data/part_3/00f7b899094a4db5b6f704a17e7b4c41.json

{"metadata":{"id":"00f7b899094a4db5b6f704a17e7b4c41","source":"gardian_index","url":"https://cgspace.cgiar.org/rest/bitstreams/9638497f-4857-4e9a-bd4c-30f6e90a706c/retrieve"},"pageCount":46,"title":"","keywords":[],"chapters":[{"head":"Summary","index":1,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":34,"text":"The Africa RISING project in the Ethiopia highlands reached more than 55,746 households and covered 43,136 ha of land during the cropping season June-September 2021. Of the total beneficiaries, 16.4% were female-headed households (HHs)."},{"index":2,"size":92,"text":"The research for development (R4D) trials of feed and forage included desho-vetch intercropping, desho-tree lucerne intercropping, tree lucerne harvesting management, multi-cut oat variety trial and fodder beet seed multiplication. The scaling support revolved around providing logistical support to scaling partners and strengthening the informal/local seed system in the Africa RISING sites. Basic seeds of oat, vetch, alfalfa, and fodder beet have been sourced and provided. The seeds have been distributed for multiplication using model farmers, farmer training centres (FTCs) and cooperatives. A total of 6,550 HHs have benefited through the scaling initiative."},{"index":3,"size":83,"text":"Participatory variety selection-belg (short) season trials were conducted using cultivars released by different research centres for main cropping season. In addition, community-based seed production and scaling of validated crop technologies are implemented in the cropping season. The project provided early generation seeds under a revolving seed scheme to farmers in the four intervention zones. Scaling of crop technologies were done together with partners mainly with the bureau of agriculture in different districts. As a result, 38,570 farm HHs benefited from the scaling initiative."},{"index":4,"size":47,"text":"A total of 13 faba bean and 20 durum wheat varieties have been evaluated by 600 farmers through crowdsourcing approach in two sites with the objectives of enhancing the diversity, popularizing best varieties selected by farmers through pre-scaling up and training, and developing a community-based seed system."},{"index":5,"size":67,"text":"Landscape-based site-specific fertilizer recommendations and best-bet Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) practices of wheat are under validation in Basona and Lemo Africa RISING sites. Four farmers were selected per landscape position (four at hillslope, four at mid-slope and four at foot slope position) for both fertilizer and ISFM validation trials. The validation work will enable to generate information and develop fertilizer decision support tools in the country."},{"index":6,"size":85,"text":"The mechanization work in the current reporting period aimed at establishing on-farm trials at different sites, monitoring and backstopping the management of on-farm trials and service provision, finalizing a technical report on lessons learnt in the promotion of mechanization technologies, developing and sharing a technical brief on lessons learnt from the process of promoting small mechanization in rural Ethiopia, and finalize the adoption survey questionnaire. Over 801 farmers received harvesting, threshing, shelling and transport services from two-wheel tractor (2-WT) based activities in different project sites."},{"index":7,"size":71,"text":"The landscape management work focussed more on assessing impacts of land restoration practices on different ecosystem services including soil, carbon, soil moisture, soil erosion and biodiversity and modelling solutions; finalizing the Landscape Doctor Toolbox -a toolbox that is designed to facilitate land assessment, technology targeting and impact assessment; developing scaling strategy using exante and modelling analysis and prepare compendium of technologies for various areas; and engaging in capacity development of stakeholders."},{"index":8,"size":26,"text":"The Africa RISING project in the Ethiopian highlands managed to conduct different capacity development programs while adhering to the COVID-19 control measures imposed by the government."},{"index":9,"size":47,"text":"The capacity development activities carried out to include training, field visits, field days, workshops and meetings. In this regard, the program engaged with over 4,491 beneficiaries during the current reporting period. The project has also benefited 6 MSc and 9 PhD students through its research attachment schemes."}]},{"head":"Introduction","index":2,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":39,"text":"The Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa RISING) program comprises three research for development projects supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of the US government's Feed the Future initiative."},{"index":2,"size":59,"text":"In its second phase, the Africa RISING project in the Ethiopian Highlands is seeking to elaborate the generic research questions presented in the program umbrella document for issues identified largely during phase I (2011-2016). The research questions addressed by our five (see below) specific activities will contribute insights from specific sustainable intensification-related activities and geographic areas within the country."}]},{"head":"Trade-offs and synergies","index":3,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":15,"text":"Umbrella research questions: What are the environmental, economic, human and social impacts of productivity-enhancing interventions?"}]},{"head":"Adaptation and adoptability","index":4,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":24,"text":"Umbrella research question: How are these interventions aiming at increasing productivity and improving environmental conditions to benefit diverse farmer typologies in the target areas?"}]},{"head":"Livelihoods","index":5,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":35,"text":"Umbrella research question: How do changes in the management of specific activities or a combination of activities within a farm (e.g. a field or a livestock unit) affect overall livelihood conditions for different farmer typologies?"}]},{"head":"Enabling environments","index":6,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":23,"text":"Umbrella research question: How do enabling conditions affect the nature (variety, agro-inputs, complexity and diversity) of promising interventions moving towards sustainable intensification (SI)?"}]},{"head":"Equity","index":7,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":21,"text":"Umbrella research question: How does social capital affect community productivity, cooperation and well-being along with the scaling up of SI innovations?"},{"index":2,"size":32,"text":"Africa RISING in Ethiopia is led by scientists from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in partnership with scientists from other CGIAR centres, the Ethiopian national agricultural research system and local communities."},{"index":3,"size":120,"text":"In its second phase (2016-2021), the project has been targeting 0.7 million households with SI technologies. So far, after five cropping seasons, the project has managed to reach and benefit more than 378,527 HHs with its validated technologies (equates to a land area of 189,704 ha) and 31,899 beneficiaries through capacity building initiatives. The geographical and administrative coverage of the project has also increased from four to more than 36 woredas and from four to 11 zones. In the remaining one year of the project, we will seek to generate wider evidence for the benefits of the novel R4D techniques adopted in the project, synthesize the lessons learned and deliver the tools required to support wider employment of these approaches."}]},{"head":"Highlights from the current reporting period","index":8,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":37,"text":"The Africa RISING project in the Ethiopia highlands reached more than 55,746 households and covered 43,136 ha of land during the cropping season June-September 2021. From the total beneficiaries, 16.4% were female-headed households. Feed and forage innovations"}]},{"head":"Introduction","index":9,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":204,"text":"The feed and forage development and scaling work of Africa RISING has played an important role in validating context specific feed technology solutions and promoting to thousands of farmers in the project sites over the past few years. Results from controlled trials and feedbacks from farmers indicated a considerable improvement in livestock productivity due to the improved forage production and utilization practices. The collaboration with development partners and the partnership with the local extension system has played an important role in the implementation of research and development activities. Through this process, the capacity of local development actors has improved in the delivery of feed and forage technologies to end users. However, there are still gaps that need to be addressed to ensure the continuity of the project efforts to improve livestock productivity and hence the livelihood of smallholder farmers. The gaps that need attention in the current physical year include augmenting dataset compiled for some of the R4D trials conduct in the last two years, strengthening the local forage seed system and supporting training needs of development partners. Filling these gaps would help to generate adequate research evidence and to strengthen the fodder value chain. Therefore, the objective of the current physical year include:"},{"index":2,"size":47,"text":" Completing R4D trials for which additional data are needed,  Support the informal/local seed system to sustain the availability of revolving seeds and planting materials in the project sites,  Fill capacity needs of development partners to sustain the momentum in the scaling of validated technologies."