N2Africa key facts 2015 and learnings 2016

Today

• A total of 97 partnerships have been formed. Partners include private input suppliers, buyers, universities and research institutes and development partners, amongst others.
• A total of 7,961 professionals (36% female) in partner organizations have been trained across topics such as legume agronomy, handling and application of trials, post-harvest practices, data collection using tablets, legume processing and utilization, business plan development and marketing, and credit and savings.
• A total of 257,404 (42% female) farmers has been reached with N2Africa technologies through partnerships’ implementation and capacity building activities.
• 64 media events (e.g., radio talk shows, agricultural shows, TV shows, among others) were organised in all countries.
• A total of 7.96 tons inoculants, 625.2 tons seed and 628.2 tons fertilizer were used on farmers’ main fields.
• 2,000 farmers (56% female) in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda validated labour-saving tools, such as hand-drawn planters, threshers and herbicides.
• Average yield of all target legumes cultivated on diagnostic and demonstration trials in Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda showed an increase after adding P-fertilizer (47%, 32%, 32%, respectively).
• Average yield of bush bean, climbing bean, cowpea and faba bean on diagnostics and demonstration trials increased after adding P-fertilizer (39%, 36%, 32%, 37% respectively).
• The completed Monitoring & Evaluation System collects data on partnerships, dissemination and research and supports the exchange of information and mutual learning. Data has been collected electronically through ODK and are immediately available for analyses.

See for more information: N2Africa Annual Report 2015

Zambezi cruise: The plume of smoke in the centre is Victoria Falls or the Mosi-oa-Tunya (The smoke that thunders) (Photo Charlotte Schilt, 2016)

Focus for 2016

• Identify and connect community based agro-dealers for last mile sales and delivery.
• Strengthen the input supply strategies of specific partnerships to enhance availability and access to inoculant, seed and fertilizer by new farmers and those already reached.
• Integrate market requirements in the partnership implementation plans and country-specific activities.
• Integrate validated labour-saving tools in commercial agro-services to ensure in actual use of the preferred tools.
• Improve quality control of marketed inoculants at the point of farmers’ usage.
• Ensure quality of Monitoring and Evaluation Data, review and improve the M&E System.

Theresa Ampadu-Boakye and Minke Stadler