IFDC

An update on the work and progress of IFDC

FEATURED ARTICLES10 Years of Progress in Kyrgyzstan/KAED Project Featured in USAID’s FrontLines

IFDC’s Africa Divisions Begin New Projects

IFDC Leads the Quest for ‘Intelligent’ Fertilizer

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Volume 36, No. 4ISSN 0149-3434www.ifdc.org

Women make up the vast majority of the world’s poor and more than half of the world’s illiterates are women. Also girls represent the majority of school-age children not in school. Caretakers of the family, women bear much of the responsibility for meeting basic needs, but they have more difficulty accessing the information and resources necessary to care for their families. IFDC staff members believe that building women’s capabilities and addressing gender inequality are crucial to transforming the lives of poor women and their families. When women are empowered, society benefits – family members are healthier, more children are able to go to school, agricultural productivity improves and incomes increase.

“At least half of the planet’s 900 million subsistence farmers are women. The progress in helping these women do what they do better is far too slow,” said Margaret Catley-Carlson, patron of the Global Water Partnership and member of the IFDC board of directors. “Property issues impede her ability to get credit; social and decisional systems exclude her; and the basics of life – water and primary education – are too often not at hand. Fortunately, there is a whole new array of mechanisms that show promise: using crops as an asset for credit; building networks that must reach the rural farmer if the network itself is to thrive; and getting seeds, agro-inputs and market access information to her. These things will help. Political leaders could help more.”

EurAsia DivisionIFDC promotes gender equity in its projects, trainings and policy development. In Bangladesh, the Improved Livelihood for Sidr-Affected Rice Farmers (ILSAFARM) project was gender-sensitive. Even though the vast majority of farm households are headed by men, ILSAFARM set a target of 10 percent female participation for all activities. By project’s end in December 2010,

IFDC Core Competency: Gender Equity is Key to Feeding the Hungry

Bangladeshi women attend a training workshop to become better farmers and entrepreneurs.

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IFDC Report is a quarterly publication of IFDC. Unless otherwise noted, printed material published in the IFDC Report is in the public domain and may be freely reproduced. Source acknowledgment and a copy of any reproduction are requested. Subscriptions are free and an electronic version is also available at www.ifdc.org.

IFDC is a public international organization, governed by a board of directors with representation from developed and developing countries. The nonprofit Center is supported by various bilateral and multilateral aid agencies, private foundations and national governments.

IFDC focuses on increasing and sustaining food security and agricultural productivity in developing countries through the development and transfer of effective and environmentally sound crop nutrient technology and agribusiness expertise.

EXECUTIVE EDITORScott Mall

EDITORLisa Thigpen

CONTRIBUTORSKetline Adodo, Anna Brasher, Clyde Beaver, Jean-Claude Bidogeza, Hiqmet Demiri, Courtney Greene, Ishrat Jahan, Philip Karuri, Jean-Pierre Kisamare, Jyldyz Niyazalieva PHOTOGRAPHERSDalil Batyrov, Abdul-Mojeed Olakunle Dabiri, Rob Groot, Aimé Kikuru, Scott Mall, Danielle Mbesherubusa, Albert Toose

DESIGNHeather Gasaway

PRODUCTION COORDINATIONDonna Venable

DISTRIBUTIONJane Goss and David Wright

IFDC BOARD OF DIRECTORSM. Peter McPherson (USA), Board ChairGerard J. Doornbos (Netherlands), Vice ChairMargaret Catley-Carlson (Canada)Josué Dioné (Mali)John B. Hardman (USA)Osamu Ito (Japan)Agnes M. Kalibata (Rwanda)Patrick J. Murphy (USA)Mortimer Hugh Neufville (USA)Rhoda Peace Tumusiime (Uganda)Vo-Tong Xuan (Vietnam)

IFDC PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERAmit H. Roy - Ex Officio Member

SECRETARY TO THE BOARD/IFDC LEGAL COUNSELVincent McAlister - Ex Officio Member

IFDC

IFDC Divisions: EurAsia (EAD) East and Southern Africa (ESAFD) North and West Africa (NWAFD) Research and Development (RDD) Acronyms: AGRA - Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa CASE - Competitive Agricultural Systems and Enterprises COMESA - Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa DGIS - Netherlands’ Directorate-General for International Cooperation FDP - Fertilizer Deep Placement FTF - Feed the Future ha - hectare(s) ISFM - integrated soil fertility management MoU - Memorandum of Understanding mt - metric ton(s) REC - regional economic community SFSA - Support for Food Security Activities USAID - U.S. Agency for International Development VFRC - Virtual Fertilizer Research Center

IFDC Signs Five-Year MoU with Syngenta FoundationIFDC and the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA) recently signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on supporting agricultural technologies and services to help smallholder farmers increase crop production significantly and sustainably.

Specifically IFDC and SFSA will collaborate on activities related to seed system development of non-hybrid crops. The organizations will promote investments in plant science and product delivery systems (such as strengthened national seed industries) to underpin the goal of increased productivity.

In addition, IFDC and SFSA may cooperate in the provision of business development services, technical assistance and research and development collaboration to realize the objectives of the MoU.

Marco Ferroni, the executive director of the Syngenta Foundation, also is on the board of advisors of the Virtual Fertilizer Research Center (VFRC), which was created by IFDC in 2010 to coordinate the development of the next generation of fertilizer technologies. He and Ian Barker, the Foundation’s head of agricultural partnerships, attended the recent meeting of the Africa Committee of the IFDC board of directors. Ferroni provided an overview of SFSA and discussed the MoU. “There are opportunities for SFSA and IFDC to work together in Africa to better the lives of smallholder farmers across the continent,” Ferroni stated.

In response, IFDC President and CEO Dr. Amit Roy remarked, “I agree with Marco. The Syngenta Foundation’s expertise in seeds, coupled with IFDC’s expertise in fertilizers is a powerful combination. We will seek opportunities to use our respective expertise on behalf of Africa’s farmers.”

Marco Ferroni, executive director of Syngenta and member of the VFRC board of advisors.

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EAD

The Kyrgyz Agro-Input Enterprise Development (KAED) Follow-On project and its predecessors (KAED and KAED II) were featured in the November/December issue of the FrontLines newsletter, published by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

IFDC launched its activities in Kyrgyzstan in 2001 through the USAID-funded KAED project, which supported the development of agro-dealers and increased agricultural production by encouraging the use of improved technologies in the Ferghana Valley. Activities eventually shifted to advance agro-input market development in northern Kyrgyzstan and to integrate agricultural markets nationwide.

According to FrontLines, “The successes of the KAED and KAED Follow-On projects have transformed the program into a household name throughout the country.”

The Follow-On project was formed through a USAID Global Development Alliance. “The alliance serves as a prime example of how public-private partnerships can address food security issues through increased agricultural productivity,” said Dr. Hiqmet Demiri, KAED chief of party. “KAED hopes its successes will serve as a signal to others in the region and lead to new public-private initiatives that address food security needs.”

The project is now working with 34,000 farmers who are planting USAID-funded improved crop varieties and an additional 80,000 farmers who are adopting better farming and animal care practices.

The FrontLines article can be found at 1.usa.gov/rtUbjC.

2011 Marks 10th Anniversary of IFDC in Kyrgyzstan

Ubaidulla Abdullaev, agronomy and animal husbandry manager, demonstrates improved agricultural technologies during a KAED field day.

Participants at a KAED field day.

