Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research Jimma Agricultural Research Center

Establishing Community Based Potato Production-Marketing Chain through Gender Empowerment: Networking to Mitigate Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in South-Western Ethiopia

Component 1. Participatory Potato Variety Evaluation on Rural Women Component 2. Launching Ware Potato Production in Jimma and Illuababora Zones Component 3. Establishing Small Scale Potato Micro-Enterprises

Principal Investigators: Berhanu Megerssa, Getachew W/Michael and Deresse Teshome

August, 2011 Jimma, Ethiopia

Establishing Community Based Potato Production-Marketing Chain through Gender Empowerment: Networking to Mitigate Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in South-Western Ethiopia Berhanu Megerssa1, Getachew Wolde-Michael2 and Deresse Teshome3 Background and Justification Gender related constraints reflect gender inequalities in access to resources and development opportunities. Although class, poverty, ethnicity and physical location may influence these inequalities, gender factor make them more severe (Kabeer 2003). Despite significant roles women in agriculture, they continue to have a poorer command over range of productive resources, including education, land, information, and financial resources (World Bank 2001; Odame et al. 2002; Welch et al. 2000). Similarly in the midst of HIV/AIDS epidemic, Ethiopia is classified as next wave countries in SubSahara Africa where the menace has robed economies of productive age groups (Garbus, 2003). The epidemic has bitterly depleted food security and inter-generational knowledge and skills of the community. The problem has therefore compelled the country to offer much attention and diverted resources from productive activities to care for the sick and surviving aftermath of deaths (ECA, 2006). Given sheer size and importance of agriculture to Ethiopia, it is therefore crucial to tackle the impacts through multi-sectoral approach since the above problems are serious threats to socio-economical wellbeings of the community (Pankhurst & Gebre, 2002). But to date, the concerted attention in agricultural sector is too minimal though the threats played depressing role on livelihoods of the farming community (Demeke et al, 2004; HAPCO, 2004). Similarly little has been done by Agricultural Research Institutions to meet the emerging technological needs of vulnerable farmers. In addition, even where appropriate technologies do exist, farmers were not able to access it fervently. With trajectory prevalence rate of 12.6% for HIV/AIDS in 2004, the problems have eclipsed the current focal point and have called for a window of opportunity to address the menace before their debilitating grip on rural livelihood (Sambrook, 2004; UNAIDS, UNICEF and WHO, 2004). Thus, with a shift of paradigm, this proposal is designed to launch a networking towards participatory and integrated technology adaption, dissemination and towards income generation programs. For this reason, adaptable improved potato varieties which can give higher yield per acre of land will be evaluated in

1 2 3

Berhanu Megerssa, Jimma Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Extensionist Getachew W/Michael (B.Sc.), Jimma Agricultural Research Center, Horticulturalist Derese Teshome (M.A.), EIAR, Public Relations Directorate, Director

email bermegber@gmail.com

email derese06@yahoo.co.uk

participatory approach and will play their eminent role in ensuring food security and generating cash for vulnerable households (Gebremedhin et al., 2002; Girma et al, 2004). Absence of any institution to produce and distribute improved seed potato in South Western Ethiopia can also be used as opportunity to instigate the scheme and replace the what. This integrated scheme can enhance the low national yield and hamper the potato virus build up due to the conventional production system which was commonly based on using local seeds from previous harvest and seeds from unknown sources (Berga et al., 1994 ; Kiflu and Birhanu, 2002). General Objective

to keep HIV/AIDS vulnerable community members in productive activity and support them in
taking advantage of new opportunities

Specific Objectives

to launch potato evaluation and multiplication and thereby tackle vulnerability to HIV/AIDS to resurrect food scarcity via increased production of pure and true-to-type potato to improve income levels of these families through sales of surplus garden crops
instigate small-scale income generation activities and satisfy needs and expectations of vulnerable rural and urban communities

Methodology
Component 1. Participatory Potato Variety Evaluation on Rural Women A total of sixty HIV/AIDS vulnerable women farmers will be selected from three rural Woredas of Jimma and Illuababora Zones (Two from Jimma and one from Illuababora). Discussions will be held with farmers, extension workers and researchers; and then the farmers will be organized into three FRGs (each with 10-15 volunteer members). The groups will be supplied with four to six varieties of improved seeds; and management practices like ridging; weeding and fertilizers application will be done accordingly. Evaluation of clones will be conducted in interactive way and best varieties will be promoted into the next stage (i.e. informal seed multiplication scheme at village level). Treadle pumps will be introduced as important mitigation strategy to relieve labour constraints and to extend time of availability of potato at household and community level. Training will be given to these

traditionally overlooked groups to raise their knowledge on seed and ware potato production, income generation, safe and care nutritional needs; coping up with stresses of HIV/AIDS and post harvest technologies (Diffused Light Store). A total of six farmers seed fair will be conducted and community seed banks schemes will be promoted as coping response to strengthen community seed systems. The awareness creation and outreach activities will also be supported by dissemination of pertinent production guidelines, training manuals, leaflets and print and electronics media coverage.

