Taking Stock: Celebrating Impacts of US$ 131 Million Investments
Since establishment, ASARECA has harnessed critical partnerships and mobilized over US$ 131 million to implement its mandate. The investments were channeled to projects in member countries through two main arrangements: ASARECA Networks, Programmes and Projects (NPPs) (1994-2017) and through ASARECA Research Programmes (2008-2018). Besides, ASARECA coordinated the implementation of the Eastern Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (EAAPP) worth US$ 120 million in member countries. Below are highlights of achievements over the last 25 years.
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT
20.6%
The average growth in value of total agricultural output for all ASARECA countries (2008-2013). Three countries in the region achieved CAADP agricultural growth targets of 6 percent per annum:
These include Rwanda (12.4%), Kenya (7.8%) and Tanzania (7.8%). Ethiopia and Eritrea recorded 5.8 percent and 5 percent pa respectively.
TIMPS
364
Agricultural Technologies, Innovations and Management practices (TIMPs) that have been either generated or improved to suit farmers’ demands.
435
TIMPs that were availed for uptake. So far, 270,000 farmers and other stakeholders have adopted new TIMPs leading to an increase in net crop production value of US$73.4 million at the peak of ASARECA interventions by 2014.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
11.6%
Average regional yields for maize (@ a rate of 3 percent per year), with increases of 8.6 percent for rice, 8.4 percent for sweet potato and 4.5 percent for beans.
HOUSEHOLDS
422,176
Rural households that directly benefited from ASARECA-related support initiatives. Overall. 2.5 million individuals benefited directly from an assortment of ASARECA support initiatives.
LAND
4600
Land that has was dedicated to improved TIMPs. As a result of this, over 800 metric tons of quality seed was produced and sold or distributed to farmers for further multiplication.
CAPACITY STRENGTHENING
81,751
Stakeholders that received short-term training in 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.
150
Number of students that benefited from ASARECA long-term training at different levels. These include: 15 PhD [9 male, 6 female); 112 MSc (73 male, 39 female); 4 BSc (2 male, 2 female); and 19 diploma/certificate (12 male, 7 female)
PARTNERSHIPS
400
Number of partnerships formed by ASARECA in implementing its AR4D strategies.
INFORMATION MATERIALS
10,000
Information packages produced with support from ASARECA. They include peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, electronic newsletters, conference proceedings and manuals. These products were made available to partners through over 260 different delivery pathways such as websites, flyers, TV, radio, SMS, dissemination events, media events, farm trials, multimedia (YouTube) among others, benefiting over 1 million targeted stakeholders.
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
ASARECA supported projects have led to significant generation of benefits to stakeholders, including provision of additional income for farmers, processors, small-scale traders, and increased productivity of selected commodities. For example, average total crop revenue has increased by 63% from US$272 to US$442 between 2008 and 2012 for beneficiaries (compared to only 5% for non-beneficiaries). Total livestock revenues also increased by 139% from US$157 to US$375, compared to a fall of 21% for non-beneficiaries.