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IFDC President and CEO Dr. Amit H. Roy (third from left) met with representatives of Eurasia Group – Kyrgyzstan, including Business Development Manager Tatyana Mussorina (far left), Deputy Director General Elena Yanbaeva (second from left) and Director General Omer Doganci (second from right). Hosting Roy’s visit are KAED Follow-On project staff – Chief of Party Dr. Hiqmet Demiri (far right), Education Program Manager/Government Liaison Officer Djahongir Djumabaev (third from right) and General Manager Alisher Kasymov (center). John Deere® farm machinery is seen in the background. John Deere® is a U.S.-based company that sells farm equipment around the world. It is involved in a public-private partnership with the KAED Follow-On project through the USAID Global Development Alliance.

Roy Visits Successful KAED Project in Kyrgyzstan

Roy (right) examines corn on the Tri-T poultry farm of Timur Kavun (background in cap) in northern Kyrgyzstan. KAED General Manager Alisher Kasymov looks on.

KAED Follow-On staff with IFDC President and CEO Dr. Amit Roy.

AAPI Project Hosts USAID Officials

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AAPI Project Participates in Feed the Future InitiativeThe USAID-funded Accelerating Agricultural Productivity Improvement (AAPI) project is placing emphasis on the U.S. government’s global hunger and food security initiative known as Feed the Future (FTF). FTF activities will be implemented in the south and southwest regions of Bangladesh, coinciding with the Government of Bangladesh’s focus on reviving agricultural production in the south. Intensification of rice production, diversification of agricultural production, building the capacity of farmers and small enterprises to create market linkages, building research capacity and strengthening extension services are part of the FTF program and consistent with AAPI strategies.

As a key partner in the FTF initiative, AAPI is scaling up its activities. An operational plan was approved that will place over 1.2 million hectares (ha) of land used for rice production under fertilizer deep placement (FDP) technology by March 2013.

Significant progress has been made in the first year of AAPI’s implementation with more than 829,000 farmers directly benefiting from FDP, resulting in an average increase of 20 percent in rice yields with one-third less use of high-cost nitrogen fertilizer. Micro-enterprise entrepreneurs have invested their own funds on a cost/share basis to procure more than 300 fertilizer briquette machines to meet farmer demand for Guti urea. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agricultural Extension are fully supportive of FDP technology diffusion and engaged in the target areas, providing information on FDP to farmers. The momentum established in the first year of AAPI suggests that significant progress can be made in extending the diffusion of FDP to other key agricultural areas in Bangladesh with similar benefits accruing to farmers that adopt the technology.

The Scale-Up Plan will target 107 upazilas (sub-districts) in 20 districts in conformity with the FTF strategy and will maintain regular intervention in the Mymensingh region (17 upazilas in two districts). AAPI will continue to address demand- and supply-related factors concurrently to achieve rapid demand growth and supply efficiency. The Scale-Up Plan will also collaborate with other USAID-funded projects – Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) and Poverty Reduction by Increasing the Competitiveness of Enterprises (PRICE).

On October 23, the AAPI project hosted visiting USAID officials from Washington, D.C. Dina Esposito, director of USAID’s Food for Peace program; Paul Novick, senior Food for Peace officer; Amy Sink, Bureau of Food Security acting team leader; and Ananta Hans-Cook, Asia Bureau desk officer, visited AAPI beneficiaries. Participating from the USAID/Bangladesh mission were Richard Greene, mission director; Ramona el Hamzaoui and David Yanggen, Economic Growth office; and Aniruddha Roy, site officer. The site chosen for the event was the Rakudia village in the Babugonj upazila, Barisal district. The village has 150 ha of cultivable land with 250 farm households, 30 of which are headed by women. The main crops grown during Aman (summer) and Boro (winter) seasons are rice, pulses, vegetables and bananas. FDP is being used on more than half of the area during the current Aman season.

Delegation from USAID visited AAPI project beneficiaries in the Barisal region.

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ESAFD

New IFDC Projects in East and Southern AfricaIFDC activities will soon begin in the new nation of South Sudan through the Seeds for Development (S4D) project developed by the South Sudan Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and funded by USAID and the Howard G. Buffet Foundation through the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). IFDC is also providing support across the region through new projects in Ethiopia and Tanzania.

Seeds for Development (S4D) in South Sudan, 2011-2013While about 85 percent of the South Sudanese population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods, most grow only enough food to survive. Very few use agro-inputs (fertilizers, seeds and crop protection products) or have experience treating agriculture as a commercial enterprise.

In May 2011, USAID, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, IFDC and AGRA signed a communiqué to formalize their joint commitment to promote food security and the development of the agricultural private sector in South Sudan. Following the signing of the communiqué and in light of a looming food crisis, IFDC and AGRA are supporting the S4D project, which will help transform agriculture in South Sudan from traditional subsistence farming to a scientific, market-oriented, competitive and commercial agricultural system.

IFDC will help farmers learn about the benefits of using high quality seed and mineral fertilizers and how to increase their productivity and incomes. A major component of the project will be a voucher program to increase farmers’ access to much-needed agro-inputs and to build business for rural agro-dealers. S4D will commercialize the agricultural value chain, harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit of agro-input dealers, seed companies, farmers, food processors and bankers.

For example, IFDC and the Agricultural Market Development Trust (AGMARK) recently provided assistance to six agro-input supply companies to participate in the country’s first agricultural trade fair, which was organized by USAID. IFDC and AGMARK established and managed a model agro-dealer shop at the fair to demonstrate the types of farm products and services that agro-dealers offer.

Agricultural Growth Program – Agricultural Marketing Development (AGP-AMDE) Project in Ethiopia, 2011-2015The agro-input sector in Ethiopia faces a number of constraints including low rates of private sector participation in fertilizer importation. The goal of the AGP-AMDE project is the long-term reduction of poverty and hunger through improvements in the productivity and competitiveness of value chains that offer

income opportunities for rural households. The project isimplemented by ACDI/VOCA and funded by USAID under the FTF initiative.

As a member of the ACDI/VOCA Support for Food Security Activities (SFSA) team, IFDC will help build agro-input supply and distribution systems and facilitate farmers’ access to and use of inputs. IFDC will also support the development of private sector agribusinesses to produce and market seeds. Additional activities include training programs on agro-input market development, natural resource management and value chain clusters; international learning tours for agro-input suppliers; field days and demonstrations to facilitate technology and information transfer; and annual agro-input policy workshops.

Staples Value Chain (NAFAKA) in Tanzania, 2011-2015While the agricultural sector in Tanzania is expanding, more than 40 percent of the population lives in areas where erratic rainfall causes recurring food shortages. To increase food security in the country, the NAFAKA project will improve the competitiveness and productivity of the maize and rice value chains while expanding the benefits from this growth to women, youth and other vulnerable groups. The project is implemented by ACDI/VOCA and its SFSA team and funded by USAID under the FTF initiative.

IFDC will work with agro-input suppliers, producers and financial institutions to strengthen the availability of quality agro-inputs and to demonstrate their proper use at the farm level. Other IFDC activities include strengthening the maize and rice seed supply; promoting technologies for increased production; conducting ‘training of trainers’ programs on integrated soil fertility management (ISFM); introducing and expanding market information systems; and assisting the Tanzanian government and other stakeholders to create an enabling policy environment for agro-input use.

H.E. Anne Itto, South Sudan’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry; Dr. Amit Roy, IFDC president and CEO; Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID administrator; and others visit a crop demonstration field in South Sudan.

