations of agricultural businesses and related marketing agents
- Consumer associations
- Organized women and youth groups working in agriculture
- International agricultural research centres;
- Investors and development partners
Context and background to ASARECA work
Smallholder farmers in Eastern and Central Africa face similar challenges. Many use poor quality inputs such as seeds and farm implements. Their farms are often under the threat of attack by menacing pests, diseases and weeds. This situation is aggravated by variable weather and declining natural resource base.
As a result, farmers get poor yields from their crops and animals. In addition, lack of access to input and output markets, coupled with an environment of limiting trade policies, make farming a challenging business. These factors contribute to high levels of poverty among the farming communities in the sub-region.
Owing to low returns from agricultural enterprises, the youth have abandoned farming in search of money-making ventures in urban areas leaving farming to the elderly, women and children. Although all these can be tackled at national level, the national systems have inadequate capacities to manage these challenges comprehensively. ASARECA is addressing these challenges in a regionally coordinated manner by working with critical partners that include farmers; national, regional and international research institutions, extension and training organizations; public and private sector actors, NGOs, Regional Economic Communities and development agencies.
Our key achievements over the last two and a half decades:
Over the last two and a half decades, projects supported by ASARECA have developed and promoted innovations and management practices such as improved varieties and seeds, water management, integrated soil fertility, agronomic packages, storage, value addition and marketing; and improved animal husbandry practices and fisheries management. Besides, ASARECA facilitated the development and harmonization of regional policies and standards that impact on agriculture and trade. An independent evaluation report sanctioned to assess the impact of our work shows that:
Benefits to households and individual farmers: A total of 228,349 rural households benefited directly from ASARECA-related support initiatives, and over 1.37 million individuals directly benefited from an assortment of ASARECA supported initiatives. Furthermore, 56,228 farmers and other stakeholders accessed and used new technologies, innovations and management practices (TIMPs) generated and availed for uptake from ASARECA supported project interventions.
Generated or improved technologies, innovations and management practices: A total of 364 different TIMPs were either generated or improved to suit farmers’ demands. A total of 435 demand-driven gender-responsive TIMPs were availed for uptake by targeted stakeholders.
Quality pre-basic, basic and certified seeds: Over 1,000 ha of land was dedicated to improved TIMPs, especially for production and multiplication of quality pre-basic, basic and certified seeds. Over 800 metric tons of quality seed of selected crops were produced and either sold or distributed to farmers for further multiplication.
Reclamation of degraded lands and watersheds: Over 5,000 ha of highly degraded lands and watersheds were reclaimed through ASARECA supported initiatives. This enabled the targeted households to have steady water supply for domestic and farm use.
Contribution to the establishment of enabling policy environments: ASARECA has contributed to the establishment of enabling policy environments through participation in the review of existing policies, laws, regulations and management practices. A total of 89 policies, laws, regulations and procedures were analyzed, 39 presented for legislation and dialogue, while 37 were approved by national legislative bodies, the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
Infrastructure capacity strengthening and partnership: As part of enhancing capacity strengthening of the NARS, over 400 assorted infrastructure and facilities were provided to targeted partner institutions particularly the weaker NARIs. At the same time, over 280 different partnerships were formed.
Human resource capacity strengthening: Over 60,000 persons (34,009 male and 30,887 female) were trained in the areas of integrated water management, value addition, integrated soil fertility management, value chain development, project management, monitoring and evaluation, environment and social safeguards, basic agronomic and management practices, among others. In addition, over 150 students (15 PhD, 112 MSc, 4 BSc and 19 Diploma/Certificate) benefited from ASARECA long-term training.
Production and delivery of information packages: ASARECA facilitated the production of over 700 different information packages that include peer reviewed journal articles, books, book chapters, electronic newsletters, policy briefs, conference proceedings and manuals. These products were made available through over 250 different delivery pathways such as websites, flyers, television, radio, short message system (SMS), dissemination events, media events, farm trials, and multimedia such as YouTube among others.
Quick Resources
Celebrating impacts - Annual Report 2013
Going Climate smart - Annual Report 2014
ASARECA at a glance
ASARECA in Pictures