}]},{"head":"Research methodologies/approaches","index":10,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":4,"text":"Research for development activities:"},{"index":2,"size":55,"text":"On-farm trials were implemented in three of the four Africa RISING project sites (Basona, Lemo and Sinana) during the current main rainy season. The research for development (R4D) trials include a) desho-vetch intercropping; b) desho-tree lucerne intercropping; c) tree lucerne harvesting management; d) multi-cut oat variety trial; and e) fodder beet seed multiplication (Table 2)."}]},{"head":"Desho-vetch intercropping","index":11,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":224,"text":"Desho grass is an important forage as a source of good quality forage and for soil and water conservation practices. An important limitation of this grass when grown on separate plots has been the declining productivity through time due to nutrient mining. Intercropping desho grass with vetch has been experimented to assess if the practice can contribute to maintaining soil fertility (especially soil N) through nitrogen fixation by the legume forage while producing higher biomass of better nutritional quality. The trial was repeated this season to augment the data that has been collected in the previous year. The experiment had the following treatments: i) desho-vetch intercropping at a 12 kg/ha seed rate for vetch, ii) at 9 kg/ha seed rate for vetch, iii) at h 6 kg/ha seed rate for vetch, iv) sole desho grass, and v) sole vetch forage (at 30 kg/ha rate). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Fifteen plots of 6m 2 each (2×3 m 2 ) were prepared at one experimental location per project site. The plots in each block were randomly assigned to one of the five treatments. Variables measured include forage biomass yield (by forage type), forage quality, soil fertility before and after harvest. A graduate student has been recruited and attached to conduct thesis research under this research activity."}]},{"head":"Desho-tree lucerne intercropping","index":12,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":115,"text":"This trial has the same objective as the desho-vetch intercropping. Tree lucerne (TL) offers a good opportunity to produce a protein-reach feed supplement in cool highland areas. Both tree lucerne and desho grass grow well on soil and water conservation structures and on separate plots. The treatments for this trial included the following: i) Desho grass sole planting, ii) Desho grass + TL (9 trees/plot) planted in 1 m interval, iii) Desho grass + TL (6 trees/plot) in 1.5 m interval, and iv) Desho grass + TL (3 trees/plot) in 2.0 m interval. Variables of interest include soil nutrient content before planting and during forage harvesting times, forage biomass yield (by forage type), forage quality."}]},{"head":"Tree lucerne harvesting management","index":13,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":106,"text":"This trial is conducted to generate additional data on optimal cutting height and cut frequency for tree lucerne under on-farm management conditions. New replicated tree lucerne plots have been established in each site. The tree plants are subjected to different cutting heights (1m; and 1.5m) and cutting intervals (3, 4 and 6 months interval) when the plants reach 2 metres height after 9 months of growth. Agronomic data including plant height, total biomass yield, leaf to stem ratio are being collected. Foliage nutritional quality and soil fertility trends are also determined. A graduate student has been recruited and attached to conduct thesis research under this activity."}]},{"head":"Dual-purpose oat evaluation trial","index":14,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":52,"text":"This is trial is conducted to evaluate the performance of oat and triticale varieties when subjected to different singling management practices: one time cutting at maturity or two cuts (at 45/60 days of growth and at maturity). The forage yield and quality; straw yield and quality; grain yields are measured and evaluated."}]},{"head":"Fodder beet seed multiplication","index":15,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":74,"text":"Demand for fodder beet seed is growing following the successful demonstration and introduction of the tuber crop as an alternative high energy fodder supplement of ruminants. During the main rainy season fodder beet, basic seeds have been distributed and planted for seed multiplication in the fields of farmer training centres, model farmers and university campuses. Producers have been guidance on how to manage fodder beet plots distained for tubber production and for seed production. "}]},{"head":"Facilitating scaling initiatives","index":16,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":66,"text":"In the current physical year, the scaling support revolved providing logistical support to scaling partners and strengthening the informal/local seed system in the respective sites. Basic seeds of oat, vetch, alfalfa, and fodder beet have been sourced and provided. The seeds have been distributed for multiplication under different modalities depending on the local condition: model farmers; farmer training centres (FTCs); and cooperatives are considered (Table 3). "}]},{"head":"Research methodologies/approaches","index":17,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":161,"text":"Participatory variety selection-belg season: The participatory varietal selection (PVS) trials were conducted using cultivars released by different research centres for the main cropping season. The action research was conducted in the Basona Worana district (North Shewa Zone) and Sinana district (Bale Zone). In North Shewa, field pea ( Cvs. Megeri, Weyib, Gume, Hortu) and lentil (Beredu, Derash, Alemaya, and DZ-2012-L) varieties and local checks were evaluated at farmer field (Mush) and research sub-station (Bakelo) with supplemental irrigation due to shortage of belg season rain. In Bale zone, field pea cultivars (Bilalo, Bursa, Woyib, Urgi and Hortu); lentil cultivars (Alemaya, Beredu, Derash, DZ-2012-L and Local), common bean cultivars (DZ-2, Tatach, SER-119, KAT-B9 and Awash-2) and fenugreek (Hunda-01, Ebisa, Chala, Burka and Bishoftu) were tested at two farmer fields in Selka village. Each genotype of all crops at both locations were planted on a 25 m 2 plot and evaluated were made by male and female farmers at physiological maturity of the crops."},{"index":2,"size":61,"text":"Community based seed production and scaling project validated crop technologies: The project provided early generation seeds under a revolving seed scheme to farmers in the four intervention zones. Community based seed multiplication will help to produce enough seeds to scale crop technologies. Scaling of crop technologies were done together with partners mainly with the Bureaus of Agriculture (BoAs) in different districts."}]},{"head":"Status of the research","index":18,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":37,"text":"Action Research-Belg season: In North Shewa, farmers selected field pea (Cvs. Adi and Burkitu) and lentil (DZ-2012-L and Derash) varieties that provide average productivity of 1.5 t/ha for field pea and 2.1 t/ha for lentil (Photo 1)."},{"index":2,"size":17,"text":"Photo 1. Belg season participatory variety selection of field pea and lentil in North Shewa in 2021."},{"index":3,"size":196,"text":"In Bale Zone, farmers (male and female farmers) selected two varieties (Cvs. Urgi and Bursa) of field pea and another two varieties of lentils (cvs. DZ-2012-L and Derash). The average productivity of the selected field pea varieties was about 0.6 and 0.7 t/ha, respectively. The maximum productivity of field pea and lentils were 1.1 t/ha and 1.2 t/ha, respectively. The average productivity was low due to late rainfall during the season. The productivity of lentil and field pea was higher in Basona site than in the Selka research kebele due to application of supplemental irrigation in the former than the latter. In both locations, farmers selected the same lentil varieties for short rainy season production. Common bean and fenugreek have been introduced in the highlands of Bale zone as an alternative crop for the short rain season to provide more options for farmers (Photo 2). As a result, farmers selected early maturing common bean (Cvs. Awash-2, SER-119) and fenugreek (Cvs. Burka and Chala) varieties. The productivity of common bean was about 0.4t/ha due to shortage of rainfall. Yield data was not taken for fenugreek since the season was too short for the varieties to reach maturity."},{"index":4,"size":16,"text":"Photo 2. Performance of field pea, lentil, common bean and fenugreek at Selka village in 2021."},{"index":5,"size":132,"text":"Main season early generation seed production through R4D: A total of 34.5 tons of bread wheat (2 cultivars), durum wheat (one cultivar) and faba bean (3 cultivars) were purchased from three seed producing farmer unions, and public seed enterprises (Table 4). In most sites the seed production followed cluster approach to better manage farms and enable farmers share experiences (Photos 3 and 4). With project R4D, the improved crop technologies covered 324 ha of land and 742 HHs (13% female HHs) are direct beneficiaries of the interventions (Table 5).  Scaling of technologies through partners: A total of 3,857 households (17% female HHs) were benefited from the community seed production scheme. Abou 34,931 ha of land was covered with farmer preferred cereal and food legumes varieties in the four intervention zones (Table 6)."},{"index":6,"size":230,"text":"Table 6. Technologies and respective beneficiaries through partner scaling.  13513 1 9 7 2 15484 14905.3 2 7 9 6 9 9 1 3 7 8 7 1 5 5 8 . 