SEW Project Participates in National Tree Day Events in Conjunction with the UN’s International Year of Forests, 2011

The Sustainable Energy Production through Woodlots and Agroforestry in the Albertine Rift (SEW) project focuses on improving the availability of and access to sustainable energy in the Albertine Rift (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] and Rwanda). The SEW project, funded by the Netherlands’ Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), is improving agricultural intensification through improved soil fertility, product marketing and a decrease in competition between food and energy production.

National Tree Day events were held in October in the DRC’s North and South Kivu provinces in support of the United Nations’ International Year of Forests, 2011. Tree seedlings were distributed to the many participants. North Kivu’s Minister of the Environment, Chantal Rugenera Kambimbi, participated in the event and praised reforestation efforts. Reforestation activities are vital to the livelihoods of many in the Albertine Rift region.

National Tree Day events were also held in Rwanda in November and in Burundi in December.

SEW is currently contributing to reforestation in the three project countries by promoting productive planting on private farm plots. To guarantee increased productivity, high-quality seedlings are necessary. The seedlings are dependent on: 1) access to quality seed for planting in a nursery; 2) good nursery management practices to ensure sturdy seedling development; and 3) proper transplanting of a seedling to the farmer’s plot followed by good management practices by the farmer (e.g., weeding) to promote survival of the seedling.

In order to increase tree growth, farmers should also use fertilizers; and SEW demonstration plots are used to educate growers about fertilizer. In 2010, 30 metric tons (mt) of phosphate rock fertilizer were imported from Tanzania and used on SEW demonstration plots. The effort will continue through 2012, with fertilizer being applied two weeks before planting.

SEW staff members pay close attention to key technical aspects so that seedlings are healthy and tree plantings are conducted under optimum conditions. In order to achieve this, an unusual approach was implemented in the area – labor-intensive work (HIMO) on private land. This contributed to an increased quality of planting and helped reduce poverty by providing short-term job opportunities. HIMO is recognized by both Burundi and Rwanda as a poverty reduction mechanism.

SEW has also sponsored workshops to raise awareness about the importance of reforestation. Charcoal is a primary cooking fuel in Burundi, the DRC and Rwanda. Traditional methods of charcoal production are energy-inefficient, resulting in higher rates of tree loss and environmental damage from charcoal production. SEW has introduced improved kilns and production

techniques that increase the amount and quality of charcoal while using less wood and causing less environmental damage. Tree growers understand the need to integrate the value chain and link it to charcoal markets in order to have competitive prices for both trees and charcoal.

SEW also is promoting cooking stoves that use less charcoal in cities and less wood in rural areas. This effort will reduce overall wood consumption and also lessen pollution.

In Burundi and DRC, SEW is introducing more energy-efficient brick kilns because traditional kilns consume large quantities of wood and produce more environmental damage. The new kilns use less wood during the brick-making process.

In the long-term, SEW will help improve the biomass energy balance in the Albertine Rift by encouraging people to plant trees and by reducing wood consumption through the introduction of a variety of energy-saving technologies.

DRCA student in the DRC’s North Kivu province was proud to participate in the tree planting event in October.

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NWAFD

IFDC Develops Sustainable Value Chains and IncreasesProfitable Agriculture in West Africa

The global food crisis sparked by the surge of oil and commodity prices in 2007-2008 accentuated the need for West African countries to base their poverty and hunger reduction strategies on regional agricultural production and consumption solutions. Through two key regional economic communities (RECs) – the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) – West African governments pledged to make agriculture a lever for regional integration.

IFDC supports UEMOA and ECOWAS in implementing their regional vision of a sustainable and profitable agricultural sector based on productive family farms and viable agricultural enterprises. Working through national and regional projects, IFDC contributes to increases in productivity and the competitiveness of West African agriculture.

Developing Efficient Value Chains Through Agribusiness Clusters

IFDC implements a holistic approach to promote productive, sustainable and market-oriented agricultural systems. In West Africa, agribusiness clusters are created around profitable crops such as maize, soybeans, shea butter, fish and honey. These clusters bring together all the stakeholders that can further the development of efficient value chains – farmers, agro-dealers, transporters, processors, traders, bankers and other service providers. A value chain links the numerous steps along the ‘chain’ that a product takes from the farmer to the ultimate consumer.

Through the From Thousands to Millions (1000s+) project, IFDC partnered with both public and private organizations to

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Harvesting rice in West Africa.

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promote agribusiness in seven West African countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo. These partnerships resulted in 218 agribusiness clusters working to develop sustainable and profitable commodity value chains. Over 700,000 farmers and thousands of small enterprises have seen their incomes increase and living conditions improve.

Linking Farmers to Markets

Sustainable agricultural intensification needs a carefully assembled strategy that links the highly diverse farming systems of smallholder farmers to specialized supply chains, strengthens the competencies of the various participants and also addresses the fundamental causes of market failure. One of the most successful methods IFDC has used to increase the number of farmers moving into commercial agriculture is Competitive Agricultural Systems and Enterprises (CASE).

Using the CASE solution, smallholder farmers are integrated into local, national, regional and global value chains organized around specific crops or commodities. IFDC not only helps strengthen and professionalize producers but supports growth in agro-inputs, the transportation infrastructure and the processing and marketing industries that facilitate agribusiness expansion and strengthen value chains. The AGRA-funded Linking Farmers to Markets (FtM) project facilitates this process in northern Ghana

Because markets play a central role in agricultural development, IFDC focuses on linking farmers to local and export markets through increased collaboration with the private sector in project development and implementation.

Improving Access to Agro-Input Information

Among the major constraints to increased and efficient use of agro-inputs is a lack of technical and market information. IFDC has helped the RECs set up a regional agro-input information system to ensure farmers’ access to timely, reliable information related to input quality, best practices, prices and benefits.

In the framework of the MIR+ project, a data collection network has been established in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal. Data on seeds, fertilizers and crop protection products are collected from 120 agro-dealers and 63 enumerators and posted on the Réseau des Systèmes d’Information des Marchés Agricoles de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (RESIMAO). The data are collated and disseminated through multiple channels including short message services and rural radio programs. Monthly fertilizer price reports are produced with data from over 100 collection points. This initiative is expected to be extended to all West African countries in 2012.

Creating a Favorable Policy Environment for Agricultural Input Market Development

Regulating supply and demand for agro-inputs and formulating effective cross-border trade policies are critical steps to create an enabling environment for competitive agro-input production and trade. These are among the objectives of the MIR+ project.

The liberalization of fertilizer procurement and distribution in the region without adequate regulatory instruments encourages the circulation (within and between countries) of short-weight, nutrient deficient, misbranded and/or adulterated fertilizer products. With technical support from IFDC, ECOWAS and UEMOA initiated the process to harmonize national legal frameworks for fertilizer quality control with an emphasis on truth-in-labeling for fertilizers traded in the region.

IFDC also helped finalize a number of implementing regulations related to seed certification and pesticide registration, which are to be adopted by ECOWAS statutory bodies. IFDC also helps harmonize national legal frameworks for the production and trade of seeds and pesticides.

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(Continued on Page 10)

Healthy produce in a Ghanaian marketplace.

André de Jager (left), acting director of IFDC’s North and West Africa Division, visiting agro-dealers in Kano State, Nigeria.

