Dar boundaries

PROJECT DESIGN WORLD CAFE

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Questioning, validating, enriching key design elements of the project. Building on some of the ideas presented by Gerry earlier. File:dar_projectdesign_glover.ppt

a) How do we best implement a systems perspective/approach?

- much diversity and perception on what a systems approach is - need for detailed and high quality data, to define a system [quantitative and qualitative]; farmer behavior data, component data and integration - Uses of data: to help generate farm typologies; for baselines; process of systems evolution (monitoring systems); to inform visioning = where do we want to go?

• A systems approach is necessary to

Better understand context and better adopt component Capitalize on synergies of integration (1+1=3; 2+2=10)

• What needs to be defined to implement effectively?

Potential for/nature of integration Scales: spatial and temporal scales, disciplines in teams and leaders; boundaries of the systems (not static, not homogeneous); Drivers: demand, multiple constraints and interactions (wider contexts), importance of value chains as drivers of real decision making (not just a paradigm)

• Broaden scope for candidate selection - tap into indigenous knowledge and practices and combine with tech inputs
• Are we studying them, or improving them?
• Current concept note is strong on multiple component activities but less on integrated / systems approach.

b) Where should this project be best positioned on a research-development continuum?

- What is the nature of the research that will be done? - Not about developing new technologies but about looking at combinations of technologies and how they find their way into smallholder practice- - Will need to be demand rather than supply driven

- Need to leverage large development projects to achieve impact at scale - Need to co-locate research activities with development projects - Need to connect more effectively with development projects to make sure research responds to development needs - More connections with private sector needed - Research will be embedded among smallholder farmers but lessons will be useful for development actors - Need to think carefully about impact pathway to achieve high level indicators.

c) What are the most appropriate scales for this project to focus its research? - av farm holding is 2ha or less - small holder 'farms' - technologies are not 'scale neutral' (and e.g. adoption of a technology at landscape level affects neighbours) - we need a variety of scales; heterogeneity --> determines fit for yield + sustainability technology - fit of technologies according to scale is important - need future orientation .. what does it look like, in relation to scale (and towards larger scales) - where does decision making occur? among farmers, classes of farmers; farmers as co-learners - change occurs most effectively at community level: access to input/output market, extensions - systems suggest scales: we need farm, community and landscape levels - need to focus on community, as they are more stable, over time - need to focus at household level, around how decisions are made by households - landscape scale, esp in relation to sustainable and efficient management of natural resources by smallholder farmers - livestock forces us to think, probably, larger scale (lang reg., pasture, collective management of livestock)... - importance of gender in decision-making - as one moves away from input+output markets, sustainable strategies include larger farm scale or organisation of farmers - hypothesis: farm size heterogeneity may be beneficial (synergies) - access input suppliers and access to output markets

d) what criteria should we use to select sites? - biophysical info (elevation, rainfall [i.e. humidity], soil type) - access to markets / access by research -> research costs and efficiency - climate change and yield resilience - farm size (role of farming in livelihoods?) - nutrition problems/prevalence and consumption preferences - land tenure and access - access to land and water resources - gender roles and specific outcomes /system components (large/small animals and commercialisation, differences between men and women) - national priorities - storing and processing infrastructure - mechanization potential - strength of farming organizations - private sector engagement - strength of farming organizations - link to existing/other projects/opportunities - oxenisation - location of research stations Early win sites: Tanzania: - Morogoro/Arusha (3 sites with ???. horticulture and seed systems) - Dodoma (-> Manyara) Kongwa / Kibaigwa market - Southern Highlands (SAGCOT): Djombe (dairy, school fielding, oxenisation) The SIMLESA sites (maize, beans, pigeon pea, sorghum) / livestock with high feed needs and water harvesting opportunities / maize beans in Vyole station. Malawi: Northern + Central (high hunger zones, strong uptake) Zambia: Eastern Zambia (Zimlesa) / Chipata.

f) What does it mean to integrate research components?

- many component examples - combining components to address particular goal in a systems perspective - finding synergies and complementarities / tradeoffs - horizontal or vertical ... - inter-dependence - space or time integration - need to understand the complexities