The Region Livestock & Irrigation Agriculture Value Chain Project (LIVES) consultativemeeting

Venue: ARARI DG Conference room, Bahir Dar

Date: 10 May 2012, Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Participants: 17 in total from various organizations. See table two for details

Purpose of the meeting:

  1. Introduction of the of LIVES Project
  2. Introduction and discussion on the project implementation planning (PIP)
  3. Review and finalize selection of commodities and implementation zones
  4. Appointment of regional focal person for the PIP phase

Program:

a)Welcome (By Dr. Fentahun ARARI DG and Tilahun )

b)Facilitating introduction of participants and Brief presentation on IPMS major success and reason for LIVES project initiation (by Tilahun)

c)LIVES presentation (by Dr Berhanu)

d)Finalizing commodities and zones selection and the way forward(by Dr Berhanu)

e)Business lunch

Summary of main points

a)Brief presentation of IPMS (by Tilahun)

Tilahun Gebey (RDO); IPMS brief presentation was made as an entry point for detail LIVES project proposal presentation and the way forward.

In his presentation:

  • General descriptions of IPMS
  • Pioneer project in the country which has been taking Knowledge Management as one of the main component and performed various activities. Nowadays taken up by many projects,
  • Supporting almost 200 Government employees from Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Research Institutes at all level long term studies and fellowship,
  • Various short term trainings
  • And Market Oriented Participatory Commodity Development through value chain approach.
  • Main achievement in three PLWs are as follows:
  • Metema PLW; Fruits, Cotton and Beef commodity value chain development and introduction of zero tillage,
  • Fogera PLW; Vegetable, Rice commodity value chain development and introduction of Vegetable Stagger production,
  • Bure PLW; Fruit, Honey commodity value chain developmentand introduction of minimum tillage are the main success stories among others. Similar progress was made in other PLWs as well.
  • Lessons learnt and documentation made on successful interventions like; Case studies, Working papers, Manuals, MSC thesis and progress reports.

b)Introduction of LIVES (by Dr. Birhanu)

Dr. Birhanu started his presentations by introducing IWMI as the major collaborator with ILRI for this specific project. Hence we will have an added value because of IWMI has various experiences and Expertise to undertake the irrigation part.

His presentations outlined as follows;

  1. Introduction of LIVES project,
  2. Finalizing zones and Commodities selection,
  3. Selection of counter parts one person each from ARARI, BOA and Livestock Agency,
  • As LIVES project is initiated based on successful achievements of IPMS project, main outputs of LIVES have more similarities with IPMS as described in LIVES main activities,
  • The project from the beginning has more focused and work only on selected commodities, LIVES is only about Livestock and high value Irrigable crop (fruit and vegetables).
  • LIVESgeographicallocation that worked in Ten (10) zones was considered to create conducive environment to scale out successful achievements of IPMSin cluster woredas under each zones.
  • Commodity and zonal selection processhas been undertaken through consultative meetings in 2010 with IPMS stakeholders. However, the previous selection could change now due to the possible change and development in the region and possible change of priorities.
  • Detail presentation on project Planning and implementation of LIVESwere made on the following component:
  • Different components
  • Planning and implementation preparation
  • Value chain development IPMS approaches short VC against LIVES long VC
  • Interventions the project
  • Capacity development
  • Knowledge management LIVES

Following Dr Birhanu’s detail and informative presentations the floor was opened for discussions.

Various important questions and suggestions were forwarded by participants.

Suggestion for clarity and comments;

  • How did LIVES project coordinate and work together with other similar projects and how do we avoid overlapping?
  • North Shewa zone was selected as one of important zone for LIVES among others?
  • What are the project managmnt and finance administrations?
  • The project accountability and deliverables
  • Flexibilities of the project on commodities adding and dropping during implementation
  • Regarding to selection of commodity is it not possible to keep open and finalize at woreda level?
  • Who are other project stakeholders apart form this workshop participant?
  • Instead of Fruits and Vegetables better to name it Irrigable Horticulture as one.

