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This second volume of proceedings presents a selection of scientific and technical papers that were presented at the First General Assembly. It is our wish that this information can contribute to further agricultural innovation and development in the ECA. 

From December 14 to 16, 2011 ASARECA held its First General Assembly in Entebbe, Uganda, under the theme: Feeding our Region in the 21st Century. The Assembly follows the approval of ASARECA new Constitution in 2010, providing for the establishment of Patron Ministers and a General Assembly. These were established to offer strategic guidance to ASARECA in order to promote economic growth, fight poverty, eradicate hunger and enhance sustainable use of resources in Eastern and Central Africa. 

This first Volume presents the proceedings of the First General Assembly which was a big success because of the collective efforts of all the ASARECA stakeholders.

The conference whose theme was Integrated sorghum and millet sector for improved economic growth and livelihoods in the Eastern and Central Africa (ECA) brought together various actors within the region including: farmers (sorghum and millet producers, researchers (who develop technology), inputs and services providers, merchants and marketers, processors, exporters, policy makers and consumers. The conference was used to review and share research results and experiences on sorghum and millets in the ECA region and make recommendations necessary for commercialization.

The domains emphasized included: (a) increased production and productivity; (b) increased processing and utilization; (c) effective marketing; and (d) implementation of supportive policies. In each of these domains, a keynote paper with broad perspectives of sorghum and millets in ECA was presented followed by specific papers on experiences from a diverse mix of actors. Participants discussed the papers in each domain and made recommendations which can be pursued to further enhance the sorghum and millets sector, and make it more effective in contributing to the region economic growth.

In this issue: Livestock and crops the excellent mix; Involve farmers in research minister urges EAAPP scientists; Fruits and vegetables for the whole year; Harmonized seed policies begin to bear fruit; Xanthomonas wilt, the banana enemy confirmed in Burundi Research update; Gender mainstreaming in agriculture is an urgent call; People and their surrounding; ASARECA senior managers and heads of programmes and units; ASARECA book shelf.

In this Issue: Boosting capacity for research; EAAPP: The big push for rice, wheat, cassava, dairy; The longer it climbs, the more beans; Scientists list milestones in fight against striga; Cassava, potato playing-field, benefits set to expand; A basket of goods from Napier project; How ENDIISA, a computer-based decision support tool for feeding dairy cattle, is set to change livestock productivity; Orange-fleshed sweet potato ÔÇô the darling potato; ASARECA book shelf.

Eyes on drought tolerant maize:The announcement at the close of 2011 of the successful transformation of nine transgenic maize lines by scientists supported by ASARECA has generated excitement across the continent. Plants transformed with drought tolerance genes, show more tolerance to water shortage. Some of the genes once incorporated into the maize genome, are capable of helping maize to return to full recovery after completely drying up; Climate smart initiatives; Call for more relevant agricultural institutions

In this issue: QPM the crop of hope; practical experiences from doctors of the soil; Stop Cassava brown streak disease; The promise of high value non-staple crops.

In this issue: Launch of 1st ASARECA General Assembly; Improving indigenous vegetables to boost incomes; Processing dry amaranth leaves; The darling orange flesh sweet potato; Livestock feed information; and many more.

In this issue: Making good out of climate change; Pen-size kit to check epilepsy; Four Striga resistant sorghum varieties released; Quality protein maize spreads in Democratic republic of Congo; Rwanda deploys SCARDA scientists to drive strategic research; Experts share lessons on technology dissemination