Component 2. Launching Ware Potato Production in Jimma and Illuababora Zones Farmers Research Groups, who have evaluated potato varieties, will be transformed in to informal seed multiplication groups and the composition will be determined based on gender and destitution of farmers. But another three HIV/AIDS vulnerable groups will be established in 3 Kebeles (2 in Jimma and 1 in Agaro cities). Similarly best variety (s) from the first phase will be promoted to this program. Then trainings will be given to raise knowledge of the group members and they initial potato seed will be provided with agreement to pass the same quantity of seed to other farmer for the next season. These endeavors will help to secure the basics of vulnerable households who are frequently sucked into vicious cycle of poverty with reduced food security which in turn caused malnutrition and propensity to engage in risky behavior for survival. Component 3. Establishing Small Scale Potato Micro-Enterprises Stakeholder meeting will be conducted to launch multi-sectoral participation and to minimize repetitive efforts on HIV/AIDS. Clear Terms of Reference (TOR) will be signed to enhance the effectiveness of coordination among partners. A total of three small scale microenterprises will established in three Kebele administrations of Jimma and Agaro Cities (Two in Jimma and one in Agaro). Marketing chains will be made women-friendly manner and vulnerable community members will be empowered through income-generating activities through sell of potato chips and cooked potato salads. Training will also be given to establish micro-finances which can diversify household portfolios in order to strengthen womens weak bargaining position regarding unwanted sexual encounters and bring to an end to commercial or transactional sex. Continuous awareness campaign and leaflets distribution will be held with especial emphasis on high risk events (when commercial sex workers move into the area such as: market days, time of seasonal migration to work on farms, and coffee harvest).

The respective Kebele administrations/ anti-aids Clubs will provide a model cooperative shop for sale of potato tubers, chips and salads. The windows will also be used for social marketing of condoms and to distribute information about HIV/AIDS and pertinent agricultural technologies. Efforts and effective results of these pilot micro-enterprises will be used as role models for scaling up and entry point for mitigation, care and support of HIV/AIDS victim communities.

Action Plan for Establishing Networking for Technology Dissemination

ISSUE ACTIONS STRATEGY ACTORS

1.

Lack of coordination among stakeholders

Strengthen coordination among stakeholders and establish TOR

Facilitate coordination Empower with knowledge, & info. Strengthen information sharing network Integrated Implementation program Monitor & evaluate coordination and upcoming

Local administration Civil society Private sector Communities The media REFLAC NGOs Local govt. REFLAC Private sector NGOs The media Local administration NGOs The media Research

2. Inadequate documentation of successful practices for replication

Proper documentation practices Capacity building

of

Collate existing successful practices

3.

Poor technology transfer and end users needs analysis

information exchange on best practices Strengthen research extension linkages Raise awareness Make technologies accessible/ affordable Strengthen leadership community

Regional consortia of stakeholders to act as depository for best practices in HIV/AIDS intervention Priority setting

Train extension agents Establish adaptive research, demand driven technologies and Group acquisition Empower community leaders Establish/ networks strengthen community

4.

Weak community/ household coping strategies to shocks

NGOs Womens groups

Reinforce successful coping strategies Interaction community leaders among

Farmer association Community members

Promote and document oral history Reinforce utilisation community planning &

Youth groups REFLAC Community NGOs Organisation

Harness communitarian spirit Promote block farming and community gardens School health and nutrition

Underpin transparency & accountability Encourage food production Community mobilisation incentives Food provision to deserving households

5.

Weak Nutrition status

Dvt. partners

Researchers

Expected outputs Networking for technology dissemination will be established among stakeholders.

Sustainable and informal seed supply system is established and farmer to farmer technology Descriptions and code Budget request (birr) 3,000 7,000 42,000 35,000 25,000 32000 8,000 16000 4000 171,000 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

Wages and causal labor (6114) Materials and equipment supplies(6223) Fuel and lubricants for vehicles (6217) Agricultural inputs seeds, fertilizers and chemicals (6221) Perdiem (6231) Trainings and material expenses Visits and field days Maintenances and repair of vehicles Transport fees(6232) Allowance Total budget request dissemination mechanisms is demonstrated Farmers are encouraged in selection of technologies that would satisfy their need. The performance of released potato varieties is assessed under farmers field. Unity and Social relation among farmers is reinforced. Improved seed adoption and diffusion rate among farmers is enhanced Technology for improving agricultural productivity and market will be affordable Capacity building will undertake with HIV/AIDS context Quality of life will be improved through income-generating activities Dialogue forums, trainings and community radios & publications will be in place.

Budget required Duraton (s): 2012-2013 Location (s): Budget description and code Principal investigator: Coinvestigators: Host Institution: Collaborative Institutions Berhanu Megerssa, Getachew Wolde Michael and Derese Teshome Tamirat Dibaba, Addisu Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research Respective Zonal and Woreda Agricultural Offices, HIV/AIDS secretariat, Women, Youth Offices, NGOs (Plan International, USAID, Faya Integrated Community Dvt. World Vision, Techno Serve, OSSA Sigmo, Gera and Dedessa

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