FARA policy briefs
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://aaspace.org//handle/20.500.14659/59
Browse
Item Item Item Eliminating the Health and Economic Effects of Aflatoxins: The Holistic Approach(FARA, 2020-04) Omari, R, Tetteh, E. K., Adams, A. & Baah-Tuahene, S.Item Aflatoxin Control in Food and Feed: The Policy Options for Ghana(2020-05) Omari, R, Tetteh, E. K., Adams, A. & Baah-Tuahene, S., & Karbo, R. TItem Item Item Strengthening Knowledge Partnerships in African Agriculture(2022-04) Abugri B., Brandner A., Mbigidde V., Issa F.O., Humulane A., Yeboah M., and Hinckley E.Item Organizational Knowledge Management Professionalization(FARA, 2022-04) Abugri B., Brandner A., Asiimwe E., Baijang L., Bappa M., Arunga P., and Abdulai Z.Item Strengthen Knowledge Management Competence Centres to drive the Transformation of African Countries into Knowledge Societies(FARA, 2022-04) Abugri B., Brandner A., Asiimwe E., Baijang L., Bappa M., Arunga P., and Abdulai Z.Item Fake News and Misinformation on the Agriculture Sector(2022-04) Abugri B., Brandner A., Atsu P., Kabuya D., Mvubu B. and Waleling A.Item Knowledge Management (KM) Awareness(FARA, 2022-04) Abugri B., Brandner A., Atsu P., Kabuya D., Mvubu B. and Waleling A.Item Strengthening Agriculture Extension and Advisory Service Delivery in Murang'a County(AFAAS, 2023) Mwangi, Gitika Peter; Aluda, Elizabeth; Makokha, OscarAgriculture accounts for about 60% of Murang'a County's economic activity and 70% of local employment, yet the extension officer-to-farmer ratio stands at 1:7,950 and is expected to worsen as staff retire. The brief draws on secondary data, a literature review, stakeholder mapping and a county policy dialogue. It reviews extension approaches used since devolution, the challenges facing women and youth (finance, information, land), and youth unemployment of 37%. It recommends a participatory county digitalization policy defining the role of digital connectors, a county agricultural data management policy, a clearer "one ward, one cooperative" policy that places agripreneurs in public extension, digital credit schemes for farmers, and private-sector partnerships for digital connectors.Item FOSTERING GENDER-RESPONSIVE INNOVATION ADOPTION AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN AFRICA(2024-03) Asimeng E.T, Asare-Nuamah P., Anaafo D., Beuchelt T., Donelly A., Abugri B.Item Item Harnessing multi-stakeholder innovation platforms for knowledge transfer and aquaculture value chain development in Uganda(Abi ZARDI, 2025) Abi Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Abi ZARDI), National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO)Aquaculture supplies 22% of Uganda's fish production but is held back by poor access to extension, inputs, post-harvest facilities and markets, and by disease and weak value-chain coordination. The project surveyed aquaculture stakeholders across Uganda's nine agro-ecological zones and set up nine zonal innovation platforms and one national platform linking farmers, hatchery operators, traders, extension workers, researchers, input suppliers, local leaders and financial institutions. Farmers ranked high feed cost and poor feed quality as their main constraint; extension officers cited under-funding, and financial institutions cited poor farm records. The brief recommends standardized record-keeping tools promoted by MAAIF, public–private partnerships for extension and research, training on quality feed and fingerling production (including black soldier fly as a fishmeal substitute), and farmer awareness through extension and social networks.Item Digital Connection for Farming Communities (Uganda)(AFAAS, 2025) AFAAS, UFAASThe brief reports a district policy dialogue and innovation platform needs assessment held in Luwero and Bugiri with civil servants, politicians, technical staff, farmers, farmer organizations and financial institutions. Participants reviewed national policies relevant to digital extension, including the National Strategy for Youth Employment (2017), the ICT Policy (2014), the MAAIF ICT strategy for agriculture (2019–2023) and Vision 2040, and found that they support the digital connectors model. Uptake of e-extension remains low because of the cost of devices, internet and electricity, poor rural networks, limited digital skills and weak collaboration between NGOs, government and research. Recommendations include capacity building for digital connectors and farmers, cheaper rural electricity, subsidized ICT devices and digitally accessed inputs, lower taxes on internet services, digital hubs and multi-stakeholder platforms.Item Co-Design Mobile-Based Digital Solutions for Low External Input Systems(FARA, 2025-03-28) Maria J. Restrepo Rodriguez, Rufo Roba Halake, Brigitte Kaufmann, Aiveen Donnelly & Lilli ScheiterleCo-design is guided by principles emphasizing participation and inclusion. It capitalizes collaboration with users, involving frequent testing and feedback to iteratively refine digital solutions ensuring contextual relevance through immersion in local contexts. By fostering empowerment and trust, co-design enables users to shape solutions, building and ownership. Additionally, it supports adaptability to accommodate to end users´ needs, and finally aims to ensure scalability while retaining local relevance. This brief presents a co-design framework specifically for developing mobile-based digital solutions in low external inputs systems, with an emphasis on pasture-based livestock systems.Item Promoting Climate-Smart Agricultural (CSA) Technologies for the Socio-economic Transformation of Smallholder Farmers through Commercial Circular Dairy Farming and Agribusiness in Uganda(FARA, 2025-04-28) Ssemwanga Mohammed, Nakiguli Fatumah, Kigozi Abasi, Zziwa Emmanuel, Nkumba AshrafUganda’s dairy sector can drive sustainable growth by integrating digital tools, climate-smart technologies, and zero-waste practices. As Africa faces the challenge of feeding 2 billion people by 2050, prioritizing innovative and inclusive agribusiness models is essential. Empowering women and youth with skills, resources, and market access fosters equity and drives innovation across value chains. Investments in climate-resilient technologies, such as drought-tolerant forage varieties, solar-powered irrigation, and agroforestry practices, are critical to mitigating climate risks and enhancing productivity. Expanding biogas production and recycling agricultural waste supports energy security while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. Strengthened value chain coordination and improved digital infrastructure will ensure better market access and equitable opportunities for smallholder farmers. Aligning these efforts with national policies ensures long-term impact. Engaging stakeholders in policy development and implementation promotes ownership, driving the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.Item The Role of an Enabling Policy Environment in Strengthening Cassava Value Chain in Kenya(FARA, 2025-08) Kwaku Dei Antwi, Joshua Sikhu Okonya, Hillary Cheruiyot, Dora KilaloIn 2023, Kenya produced 1.188 million tonnes of cassava on 76,012 hectares with average yield of 15.63 t/ha (FAO,2025). While cassava has a high potential for use as animal feed, and industrial production of ethanol and high quality starch, the low investment in the cassava value chain coupled with poor coordination of value chain actors limits its role in contributing to the country’s GDP, youth employment And attainment of the targets under Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027 and Kenya’s vision 2030. The current informal seed system that involves the use of poor-quality planting materials coupled with little to no collaboration among value chain actors among other challenges weakens the innovation ecosystem. Multistakeholder platforms and cassava innovation platforms help in strengthening collaboration among value chain actors and finding solutions that affect not only the seed systems but also processing and value addition. Cassava innovation platforms are networks, partnerships or forums of diverse stakeholders in the cassava value chain who cooperate, interact and learn to develop a shared vision and identify solutions to a common problem or development challenge as a group or individual members (FARA, 2007; Nederlof et al., 2011).