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Enhancing Agro-Input Accessibility

Quality agro-dealer services and networks Ensuring timely access to quality agro-inputs at reasonable prices for farmers and their organizations is a major challenge in most African countries. IFDC seeks to improve fertilizer supply and distribution systems by strengthening the technical and managerial capacities of agro-dealers and facilitating their access to credit to ensure timely provision of quality inputs to smallholder farmers.

Smart subsidiesThe New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)commissioned a study of fertilizer subsidy programs in eight African countries. According to NEPAD, subsidizing agro-inputs was one response by governments to the world food crisis. But many subsidized products do not reach farmers and government subsidies tend to crowd out the emerging private sector. IFDC has introduced the voucher program, a system for administering subsidies for agro-input procurement and use. This program uses trained private sector agro-dealers to put subsidized inputs in the hands of the targeted beneficiaries, enabling them to enter the market economy. The voucher program has been successfully implemented by IFDC in Nigeria where more than 16,000 mt of mineral fertilizers were distributed to 171,000 farmers in four states in 2010, with

private sector sales totaling $10.6 million. IFDC informs and promotes this market-friendly approach to national and regional policymakers.

Updating Fertilizer Recommendations in West Africa

Most recommendations for fertilizer use in West Africa were written decades ago and are obsolete. Moreover, they are standardized and uniform regardless of the diversity of soils, crops, cropping systems and/or the changing context in which smallholder farmers are operating.

IFDC initiated efforts to revise fertilizer recommendations in Benin, Burkina Faso and Ghana, focusing on staple crops (sorghum, maize and cassava) and other important crops including cocoa. The work was based on quantitative modeling and spatial tools to simulate crop growth and generate crop- and site-specific recommendations using tools such as the Quantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) and the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer - Geographic Information System (DSSAT-GIS). With technical support from IFDC and other partners, ECOWAS and UEMOA are now supporting a concerted effort to define an action plan for updating national fertilizer recommendations for key crops in the region.

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Sustainable Value Chains (Continued from Page 9)

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ISFM practices in use on a maize field.

Policy Proposal in Nigeria Will Increase Use of CassavaTo use cassava more effectively and eliminate excess cassava in the market, the Federal Government of Nigeria has proposed reviving a policy and enacting legislation that bakeries use 10 percent cassava flour in their products. While Nigeria is the world’s largest cassava producer, the use of cassava in food, beverage and commercial products has not been maximized and its farmers remain among Africa’s poorest.

Scott Wallace, IFDC country representative in Nigeria, believes that the proposed policy will boost both cassava production and utilization. IFDC’s Cassava Plus project is teaching project-affiliated farmers new production techniques that improve cassava yields. “We are helping these farmers move from

subsistence production to smallholder commercial production,” Wallace said. “They are learning how to maximize yields while lowering costs.”

IFDC’s partner, the Dutch Agricultural Development & Trading Company (DADTCO), is providing project farmers a guaranteed market for their produce. Cassava spoils rapidly after harvest. To reduce the time and cost of transporting cassava to the processing factory, DADTCO is sending autonomous mobile processing units (AMPUs) to three locations near participating farmers’ fields in Taraba State. The AMPUs perform the first stage of processing; the resulting cassava ‘cake’ is taken to DADTCO’s factory in Jalingo for further processing.

Promoting Innovative Agricultural Technologies in West Africa

IFDC introduced FDP, a technology that has great potential for boosting rice production. When farmers use FDP, they place supergranules of fertilizer (either urea or a combination of fertilizers) several centimeters deep in the soil to improve nitrogen use efficiency, which results in much greater yields while using less fertilizer and reducing environmental damage. ECOWAS and UEMOA are strongly committed to supporting a regional effort to promote FDP technology across West Africa. IFDC promotes ISFM for the sustainable intensification of West African agriculture. ISFM combines the use of mineral fertilizers with organic soil amendments (crop residues, compost and green manure) and other improved crop, soil and water

management practices to increase agricultural productivity while protecting the environment and maintaining or enhancing the soil resource base. Master trainers from 13 West African countries are disseminating theoretical and practical knowledge about ISFM within the region. IFDC’s collaborative work with UEMOA and ECOWAS has helped change policies and activities to advance regional integration in West Africa.

Successes in West Africa over the past 20 years prompted IFDC and its partners to disseminate ISFM and CASE approaches in East and Southern Africa within the framework of a continent-wide initiative to improve food security and rural livelihoods.

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RDD

Leading the Quest for Intelligent Fertilizer

In one of IFDC’s science labs are (left to right): Dr. Rick Austin, coordinator of Analytical Services; Dr. Sabesh Kanagalingam, senior research project leader; Danny Brown, laboratory analyst; and Job Fugice, Jr., laboratory analyst.

For years, research institutions and private enterprises have vigorously studied and developed more efficient seed varieties, more effective crop protection products and better soil fertility practices – all in a collective effort to enhance global food production. But the aggressive advancement of one technology, until recently, was missing from that list – ‘smarter’ fertilizer products, designed to act and react based on environmental conditions and plant growth cycles.

There are many companies and organizations conducting research and development (R&D) on new fertilizers for commercial, high value crops in highly developed markets. In contrast, IFDC, and in particular its Research and Development Division (RDD), is leading research efforts to develop efficient and affordable fertilizers specifically for the developing world’s smallholder farmers.

“It takes some weight off your shoulders knowing that your market focus is not a moving target,” said John Shields, interim director of RDD. “We’re developing products for smallholder farmers in developing countries – a group with very specific needs – and that keeps us very focused on our mission.”

Dr. Sabesh Kanagalingam was recruited two years ago to serve as IFDC’s senior research project leader to support the organization’s fertilizer technology development efforts. He

previously served as the innovation specialist for Agrium’s Environmentally Smart Nitrogen (ESN®) controlled-release fertilizer. ESN® is the world’s largest volume smart fertilizer product in the broad acre crop sector (excepting China).

“IFDC’s facilities make technology development as efficient as any private enterprise – and in many cases more so,” said Kanagalingam. “We have the research labs and greenhouses to validate promising technologies, and we have the pilot plants to validate manufacturing feasibility. It’s all here on the IFDC campus, which dramatically speeds up the development process.”

The ‘magic bullet’ sought by Kanagalingam and other IFDC scientists is what he more formally refers to as “intelligent fertilizer.” According to Kanagalingam, any given technology may get only one opportunity to win over smallholder farmers. “Farmers in the developing world have very little to spend on agro-inputs. We may convince them to try it for one cropping season, but if the results aren’t measurable, we may lose them for good. Keeping that in mind, we must develop products that minimize farmers’ risks, are user-friendly and are as fail-safe as they possibly can be.”

However, there’s no such thing as fail-safe when it comes to agriculture. Unforeseen drought and flooding are a way of life

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for farmers across the globe. The lack of a timely and affordable supply of agro-inputs, although improving in many areas, continues to hinder widespread improvements in crop yields. And there’s the question of affordability on smallholder farmers’ very limited incomes. But IFDC’s R&D team is not daunted by those challenges. In fact, the challenges are the very inspiration for the team’s development efforts.

“There are already products in the world that demonstrate that ‘smart technology’ is a reality,” said Kanagalingam. There is one maize seed variety on the market that has been genetically engineered to maintain yield stability under drought conditions. “The response to the extreme weather events varies as to when the stress occurs during the crop life cycle and the fertility of the soils.”

Even a decade ago this might have seemed more like science fiction than science fact – at least to the layperson. “We’ve reached a time in history when our understanding of what is possible in technology development can be used to counter real-world issues – flood, drought, decreased land availability, greenhouse gas emissions, low soil fertility and so on.” There is endless potential.

