LIVES project MonthlyField Activities Update
Month: May, 2014
Region: Amhara
Activities on Capacity Development / Observations/action required
  • 8 (F-1) experts drawn from district and west Gojjam zone cooperative promotion and small enterprise officestrained on basic business concepts, business plan preparation, loan appraisal techniques, cost and pricing calculation, cash flow(cost/benefit), and marketing andpromotion. Trainees prepared action plan to cascade the training. Similarly 8(2-F) experts drawn from three LIVES project operating districts and North Gondar Zone cooperative promotion and small enterprise offices trained on basic business concepts, business plan preparation, loan appraisal techniques, cost and pricing calculation, cash flow(cost/benefit), and marketing andpromotion. Trainees prepared action plan to cascade the training.
  • 17 (F-3) experts drawn from three districts and West Gojjam zone agriculture offices trained on gender analysis tools and its application. Trainees prepared action plan to conduct gender analysis in livestock and irrigated value chains in their area using the tool. Likewise, 11 (F-4) experts drawn from three LIVES project operating districts and North Gondar Zone agriculture officestrainedon gender analysis tools and its application. Trainees prepared action plan to conduct gender analysis in livestock and irrigated value chains in their area using the tool.
  • 19 (F-3) dairy farmers at Gerba town in Kalu district mentored on dairy cow management and improved forage crops production practices. Similarly, 10 farmers (10-M) and 2 development agents (1-F) in 032 PA of Kalu district mentored and coached on onion seed production,banana sucker management, and characterization of different banana varieties.
  • Monks of Haik monastery mentored on integrated fruit and vegetable production practices. Similarly, two farmers in 013 PA of Tehuledere district mentored and coached on popcorn production practices.
  • Members of (2-M) Cherechera fruit producer groups in Bahir Dar zuria woreda mentored on fruit tree management practices.
  • A pesticide retailer at Chuahit PA of Dembia district mentored on safe pesticide handling practices.
  • LIVES project sponsored MSc students mentored on possible thesis research topics and research activities.
  • Irrigation pump operation and maintenance training proposal prepared to train selected farmers, development agents and irrigation experts in LIVES project operating districts of Amhara region. The proposal is approved by HQ during this reporting period.
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  • Mentor or coach basic agribusiness and gender mainstreaming trainees to cascade the training and conduct gender analysis in their respective areas.
  • Undertaking motor pump operation and maintenance level 1 training.

Activities on Knowledge Management / Observations/action required
  • Knowledge Center established at Yilmana Densa district and equipped with 4 computers, 2UPS, LCD projector, combined TV/DVD, digital camera, 3tables, 10 chairs, books, CDs, and book shelf.
  • Reading materials provided to Mecha and Bahir Dar Zuria districts knowledge centers. Similarly, additional books and manuals were introduced to Dessie town KC.
  • South Wollo zone agriculture office knowledge center started organizing knowledge sharing event every Friday at 4:00 PM.
  • The productivity of improved onion varieties at Koga irrigation scheme is demonstrated to higher officials of West Gojjam administrative zone (12-M and F-2).
  • In West Gojjam Zone,the performance of chopper demonstrated to Andinet dairy cooperative members at Yigoma PA of Bahirdar zuria district. Totally 39 farmers (F-8) attended the event.
  • In South Wello Zone the performance of animal feed chopper demonstrated to farmers at Tehuldere district. A total of 230 (F-39) farmers drawn from Bededo(01) and Hitecha (08) PAs attended the event. Similarly, chopper demonstration under taken at Kombolcha and Gerba towns of Kalu district. A total of 40 participants (12 Female) attended the demonstration event. The feedback of urban and rural communities on the machine was different. Participants from rural areas appreciated the importance of the technology despite its higher price for smallholder farmer. On the other hand, urban dairy farmers appreciated the importance of machine but preferred if it works with electrical power supply system. As a result, the machine demonstrated to Kombolch Polytechnic Collage 12 Mechanical Engineers. They appreciated the chopper and agreed to modify and manufacture such kind of machine that would be affordable to all small holder farmers.
  • In North Gondar zone, the performance of animal feed choping machine demonstrates for 10 (F-6) poultry farmers in Gonder town. Similarly, the performance of the chopper was demonstrated to 38 (F-10) cattle fattening farmers at Sekelete PA of Dembia district.Paricipants appricated the chopper and shown an interest to purchase the machine. However, poultry farmers suggested if the chopper and grinder machine can have feed mixer component.
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  • Broad band internet service installation to Yilmana Densa district Knowledge Center
  • Training of KC managers on KC management and IT equipments operation
  • Uploading different softwares on KC computers.