6 7 8 9 9  0 8 7 9 4 0 6 Durum wheat 1372 4 6 0 1832 1715 8 1 9 3 0 0 1119 417.25 3 8 8 8 4 4 7 2 1 7 7 7 8 6 1 6 9 9 5 5 3 7 2 1 1 5 3 2 1 4 7 7 0 . 2 5 2 5 1 4  2 2 9 3 5  The key element of R4D is helping farmers to select technologies, multiply and scale to bring impact at scale. Hence there is a clear increase in using project promoted crop technologies such as bread wheat in the four intervention zones. In this report, a preliminary assessment was done based on the season number of beneficiaries to see the change in diversifying crops and varieties. In north Shewa, the dominant bread wheat cultivars promoted by the extension system is cv. Hidasie, which is high yielding but susceptible to stem and yellow rusts. The project promoted bread wheat cvs. Wane and Deka. The result showed that farmers are increasingly diversifying their bread wheat varieties and other crops like durum wheat, faba bean and malt barley (Figure 1)."},{"index":7,"size":16,"text":"Figure 1. Trends of the project promoted bread wheat and other crop varieties in north Shewa."},{"index":8,"size":59,"text":"In the Bale zone the popular bread wheat varieties are Hidasie and Hulluka. The Africa RISING project promoted varieties are Wane, Lemu and Deka. During the cropping season, only 13% of the farmers planted popular varieties in the three intervention districts (Figure 2). In Hadiya zone, planted only Africa RISING project promoted bread wheat varieties (cvs. Lemu and Wane)."}]},{"head":"Capacity development","index":19,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":43,"text":"Short-term training, field days, visits and other capacity development efforts have been undertaken related to improved crop varieties and management practices and included in the current report. In addition, three PhD students are attached and conducting their research on key food legume diseases."},{"index":2,"size":5,"text":"Lessons learned and problems encountered "}]},{"head":"Crowdsourcing and seasonal food availability assessment Introduction","index":20,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":69,"text":"To satisfy the demand of an expanding population, agriculture faces the challenge of delivering safer, high quality, and health-promoting food and feed in an economic, environmentally sensitive, and sustainable manner. The challenges of future food production are related to climate change coupled with the maintenance of local agricultural production. A sustained effort is thus required to generate crops with higher and more stable yields across diverse and changing environments."},{"index":2,"size":116,"text":"Bioversity International has successful experience in the Seeds for Needs Initiative which uses existing genetic diversity to identify traits for adaptation to climate change. Since 2010, Bioversity International has researched the name of seeds for needs together with Ethiopian and international partners to understand and study the potential of these varieties in marginal areas and to increase the resilience of communities where these varieties are cultivated. The main goal was to offer variety that allowed farmers to adapt to climate change. Seeds for Needs is a participatory approach that works with farmers, in particular women farmers, to identify a set of crops and varieties to be further tested under their farming conditions through a crowdsourcing approach."},{"index":3,"size":197,"text":"Among the most significant results of this research are the registration of two varieties in the Tigray region, their adoption by the smallholder farmers in Tigray, Amhara and Oromia and a series of scientific publications that highlight the most significant characteristics of these varieties: among these are the high grain and biomass yield in marginal environments, resistance to diseases and the adaptability to climatic conditions that change from Year to Year. In 2017 Bioversity together with local partners began to test these varieties in high-potential environments such as Gojam, Arsi and Chefe donsa. Similarly, in collaboration with Africa Rising, we initiated the demonstration of barley local varieties through crowdsourcing approach in North Shewa, Basona district. These experiments justified that, the yields of some of these varieties were very interesting and increase the diversity of varieties through crowdsourcing approach. However, this approach is mostly implemented in durum wheat and a few parts of the country. Therefore, this experience will be implemented in faba bean and durum wheat in new intervention areas of Oromia, Amhara and SNNP regions to enhance seed system and cultivar diversity to foster productivity and manage climate-related risks. The objectives of the study are to:"},{"index":4,"size":43,"text":" Enhance the diversity, availing adapted varieties through crowdsourcing approach, and maintain and multiply selected varieties for further trials in unaddressed potential areas;  Popularize best varieties selected by farmers through pre-scaling up and training; and  To develop a community-based seed system."}]},{"head":"Research methodologies/approaches","index":21,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":147,"text":"To address the above objectives, the project team is characterizing 13 selected faba bean varieties for genetic diversity, agro-morphological and disease resistance through crowdsourcing approach. These varieties of faba bean were collected from different agricultural research centres. One district/woreda from Hadiya and another district from the North Shewa zone were selected for the implementation of the research. A total of 8 villages were selected in both districts. Similarly, fourteen farmers' selected variety sets of durum wheat available in Bioversity international stock and six improved varieties, a total of 20 varieties, are under evaluation for genetic diversity, agro-morphological, disease resistance and pasta making quality in major wheat producer districts of Bale, Oromia in four villages through crowdsourcing approach. Crowdsourcing approach enable farmers to test sets of varieties within their farm using their production methodology. Field evaluation methods, number of varieties tested, sites and other details are elaborated below:"},{"index":2,"size":71,"text":"Faba Bean: it is under evaluation in two locations (Basona and Lemo), 400 farmers (50 farmers per Village) are engaged, 8 villages selected for field evaluation, plot size is 6.4m 2 (4 m length * 4 rows * 0.4m), seed rate per plot is 0.128 kg (200 kg/ha), design of the experiment is Tricot (3 plots per farmer) and number of varieties identified for the field evaluation are 13 (Table 7). "}]},{"head":"Soil fertility management Introduction","index":22,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":222,"text":"Land degradation and soil fertility depletion are critical challenges for Ethiopian agriculture and sustainable crop production. Low crop response to fertilizers is a major concern despite the consistent increase in fertilizer supply and usage in the country. The effectiveness of matching fertilizer types to soil fertility problems rests on the ability to identify limiting factors, characterize sites, and develop appropriate recommendations. Approaches for identifying nutrient management zones require the collection and interpretation of spatial data (yield, elevation, soil nutrient maps, and farmers' classification criteria). In Ethiopia, there has been a great effort to test and recommend balanced fertilizers for increased crop yield and quality. The replacement of nitrogen and phosphorus containing di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer with balanced blended fertilizers containing multiple nutrients, such as NP and S (sulfur) and/or zinc (Zn) and boron (B) has been under progress. The basis for formulation of these fertilizers was an analysis of data collected under the EthioSIS project, which identified S, Zn, and B as the most extensively deficient nutrients in Ethiopian soils. Wheat yields significantly responded to landscape positions where wheat yield was higher by 50-300% in foot slopes than in hillslopes, depending on location and input level. There was a decrease in crop fertilizer response with increasing slope due to a significant decrease in soil organic carbon, clay content and soil water content."},{"index":2,"size":140,"text":"Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is an approach to improve yields of crops while preserving sustainable and long-term soil fertility through the combined application of fertilizers, recycling of organic resources, use of responsive crop varieties, and improved agronomic practices, which minimize nutrient losses and improve the nutrient-use efficiency of crops. Yield benefits were more apparent when fertilizer application was accompanied by crop rotation, green manuring, or crop residue management. For example, the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers could increase wheat yields by 50-100%, whereas crop rotation with grain legumes could increase cereal grain yields by up to 200%. Although organic residues are key inputs for soil fertility management, about 85% is used for livestock feed and energy sources. The main incentive for farmers to adopt ISFM practices is economic benefits. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to:"},{"index":3,"size":62,"text":" validate landscape-based site-specific fertilizer recommendations for wheat in selected major wheat producing areas of Basona Worena and Lemo Woreda;  generate information on fertilizer that will help develop fertilizer decision support tools in the country; and  validate best-bet ISFM practices for wheat production and generate information on ISFM that could help develop fertilizer DST (decision support tool) in the country."