The introduction of more intelligent fertilizers would also serve to complement ISFM programs. Just as ISFM techniques are customized to specific soil conditions in targeted regions, in theory, intelligent fertilizers can also be customized to specific soil and crop needs. Kanagalingam said, “In a perfect world, a smart fertilizer could help ensure the success of ISFM efforts, even if a farmer misses one or two steps in the soil fertility management process.”

But even if a wide assortment of new intelligent fertilizers were to hit the market today, farmer acceptance is still an issue. According to Kanagalingam, the traditional practice in international agricultural development is to ‘push’ the technology to the farmer – spending time and resources convincing smallholders that a given technology will be useful to them. “We need to rethink our marketing strategy with regard to smallholder farmers. We need to get word of the technology out ahead of the product itself – build interest and excitement about what the technology can do when it becomes available to them.”Kanagalingam declined to discuss specific IFDC technological advancements made in the last 24 months (due to IFDC’s confidentiality rules), but he did indicate that he is pleased with the progress being made. And he was quick to note other agronomic research efforts outside of IFDC.

“Although we may be the only major institution focusing on this area of development, there are many talented scientists around the world focusing on the same problems we are. This is why I’m excited about the VFRC, which is designed to remotely connect researchers working on similar technological solutions around the globe. “

Like other research organizations, IFDC seeks grants to sustain its technology development efforts. “Although the VFRC was created by IFDC, our team is not guaranteed funding. We have to demonstrate, just as other groups do, that the technology we are pursuing is worth substantial investment,” said Shields. USAID has provided initial funding for the VFRC, with other nations and NGOs expected to follow suit.

“The VFRC represents an amazing new opportunity for advancement in our profession,” said Kanagalingam. In its purest sense, the Center allows scientists who are working on similar technologies to move from competing for funding to collaborating on research. The structure and scope of the VFRC creates an environment that ensures the best ideas are fast-tracked in the development process.

The VFRC has been called a potential game-changer. In a recent interview, Shields noted, “There have been very few major advancements in fertilizer technology in the past 30 years. Most of the agricultural technology advancements over that time have been in the areas of seeds and crop protection products. Even advancements in ISFM have outpaced fertilizer development.”

But Shields pointed out that this has begun to change over the last several years. “The VFRC is a clarion call to the world’s fertilizer development experts that the time is now to develop the

fertilizer that will be needed to help feed over nine billion people by 2050. The Center is looking for innovation – game-changing ideas. And that call to action fits perfectly with IFDC’s ongoing core mission,” Shields said.

No matter what the source of these new technologies – whether from IFDC’s intelligent fertilizer research team or from other groups recruited through the VFRC – substantial advancements are essential to the future of agricultural intensification in the developing world. And with scientists around the globe working together for this common cause, targeted advancements and new innovations are inevitable.

“We’re developing products for smallholder farmers in developing countries – a group with very specific needs – and that keeps us very focused on our mission.”

- John Shields IFDC Interim Director of RDD

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The VFRC board of advisors met October 30-31, 2011, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The 14-member board represents a broad spectrum of international experts in the fields of agriculture, fertilizer, food security, sustainable development, soil science and international philanthropy.

The VFRC is an IFDC initiative to foster the development and commercialization of the next generation of fertilizers and production technologies to help feed

the world’s growing population and provide sustainable food security.

The VFRC is a global solution to a global problem and will comprise the work of multiple research institutions and business entities cooperating to advance a unified technology agenda to improve fertilizers.

It is expected that the VFRC’s global mission will be endorsed and supported financially by multiple international donors. USAID recently provided a second round of VFRC funding.

Major outcomes of the meeting include the re-appointment of the board of advisors; the appointment of the Executive, Science and Commercialization committees; and the appointment of Sanjib Choudhuri as executive director of the VFRC. At the meeting, the board of advisors also reviewed a

preliminary program of new technology development priorities. The Executive Committee is chaired by Dr. Jimmy Cheek. Dr. Rudy Rabbinge serves as the vice-chair. Other members include Mark Huisenga, Peter McPherson, Prof. Dr. Ruth Oniang’o, Dr. Juergen Voegele and Dr. Prem Warrior. The Science Committee is chaired by Rabbinge, and also includes Dr. Marco Ferroni, Dr. Renfang Shen and Ajay Vashee. The Commercialization Committee is chaired by Warrior, and also includes Mark Huisenga, Assétou Kanouté and Luc Maene.

Choudhuri will lead a small team of VFRC staff based in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the VFRC, he was senior vice president for global strategy, marketing and business development at JohnsonDiversey, a $3 billion global developer and supplier of specialty cleaning and hygiene chemicals and systems for institutional facilities and food and beverage production plants. He also held senior positions at DiverseyLever, Molson Companies, McKinsey & Company and Procter & Gamble.

For more information about the VFRC, visit its new website (www.vfrc.org). The site includes a VFRC overview, short biographies of the board, news and contact information.

Sanjib Choudhuri, executive director of VFRC

VFRC Holds Third Board of Advisors Meeting

Inaugural meeting of the Virtual Fertilizer Research Center board of advisors, held at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. From left to right: M. Peter McPherson, Dr. Amit Roy, Dr. Roelof (Rudy) Rabbinge, Dr. Marco Ferroni, Dr. A.K. Singh, Dr. Juergen Voegele, Assétou Kanouté, Ajay Vashee, Honorable Prof. Ruth Oniang’o, Mark Huisenga, Dr. Renfang Shen and Dr. Prem Warrior. Not pictured are Dr. Jimmy G. Cheek and Luc Maene.

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TRAINING

IFDC has held specialized training sessions around the world since its inception in 1974. In those first years, sessions were often led by one or two IFDC agricultural experts traveling to train one or two industry professionals on a quiet hillside or in a small room in a remote village. Over the last three decades, these trainings have become more sophisticated, with nearly 700 formal workshops, study tours and specialized training programs for almost 10,000 participants representing 150 nations. Despite that growth, the purpose of the training programs has remained the same – to disseminate real-world agricultural production technologies and marketing strategies to professionals who will utilize them as they make their own contributions to sustainable food security.

2011 proved to be a notable year for IFDC’s Training and Workshop Coordination Unit (TWCU), which organizes five to seven of these training programs annually. There was a 198 percent increase in overall attendance compared with 2009 and a 59 percent increase over 2010. Also of note is the 298 percent increase in the number of nations represented at training sessions over the past two years.

“I think the recent increases in attendance at these trainings shows a recognition by industry professionals that continuing education is critical to their success,” said Dr. Paul Wilkens,

an IFDC scientist and trainer at several of the programs. “The fertilizer value chain is rapidly changing. The trainings provide updated information on fertilizer production, value chain development, marketing and policy that’s hard to find anywhere else.”

While all programs over the last two years have been well attended, the “Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer” (DSSAT) program in May stood out as the largest group ever for a training program held at IFDC. “We originally planned to hold the training at our headquarters,” said Timothy Karera, TWCU director. “But the number of registrants was so high that we had to utilize facilities at a local college.”

Karera also has high expectations for the 2012 international trainings. “We will conduct eight trainings in seven countries on highly relevant topics that will meet the expectations of participants involved in increasing agricultural productivity and improving food security in the world.” 2012 training topics range from improving net returns among smallholder farmers to fertilizer production alternatives. A complete 2012 international training calendar can be found on the IFDC website and on the back page of this newsletter.