Clarifications were given on the above points by Dr Birhanu, Dr. Gebrehawariate, Kahssay and Tilahun.

c)Selection of Zones and Commodities at Zonal level

Zone

Hot discussion and argument was made on selection of zones among South Gondar, North Gondar and North/South Gondar growth corridor.

  • From the discussions the head of Livestock agency first described five milk shade throughout the region, then he suggested milk should be the first priority for this project. And south Gondar zone is ideal to support the government Gondar – Bahir Dar milkshade development strategies since most of the woreda of this milkshade fall within South Gondar zone. This is seconded by ARARI head considering the Fogera Breed found in South Gondar zone. The Irrigation agronomist representative also supported south Gondar given the big dams under construction by the government and volatile market situations of onion bulb.
  • Contrary to this, Metema fruit development initiatives started by IPMS unfinished activities especially with marketing, introduction of Borena breeds which is at infant stage, no other projects in North Gondar unlike to South Gondar to support development initiatives, low level of skills on irrigation with farmers at North Gondar unlike to Fogera farmers are some of the points suggested by many participants.
  • Finally, given IPMS commitment working in harsh environment and bringing tangible results and so many NGOs involved in South Gondar zone as a result difficult to measure impacts brought by LIVES project, North Gondar was selected unanimously. The other zones (South Wollo and West Gojjam) have taken as it is written in the document without any debate.
  • Still there are more challenges to come after North Gondar has been selected.
  • If we consider IPMS best experience on fruits introduction at Metema, then adjacent woredas that will be selected as clusters are probably similar AEZ with Metema like Quara, etc. then there are limited commodities to intervene. (no Dairy and Poultry)
  • If we consider the selected commodities (Dairy, Poultry, Irrigable Horticulture and small ruminant) as it is and do exercise matrix to identify the highest score woredas most probably we will fall on highland Woredas then we missed IPMS experiences (Metema)which is against our interest. Even this discussion was continued internally among ourselves.

Commodities

Summary of commodities selected under each Zone.

Zone / Beef / Poultry / Honeybeesproduct / Dairy / Small Ruminant / Irrigable Horticulture crop / Total
South Wollo / - / - / √ / √ / √ / √ / 4
West Gojam / √ / √ / - / √ / - / √ / 4
North Gondar / √ / √ / - / √ / √ / 4
Total / 2 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 1 / 3 / 12

d)Focal person selection from partners organizations

  • AtoMulat from Livestock Agency
  • AtoTeferra from BOA
  • ARARI has promised to assign one representatives from each Research centers.
  • Srinka representative for South Wollo zone
  • North Gondar research center for Nroth Gondar zone, and
  • Andassa Livestock research center for West Gojjam zone.

See list below for participants

======//======

Lists of participants

S/N / Name of participants / Name of organization / Position / Telephone / Email address
1 / Dr. Berhanu G/bredin / ILRI / Scientist / 0911406500 /
2 / Kahsayberhe / ILRI / R. Official / 0911400448 /
3 / Dr. Zewoluayalew / ARARI / Technical director / 0918413024 /
4 / G/haweriaglher G/egzier / IWMI / Researcher / 0921753737
5 / Dr. LikawentYeheyil / ARARI / Livestock Director / 0911532866 /
6 / AynalemGezahegn / BOA / HABP-Coordinator / 0920773849 /
7 / Tesfaye Mengiste / BOA / Irrigation Agronomy / 0918769085 /
8 / HabtamuSegaw / BOA / AGP Coordinator / 0918177327
9 / EstifanusTamrie / BOA / PSNP / 0918706773 /
10 / Tilahun Gebey / ILRI / RDO / 0918781182 /
11 / TsegayeTadesse / BOA / Extension Head / 0918782530
12 / Mamoyalew / BOWRD / Expert / 0918713895 /
13 / YeshitiaMerene / ARARI / Crop Director / 0924136684 /
14 / Dr. Yigzawdessalegm / ARARI / DDG / 0918772349 /
15 / Dr. Fentahunmengista / ARARI / DG / 0918706268 /
16 / AlemeuAdmmas / LDRA / Manager / 0918014912 /

LDRA= Livestock Development Resource Agency

DG= Director General

DDG= Deputy Director General

new zones and what w