Transforming Smallholders’ Agriculture Needs Technological Advancement: Researchers Re-assess Their Contribution (IPR 2021
- 24th November, 2021 12:31
- By NGABO.PAMBA
- News
INTRODUCTION
A two-day Internal
Program Review (IPR), for the year 2021, kicked off on the 11th of
November 2021 at TARI Ifakara centre. The event went on through 12th
November 2021. This time, the event brought together 52 scientists of different
disciplines from three TARI centres namely Ifakara (the host), Dakawa and
Ilonga. Stakeholders and partners participated were Ifakara town council
Agriculture, Irrigation and Cooperatives Officer, and a representative from the
American Wildlife Foundation (AWF). TARI Dakawa team comprised of Ndimubandi
Mvukiye (Principal rice agronomist), Ibrahim Paul (Rice agronomist), Victoria
Bulegeya (Rice breeder), Mbaraka Batare (Rice breeding), Ngabo Pamba
(Technology transfer specialist) and Remigius Kahwili (Technology dissemination
personnel).
OBJECTIVES
OF THE IPR
This IPR aimed to
review research work done by researchers over the past reporting year,
2020/2021. As such, it provided platform for the same to re-assess where they
are and set forth the way forward.
Specifically, IPR intended to:
i. Review progress of the research activities carried out in year 2020/2021;
ii. Review and approve research and development project proposals (both funded and non funded); and
iii.
Disseminate research technologies to
stakeholders
Moreover, the event
created platform for knowledge sharing between senior scientists and juniors,
networking and mentorship arena. Either, this IPR helped build confidence of
researchers on areas of their specializations, and transfer presentation skills
to junior scientists. This opened up avenues for interacting with invited potential
partners, as well.
PRESENTATIONS
Presentations made covered two main aspects; progress reports, and research and development project proposals. A total of twenty four (24) reports of on-going and completed research and TTP activities were presented, discussed, improved and accepted. In line to that, twenty (20) research and dissemination project proposals were presented, discussed and approved or approved with amendments.
Plate 1: Dr Thedoris Kessy presents
on rice breeding program implemented at TARI Ifakara in year 2020/2021
Plate 2: IPR participants are keenly
following as presentations are underway
Nine (9) field crops were
covered during presentations as maize, rice, banana, finger millet and pearl
millet. Other crops included pulses (legumes), oil seeds (particularly
sunflower), cassava, cotton and sorghum.
In summary, hereunder
are disciplines/topics unveiled in presentations as the IPR went on:
- Farm as Business Unit (FABU) and Seed
Production
- Breeding
- Agronomy (Soil Sciences)
- Post- harvest Management (Food
Sciences and Technology)
- Weeds Management; and
- Natural Resources Management
FOCUS
ON RICE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Since TARI Dakawa and
Ifakara centres have mandate to spearheading research and development of the
rice subsector in the country, the following part of this report sheds light on
what the centres presented in the IPR, as their current and future initiatives,
in respect to rice crop development.
Of the presentations
made, nineteen (19) presentations, equivalent to 43%, focused on the rice crop
only, capturing aspects in about three levels of the rice value chain from input
supply (breeding and seed production), production (rice agronomy – development
of agronomic packages), and post-harvest management (processing and
value-addition).
Forty two percent (42%)
of the presentations on rice, highlighted and concentrated on proposed
interventions for future research and development, and dissemination
activities, of which Dakawa centre made three presentations, equal to 16%
(Table 1).
Table 1:
Presentations made during IPR 2021 by TARI Ifakara and Dakawa centres
Type
of report |
Topic/discipline |
Number
of presentations |
Total
number of presentations per centre |
Progress |
FABU/seed
production |
1 |
7
Ifakara 4
Dakawa |
Breeding |
5 |
||
Agronomy |
1 |
||
Post-harvest management |
2 |
||
Dissemination
of technology (TTP) |
2 |
||
Sub total |
11 |
11 |
|
Project Proposals |
Breeding |
3 |
3
Dakawa 5
Ifakara |
Agronomy |
3 |
||
Dissemination
(TTP) |
2 |
||
Sub total |
8 |
8 |
|
TOTAL |
19 |
19 |
SELF
REFLECTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Self
reflections
Generally, the 2021
IPR was successfully convened, most of the targeted activities being
undertaken. The review of on-going and completed research and dissemination
activities as well as interventions proposed for funding from different
partners was done. Despite hot temperatures prevailing, the host centre
provided everything possible to create conducive environment to administer
presentations. Scientists actively participated in discussions giving
constructive inputs that helped to improve quality of reports and project
proposals to meet TARI standards.
Moreover, we received
satisfactory and insightful comments, suggestions and inputs of representatives
from TARI Headquarters that made this IPR a mentorship, learning and experience
sharing arena. We could say, as past IPRs, this one also created space for
building networks that would foster young scientists develop their career and
professions.
However, time was a
major limiting factor especially when discussions demanded much time. To
consider that, some options (including writing comments, suggestions on piece
of paper) were devised to capture more inputs from the audience on respective
topic. Yet, we suggest more time for IPR than two days.
- Due to the importance of IPR, we, thus
recommend our centre manager to ask for supplementary resources from TARI HQ to
support centres in running next IPR meetings with ample time.
- Besides those invited by centres, TARI HQ needs to invite potential project funders to participate in next IPR events
- For the eastern cluster involving the
three TARI centres, Ifakara, Ilonga and Dakawa, we recommend to locate Mwl
Nyerere AgriTech Hub, Nanenane ground in Morogoro as a permanent site for IPR
meetings