Specialized International Training Attendance Doubles:2011 Increase Shows Continuing Education is Essential for Fertilizer Industry Professionals

Training participants tour the greenhouse facilities at IFDC headquarters in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA.

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An Update on IFDC and VFRC Board Member ActivitiesIFDC and VFRC are governed by international boards with representation from both developed and developing countries. Highlights of recent board member activities include:

Margaret Catley-Carlson, patron of the Global Water Partnership and an advocate for international water and development issues, gave a presentation on the “New Worlds of Water” as part of the 2011 World Food Prize Laureate Lecture Series held in October in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The lecture discussed measures to mitigate increased water scarcity resulting from population

and development growth. In some regions of the world, water withdrawals are exceeding natural supply.

Catley-Carlson also moderated a conversation on “The Greening of Agriculture” during the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue. The discussion sought solutions to reduce the negative impacts caused by agricultural intensification, particularly soil and water depletion and loss of biodiversity.

Innovations proposed to improve the sustainability of agriculture included drip irrigation, improved soil management practices, integrated crop-livestock systems, biochar and FDP. Catley-Carlson called FDP a “win-win-win-win” because it reduces run-off, increases plant growth and reduces costs for farmers and governments.

Panel experts included Dr. Kwesi Atta-Krah, deputy director general, Bioversity International; Dr. Daniel Hillel, senior research scientist, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Columbia Earth Institute; Dr. Rattan Lal, professor of soil science, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University; Dr. Sahr Lebbie, Africa area vice president, Heifer International; and Dr. Johannes Lehmann, chairman of the board, International Biochar Initiative.

Catley-Carlson has been a member of the IFDC board of directors since 2006. She chairs the board’s Budget Committee and serves on the Executive and Audit committees.

On September 26, 2011, Dr. Jimmy Cheek, chancellor of the University of Tennessee (Knoxville), presented an overview of the VFRC to the board of directors of The Fertilizer Institute. Cheek emphasized the vital role of the fertilizer industry in ensuring global food security and the importance of investing in new fertilizer research. The VFRC’s vision is that the world’s smallholder farmers

have ready access to sustainable, affordable, efficient and environmentally friendly fertilizer technologies.

Through Cheek’s leadership, the University of Tennessee is focused on improving the student’s educational experience, enhancing faculty research and scholarship as well as outreach and service. UT Knoxville is currently ranked as a Top 50 public institution.

Cheek has been the chairman of the VFRC board of advisors since its creation in 2010. He also chairs the board’s Executive Committee.

Dr. Agnes Kalibata has been reappointed the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame. “Never change a winning team!” Kagame said during the cabinet swearing-in ceremony.

Since Kalibata’s appointment in 2009, Rwanda has become food secure. The maize, rice and wheat

value chains have experienced tremendous progress during her tenure. Under Kalibata’s leadership, all 30 districts in Rwanda now produce enough food to meet their needs, and more than half produce enough surplus food to generate income. Rwanda’s national budget devoted to agriculture is growing, which is consistent with the country’s commitment to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP). Rwanda was the first country to adopt CAADP.

Kalibata previously served as State Minister and Secretary General of MINAGRI and also managed a World Bank project in Rwanda. She has been a member of the IFDC board of directors since 2008. She chairs the board’s Africa Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee.

Prof. Dr. Ruth Oniang’o has been reappointed the chairperson of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), an international agricultural development NGO. SAA improves the productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers by encouraging the adoption of higher-yielding varieties and enhanced production practices.

Oniang’o is a professor of nutrition at the Great Lakes University of Kisumu (Kenya) and the founder and editor-in-chief of the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND). She is also the founder and leader of the Rural Outreach Programme, a Kenya-based NGO that supports

Margaret Catley-Carlson

Dr. Jimmy Cheek

Dr. Agnes Kalibata

Prof. Dr. Ruth Oniang’o

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resource-poor farmer groups engaged in production and agro-processing at the community level. Oniang’o also served as a member of Kenya’s Parliament from 2003 to 2007.

Oniang’o was a member of the IFDC board of directors from 2002 to 2008 and served as chairperson of the Africa Committee and as a member of the Executive and Program committees. She has been a member of the VFRC board of advisors since 2010 and serves on its Executive Committee.

A symposium on “Food Security: The Role of Research from International and Wageningen Perspectives” was held November 24, 2011, to mark the occasion of Prof. Dr. Rudy Rabbinge’s retirement as professor of Sustainable Development and Food Security at Wageningen University. Following the symposium, Rabbinge gave his farewell address, “Perspectives in Hindsight.”

During his 40-year career, Rabbinge has led various missions and agricultural programs in developing countries. He was chairman of the Science Council and Partnerships of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and is a member of the AGRA board of directors. Rabbinge is also a former member of the Senate of the Netherlands Parliament.

In addition, Rabbinge was a member of the IFDC board of directors from 1996 to 2006. He served as the vice chairman of the board, chairperson of the Program Committee and a member of the Executive Committee. He has been a member of the VFRC board of advisors since its founding in 2010 and serves as the vice chairman of the board. He is also a member of the Executive and Science committees.

On October 31, 2011, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime welcomed delegates to the celebration of the 2011 Africa Food and Nutrition Security Day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “Food and nutrition security is the foundation of survival and health…” said AU Chairperson H.E. Jean Ping.

The theme of the event was “Investing in Intra-African Trade for Food and Nutrition Security in Africa.” Tumusiime said, “Investing in intra-African trade, within the CAADP context, is a high-impact intervention needed to enhance agricultural transformation from farm-to-table, and throughout the value chain, to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving hunger and poverty by 2015 in Africa.”

Tumusiime and Dr. Josué Dione, director of the Food Security and Sustainable Development Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, participated in a high-level panel discussion. Other panelists included Elisabeth Atangana, president of the Pan African Farmers’ Organization; Dr. Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo, senior nutrition officer for West Africa for the World Health Organization; Dr.

Shenggen Fan, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute; and Dr. Noel Marie Zagre, senior nutrition officer for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Tumusiime has been a member of the IFDC board of directors since 2010. She serves on the Africa Committee. Dione became a member of the IFDC board in January 2011 and also serves on the Africa Committee.Prof. Dr. Rudy Rabbinge

H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime

Dr. Josué Dione

IFDC Honored with Induction into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame IFDC has been notified that the organization will be inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in the “Corporation/Institution” category. The ceremony will be held February 18, 2012, in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. Steve Holt, president of the Shoals Area Chamber of Commerce, based in Florence, Alabama, and Curtis Lewey, president of Applied Chemical Technology, also based in Florence, nominated IFDC for this honor.

“Speaking on behalf of IFDC and the board of directors, we are very pleased that the organization will be inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame,” said Dr. Amit Roy, IFDC president and CEO. “We are proud that IFDC is being recognized for the important work that we do and the significant contributions that the organization is making, not only in the areas of agricultural development but also the research and development that go into improving fertilizer technologies that are changing the lives of smallholder farmers the world over.”

According to the description from its website, “The Engineering Hall of Fame is governed by a 20-member board of directors. This body establishes the criteria for selecting inductees, and determines the eligibility of candidates and how these candidates shall be elected to the Engineering Hall of Fame. All candidates must meet criteria established by the board for each category.“

Core Competency (Continued from Page 1)

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this target had been achieved in six of seven activities. In only one monitored activity – training of urea briquette producers – was participation of women below 10 percent. This was because women in Bangladesh play a lesser role in business (especially the fertilizer business) compared to men, particularly in rural areas. ILSAFARM was funded by USAID.

