ASARECA Regional Programmes

Association for Strengthening Agricultural
Research in Eastern and Central Africa

Tuesday 7^th of September 2010


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Former ASARECA Networks, Programmes and Projects
African Highlands Initiative (AHI) The Africa Highland Initiative (AHI) initiated in 1995, is hosted by ICRAF as one of the CGIAR’s ecoregional programmes. AHI is a regional research program working in densely populated highland areas that have poor or declining natural resource endowments and, due to unsuitable management practices and limited levels of investment, have reached the point where people and landscapes can no longer provide the needs of their own livelihood. Supporting Agencies AHI is hosted by NARIs in pilot ASARECA countries, Government extension and rural development departments, ICRAF, CIP, IFPRI, IPGRI, ILRI, CIAT-TSBF, local and international NGOs. Contacts Plot 13, Binyayomba, off Luthuli, Bugolobi, P.O.Box 26416 Kampala Uganda Tel: 256 41 220607/2 Fax: 256 41 223242 Email: ahi@asareca.org Web: www.africanhighlands.org ASARECA Animal Agriculture Research Network (A-AARNET) The ASARECA Animal Agricultural Research Network (A-AARNET) was established in 1997 to strengthen NARS capacity in livestock research in East and Central Africa. As a regional network, A-AARNET caters for the needs, interests and expectations of stakeholders in the 10 member countries of ASARECA which are Burundi, D.R.Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. These stakeholders include NARS scientists, NGOs, farmers and other public and private sector organisations. Supporting Agencies Collaborating institutions: NARS, ILRI, AU/IBAR, GL-CRSP, FAO and other ASARECA NPPs. Contacts International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Old Naivasha Road, P.O.Box 30709 Nairobi 00100, Kenya Tel: 254-20-4223401 Fax: 254-20-4223000 Email: a-aarnet@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org/a-aarnet Banana Research Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (BARNESA) The Banana Research Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (BARNESA) was established by NARS under the auspices of ASARECA. It was founded in 1994 by a group of 10 countries of Eastern and Southern Africa, a direct consequence of the recognition of the importance of banana and plantain in the internal economies of the region. It was accepted and adopted by ASARECA as one of its constituent networks in 1995. In 1996, the BARNESA Steering Committee, with the approval of ASARECA, asked INIBAP to provide co-ordination support to BARNESA. INIBAP has provided co-ordination support since 1997 to date. The network includes membership from SADC region. Supporting Agencies INIBAP (IPGRI) Contacts Plot 106 Katalima Road, Naguru P.O.Box 24384 Kampala Uganda Tel: 256 41 286213 Fax: 256 41 286949 Email: barnesa@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org/barnesa Coffee Research Network (CORNET) Coffee is the world’s second most traded, commodity in terms of value, after petroleum. Coffee is indigenous to Africa, and the eastern and central Africa sub region is the centre of genetic diversity fro the two commercially most important cultivated species, namely, Coffea arabica (commonly known as Arabica coffee) and C. canephora (commercially referred to as Robusta coffee). The crop is one of the main foreign exchange earners in the Eastern and Central Africa (ECA) sub-region and is central to the livelihoods of an estimated 10 million rural families in the ASARECA sub-region. Small-scale growers produce over 80% of the coffee. However, coffee production in the ECA sub-region has steadily declined since the 1980s due to the collapse in world coffee prices. Subsequently, prices received by growers in the sub-region fell below breakeven points making it uneconomical to maintain recommended agronomic practices. The situation was exacerbated by inadequate investment in research and extension services. In 1998, ASARECA, CD established the Coffee Research Network (CORNET) with CAB International- Africa Regional Centre as the coordinating agency to identify and solve the key constraints to small holder coffee production, processing, marketing and policy issues in ECA. Supporting Agencies Donors: EU Scientific partners: CAB International Contacts P. O. Box 633-00621, Nairobi Kenya Tel: 254 20 524462/254 20 524450 Fax: 254 20 522150 Email: cornet@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org/cornet East African Plant Genetic Resources Network (EAPGREN) The Eastern Africa Plant Genetic Resources Network (EAPGREN) was initiated by a Stakeholders Meeting held in Kampala 3-5 November 1997. EAPGREN is a regional joint project of National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of the ASARECA member countries, viz Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda. Within these countries, there are the national focal points for the networks. Supporting Agencies Sida provides the funding. Additional funding is made available by national programmes through the provision of scientific and technical staff and other forms of support. Contacts Plot 15 John Babiiha Road P.O.Box 765 Entebbe Uganda Tel: 256 41 320212/322131 Fax: 256 41 321777 Email: a.demissie@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org/eapgren Eastern Africa Rootcrops Research Network (EARRNET) Research in root crops in sub-Saharan African started in the late 1970s through collaborative efforts of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS). ESSARN was established in 1984, working in 15 countries in the region, who collectively agreed that the common problems with cassava and sweet potato warranted a regional approach to supplement their NARS efforts. Later in the 1990s to better serve the