Report from Brenda Tsungai Manenji who conducted her MSc research in Zimbabwe in 2 regions: Murehwa, an area with high agro-ecological potential, and Mudzi, an area with low agro-ecological potential.

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In this MSc research by Greta van den Brand, legume technology niches were identified through detailed system characterization, with the use of a farm typology to deal with the large diversity in smallholder farms. The results of farm characterizations, covering diverse farm types in Mchinji and Salima district in central Malawi, were used to gain insights in the possibilities of legumes to improve nutrition, livelihoods and soil fertility.

The N2Africa acknowledges the importance of women in agricultural production, household food security and income. The project recognizes that in aiming to ensure long-term sustainable impact it is of crucial importance to address explicitly the needs of women farmers, processors and marketers and to develop specific strategies for meaningful inclusion of women in project activities to ensure women benefit from the project.

This issue of the Podcaster reports on results from the research work stream. We have some interesting findings showing really stunning responses to inoculation and phosphorus in some countries with soyabean, although such responses are not found everywhere. The baseline studies are now available from most countries and are providing some interesting insights into gender and legume use. We include reports from MSc students who have conducted their research thesis work within the N2Africa project.

Agronomic trials conducted for two seasons in East and Central Africa and for one season in West and Southern Africa are yielding interesting results. We have observed a lot of variations in crop yields within treatments, between farms and across agro-ecological zones. We attribute this huge yield variation with the existing soil fertility and management gradients as well spatial and temporal environmental differences. For example, at Mushomo site in-DRC soybean yields in the control treatments varied enormously between different farmers; from 200 kg/ha to 2500 kg/ha.

Alastair Simmons from UK based Strategic Communications, Project and Knowledge Management Consultancy, Taskscape Associates Ltd has joined the project as the acting work stream leader for Project Administration and Communications. Last year Alastair directed some videos to promote and explain the work of the project: and in February this year he facilitated the Annual Project Meeting in Harare. Here he explains briefly, why he believes good communication is key to the success of N2 Africa.

When we launched the N2Africa newsletter in 2010 we ran a competition to give the newsletter a name. At the N2Africa planning meeting in February that was held in Harare, we were delighted to present a beautiful book entitled "Legumes of the World"  to Professor Barbara Maasdorp, a forage legume specialist from the University of Zimbabwe who came up with the name N2Africa Podcaster. For those of you without a strong botanical background - the definition of a legume is a "plant with a pod" so we found the name highly appropriate.

The months of March and April earmarked the harvesting season in Zimbabwe and farmers who participated in the N2Africa Project showed their appreciation and how much they gain the project by organising field days in their respective Districts and wards. 

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La femme rwandaise a été, depuis longtemps, victime d’une série d’injustices sociales générées par des lois, tant coutumières que modernes, qui la plaçaient dans une position d’infériorité par rapport à l’homme. Bien que, sur le plan juridique, certains changements ont été opérés dans le but de permettre à la femme rwandaise de jouir des mêmes droits que l’homme, force est de constater que beaucoup de femmes ignorent, jusqu’à présent, cette évolution des temps et du droit positif rwandais en leur faveur.