ACHIEVEMENTS OF ASARECA IN OP1 A total of 228,349 rural households have benefited directly from ASARECA-related support initiatives, while

over 1.37 million individuals have directly benefited from an assortment of ASARECA support initiatives. On the other hand, a total of 56,228 farmers and other stakeholders have applied new technologies, innovations, and management practices (TIMPs) generated and availed for uptake from project-related interventions. A total of 364 different technologies, innovations and management practices were either generated or improved to suit farmers demands. A total 435 demand-driven gender-responsive technologies, innovations and management practices were availed for uptake by targeted stakeholders. For example, through the adoption of drudgery-saving equipment such as oxplanter, ox-weeder, ox-ripper and threshers, farmers have reported reduction in drudgery by up to 75% per acre. The project benefits have accrued in many ways, including additional income to farmers, processors, small traders, as well as increased productivity of selected commodities. Following the utilization of these TIMPs, over US$ 500,000 has been generated by selected smallholder farmers in sampled projects. Over 1,000 ha of land have been dedicated to improved technologies and management practices, especially for the production and multiplication of quality pre-basic, basic and certified seeds. Over 800 tons of quality seed of selected crops have been produced and either sold or distributed to farmers for further multiplication. Similarly, over 5,000 ha of highly degraded lands and watersheds have been reclaimed, thereby enabling the targeted households have steady water supply for domestic and farm use. ASARECA contributed to enabling policy environment through review of existing policies, laws, regulations and management practices. A total of 89 policies, laws, regulations and procedures were analysed, 39 presented for legislation and dialogue, while 37 were approved by various legislative bodies, the East African Community and COMESA parliaments. As part of enhancing capacity strengthening of NARS, over 400 assorted infrastructures were provided to targeted partner institutions. At the same time, over 280 different partnerships were formed. Over 60,000 persons (34,009 male and 30,887 female) were trained in: integrated water management, value addition, integrated soil fertility management, value chain development, project management, M&E, environment and social safeguards, basic agronomic and management practices, among others. On the other hand, over 50 students (14 PhD, 35 MSc, and 5 BSc) benefited from ASARECAs long term training. ASARECA facilitated the production of over 700 different information packages that include peerreviewed journal articles, books, chapters in books, electronic newsletters, conference proceedings and manuals. These products were made available to partners through over 250 different delivery pathways such as websites, flyers, TV, radio, SMS, dissemination events, media events, farm trials, multimedia (You Tube) among others, thereby benefiting over 1 million targeted stakeholders (see box for some impacts). Box: Impact of interventions in the drylands In Kenyas dryland areas (Wote and Machakos Districts), the introduction of Napier cultivated in pits and forage legumes Clitoria ternatea and Lablab purpureus on 15 farms have enabled farmers to formulate feeding packages combining Napier and the forage legumes. Milk yield has also increased by 51% (from 6.9 litre/cow/day to 10.4 litres/day per cow). This increased production has resulted into an additional income of US$ 600 per cow per year. Up to 50 households who planted and fed Napier combined with conservation of fodder to ensure feed availability throughout the year increased their milk yield by 2.5

litres per cow per day, resulting into an additional income of US$ 403 per animal per year. Similarly, the establishment of water harvesting facilities and drip irrigation for vegetable production within the targeted Kenyan drylands enabled farmers to generate gross income of up to US$ 160 from tomato production on small plots (150 m2) within 4 months. Preliminary economic analysis indicate that this venture has a potential of generating net income of US$ 5,607 per ha per year. Efforts are underway in the current projects to realize this. Disease & Pest Management In Uganda (Bushenyi, Ntungamo and Mbarara), ASARECA interventions resulted in a big reduction in the occurrence of the BXW disease. The proportion of farmers who managed to control the disease increased from below 5% to over 60% and banana production recovered from total loss to 60% in 15 months. In Rwanda (Eastern province), using stringent by-laws crafted by the communities themselves, banana production in BXW affected areas has recovered from obscurity to nearly 80% of previous levels in the affected hot spots by 2012. For example, organised farmer groups in Western Uganda earned as low as US$ 30 per month from their infected farms in 2009. However, in under 3 years, these same farmers group earned US$ 21,600 (a monthly increase from US$ 30 to US$ 600), and the demand is still increasing.

Full details of economic benefits are anticipated in the on-going OP1 evaluation.