Feed the Future Mozambique Improved Seeds for Better Agriculture (SEMEAR) Agreement No: AID-BFS-IO-17-00005
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Feed the Future Mozambique Improved Seeds for Better Agriculture (SEMEAR) Agreement No: AID-BFS-IO-17-00005 FY2020 5th Year of Project Implementation 2nd Quarter Report: January - March 2020 30 April 2020; Revised July 2020 Prepared By: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) MOZAMBIQUE www.iita.org This report is made possible by the support from the Feed the Future, the US Government Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of IITA and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. 1 2nd Quarter Report for FY2020: January 2020 – March 2020 I. Project information Project Duration: 5 years Starting Date: October 2015 Life of project funding: Total project budget: US$11.5 M Geographic Focus: Nampula province (Angoche, Malema, Meconta, Monapo, Ribaué, Rapale, Murrupula, and Mogovolas districts), Zambézia province (Gurué, Alto Molocué and Mocuba districts), Manica province (Barué, Macate, Manica, and Sussundenga districts) and Tete province (Angónia, Tsangano, and Macanga districts). Project Objectives: 1. Increase the production and supply of breeder, pre-basic, basic, and certified seeds of common bean, cowpea, groundnut, pigeon pea, sesame, and soybean in the major FtF ZOI and strengthen the national seed systems 2. Scale-up and enhance the adoption of improved varieties and best management practices in the FtF ZOI using participatory approaches 3. Enhance national policy dialogue on seed and fertilizer supply 2 II. Contents I. Project information ................................................................................................................................ 2 II. Contents ................................................................................................................................................ 3 III. Acronyms and Abbreviations.............................................................................................................. 4 V. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 6 1. Project Background ........................................................................................................................... 7 2. Project Performance during the Second Quarter (January – March 2020) ....................................... 8 2.1.1 Progress on breeders/pre-basic and basic seed production .............................................................. 8 2.1.2. Progress on certified seed production ........................................................................................... 12 2.1.3. Seed Distribution and Sales .......................................................................................................... 16 2.1.4. Seed Enterprise Development ....................................................................................................... 17 2.2.1. On-farm demonstrations ............................................................................................................... 18 2.2.2. Training and scaling up adoption .................................................................................................. 21 2.2.3. Field days, exchange visits, and meetings .................................................................................... 22 2.2.3.1 Impact of COVID-19 on SEMEAR Activities............................................................................ 23 2.2.4. Gender Issues in SEMEAR Implementation................................................................................. 24 2.2.5. Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (EMMP) Compliance ....................................... 25 3. Communications and farmers’ outreach ............................................................................................. 26 4. Project Performance Indicators ....................................................................................................... 28 5. Major Implementation Issues .............................................................................................................. 30 6. Collaboration with other donor projects ............................................................................................. 30 7. Key Activities Planned for Next Quarter ............................................................................................ 31 8. Evaluation / Assessment Update ......................................................................................................... 32 9. Administrative Update ........................................................................................................................ 32 10. Financial Information ........................................................................................................................ 32 11. Success Story .................................................................................................................................... 33 3 III. Acronyms and Abbreviations MPCM Movimento para a Promoção do Cooperativismo Moderno APROSE Associação pra a Promoção do Sector de Sementes CBSG Community-Based Seed Grower CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research COPAZA Cooperativa de Produtores da Alta-Zambézia CIAT Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical CBO Community-based Organization CZNdt Centro Zonal Nordeste CZNrt Centro Zonal Noroeste CZC Centro Zonal Centro DINAS Direcção Nacional de Agricultura e Siviculta DPA Direcção Provincial de Agricultura e Segurança Alimentar FAs Farmers’ Associations FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FtF ZOI Feed-the-Future Zone of Influence FtF – InovA Feed the Future Innovations for Agriculture Activity FtF STP Feed the Future Seed Trade project ICRISAT International Centre for Research in the Semi-Arid Tropics IIAM Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique IITA International Institute of Tropical Agriculture InovAgro Innovation in Agribusiness (Swiss-funded project) MASA Ministério de Agricultura e Segurança Alimentar NCBA CKUSA National Cooperative Business Association, Cooperative League of the United States of America PAN Posto Agronómico de Nampula SBS Sociedade de Beneficiamento de Sementes QDS Quality Declared Seeds SDAE Serviço Distrital de Actividades Económicas RAMA – BC Resilient Agriculture and Marketing Activity – Beira Corridor TNS TechnoServe Inc. USAID United States Agency for International Development 4 IV. Contributors and Acknowledgements Contributors Malita CJ, Boahen SK, Wiredu AN, Savala CEN, Chibeba A, Embaló FM, Belarmino D, Gaudêncio S, Maereka E, and Madzonga O, on behalf of project implementing partners. Acknowledgements We want to extend our acknowledgement to project technicians who tirelessly continue to devote efforts at creating awareness about the benefits of improved varieties, best management practices and produce EGS that are supplied to seed producers for multiplication into certified seeds. These efforts lead the increase production and supply of good quality seeds that are distributed to farmers and other stakeholders in the Feed the Future ZOI and across the country at large. Gratitude is also paid to those who directly or indirectly contribute to the achievement of this mission, developing resilient farming systems that play a major role in feeding the country and contribute to economic growth. Thank you very much! Carlos Malita Nampula, April 2020 5 V. Executive Summary SEMEAR activities during the second quarter of FY202 focused on providing technical support to partners to consolidate the gains in the last four years and sustain the results and impacts of the project. The main activities conducted during the period include planting of early generation seed (EGS) which started in the first quarter, collaboration with seed producers to establish demonstration plots on varieties and good crop management practices to create demand for seeds, training of seed producers and farmers and other awareness creation activities. The consortium partners planted 11 ha breeder/pre-basic and 69.7 ha basic seed fields across the six crops: common bean, cowpea, groundnut, pigeon pea, sesame and soybean. It is expected that 75.5 tons of EGS would be harvested from the 80.7 ha planted. The estimated quantity of EGS to be harvested will be expected to plant 2,517 ha during the 2020/2021 cropping season. The project supported partners including seed companies, individual seed producers, farmers’ associations and NGOs to produce certified and QDS through the supply of basic seeds, training and technical advice on harvest and post-harvest management. About 19.6 tons of basic seed were sold to seed producers by the end of the second quarter to produce certified seed. The basic seed sold is expected to plant 780 ha of certified seed fields. SEMEAR partners planted a total of 1,370 ha for certified seed or QDS by the end of the second quarter and it is estimated to produce 1,310 tons of seeds at the end of the season. The restrictions on travel and gatherings, and other measures to contain the infection and spread of COVID-19 delayed data collection so additional data on area planted will be available in the next report. SEMEAR collaborated with seed producers and other partners to jointly establish 496 variety and inputs demonstration plots on 25.8 ha of land to create awareness and demand for improved seeds. Training sessions,