}]},{"head":"Research methodologies/approaches","index":23,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":212,"text":"The validation trial was conducted on farmers' fields of Lemo Woreda in Hadiya zone of the South region and Basona Worena Woreda in North Shewa zone of Amhara region. Four farmers were selected per landscape position (four at hillslope, four at mid-slope, and four at foot slope position) for both fertilizer and ISFM validation trials. To characterize each landscape position, slope percentage was used as a key criterion. Accordingly, landscape position with < 5, 5-15, and 15-30 are characterized as foot slope, mid-slope, and hillslope position, respectively. The three treatments were landscape-based sitespecific fertilizer recommendations, model generated rate and the current blanket or extension fertilizer rate applied for wheat across all landscape positions at each implementing woreda/district (Table 9). For the ISFM validation trial on wheat in Lemo Woreda, the sites were selected based on severity of soil fertility depletion, soil acidity and landscape position in collaboration with woreda Agriculture Office. Vetch (Vicia sativa L.) was grown as a short-term green manure crop during a small rainy season and the shoot and root biomass of the green manure was incorporated in the field. The amount of lime applied ha -1 was determined based on the exchangeable acidity of the soil. Lupin was grown as a green manure crop. The treatments included: i."},{"index":2,"size":22,"text":"Green manure + 65% of the recommended N fertilizer rate + the recommended rate of other nutrients (P, S, and micronutrients). ii."},{"index":3,"size":31,"text":"50% of the recommended N fertilizer rate (N) + 50% of the recommended organic fertilizer (compost) as N equivalent + the recommended rate of other nutrients (P, S and micronutrients). iii."},{"index":4,"size":7,"text":"The recommended rate of inorganic fertilizer alone."},{"index":5,"size":280,"text":"The treatments were arranged in RCBD and replicated four times at each landscape (hill, mid-and foot slope) position on four farmers' fields on a plot size of 10 m by 10 m (100 m 2 ). The appropriate wheat variety for each area was sown for both validation trials. Other recommended agronomic practices for wheat production were uniformly applied to all plots. The validation trials will be evaluated by farmers, extension agents and experts during the appropriate growth stages of the trial crop. The required agronomic data such as total biomass of the and grain yield of wheat will be collected. A field visit made by ICRISAT researchers in collaboration with regional research centres in the first week of September 2021 in Basona Worena and Lemo woredas has shown that crop management and followup activities have been regularly performed for validation trial fields at each landscape position. Field operations such as weeding and the second split N fertilizer applications have been done properly, following the recommended crop management practices (Photo 6 and 7). Comments were given under field condition during the field visit to take corrective measures for trial fields showing poor crop management practices, such as weeding and split N application. Development agents are also actively participating in the field activities and follow-up of trial fields in collaboration with the respective researchers from Debre Berhan and Areka agricultural research centers. In Basona Worena Woreda, poor growth of wheat plants and yellowish colour was observed in some waterlogged sites because of high rainfall. Overall, the crop management and follow-up activities by the research centres are going very well and the status of the trials in both woredas is quite good."}]},{"head":"Status of the research work","index":24,"paragraphs":[]},{"head":"Mid-Slope","index":25,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":20,"text":"Foot Slope Photo 6. Performance of wheat under different fertilizer treatments and landscape positions at Lemo Woreda of Hadiya zone."},{"index":2,"size":133,"text":"Measurement of soil moisture content: It has been hypothesized that one of the key factors for differences in crop growth and yield among different landscape positions is variation in soil water content associated with differences in soil organic matter content. Thus, we are measuring soil moisture content periodically under different landscape positions (hill, mid and foot slope) using a TDR 300 portable soil moisture probe. As shown in Figure 4, soil moisture content measurements were higher booth at foot and mid-slope positions at Basona Worena Woreda, with no significant variation between the two landscape positions (Figure 4). In contrast, variable soil moisture contents were recorded at Lemo Woreda of Hadiya zone, which will be verified by repeated measurements (Figure 5). The measurement of the second soil water content will be done in October."}]},{"head":"Foot Slope","index":26,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":2,"text":"Mid-Slope Hill-Slope  "}]},{"head":"Capacity building","index":27,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":117,"text":"Trainings were given to farmers who have hosted the validation trials, development agents working in the trial sites and experts working in the project implementing Woredas. There have been meetings with researchers and technical assistants from Debre Berhan and Areka Agricultural Research centres before the implementation of the validation trials. Training was given for 94 men women farmers, 25 extension agents and supervisors before the implementation of the validation trials. About 75 experts and farmers have made field visits at the different crop growth stages of the crop. Field days will be organized to evaluate the trials under field conditions with farmers, development agents, woreda and agricultural officers in collaboration with the research centres and agricultural offices."},{"index":2,"size":5,"text":"Lessons learned and problems encountered"},{"index":3,"size":181,"text":"• The partnerships that have been created with research and development institutions have played key roles in implementing our research plans and delivering project outputs in this difficult time of 2021. The progress made so far has been possible through the joint efforts of our project partners. • Security problem -the conflicts and security risks in the country have been the serious problem to plan field trips and executing activities. The validation trials in Endamehoni were cancelled due to the continuous conflicts in Tigray and neighbouring regions. • Budget problem: The fertilizer validation trial planned in Sinana Woreda was not implemented because of the budget problem and inability to find personnel to implement the trial under field conditions. We requested Sinana Research Center with the ILRI-Africa Rising project site coordinator to handle this trial, but they demanded a separate and immediate budget release that should be allocated to this work before implementing the trial. I also discussed with the Africa Rising project site coordinator at Sinana to support the field work, but he declined to do so because of other tasks."},{"index":4,"size":85,"text":"In addition, since mechanized farming is the dominant farm operation in Sinana Woreda, most farmers are not willing to rent their farmlands and manage such field trials. Essentially, if ICRISAT and the implementing research centres did not allocate some financial resources, the trials would not be also implemented in the two Woredas. The budget has not been yet released. • Covid-19 -the constant spread of this pandemic has been the major threat in the country, hindering the movement and follow-up of activities under field conditions."}]},{"head":"Agricultural mechanization Introduction","index":28,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":156,"text":"Appropriate mechanization technologies adapted to the smallholder farming conditions are being promoted in different parts of the Ethiopian highlands. The mechanization technologies are value chain focussed covering crop production, irrigation, harvesting, post-harvest processing as well as transportation services on smallholder farms. The two-wheel tractor technologies that are being promoted in Ethiopia increase opportunities to free up available farm labour to pursue other on-farm and off-farm income generating activities within and outside the rural communities. Activities were implemented in project sites during the April to September 2021 period. The activity objectives during the reporting period were to:  establish on-farm trials in Amhara and Oromia regions,  monitor and backstop management of on-farm trials and service provision,  finalize technical report on lessons learnt in the promotion of mechanization technologies,  develop and share a technical brief on lessons learnt from the process of promoting small mechanization in rural Ethiopia, and  finalize the adoption survey questionnaire."}]},{"head":"Research methodologies/approaches","index":29,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":242,"text":"During the April to September 2021 period, field and office work were conducted to achieve some of the project deliverables for the current project cycle. During the June-July 2021 period, on-farm trials were established and are currently being monitored during technical backstopping visits which are being conducted to project sites. As part of scaling out mechanization technologies, service providers offered services to farmers during the reporting period. Office work involved the development of a questionnaire for the upcoming adoption survey scheduled for October 2021, writing of a technical report on lessons learnt in the process of promoting mechanization technologies in Ethiopia, and development and publishing of a technical brief on lessons learnt.  (iii) Scaling mechanization technologies through service provision As part of scaling out mechanization technologies to farmers, service providers offered ploughing, planting, transport, shelling and threshing services in project communities (Table 10). A total of 10.75 ha was ploughed by 2-WT disc plough at the onset of the 2021 growing season. Direct planting of maize and wheat using 2-WT was done on 1.4 ha at the onset of the 2021 growing season. (v) Adoption of survey questionnaire An assessment of adoption will be conducted in the communities where scaling activities have been implemented over the past 4-6 years of mechanization activities in Ethiopia. A survey questionnaire was drafted during August 2021 and is currently being programmed into Kobo Collect in preparation for the survey which will be conducted in October 2021."}]},{"head":"Status of the research work","index":30,"paragraphs":[]},{"head":"Capacity building","index":31,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":70,"text":"Farmers were visited during the crop planting (May-July) and during the crop monitoring (August-September) periods. During the monitoring visits, agriculture experts from the woreda offices also took part in visiting on-farm trial sites. A meeting was also held with agriculture experts and mechanics who are involved in servicing 2-WT equipment whenever there are breakdowns. A total of 30 local partners benefited from meetings and visits organized during the reporting period."},{"index":2,"size":5,"text":"Lessons learned and problems encountered"},{"index":3,"size":95,"text":"The major challenge encountered during the reporting period was unstable security situation in project sites. Monitoring trips to Gudeya-Billa project sites in September 2021 were cancelled due to security concerns. In Amhara region, there were concerns in September 2021 when the project team was visited by unknown persons who claimed to be 'community security members' in Machakel. On the trial plots, waterlogging and Septoria fungal disease on wheat plants were noted and these are being caused by incessant rains that have recently been experienced in the wheat growing parts of the Amhara region (Photo 10)."},{"index":4,"size":19,"text":"Photo 10. Septoria fungal disease on wheat plants and waterlogging in trial plots in Machakel project sites. (September 2021)."}]},{"head":"Water lifting and delivery Introduction","index":32,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":218,"text":"Since 2013, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) team collaborated with other partners and stakeholders to test, validate and scale water management technologies and practices to increase water productivity under irrigated conditions. Number of water lifting technology, irrigation application, and agronomic practice have been validated as the best-fitted packages for scaling of irrigation technologies, practices and services. These packages include, for example, different water lifting technologies (solar, rope and washer [R&W], tractor mounted pump), better application (drip) and irrigation scheduling (wetting front detectors) coupled with agronomic practices for irrigated fodder, avocado and vegetable value production. Despite their suitability to the local agricultural production, scale these packages to reach impact at the scale is challenged by limited market access and marketing channels as well as poor supply chain of seeds and water lifting technologies. Addressing these challenges, during 2019-2020, IWMI team, together with farmers and actors of the irrigated agricultural value chains in the various woredas, researched co-identification of value chain scaling pathways for these best-fitted packages. In Lemo, the private-led pathway was co-identified to further facilitate the scaling of these packages along with the irrigated vegetable and fruit value chains. This research proposal aims to operationalize the private-led scaling pathway by establishing scaling partnerships led by irrigation supply and output off-taker companies to strengthen farmers' access to irrigation."},{"index":2,"size":48,"text":"Research methodologies/approaches IWMI and Greenpath have prepared a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalize the partnership to establish an avocado supply chain from Lemo. Further, IWMI and Greenpath have developed joint activity plan for 2021-2022 detailing key steps to the establishment of the global GAP avocado supply chain."},{"index":3,"size":132,"text":"In September 2021, IWMI implemented a rapid assessment to identify potentials for the establishment of the supply chain. Together with Agricultural Development Division, five kebeles in Lemo woreda were identified for the rapid assessment, including Hayse, Shurumo, Upper Ghana, Dubancho and Jawe. These kebeles were selected as they have a high potential for commercial production. The assessment was administered to 200 households in the five kebeles (when) and data has been organized and prepared for analysis. While the data prioritized avocado production, information on other crops of interest such as garlic and chili was also collected. Interviews with additional stakeholders and information sources was also undertaken with Meki-Batu Cooperative Union at Meki town to understand how they implement GGAP project and create market linkages for irrigated products, and Lemo woreda agriculture office."},{"index":4,"size":41,"text":"A half day workshop was held on July 30, 2021 at Hosanna town, where 36 persons (5 women) participated. Representatives from Lemo agriculture extension office, farmers, cooperatives, and irrigation supply actors attended the workshop. The objective of the workshop was to:"},{"index":5,"size":40,"text":" create awareness about the project, objectives and planned activities;  introduce the concept of contract /agreement-based certified production, and  explain basics of GGAP practices and requirements for certification; and  get feedback and assess interest from key actors."},{"index":6,"size":105,"text":"The participants also discussed how their current production practices align with Good Agricultural Practices and pointed out challenges such as access to inputs, technical and skill gaps, water access, and finance which are discussed in the next section. Also, participants expressed high interest to learn more about certified production and supplying products for high-end markets. Regarding the best way to supply, responses included: being organized and focusing on avocado production, using improved varieties that are high yielding and that have market demand, enhancing production and productivity through improved agronomic inputs and practices, increased water access for irrigation, and creating linkages with other value chain actors."}]},{"head":"Progress of the research work","index":33,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":171,"text":"Initial assessment indicates a good potential for establishing an avocado supply chain in partnership with Greenpath foods -which operates with facilities at Butajira town which is located about 100km from Hosanna and Lemo areas. Opportunities to materialize this include high avocado production potential in the assessed areas including for (Hass) varieties with high market demand, presence of one avocado producing cooperative, high interest in organized commercial production, use of mostly ecofriendly and good agricultural practices, and practical experience by Greenpath foods in a similar setting. Potential limitations are limited access and high cost of key inputs, skill gaps in avocado management, limited irrigation application and use (leading to one round of production/year instead of potentially two harvests), and uniformity of products -as usually a mix of varieties are grown in single plots with a low level of commercialization. In addition, further investigations will be necessary from Greenpath foods to better understand logistics and transportation, cold chain facility requirements, and the suitability of production systems and products to the different consumer markets."}]},{"head":"Capacity building","index":34,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":29,"text":"Activities related to capacity development focus more on surveys and a consultative workshop. A total of 239 beneficiaries were able to engage in the consultative workshop and survey activities."}]},{"head":"Lessons learned and problems encountered","index":35,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":309,"text":"Challenges were identified from observations, surveys, key informant interviews, and the stakeholder consultation workshop summarized as below:  Access-related challenges: Availability and cost of seedlings and materials for seedling production, propagation and multiplication -only few private businesses, trained farmers, and occasionally local agriculture office supply seedlings for a price of ETB 55-125 /seedling, but most are sourced from neighbouring towns and regions. Especially nursery materials are sourced from long distance markets in Debre Zeit and Addis Ababa. In addition to access, a major production constraint given is the high cost of these inputs and materials Water availability (during dry season) and access to technologies for water lifting and application, cost of digging shallow wells and boreholes (about ETB700/metre) were also mentioned by farmers in addition to limited availability of credit services for acquiring inputs and water resource development.  Technical challenges: There are technical skill/information gaps when it comes to avocado production, irrigation requirements, estimating yield, tree management practices and crop protection measures. There is also a lack of local standards for good agricultural practices and product quality. There are also challenges when it comes to irrigation technologies. Lack of awareness, trained manpower, availability of pumps, and services were mentioned regarding solar pumps even though there is a preference for the technology. For treadle pumps, low quality and performance, and high labour demand are challenges.  