Activities on Promotion / Observations/action required
  • The performance of chopper demonstrated to feed and forage development experts 80 (F-9) drawn from different districts, zones, and regional Livestock agency of Amhara region.
  • The performance and importance of different improved forage crops (Desho grass, Setaria, Rhodes, Desmanthus, Napier grass and ray-grasses) introduced and demonstrated by LIVES project in South Wello Zone documented and broadcasted by Amhara Mass Media Agency TV program.
  • Leaflet and banner prepared to promote the importance of milk for World milk day participants.
  • The interventions and achievements of LIVES project in Amhara region presented to national PSC members during the annual national project steering committee meeting held in Addis Ababa. Participants noted results of our intervention on cauliflower and small ruminant synchronization in order to try in their respective areas.
/ The performance of popcorn and result of hormone assisted estrus synchronization on sheep will be demonstrated to higher officials and experts of Amhara region by organizing field days.
Activities on Value Chain Development by commodity / Observations/action required
  • Commodity value chain development intervention PAs identified in Mecha and Yilmana Densa districts of West Gojjam Zone. In addition, lessons from previous year LIVES project interventions and plans briefed to these districts experts and officials. Totally 15(F-4) officials and experts attended the briefing.
  • Improved forage crops planting material potential sources and demonstration sites identified at Mecha, Yilmana Densa, and Bahir Dar Zuria districts.
  • Performances of three improved tomato varieties (Mersa, Woyeno, and Sirinka) were demonstrated at Tehuledere district. Among the three varieties, Marsa was identified as superior variety in terms of productivity, shelf life, and consumer preference.In addition,Market linkage created between tomato growers in Tehuledere district and tomato traders in Haik town.As a result, monks in Haik Monastery obtained birr 5,336.00 by selling tomatoes harvested from demonstration activities. Similarly, two improved potato varieties were demonstrated to farmers in Tehuledere district. The performance of these varieties was demonstrated to experts and farmers by organizing field days. LIVES project linked potato producers with agriculture offices and farmers to sell the produce as planting material.
  • Before six month, LIVES project introduced 210 twigs of MM106, an improved apple rootstock, to grafted apple seedling suppliers at Ketetaye (024) PA of Kalu district. This rootstock multiplied by farmers and 652 twigs are ready for grafting.
  • Popcorn introduced and demonstrated in Koga irrigation scheme performed well and identified as alternative promising high value commodity for the area.
  • Visited fruit, vegetable and dairy farms as well as biogas plants in Debremariam PA of Bahir Dar Zuria district to target followup interventions on vegetable, fruit and Dairy value chain interventions as well as biogas powered generator demonstration. This site is also found ideal to establish fruit, vegetable and milk collector youth group for marketing. In addition, most of the mango and avocado trees are local varieties. Therefore, it will be target area to demonstrate topworking practice. Moreover, this area is very close and found in between of Lake Tana and Blue Nile River. Therefore, it is ideal to demonstrate float gardening.
  • Cauliflower producers are linked to hotels in Gondar town for cauliflower marketing. The price of a head of cauliflower at farm gate is 25 birr.
  • The performance of elephant grass and alfalfa under irrigation is under demonstration at Dembia district.
  • Potential PAs to undertake baseline survey on irrigated fruit and vegetable production practices identified and the list sent to IWMI.
  • Whole sale and retail price as well as production location of 11 major vegetable crops recorded every week at Bahir Dar town.
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  • Implementing value chain development interventions proposed for the year 2014/15.

Activities on Documentation/Research / Observations/action required
  • Biological and social data on demonstrated technologies/ activities collected (size of cauliflower head, productivity and shelf life of tomato, productivity of potato varieties, bulb size of onion varieties, cob yield and poping characteristics of popcorn, participants feedback on chopping machine, feedbacks on KC users, etc).
  • Questioner prepared to assess the productivity of exotic poultry breds in rural and urban areas. Similarly, questioner prepared to assess vegetable pest management practices of smallholder farmers.
  • Manuscript prepared for a national workshop entitled with Free Grazing in Ethiopia: Challenges and Opportunities.
  • Identified topics to be published from the baseline survey data.
  • Formatdeveloped to capture lessons from different interventions of the project.
  • The performance and importance improved forage crops introduced by LIVES project in Tehuledere district captured and broadcasted by Amhara Mass Media TV program.
  • Hormone assisted estrus synchronized ewes started lambing.
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  • Implementing proposed assessments using developed questioners.
  • Data collection from all interventions
  • Drawing lessons from collected information.

Activities on Project Management / Observation/action required
  • Regional experts briefed Regional Project Implementation Committee Chairman and LIVES project zonal coordinators about the outcomes of the national PSC meeting.
  • KRA for the year 2014 prepared and the performance of LIVES project staff in 2013 assessed.
  • Petty cash for the period transferred and settled.
  • Monthly coordination fee paid to regional, zonal and district focal persons.In addition, KCs internet service fee paid.
/ Organizing field visit for PSC members to show the project interventions on the field.

Additional information on crosscutting issues – gender & environment:

Environment:

  • Lake Logo is surrounded by denuded mountains. As a result, huge amount of silt deposited into the lake in the form of runoff every year. Thisis attributed to the surrounding farmers crop land preparation and crop production practices. To curb this problem LIVES project in collaboration with Haik monastery delineated 25ha land to demonstrate integrated watershed management practice. Soil and water conservation structures will be constructed and improved forage crops will be planted. These forage crops will be used as input to improve the livelihood of the community through beekeeping and livestock production.

Gender

  • ToT organized in West Gojjam and North Gondar Zones to undertake gender analysis. Participants acquired knowledge and skill on gender analysis tools and planned to undertake gender analysis in their perspective areas.
  • Improved tomato production technologies demonstrated to Haik monastery nuns. They have acquired knowledge and skill on improved tomato production practices and generated income by selling tomato harvested from the demonstration activity.

Prepared by: Amhara Region LIVES Project Team