Integrating Nutrition in Value Chains and Smallholder Farming and Marketing Systems:

Case Study from Uganda

Robert Mazurrmazur@iastate.edu

Professor of SociologyIowa State University

East and Central Africa RegionalCAADP Nutrition Program Workshop

Dar-es-Salaam, TanzaniaSerena Hotel

25 Feb. 25 – 1 Mar. 2013

Traditional Farming System

Multiple crops, small areas

Limited inputs & credit

High post-harvest losses

Strive for food and nutrition security

Little marketable surplus

Value Chain System

Focus on one/few enterprises

Some external inputs & credit

Low post-harvest losses

Maintain food and nutrition security

Produce for known market

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Value Chain Transformations

Traditional Farming System

Little contact/linkages (vertical & horizontal)

Limited knowledge of market requirements (quantity & quality)

No quality differentiation

Inefficient storage, transport and market infrastructure and logistics

Low prices

Value Chain (VC) System

Continuous contact & linkages with VC actors

Detailed, direct knowledge of requirements of several different types of markets

Grading & quality control

Improved collection and storage (small/large scale), coordinated transportation

Premium prices for quality3

Value Chain Transformations

Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (SRL) programLong-term Collaboration (2004+) - indigenous NGO, National Ag. Research Org., universities (Ugandan, US)

Train and Support Community Based Trainers (CBTs)

• Crop Production - with low external inputs (current and improved crop varieties, new crops)

• Nutrition (nutrient dense crops – beans, peanuts, grain amaranth, vegetables, fruits), Sanitation/Health

• Institutional Development (collective marketing)

Agroforestry, Microfinance, and AdvocacyApplied Research – agronomy, nutrition and food technology, agricultural extension and training

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Program Context of VC Project

Volunteer Efforts for Development ConcernsIndigenous non-governmental organization (NGO)Community-based rural development support Food & nutrition security and income generationHelp farmers to influence policy and practices

Makerere University, KampalaCrop Sciences, Ag. Extension/Innovation, Agribusiness, Food Technology, Nutrition, Public HealthParticipatory Monitoring and Evaluation

National Crops Resources Research InstituteDevelop germplasm, on-farm experimentsSeed systemsTraining and outreach

Long-term Partnerships

Build on & Contribute to SRLSustainable livelihoods approach reflects asset based community development (ABCD) – assets/capitals: human, social, natural, technology, financial, cultural, political

Understand and building on strengths to address prioritized local issues (no ‘blueprint’ to replicate)

Asset building to enhance diversity and resilience, reduce vulnerability/risks associated with innovation

Research and development (R&D) address identified priority needs: (1) increased production; (2) secure storage of harvested crops; (3) improved diet/nutrition; (4) increased income through collective marketing

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Bean Value Chain Project RationaleCommon beans are most important legume crop in Uganda (5th crop overall), and in Rwanda; women manage the crop

Major source of protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, and micronutrients; crop has good income earning potential

Consumers require: taste, texture, appearance, cooking time

Less than 15% of smallholder farmers’ land (< 5 acres)devoted to cultivation of beans; few were marketing

Limited access to extension, training, inputs, improved agronomic practices, new technologies, credit, market information, links to domestic and regional markets

Poor harvest and post-harvest practices and on-farm storage facilities (damage, disease, weevils, foreign matter)

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Research & Development ObjectivesImprove bean yield and quality of grain/seed(widely grown and newly released varieties)

Enhance nutritional value and appeal through improved post-harvest handling & processing

Identify and promote solutions for constraints to increased marketing and consumption

Increase capacity, effectiveness, sustainability of agricultural research institutions and rural development orgs. in Uganda and Rwanda

$ = USAID Collaborative Research Support Program

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Training and Applied ResearchTraining and applied research with farmers:

Site selection, row and plant spacingTimely weedingCultural and chemical control of bean pestsHarvesting, drying on tarpaulins, threshingMoisture testingSorting and seed selectionAnaerobic storage (jerrycans, triple bags)Germination test

Interactive discussion and demonstrationsGroup and own-farm implementation

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Community-Based Seed ProductionSix project groups (58 women, 9 men) trained in business planning & management, and group dynamicsGroups use Certified Seed, produce and market Quality Approved Seed, scaling up production for local needsEnsures timely local availability of good, reliable seedLocal gov’t certify Quality Seed tradable elsewhereMultiplying: several improved varietiesMembers expanded household and group bean fields –sell to VEDCO, NaCRRI, boarding schools, farmers …Tons purchased from project core farmers for scaling up to other farmers and communities

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Technology/Mgmt. DisseminationExposure visits to NaCRRI and successful marketing and seed producing groups

Conducting field days at research and demonstration sites for other farmers

Training materials (posters, flyers, PowerPoint slides, video clips) refined and translated into local languages

Promoting adoption of improved storage methods and technologies for marketing

Providing initial training and two varieties of improved bean seeds to 850 other farmers

Additional training sessions ongoing

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Training and supporting 51 farmer groups(most members are women)

Improving understanding of market price variation (among traders, markets, seasons)Business planning, record keeping, analysisNegotiation skills to obtain higher prices(price awareness, negotiation, contract adherence)

Multistakeholder value chain forum created(farmer collective marketing groups/associations,government agencies, non-governmental organizations,private sector traders, market information services,transporters, distributors, and processors)

Increasing Marketing Effectiveness

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Optimizing bean processing to maximize digestibility, iron bioavailability and consumer appeal:

Soaking, sprouting, cookingExtrusion cooking

Creating value-added bean-based food products:Composite flours for soup, cooking and bakingWeaning porridge (84-97% EER & 115% RDA protein, 2-3y)Evaluated nutritional, functional & culinary/sensory properties

Enhancing Nutritional Value & Use

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Cold press blended flour dough with metal hand operated extruder, frying in cooking oilTeaching farmers to prepare products, meals

Participatory preparation and demonstrationNutrition and preparation materials developedTrain health counselors, requested by local gov’tIncome earning activity for rural women

Enhancing Nutritional Value & Use

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Enhance private sector collaboration vis. their criteria and processes to develop new productsNutreal Ltd. works with Makerere University’s Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre

Multi-use composite flour selling in 18 Kampala supermarkets Key market for farmers’ beans as production increasesFlour use by rural populations demonstrated and highly acceptable (e.g., porridge, sauce, soups, snacks)

In Rwanda:Africare and World Vision planning to use in soup & meals for children (KIST to assess effect on nutritional status 6m-3y)Entrepreneur (small town) exploring collaboration with KIST

Feedback from research and communities to bean breeder networks on newly released varieties (growing characteristics, culinary and sensory attributes, etc.)

Value Chain Collaboration

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Research and Capacity Building2 Ph.D. students trained at ISU

• Abiotic stress tolerance• Iron bioavailability, extruded products

5 M.S. students trained at Makerere University• Quick-cooking bean flour• Farmers’ market participation

14 B.S. students at KIST and 6 at Makerere• Nutrition vis. pre-processing (soaking, germination, fermentation,

puffing)• Causes and extent of post-harvest losses• Modified storage atmosphere and pests

Link research activities backward and forward to rural development support work of gov’t & NGOs