Production related challenges: At household level, avocado production is mainly for consumption and some for local markets. Most households that participated in the survey had few avocado trees, usually less than 10 trees. These consist of a mix of improved and local varieties, which may be challenging when it comes supplying required volume of uniform variety of products -especially for the export market. Although the region has a high potential for increasing of avocado production, it is still at a low commercial level."}]},{"head":"Success stories","index":36,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":182,"text":"Cropping systems, avocado production and farm management: Generally, crop production is dominated by cereals, root crops and fruits and vegetables (main crops are Avocado, Maize, Wheat, Teff, Barley, Beans, Peas, Vegetable, Enset and other fruits). Avocado production was introduced to the kebeles under different projects including the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) /Africa RISING. Avocado production is a mix of local and improved varieties are grown across farmlands and within farm-lands. Most common varieties are Hass, Itinger, Fruiti, Nabal and Red 30. Farmers practice crop rotation and inter cropping system. Common system is agroforestry/mixed cropping of tree crops like avocado coffee and inset with cereals and root and leafy vegetables. When it comes to fertilizers for fruit production, most producers use a mix of organic fertilizers to maintain soil fertility such as animal and plant residues and compost (even though inorganic fertilizers are used for cereal and some vegetable production). The majority also do not use inorganic crop protection chemicals for fruit production. This could be due to low commercialization of fruit production from these farms and also low disease incidences so far."},{"index":2,"size":122,"text":"Most farmers have access to water for irrigation (shallow wells, rivers) and use manual (water buckets) to irrigate fields, only few have access different types of pumps. Irrigating avocadoes is common in the first 1-2 years of planting, afterwards irrigation is very limited or not undertaken in most cases to save labor and prioritize other crops. Water has been mentioned as key factor in productivity of avocado as those who irrigate harvest two times per year while non-irrigators harvest once. There is no significant land use change in recent history. While most farmers keep mental records of the key farm activities, keeping written records is not common. Overall, most of the farm management and cropping practices are environmentally friendly and seem sustainable."},{"index":3,"size":56,"text":"Market: Most products including avocado are primarily sold to local traders, wholesale and retail markets (in village/kebele markets and the larger markets in Hosanna town). Cooperatives and farmers have limited roles of brokers in the marketing channel. Farmers also mentioned general increases in the market demand and price trend for products including avocado (although sometimes fluctuates)."},{"index":4,"size":157,"text":"Plans/aspirations: While every farmer has the interest to make changes to improve production, productivity, and income, they are not clear how to achieve it (need guidance and support on technical, financial and market aspects). Further, there is a lack of experience and understanding of 'contract' farming, most are highly interested to know more and engage as long as it is legal, and that they get the necessary supports to meet required standards for such arrangements. There is one Farmers Cooperative in Hayse kebele which produced avocadoes for commercial purposes. There is a willingness to switch to different (high value) crops and production systems as long as there is a guarantee, economic benefit is demonstrable, and the risk is minimal. There is also interest to acquire irrigation equipment and increasing productivity. However, there are questions when it comes to investing in equipment. Some expect to get access through some projects, others through long-term credit and some through purchase."}]},{"head":"Integrated landscape management","index":37,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":107,"text":"Ex-ante, scaling and visualization dashboard: As a part of ex-ante, scaling, and visualization tool to identify the most important and best-bet technologies, we have developed similarity recommendation units (SRUs). SRUs are areas where similar land management practices can be recommended because they have similar environmental space in soil, topography, climate, and other features. We used kmeans clustering algorithms to divided landscapes in Ethiopia into homogeneous units. An Elbow method is used to define the optimal number of clusters to be used (Figure 6). In parallel, we have been shortlisting the best-bet SLM and good agronomic practices to upscale from the selected cases to regional and national scales."},{"index":2,"size":96,"text":"In the next couple of months, we will combine SRUs maps with ex-ante modelling of the best-bet technologies to generate a list of recommended technologies and practices for given SRUs. The final maps will be validated at a national workshop with different stakeholders working on natural resource management and forages. Once the maps are produced and validated, we will package and develop an interactive dashboard and visualization tool for users to enable them to extract the best-bet technologies at their area of interest. We will work on this in collaboration with federal and regional agricultural offices. "}]},{"head":"Status of the research work","index":38,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":60,"text":"Figure 7 shows preliminary results attained two ecosystem values for three sites in the Amhara region. Detailed analysis is being done for five representative sites and results will be reported until March 2022. The analysis results will provide quantitative evidence on restoration impacts both in ecosystem service and livelihood options. In addition, monitory valuation of these benefits will be estimated."}]},{"head":"A B","index":39,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":30,"text":"The LandDoc toolbox, as outlined in the previous report, when completed, will provide an automated approach to guide planning, execution, and monitoring of restoration efforts in the country and beyond."},{"index":2,"size":92,"text":"As the tool will be built to assess landscape situations in near real-time and suggest optimal management methods, there is a need to build the system using different modules. The 'hotspot mapping to prioritize areas of intervention' is completed and the scenario-based analysis of allocation restoration options for the defined hotspots is underway. Data and protocol are being prepared to develop the module that will calculate the performances of those interventions and analyse potential trade-offs. Until mid-2022, we expect to finalize the end-to-end pipeline of the toolbox and develop the prototype toolbox."},{"index":3,"size":133,"text":"We have published this scientific paper on the spatial estimation of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration due to sustainable land management, in four watersheds in the highlands of Ethiopia. We have used in-situ data and advanced Machine learning approach to estimate the amount of SOC sequestration and the potential available for sequestration to evaluate the impacts of SLM practices on SOC. The SOC stock in 2010 (before intervention), 2018 (after SLM intervention), target SOC, and achievable SOC have been mapped spatially (Figure 8), which is useful to guide location specific intervention within the landscape. Overall, achievable SOC sequestration potential shows 'a positive gap' in most SLMP watersheds indicating that there is still potential for improvements in terms of retaining more SOC (Figure 8). Details are available in the specified link above.  Capacity building "}]},{"head":"Lessons learned and problems encountered","index":40,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":70,"text":"Most of the SLM practices can provide multifunctional services. However, these services are not quantitatively evaluated and documented comprehensively. This undermines understanding the overall co-benefits of SLM practices and underestimates the gains that can be attained due to landscape restoration efforts. We are thus working to assess the multifunctional benefits that can be enjoyed as a result of SLM practices to inform decision makers and promoting scaling methods and tools."},{"index":2,"size":51,"text":"COVID-19 and the war in the Northern part of the country have undermined some of our workrestricted travelling, restricted workshops/meetings and limited institutional visits. However, we tried to adapt by focusing on activities that do not require travelling and also worked with our local partners to coordinate activities on the ground."}]},{"head":"Capacity development at the project level","index":41,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":69,"text":"The Africa RISING project in the Ethiopian highlands managed to conduct different capacity development programs including training, field visits, field days, workshops and meetings and reached over 4491 beneficiaries in the current reporting period (Table 11). Two PhD and 2 MSc new students were attached to the project during this reporting period, while two students (1 PhD and 2 MSc) graduated. The project has currently 15 students (Table 12). "}]},{"head":"CGIAR centres","index":42,"paragraphs":[{"index":1,"size":27,"text":"22 July 2021: Africa RISING project in the Ethiopian highlands, project coordination team and site coordinators discussed field update on crop development R4D and scaling activities -Virtual."