FFD2015_KilosaDistrict


 * Farmer Field Day for fast-tracking delivery and scaling of agricultural technologies in Tanzania: Maize-Based Team**
 * 10 - 13 June, 2015**
 * Kilosa District**

In October 2014 the Africa RISING, NAFAKA and TUBOCHA programs formed a partnership to scale out best performing technologies developed from the on-going work in Africa RISING sites in Kongwa, Kiteto and Babati Districts. Activities under this partnership are implemented through a project titled” Enhancing partnership among Africa RISING, NAFAKA and TUBORESHE CHAKULA Programs for fast-tracking delivery and scaling of agricultural technologies in Tanzania” that is USAID funded. Attractive interventions being promoted and demonstrated in the field include the introduction of improved crop varieties (maize, rice and vegetables), dissemination of best-bet crop management packages, rehabilitation and protection of natural resources, and improvements in nutrition security and post-harvest technologies. Women and youth involvement and GIS are key components of this project as well. These technologies are compiled into information and technology packages and delivered through a network of NAFAKA, TUBOCHA, and other public and private sector actors, creating an opportunity for mainstreaming into wider rural development programs.

The maize-based team works in five districts Babati, Mvomero, Kilosa, Kiteto, and Kongwa. Activities in Kilosa are led by ICRAF. The farmer field days will be conducted in four out of the five villages where demonstrations were established in February and March 2015. The following technologies were included in demonstration plots in each village: Improved varieties of maize and cowpeas, fertilizer use, tie-ridges and intercropping (maize and legumes). Monoculture or intercropping of improved crop varieties were integrated with improved land and water management practices (fertilizer or tie-ridges) to form 14 different technology packages included in each demo site. 25 learners (there is a component of how each of the 25 farmers will establish baby demos at their fields and each will train at least 15 farmers as a scaling strategy), including one lead farmer, identified during the mobilization phase manage the demo site in collaboration with the village agricultural extension officer and the research team.

The involvement of village agricultural extension officers is a step towards mainstreaming project activities within the local government structure. With the absence of NAFAKA field agronomists in Kilosa District, the involvement of extension officers also helps to provide the technical backstopping needed to support farmer groups (25 learners) managing the demo sites.


 * Overall objective:** The farmer field day intends to increase awareness of the project activities in the site and prepare the community for wider dissemination during the 2016 season.


 * Specific objectives:**
 * To sensitize and promote various key components of the scaling project to a wider community in the village and neighboring locations
 * To give farmers an opportunity to observe the performance of technologies included in the demo sites
 * To introduce 25 learners to the community as the initial stage to prepare them for recruiting followers in the subsequent season as per the scaling model


 * Participants:**
 * Ward, Divisional and District officials and Researchers from the National Agricultural Institute at Ilonga, Kilosa.
 * Researchers from the partner institutions (IITA, AMINATA, ARI-Hombolo, CIMMYT, CIAT).
 * Farmers involved in the activities conducted in the demo plots and other villagers


 * Farmers Field Day Photos **