increasing demands of NARS, ESSARN evolved into two regional netweoks; EARRNET and SARRNET. EARRNET then joined ASARECA and is being implemented by IITA operating originally with the national cassava research programs of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda and Uganda. Its activities are however, being expanded into all members of ASARECA. Supporting Agencies Donor: USAID/REDSO; Scientific partners include IITA, FOODNET, ECAPAPA and respective NARS. Contacts Plot 7 Bandali Rise, Bugolobi P. O. Box 7878, Kampala Uganda Tel: 256 41 221 009/223 445 or 256 75 78 78 15 Fax: 256 41 223 494 Email: earrnet@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org/earrnet Eastern and Central Africa Bean Research Network (ECABREN) The Eastern and Central Africa Bean Research Network (ECABREN) is one of the first generation networks ASARECA inherited. ECABREN’s main focus is to satisfy increasing end user’s demand in marketable bean varieties. Market characterization in ASARECA member countries identified nine bean types or major market classes on which a regionally coordinated breeding strategy program has been established in late 2000. A priority setting exercise undertaken in 2003 has ranked and prioritized major research-for- development sub-themes in bean sector. If carried out the sub-themes should enhance sustainable bean production, increase efficiency in bean market and ultimately contribute to the reduction of malnourishment and hunger, prevent nutritional health related problems through increased consumption of beans rich in fiber, protein, iron and zinc and improve the export of high quality African beans that meet international standards. Supporting Agencies Donors: USAID, CIDA and SDC Scientific partners: CIAT Contacts P.O. Box 2704 Arusha, Tanzania Tel: 255 27 2508557 Fax: 255 27 2508557 Email: ecabren@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org/ecabren Eastern and Central Africa Biotechnology and Biosafety Programme (ECABIO) The growing importance of biotechnology in global agriculture has led ASARECA to consider implementing a biotechnology and biosafety programme to add value to its networks, programmes and projects. This programme will contribute directly to ASARECA’s objectives of improving food security, alleviating poverty and to the generation of ASARECA’s four results. Supporting Agencies NARS, IARCs, ARIs, local and international private sector, NGOs, Farmer and Consumer organisations. The programme is designed for multi-donor support but is currently supported by USAID/REDSO/ESA with USAID/ABSP II and USAID/PBS as partners for technology, IPR, and Biosafety development. Contacts Plot 5, Mpigi Road P.O.Box 765 Entebbe Uganda Tel: 256 41 322126 Fax: 256 41 322593 Email: ecabio@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org Eastern and Central Africa Maize and Wheat Research Network (ECAMAW) The Eastern and Central Africa Maize and Wheat Network (ECAMAW0 aims to facilitate regional multidisciplinary and multipartner-client collaboration on technology development and dissemination; address priority constraints to maize and wheat production and value-added traits (nutritional and processing) in eastern and central Africa, while maintaining the agricultural resource base; and mobilize and manage resources for this research on a regional basis. Support agencies Scientific Partner: The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Contacts P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa Ethiopia Tel: 251 1 462324/26 Fax: 251 1 464645/461252 Email: ecamaw@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org/ecabren Eastern and Central Africa Programme for Agricultural Policy Analysis (ECAPAPA) In 1994, the Directors of Agricultural Research in 10 countries of the eastern and central African region (ECA) established the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA). In 1997, ASARECA created the Eastern and Central Africa Programme for Agricultural Policy Analysis (ECAPAPA), to address the need to improve agricultural policy analysis in the region and to bring the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) into the process of policy research and analysis. Supporting Agencies Donors include USAID, IDRC, CTA, SDC, EU and BMZ/GT Contacts Plot 13, John Babiiha Road P.O. Box 765 Entebbe Uganda Tel: 256 41 321780/321751/2 Fax: 256 41 321777 Email: ecapapa@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org/ecapapa Eastern and Central Africa Rice Research Network (ECARRN) The East and Central Africa Rice Research Network (ECARRN) is the newest network to be established under the umbrella of ASARECA. The network has yet to undergo priority setting and strategic planning exercises, where the goals and objectives of the network will be reevaluated and modified accordingly. Supporting Agencies African Rice Center (WARDA) Contacts ASARECA/WARDA Mikocheni Agricultural Research institute P.O.Box 6226, Dar es Salaam Tanzania Tel: 255-22-2700092 Fax: Email: ecarrn@asareca.org Web: www.warda.org/ecarrn/ Eastern and Central Regional Sorghum and Millet Network (ECARSAM) Sorghum is the third most important crop among the commodities and factors identified by ASARECA to increase agricultural productivity and competitiveness of agricultural systems in the eastern and central African sub region. ASARECA established to this effect the Eastern and Central Africa Regional Sorghum and Millet Network (ECARSAM), which became operational in October, 2003. ECARSAM strives to create synergy and effectiveness of national agricultural research systems (NARS) and all stakeholders through networking to remove some of the bottleneck to increased productivity of sorghum and millet, and their use in value addition and processing at farm and village levels by generating and adopting appropriate technologies, knowledge and information. The network will also stimulate use of sorghum and millet for small and large scale industries, enhance information flow among stakeholders, and strengthen capacity of NARS in the ASARECA member countries – Burundi, D.R.Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya , Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Supporting Agencies Donor: EU Scientific partner: ICRISAT and INTSORMIL Contacts ICRISAT Compound � Room No. F115 P.O. Box 39063, Nairobi Kenya Tel: 254 20 7224566 Fax: 254 20 7224001 Email: ecarsam@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org/ecarsam Postharvest Processing Network (FOODNET) FOODNET was launched in mid 1999 to address post harvest and marketing needs of those engaged in agricultural production in East and Central Africa. At present, FOODNET focuses on strengthening market led research and implementing projects with a commercial focus with a range of partners both from the public and private sector. Supporting Agencies Donor: USAID/REDSO. Scientific partners: IITA, KACE, and ASARECA Secretariat. Contacts IITA Eastern and Southern African Regional Centre Plot 7 Bandali Rise, Bugolobi P.O.Box 7878, Kampala Uganda Tel: 256 41 223460 / 256 77 221163 Fax: 256 41 223459 Email: foodnet@asareca.org Web: www.foodnet.cgiar.org Regional Agricultural Informational Network (RAIN) RAIN is a network of agricultural information organization and professionals operating in 10 countries in eastern and central Africa – Burundi, D.R.Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan Tanzania and Uganda. RAIN’S mission is to promote the provision and sustainable management of client-oriented agricultural information throughout the ECA region. Its particular emphasis is on the strengthening of regional capacities to access, generate, exchange, package, disseminate and use this information to further economic growth. Supporting Agencies Donors: EU, USAID/AFR-SD, CTA, AFDB Scientific partners: CTA, FAO. Contacts Plot 5, Mpigi Road PO Box 765, Entebbe Uganda Tel: 256-41-322129 / 321775 / 78-403585 Fax: 256-41-322579 / 321777 Email: rain@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org/rain Regional Potato and Sweet potato Improvement Network in Eastern and Central Africa (PRAPACE) The Regional Potato and Sweet potato Improvement Network (PRAPACE), is one of the pioneer networks of ASARECA. Collaborative research on potato started in 1982 when the NARIs of Burundi, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo established the "Programme Régional d'Amélioration de la culture de la Pomme de Terre en Afrique Centrale" (PRAPAC) to link their potato programs with the International Potato Centre (CIP). Between 1990 and 1999 Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Eritrea, Tanzania, Madagascar and Sudan joined PRAPAC in that order. Sweet potato was also taken up in 1990. This changed the character of the network which adopted a new acronym PRAPACE. Since its formation, PRAPACE operated as an independent network with close affiliation to the International Potato Center (CIP). In 2003, PRAPACE was integrated in the ASARECA arrangement. Supporting Agencies Donors: USAID/REDSO/DFID/VicRes (funded by Sida) Scientific partners: NARS, the International Potato Centre, Makerere University, Natural Ressources Institute, UK; ASARECA NPPs Contacts Plot 106, Katalima Road, Naguru P.O. Box 22274, Kampala Uganda Tel: 256 41 286209 Fax: 256 41 286947 Email: prapace@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org/prapace Soil and Water Management Network (SWMNET) In 1996, the working group for ASARECA strategic plan, after thorough review of the national research programs and by using systems scoring model, identified 19 priority research areas with significant potential for sustaining agriculture and for regional collaboration. Soil-water and Soil-fertility were ranked as priority 5 and 6, respectively. In the agro-systems/commodity matrix, it’s only the soil-water and soil-fertility research themes that were identified as priority by all countries and for all agro-systems. Further, nutrient and water management issues have been identified as priority research themes by several ASARECA research networks. Supporting Agencies Scientific partners include ICRISAT, IWMI Contacts Room No. F121, ILB Building, ICRAF Complex United Nations Avenue, Gigiri P.O.Box 39063-00623, Nairobi Kenya Tel: 254 20 524550/65 Fax: 254 20 524001 Email: swmnet@asareca.org Web: www.asareca.org/swmnet Trees on-Farm Network (TOFNET) TOFNET promotes and supports agroforestry and tree crops (with emphasis on economic trees) research for development within the 10 ASARECA countries – Burundi, D.R.Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. In addition, the network seeks to strengthen the capacity of national institutions to conduct research and development of agroforestry and ultimately to develop agroforestry interventions and practices that improve productivity, profitability and sustainability of agricultural systems and the environment in regions where land productivity is low and declining, and poverty is acute and increasing. These latter problems threaten food and wood security, human welfare and environmental sustainability. Supporting Agencies Donors: EU Scientific partners: ICRAF and national agricultural research institutes within the region Contacts World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) United Nations Avenue, P. O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi Kenya Tel: 254-20-524215/524000 Fax: 254-20-524001/524013/524401 Email: tofnet@asareca.org Web: www.tofnet.org

ASARECA Secretariat, Plot 15 John Babiiha Road, P.O.Box 765, Entebbe - Uganda
Tel: 256 41 4320212 | Fax: 256 41 4321126
Email: asareca @asareca.org