},{"index":2,"size":4,"text":"Africa RISING sites Amhara "}]}],"figures":[{"text":"Photo 4 . Photo 4. Community based early generation seed multiplications of faba bean varieties in the intervention sites in 2021. "},{"text":"8 Field were not selected by farmers "},{"text":"Figure 2 . Figure 2. Trends of project promoted bread wheat and other crop varieties in Bale Zone In South Tigray, partner scaling was done in three districts. Cultivar Danfe was the preferred bread wheat cultivar of BoA in southern Tigray. The project promoted varieties (cvs. Ogolcho, King bird and Wane) were planted during the main rainy season of the current reporting period. Participating farmers "},{"text":" Photo 5. Performance of wheat under different fertilizer treatments and landscape positions at Basona Worena Woreda of North Shewa zone. "},{"text":"Figure 4 . Figure 4. Volumetric soil moisture content of wheat fertilizer trial fields in Basona Worena Woreda at 3 landscape positions. Note: FS = Foot slope, MS = Mid-slope; the abbreviations linked with the landscape are farmers' names. "},{"text":"Figure 5 . Figure 5. Volumetric soil moisture content of wheat fertilizer trial fields in Lemo Woreda at 3 landscape positions. "},{"text":" Photo 7. Direct seeded maize crop in Gudeya-billa woreda. (July 2021). "},{"text":"( Photo 9. Monitoring visit to service provider Getnet in Goshebado, Debre Birhan. (May 2021). "},{"text":"Figure 6 . Figure 6. The number of clusters using the elbow method in K-means clustering (above) and examples of clusters (SRUs) with three different number of classes (below). "},{"text":"AFigure 7 . Figure 7. Spatially aggregated ecosystem service value A) total carbon and (B) pollinator abundance in three watersheds in Amhara region. "},{"text":"Figure 8 . Figure 8. Spatial distribution of SOC stocks (Mg/ha) in 2018 (after SLMP practice interventions), target SOC sequestration level, and achievable SOC sequestration potential in A) Adi Tsegora, B) Yesir, C) Gafera, D) Azuga shuba watershed. "},{"text":"14 - 15 June 2021: Africa RISING Basona site organized training on \"Crowd Sourcing\" (On-farm testing at scale) for farmers from four Kebeles of Basona Worena Woreda. The objective of the training was to equip farmers on the concept of crowdsourcing and how to practically implement the trial on the ground. The training comprises both theoretical and practical sections. A total of 200 farmers from Gudo Beret, Adisgie, Keyite and Wushawshegne Kebeles have participated in the training.6 June 2021: Africa RISING Basona site effectively organized an experience sharing visit on fodder technologies at Angolela Kebele. Development Agents from 14 Kebeles and experts of Basona Worena woreda (district) have participated in the experience sharing visit. Participants visited feeding trough, fodder beet, phalaris grass, elephant grass, tree lucerne and alfalfa fodder related technologies at the backyard of Gebeyehu Tadesse. Most of the DA's were impressed by the integrated feed development practice at the host farmer and promised to replicate the practice on their Kebele.5 September 2021: Africa RISING Basona site and Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Center jointly organized a field day on potato seed multiplication and seed treatment for faba bean gall disease control. The potato seed multiplication activity is a continuation from last year which we use 4.7 tons of tissue culture-originated potato tuber seed. A total of 35 farmers participated on 2.35 hectares of land covered by the technology. Following this participant visited Nobel chemical seed treatment for the control of faba bean gall. office of agriculture, cooperative office, Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Center, Debre Birhan University, district union, Tegulet union, zonal seed inspection authority, experts from eight district offices of agriculture, farmers, DA's attended the field day. "},{"text":"  "},{"text":"  "},{"text":" AcronymsAfrica RISING Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation SNNPR Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region SNNPRSouthern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region SOC Soil Organic Carbon SOCSoil Organic Carbon TAAT Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (program) TAATTechnologies for African Agricultural Transformation (program) BoA TL Bureau of Agriculture Tree lucerne BoA TLBureau of Agriculture Tree lucerne CCAFS ToT CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Training of Trainers CCAFS ToTCGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Training of Trainers CIAT 2-WT International Centre for Tropical Agriculture Two-wheel tractor CIAT 2-WTInternational Centre for Tropical Agriculture Two-wheel tractor CIMMYT USAID International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center United States Agency for International Development CIMMYT USAIDInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center United States Agency for International Development DAP Di-ammonium Phosphate DAPDi-ammonium Phosphate DST Decision Support Tool DSTDecision Support Tool ETB Ethiopian birr ETBEthiopian birr FTC Farmers training centre FTCFarmers training centre ha hectare hahectare HHs Households HHsHouseholds ICARDA International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas ICARDAInternational Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas ICRAF World Agroforestry Centre ICRAFWorld Agroforestry Centre ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics ICRISATInternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics IFPRI International Food Policy Research Institute IFPRIInternational Food Policy Research Institute ILRI International Livestock Research Institute ILRIInternational Livestock Research Institute ILSSI Innovation Lab for Small-Scale Irrigation ILSSIInnovation Lab for Small-Scale Irrigation ISFM Integrated Soil Fertility Management ISFMIntegrated Soil Fertility Management IWMI International Water Management Institute IWMIInternational Water Management Institute Mg Megagram MgMegagram MOU Memorandum of understanding MOUMemorandum of understanding MSc Master of Science MScMaster of Science NGO Non-governmental organization NGONon-governmental organization PhD Doctor of Philosophy PhDDoctor of Philosophy PVS Participatory varietal selection PVSParticipatory varietal selection R&W Rope and Washer R&WRope and Washer R4D Research for development R4DResearch for development RCBD Randomized Complete Block Design RCBDRandomized Complete Block Design RHoMIs Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey RHoMIsRural Household Multi-Indicator Survey SLM Sustainable land management SLMSustainable land management SLMP Sustainable Land Management Program SLMPSustainable Land Management Program  "},{"text":"Table 1 . Table 1 gives details of the beneficiaries by region and household. The project's development partners, based on the research evidence presented from Phase I and 2, coinvested in the scaling initiatives jointly designed around the validated technologies. Africa RISING supported research and capacity development activities but a large share of investment in the scaling process came from development partners. Scaling and R4D initiatives in the 2021 cropping season. Region Zone Number Technology type Male- Female- Total Area RegionZoneNumberTechnology typeMale-Female-TotalArea   of  headed headed HHs (ha) ofheadedheadedHHs(ha)   woredas  HHs HHs   woredasHHsHHs Tigray Southern Tigray 4 Crop, livestock, NRM 4,895 1,447 6,342 2,409 TigraySouthern Tigray4Crop, livestock, NRM4,8951,4476,3422,409 Amhara N Shewa, E and W Gojjam, S Wollo 15 Crop, livestock, NRM 19,406 3,020 22,426 16,148 AmharaN Shewa, E and W Gojjam, S Wollo15Crop, livestock, NRM19,4063,02022,42616,148 Oromia Bale, E Bale, Arsi, E Wolega 9 Crop, livestock, NRM 16,803 4,099 20,902 18,900 OromiaBale, E Bale, Arsi, E Wolega9Crop, livestock, NRM16,8034,09920,90218,900 SNNP Hadiya, Kembata 8 Crop, livestock, NRM 5,475 601 6,076 5,679 SNNPHadiya, Kembata8Crop, livestock, NRM5,4756016,0765,679 Total 11 36 Crop, livestock, NRM 46,579 9,167 55,746 43,136 Total1136Crop, livestock, NRM46,5799,16755,74643,136  "},{"text":"Table 2  . Technologies and respective beneficiaries from R4D     . Technologies and respective beneficiaries from R4D Region Technology type Men HHs Women HHs Total HHs Area (ha) RegionTechnology typeMen HHsWomen HHs Total HHs Area (ha) Amhara Tree lucerne management trial 2 0 2 0.0525 AmharaTree lucerne management trial2020.0525  Oat variety trial 1 0 1 0.0253 Oat variety trial1010.0253 Oromia Desho vetch intercropping 1 0 1 0.0144 OromiaDesho vetch intercropping1010.0144  Desho tree lucerne intercropping 1 0 1 0.0156 Desho tree lucerne intercropping1010.0156  Fodder beet seed production 1 0 1 0.002 Fodder beet seed production1010.002  Oat variety trial 1 0 1 0.0253 Oat variety trial1010.0253  Tree lucerne management trial 1 0 1 0.0125 Tree lucerne management trial1010.0125 SNNP Desho vetch intercropping 0 1 1 0.0144 SNNPDesho vetch intercropping0110.0144  Desho tree lucerne intercropping 0 1 1 0.0156 Desho tree lucerne intercropping0110.0156  Fodder beet seed production 15 3 18 0.18 Fodder beet seed production153180.18  Oat variety trial 1 0 1 0.003 Oat variety trial1010.003 Total  24 5 29 0.3606 Total245290.3606  "},{"text":"Table 3 . Technologies and respective beneficiaries from scaling Technology Amhara   Oromia   SNNP   TechnologyAmharaOromiaSNNP types Men Women Area Men Women Area Men HHs Women Area typesMenWomenAreaMenWomenAreaMen HHs WomenArea  HHs HHs (ha) HHs HHs (ha)  HHs (ha) HHsHHs(ha)HHsHHs(ha)HHs(ha) Oat-vetch 751 38 33.13 889 218 25.00 935 45 9.5 Oat-vetch7513833.13 88921825.00 935459.5 mixture          mixture Fodder beet 63 12 1.42 44 6 0.29 22 8 0.24 Fodder beet63121.424460.292280.24 Feed trough 893 204 1.32 0 0 0 0 0 0 Feed trough8932041.32000000 