The AAPI project is also facilitating opportunities for women. A 20 percent target was set for female participation and it has been met. In 2010, 222 meetings were held with 8,979 farmers; 1,794 (20 percent) of those were women. Women are being encouraged in micro-enterprise development, such as owning briquette machines. Interest in entrepreneurship has increased due to the success of other women briquetters.

“In Bangladesh, women comprise half of the rural population. But inaccessibility to and control of resources, services and decision-making inhibit female participation in development project activities. These agricultural activities, access and

control patterns are shaped by structural factors (demographic, economic, legal and institutional) and also by cultural, religious and attitudinal factors,” said Ishrat Jahan, scientist-economist and IFDC resident representative. “Despite these constraints, we succeeded in bringing a large number of women into IFDC project activities. We adopted an approach of encouraging the wife, sister, daughter or mother of the farmer to actively participate in the dissemination of innovative technologies like FDP. This approach has proven very successful.”

East and Southern Africa DivisionThe Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is a REC comprised of 19 African states. COMESA’s Regional Agricultural Inputs Program (COMRAP) is a two-year project, funded by the European Union Food Facility Program. As a facilitating partner, IFDC is implementing COMRAP’s agro-dealer development component. The project is training 5,760 agro-dealers and 2,000 agro-dealer agents. As of June 2011, 5,126 agro-dealers and 1,600 agents have been trained across

Improved methods of charcoal production are increasing income opportunities for rural women.

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eight countries. Of those trained, 2,253 are women. In addition, 114 trainers (including 32 women) received training of trainer instruction. They will now train agro-dealers and agents in their respective countries.

The Catalyze Accelerated Agricultural Intensification for Social and Environmental Stability (CATALIST) project, funded by DGIS with oversight by the Royal Embassy of the Netherlands, is a five-year regional project implemented by IFDC and numerous partners. The project began in 2006 and has promoted agricultural intensification to help reinforce peace and increase environmental stability in the Central African nations of Burundi, DRC and Rwanda. CATALIST is promoting the adoption of new technologies, coupled with increased access to and use of agro-inputs. Recognizing that women are the backbone of agriculture in the region, CATALIST has worked to transfer information and technology to women as well as men smallholder farmers. Of the more than 250,000 farmers trained by the CATALIST project, almost 50 percent have been women.

“One of the things that really strikes me about the women involved in the CATALIST and SEW projects in Central Africa is their hope for a better future despite the years of war and its associated horrors,” said Dr. Deborah Hellums, IFDC senior program support specialist and program leader – agro-economics research program. “Many of them live in areas ravaged by civil war, but together they organize and forge ahead, adopting the information and technologies promoted by IFDC to improve crop yields and to sell their produce in local markets. They are totally focused on making life better for their families, especially for their children.”

The Livelihoods and Enterprises for Agricultural Development (LEAD) project, funded by USAID, is helping to raise rural agricultural productivity and incomes for smallholder farmers in Uganda. Utilizing the value chain approach to agricultural development, the project improves productivity through training and access to quality agro-inputs, and increases trade capacity and market competitiveness by building better market linkages. More than 1,250 agro-dealers have been trained by the project and 77 percent of those were women. LEAD is making a difference in the lives of Ugandan women and their families.

North and West Africa DivisionThe West Africa Cotton Improvement Program (WACIP) has increased incomes for male and female farmers, for both cotton and non-cotton crops by raising yields and improving agro-input use efficiency. During 2009-2010 the project trained 836,348 people, with 333,952 of those women. Training to assess and manage biotechnology‐ and biosafety-related risks and issues of genetically engineered cotton was provided to 4,023 people, of which 1,036 were women. WACIP also addressed improving the quantity, variety and quality of cotton products to increase incomes of cotton processors – ginners, artisans and textile industry workers. WACIP trained 1,319 artisans (1,072 women) and introduced the artisans to international design experts who helped them develop new textile products that were showcased at international fairs in New York and Ouagadougou. The project

also assisted artisans in Mali to develop appropriate textile technologies and provided hand-held carders, a traditional tool used to prepare cotton for spinning, to more than 1,000 women.

The Développement Economique à la Base par les Pôles d’Entreprise Agricoles (DEB-PEA) project in Mali organized training in business development and agro-input distribution in rural areas. In 2010, there were 10,789 participants, and 46 percent were women.

The Strategic Alliance for Agricultural Development in Africa (SAADA) project, funded by DGIS, was comprised of three parts. The 1000s+ project, implemented in seven countries in West Africa, came under the umbrella of SAADA-A. The 1000s+ project signed almost 1,000 business agreements among nearly 6,000 producer organizations (including 2,660 women’s groups). 1000s+ successfully changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of men and women farmers. Women were given the tools to make better lives for themselves and their families. SAADA-C addressed agricultural intensification combined with a holistic approach to socio-agricultural issues such as gender equity, resource conservation, HIV/AIDS, school food programs and conflict prevention, across multiple projects.

A cotton artisan with a hand carder in Mali.

(Continued on Page 20)

New ProjectsIFDC has been included in two new projects in Ethiopia and Tanzania (see page 6). USAID awarded a five-year food security contract to the ACDI/VOCA SFSA team, a consortium of several food security and agricultural development organizations, including IFDC. The AGP-AMDE project will promote the value chain approach to boost agricultural growth and incomes for Ethiopian farmers. IFDC’s role in both projects is to improve agro-input supply and distribution systems and equip farmers with the incentives and capacity to use these inputs.

One of the cross-cutting areas for AGP-AMDE is gender equity. In Ethiopia, women account for 60-80 percent of food production; agricultural output potentially could increase by 15-40 percent just by providing women with assets equal to those of men. The project will give priority to ensure that interventions include appropriate levels of participation by women as beneficiaries, agents of change and project partners.

The SFSA team (including IFDC) recently launched the USAID-funded NAFAKA program to boost food security in Tanzania. The intent is to work with farmers (especially women) in the maize and rice value chains to build farmers’ incomes and improve rural families’ access to diverse and nutritional foods.

IFDC recognizes the critical role that women play in agriculture around the world. Dedicated and determined women serve as beacons of hope for many poor rural villages. They are often the sole providers for their families and are usually faced with the difficult balance of work and childcare along with the care of other family members.

In service to these women, IFDC projects and initiatives continue to focus on gender equity, female farmer and agro-dealer training, land use rights, social and financial equity and policy reform.

According to the United Nations’ World Food Programme, women produce between 60 and 80 percent of food in most developing countries. Observed October 15, the International Day of Rural Women is an annual opportunity to recognize and support the multiple roles that these women play, most notably as farmers and small entrepreneurs.

“To commemorate the 2011 International Day of Rural Women, it is appropriate to remember the late Wangari Maathai. Her great work in the areas of biodiversity and environment while involving Africa’s rural women stands out and will remain alive forever,” said AU Commissioner and member of the IFDC board of directors Rhoda Peace Tumusiime. “Africa’s daughters and granddaughters have Maathai’s contributions to look to for generations to come.” The first African woman to receive a Nobel Peace Prize, Maathai is best known for empowering village women to plant trees throughout Kenya.

