Regional Research Programme
Definition of RRP
A Regional Research Programme (RRP) is a set of biophysical
and socio-economic research activities that address priority
agricultural constraints of farmers in a given mandate region
of a KARI centre covering specific agro-ecological zones
(AEZs). These constraints emanate from diagnostic activities
conducted by interdisciplinary teams composed of researchers
and extensionists with active participation of farmers.
The RRP activities are demand driven, focusing on solving
farmers problems of immediate nature and are mainly conducted
in the farmers fields in order to incorporate farmer evaluations.
Thus RRPs are involved in both adaptive research and research--extension
--farmer linkages activities including field days, demonstrations,
farmer field visits, germplasm multiplication and packaging
of dissemination materials. The RRP work closely with the
research extension linkage divisions of the Ministry of
agriculture and that of livestock and fisheries development.
Goal
The overall goal of RRP is to contribute to realization
of KARI's mission particularly focusing on issues that affect
the Kenyan resource poor small scale farmer. The RRPs focus
on testing and adapting technologies in different farming
environments, taking into account farmers' priorities, opportunities,
resource constraints and other social-economic circumstances
including gender and HIV/AIDS issues. The Programmes also
provide information into the National Research Programmes
on the performance of technologies under different agro-ecological
and socio-economic conditions and for national programmes
on .new priority problems and opportunities to facilitate
reconciliation of small scale farmer needs and the national
needs.
Approach
KARI adopted and institutionalized the Farming Systems Approach
to Research Extension and Training (FSA-RET) for the implementation
of RRPs. The approach is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary,
it ensures that:-
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1.
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constraints affecting the farmers are given the attention
they deserve while selecting activities for implementation
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2.
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the evaluation criteria used emanate from and are
consistent with the needs of the target group of farmers
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3.
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indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) is incorporated
in the process of testing technologies
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4.
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systems perspective and interaction are given consideration
in identifying problems, intervention and in technology
evaluations
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5.
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research thrusts are derived from the target group
of farmers
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6.
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the technologies are tested under farmers own environment
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Implementing Centres
The currently active RRPs are implemented in the mandate
areas of the following KARI centers, Embu, Kisii, Kakamega,
Mtwapa, Perkerra, Kitale; Njoro, Muguga South, Katumani,
Marsabit and Kiboko.
Objectives:
RRPs aim at testing or adapting already developed technologies
to specific environments and farmer circumstances. To be
able to achieve this, most of the activities are on-farm
and are usually farmer managed, with the researchers and
extension officers providing the required technical support.
This way, farmers views including ITK are incorporated in
the activities during the testing stage
The specific objectives of the RRP activities are to:
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1.
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contribute in the development of cost effective technologies
which are relevant to the needs of the local farmers,
are gender focused and produce long term sustainable
impacts
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2.
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design and implement on-farm interventions addressing
the priority needs of the smallholder farmers through
participatory technology development and transfer
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3.
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establish and maintain strong and effective research-extension
farmer and other agro-based organizations including
NGOs linkages necessary for effective technology development
and transfer
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4.
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assist in establishment of proper feedback mechanisms
between RRPs and commodity/factor programmes
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Management and Co-ordination
RRPs are co-ordinated by an Assistant Director assisted
by three programme officers for crops, livestock and socio-economics
based at the headquarters. While at the center level, there
are RRP Co-ordinators (RRPCs) responsible for management
and co-ordination of RRP activities and answerable to the
Center Director. The RRPC is assisted by two Research and
Extension Linkage Officers (RELO) from both extension and
research.
Activities
Some of the activities carried out include:
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variety testing (maize, cassava, phaseolus, groundnuts,
bananas, wheat, sorghum & millets)
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2.
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post harvest processing and storage (sweet potatoes,
Irish potatoes)
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3.
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crop protection aspects (tomatoes, maize, beans,
cowpeas)
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4.
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livestock related activities (forage production,
feeding trials, disease control and ethnovet)
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5.
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socio-economic studies (characterization of farming
systems and economic analysis)
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Achievements
Institutional framework for co-ordination and management
of RRPs at all levels.
KARI centers including Kakamega, Kisii, Mtwapa, Embu, Katumani
and Kitale have full operational RRPs. Others centres including
Perkerra, Njoro, and Muguga are relatively young in operation.
At the moment, all centres involved in RRPs have RRPCs and
RELOs. At the headquarters, the division has in place one
technical officer to assist the AD in implementation and
facilitation of RRP activities.
Gender consideration incorporated in the research proposals
The FSA-RET approach views the farm unit with the household
members seen as an aggregation of different participants;
men, women and children. The participants play different
roles in accomplishing the required activities which compete
for different resources and opportunities, with each gender
trying to realize his/her own objectives. Under the RRPs
scientists are sensitized on gender issues and are able
to include gender aspects during research planning; design
and implementation and evaluation.
Strengthening Research - Extension - Farmer linkages
KARI recognizes that farmers are active partners in various
stages of technology development and transfer processes
and that all the players have critical roles in the agricultural
productivity chain. Through RRPs, KARI has achieved strong
research-extension-farmer linkages for successful development
and transfer of its technologies. Through the programmes,
KARI has maintained close linkages with government ministries
and other extension agencies and NGOs.
Research staff and collaborating extension trained in
FSA-RET
During the inception phase of RRPs, it became apparent that
scientists needed training on various aspects of on-farm
research as advocated by the farming systems approach. To
address the felt needs, the division in conjunction with
training division organised and facilitated training workshops
for staff in regional research centres, especially those
active in RRPs. Some of the centres that have benefited
include; Kisii, Kakamega, Kitale, Katumani, Mtwapa, Embu
Muguga, Njoro, Perkerra and Garissa. The division also ensures
that FSA-RET approach is followed in development and implementation
of the RRPs.
Compilation of dissemination materials
The success of a technology depends on its adoption and
continued use. Therefore without the technologies developed
by both KARI and extension reaching the farmers, KARIs mission
is not fully met. To address that aspect, RRPs have developed
recomendations to simple messages that can easily be understood
by farmers on leaflets; brochures and posters on different
technologies (livestock; cereals; root and tubers; pulses).
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