Vetch 16 0 5.38 264 83 13.82 0 0 0 Vetch1605.382648313.82 000 Tree lucerne 1529 66 101.1 264 83 13.82 0 0 0 Tree lucerne152966101.12648313.82 000    4       4 Alfalfa 0 0 0 91 26 3.72 16 5 0.12 Alfalfa00091263.721650.12 Total 3252 320 142.4 1552 416 56.65 957 53 9.74 Total3252320142.4 155241656.65 957539.74  "},{"text":"seed growers through provision of early generation seeds to ensure future access   "},{"text":"Table 4 . Early generation seeds provided to community seed producers using a revolving seed scheme. Intervention sites Crops Varieties Seed sources Seed Seed quantity Intervention sites CropsVarieties Seed sourcesSeedSeed quantity     class (t) class(t)  Bread wheat Kingbird Ethiopian Seed Enterprise Basic 5 Bread wheat Kingbird Ethiopian Seed EnterpriseBasic5 Maichew Bread wheat Wane Zereta Union Basic 3.5 MaichewBread wheat WaneZereta UnionBasic3.5 Maichew Faba bean Gora Tuka katar C1 5 MaichewFaba beanGoraTuka katarC15 North Shoa Bread wheat Wane Zereta Union Basic 1.5 North ShoaBread wheat WaneZereta UnionBasic1.5 North Shoa Faba bean Numan Tuka katar C1 5.5 North ShoaFaba beanNumanTuka katarC15.5 Bale Bread wheat Wane Zereta Union Basic 2 BaleBread wheat WaneZereta UnionBasic2 Bale Faba bean Numan Tuka katar C1 3 BaleFaba beanNumanTuka katarC13 Bale Durum Bulala Tegulet Union Basic 1.5 BaleDurumBulalaTegulet UnionBasic1.5  wheat     wheat Hosana Faba bean Tumsa Zereta Union Basic 4 HosanaFaba beanTumsaZereta UnionBasic4 Hosana Bread wheat Wane Zereta Union Basic 3.5 HosanaBread wheat WaneZereta UnionBasic3.5 Total 3 6 3 2 34.5 Total363234.5  "},{"text":"Table 5 . Technologies and respective beneficiaries from R4D. Region Technology Male HHs Female HHs Total HHs Area (ha) RegionTechnologyMale HHsFemale HHsTotal HHsArea (ha) Amhara Bread wheat 57 10  29.19 AmharaBread wheat571029.19  Faba bean 70 9  31.5 Faba bean70931.5  Malt Barley 6 1 6 3.5 Malt Barley6163.5 Tigray Bread wheat 135 43 178 58.63 TigrayBread wheat1354317858.63  Faba bean 96 14 110 24.93 Faba bean961411024.93 SNNP Bread wheat 38 5  51.5 SNNPBread wheat38551.5  Faba bean 69 8  30.75 Faba bean69830.75 Oromia Bread wheat 32 4  33.67 OromiaBread wheat32433.67  Durum wheat 70   10 Durum wheat7010  Malt barley 32 0  29.35 Malt barley32029.35  Food barley 5 0 5 3.33 Food barley5053.33  Faba bean 35 3  17.5 Faba bean35317.5 Total 4 645 97 742 323.85 Total464597742323.85  "},{"text":"• It was possible to select food legume varieties released for long rains seasons where some genotypes showed flexibility in their adaptations.• Use of zonal and district level project focal persons was critical in implementing and getting data during the COVID-19 pandemic. • Delayed onset of the short rain in north Shewa and Bale zones affected yield of the tested crop varieties. • Difficulty accessing early generation seeds from research centres (pre-basic and basic seeds).• Faba bean gall disease on faba bean in North Shewa and southern Tigray • High experts turn over at zonal and districts level  "},{"text":"Table 7 . Lists of faba bean varieties introduced through crowdsourcing. ToT) on crowdsourcing research approach, its implementation, and data collection techniques have been conducted at ILRI campus in Addis Ababa for all enumerators who are assigned in each project village. Those trained participants provided training to all farmers at their respective kebeles. In general, 12 enumerators directly and 600 farmers through enumerators abled to receive training. The major objective of the training was to introduce crowdsourcing approach, planting design, data collection, self, and group evaluation techniques. Similarly, it was possible to train enumerators on how to use and apply an open data kit (ODK) for data collection using a smartphone. For this purpose, Bioversity International bought 12 smartphones and delivered them to all enumerators. Delayed release of funds to on timely purchasing of inputs Assigned Varieties Project AssignedVarietiesProject code   code 1 Tumsa Africa RISING 1TumsaAfrica RISING 2 Gebelcho Africa RISING 2GebelchoAfrica RISING 3 Didea Africa RISING 3DideaAfrica RISING 4 Dosha Africa RISING 4DoshaAfrica RISING 5 Numan Africa RISING 5NumanAfrica RISING 6 Ashebeke Africa RISING 6AshebekeAfrica RISING 7 Walki Africa RISING 7WalkiAfrica RISING 8 Gora Africa RISING 8GoraAfrica RISING 9 Hachalu Africa RISING 9HachaluAfrica RISING 10 Moti Africa RISING 10MotiAfrica RISING 11 Dagim Africa RISING 11DagimAfrica RISING 12 Ashenge Africa RISING 12AshengeAfrica RISING 13 Jama local Africa RISING 13Jama localAfrica RISING Durum wheat: it is under evaluation in one location (Sinana), 200 farmers (50 per Village) are engaged, Durum wheat: it is under evaluation in one location (Sinana), 200 farmers (50 per Village) are engaged,  "},{"text":"Table 9 . Summary of treatments based on landscape position for wheat Woreda/ Woreda/ district district  "},{"text":"Table 10 . Number of farmers that received harvesting, threshing, shelling and transport services from 2-WT based activities in different project sites. Documenting lessons learnt and technical brief on mechanization An array of appropriate mechanization has been tested and are now being promoted in different parts of Ethiopia through partnerships involving CIMMYT, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, equipment manufacturing and importing companies, microfinance institutions, and NGOs. During the implementation of projects various lessons were learnt and these have been documented into a technical report submitted to ILRI and a technical brief (https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114524). Region District Farm operation Female Male Total farmers RegionDistrictFarm operationFemaleMaleTotal farmers    farmers farmers  farmersfarmers Amhara Debre Birhan Threshing 21 37 58 AmharaDebre BirhanThreshing213758 Amhara Machakel Harvesting 0 5 5 AmharaMachakelHarvesting055   Threshing 61 243 304 Threshing61243304   Transport 31 16 47 Transport311647 Oromia Gudeya-Billa Shelling 98 227 325 OromiaGudeya-BillaShelling98227325   Transport 8 20 28 Transport82028   Ploughing 1 4 5 Ploughing145   Planting 0 4 4 Planting044 SNNP Hosanna Threshing 10 15 25 SNNPHosannaThreshing101525 Total  230 571 801  Total230571801 (iv)      (iv)  "},{"text":"B Even though the extent of the exercise was affected by COVID-19, key training sessions were organized involving partners at the AR sites and other scaling areas. As a result, various capacity building sessions were organized for local experts and farmers. For instance, there was training given to farmers on irrigation technologies, irrigation agronomy and other ranges of issues such as production quality, productivity, marketing strategies, and the role of unions. In Basona Worena and Doyogena woreda, in collaboration with the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), we have given training on sustainable land management and climate-smart agricultural practices for about 400 farmers. In collaboration with EIA initiative, we have conducted a workshop to capacitate the local experts on good agronomic practices such as fertilizer recommendations and pest management. In collaboration with CCAFS, we have conducted various survey using GeoFarmer tool, the Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey (RHoMIs), and gender survey tools. A total of 2421 local partners benefited from training, field day, workshop and survey activities. As far as long-term training attachment is concerned, 7 PhD and 1 MSc student have been supported through the landscape project.  "},{"text":"Table 11 . Africa RISING capacity development for 2020 (1 April-30 September 2020) Communications and knowledge sharing The main communication channels supported are:  Wiki internal workspace: http://africa-rising-wiki.net/Home  Project updates on the program website: africa-rising.net/category/countries/ethiopia/  A Yammer network with internal updates  Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/africa-rising/sets  Repository: https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/16500 Events from our sites, coordination office and CGIAR partners Coordination office 5 September 2020: Africa RISING project in the Ethiopian highlands, project coordination team and site coordinators discussed data collection and the way forward -Virtual. 6 September 2021: Africa RISING project in the Ethiopian highlands, project coordination team and site coordinators discussed progress update and the way forward -Virtual. 19 July 2021: Africa RISING project in the Ethiopian highlands, project coordination team and site coordinators discussed field updates on feed and forage development activities -Virtual. AR Site Name Activity Farmers Farmers Experts Experts Others Others Total AR Site Name ActivityFarmersFarmersExpertsExpertsOthersOthersTotal   (M) (F) (M) (F) (M) (F)  (M)(F)(M)(F)(M)(F) Basona Field days 127 26 91 23 5 1 273 BasonaField days12726912351273  Meetings 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Meetings0000000  Surveys 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Surveys0000000  Training 182 18 8 2 0 0 210 Training182188200210  Visitors 0 0 6 0 0 0 6 Visitors0060006  Visits 0 0 9 7 0 0 16 Visits00970016  Workshop 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Workshop0000000 Basona Total  309 44 114 32 5 1 505 Basona Total309441143251505 Endamehoni Field days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Endamehoni Field days0000000  Meetings 0 0 12 2 1 0 15 Meetings001221015  "}],"sieverID":"3fc3e8a7-eb73-4543-a603-016d913c17ef","abstract":"Through action research and development partnerships, Africa RISING is creating opportunities for smallholder farm households to move out of hunger and poverty through sustainably intensified farming systems that improve food, nutrition, and income security, particularly for women and children, and conserve or enhance the natural resource base."}