“The role of women in agriculture worldwide is so crucial to household food security and child nutrition, yet women’s immense local knowledge often goes unrecognized, unutilized and unappreciated. Every mother wants to see her child healthy and her family happy,” said Prof. Dr. Ruth Oniang’o, member of the VFRC board of advisors. “She wants to have the ability and knowledge to access and farm land, to harvest and process the produce and to be able to feed her children a healthy diet.

We must begin to channel resources to women’s programs in a meaningful way, supporting local initiatives and organizations

and also targeting women-led NGOs. Rural women must lead the way in ensuring household food security and eradication of hunger. Rural women in agriculture matter.”

Representing over a quarter of the world’s population, rural women greatly contribute to both the well-being of their families and the development of rural economies. IFDC salutes these women for their commitment to improve their lives while assisting the world to improve food security.

Core Competency (Continued from Page 19)

International Day of Rural Women

Rwandan women planting trees during National Tree Week.

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The Primary Nutrients in Plant Growth: Secondary and MicronutrientsIFDC has released “The Primary Nutrients in Plant Growth: Secondary and Micronutrients,” the final in a series of five videos that focus on fertilizer and its importance to growing healthy and bountiful crops. Narrated by John Shields, interim director of IFDC’s Research and Development Division, the video describes the role of secondary and micronutrients in plant growth. Earlier videos in the series covered an introduction to fertilizer and overviews of the primary nutrients – nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).

The series will be packaged for distribution to high schools, colleges and agricultural extension services as well as to educational websites and agricultural development policymakers. The goal is to gain broad exposure among those interested in agriculture and plant science.

Cassava Revolution“Cassava Revolution” is an innovative documentary demonstrating how a public-private partnership is transforming cassava production into a commercially viable enterprise. The film showcases the Cassava Plus project in Nigeria, a joint effort of IFDC and the Dutch Agricultural Development & Trading Company (DADTCO). Cassava Plus helps smallholder farmers shift from subsistence to commercial cassava production by linking them to value-added markets. The film was produced for IFDC by Communicating for Change.

Our Land, Our Future“Our Land, Our Future” follows farmers in Central Africa as they learn to sustainably increase crop production through the use of ISFM. The film was directed and produced by Dr. Toon Defoer for IFDC through his production firm, MOOV-ON. The 90-minute film with French subtitles is available at IFDC’s Video Gallery. A 10-minute version in English can be found at dai.ly/isfminafrica. The full-length film with English subtitles will be available soon.

Urea Deep Placement: Hope for Food Self-Sufficiency in West Africa“Urea Deep Placement: Hope for Food Self-Sufficiency in West Africa” showcases the introduction and expansion of UDP technology in the region. UDP was introduced in Africa in 2009 after its effectiveness had been proven in Bangladesh and other Asian countries. The technology is a more efficient and environmentally responsible method of fertilization than the traditional practice of broadcasting urea. In addition, UDP increases crop yields.

Videos produced about IFDC and its projects can be found at IFDC’s Video Gallery (www.ifdc.org/Media_Info/Video_Gallery).

In related news, Farming First has launched “The Story of Agriculture and the Green Economy,” an animated video that highlights how agriculture can help build a global green economy, including increased food production, more efficient water use, improved livelihoods and increased resources to benefit women smallholder farmers. The video can be viewed at the Farming First website at www.farmingfirst.org/green-economy/.

IFDC Releases New Videos

Wageningen University Hosts Global Science Conference on Climate-Smart Agriculture Over 160 participants from scientific institutions, universities, governments, international organizations, farmer organizations, the private sector and civil society from 38 countries convened at the Global Science Conference on Climate-Smart Agriculture (GSCSA) in Wageningen, Netherlands, October 24-26.

The conference identified scientific priorities that will lead to climate-smart agriculture. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations defines climate-smart agriculture as “agriculture that sustainably increases productivity and resilience (adaptation), reduces/removes greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) and enhances achievement of national food security and development goals.”

The GSCSA’s Executive Committee was chaired by Prof. Dr. Rudy Rabbinge, former vice chairman of IFDC’s board of directors and current vice chairman of the VFRC board of advisors. Dr. Jean-Claude Bidogeza, postdoctoral scientist in IFDC’s East and Southern Africa Division, also attended. Bidogeza noted that “fertilizer” was not mentioned often by the keynote speakers or participants as one of the key ingredients that could close or reduce the yield gap in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Bidogeza believes that more advocacy work needs to be done on fertilizer use in SSA and that conferences such as the GSCSA are good platforms for IFDC to share experiences about how its work impacts the lives of smallholder farmers.

The University of California, Davis, USA, will host the GSCSA in 2012.

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IFDC Board of Directors and Africa Committee Meet in Nairobi, Kenya

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Members of the IFDC board of directors (from left to right: Josué Dioné, Vo-Tong Xuan, John Hardman and Pat Murphy) listen to a report during the meeting.

Members of the IFDC board of directors (Margaret Catley-Carlson and Osamu Ito) at the board meeting.

ESAFD Director Rob Groot (left) with IFDC board members Gerard Doornbos and Rhoda Peace Tumusiime at the opening of ESAFD’s expanded office space in Nairobi.

Patrick Heffer, director of agriculture service at the International Fertilizer Industry Association, makes a point at the meeting of AfricaFertilizer.org partners.

IFDC board members (from left to right) Pat Murphy and Margaret Catley-Carlson, CATALIST project Chief of Party Henk Breman, board member Agnes Kalibata, IFDC President and CEO Amit Roy and ESAFD Director Rob Groot celebrate Breman’s selection as the Chairman’s Outstanding Internationally Recruited Staff Award recipient in 2011.

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IFDC staff members (from left to right) Richard Jones, Corky Snipes, Kelly Kelley and Charles Ngutu (rear) listen during a staff meeting held prior to the IFDC board of directors meeting.

Jason Scarpone, president and CEO of the Africa Fertilizer Agribusiness Partnership, attended the meeting of AfricaFertilizer.org partners.

P.O. Box 2040 Muscle Shoals, AL 35662 USA

NONPROFITORG.

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

FLORENCE, ALPERMIT #525

PRINTED MATTER

Phone: +1(256) 381-6600Fax: +1(256) 381-7408Website: www.ifdc.orgE-mail: general@ifdc.org

Training Program

Linking Farmers to Markets in Africa (conducted in French)

Improving Agricultural Productivity and Net Returns Among Smallholder Farmers Through Efficient Use of Nutrients and Water (in Partnership with the Agricultural Research Organization Volcani Center)

Technology Advances in Agricultural Production and Fertilization

Decision Support Tools for Agricultural Production, Fertilizer Recommendations and Climatic Variability

Increasing Agricultural Input and Output Trade Through Innovative Market Information Systems in Africa

Designing and Implementing Agro-Input Marketing Strategies in Developed and Developing Countries

Fertilizer Granulation and NPK Production Alternatives

Developing and Managing Profitable Agro-Input Business Through Sustainable Value Chains

Dates

April 9-13

May 6-10

June 18-29

July 2-13

August 27-31

October 8-19

November 12-16

December 3-7

Location

Bamako, Mali

Tel Aviv, Israel

USA (Alabama, Missouri, Illinois and California)

Arusha, Tanzania

Nairobi, Kenya

USA (Alabama, Missouri and Washington, D.C.)

Bangkok, Thailand

Accra, Ghana

Program Fee (USD)

$1,300

$1,600

$1,900

$1,300

$1,300

$1,900

$1,600

$1,300

2012 International Training Calendar