Duncan Sones
OFRA and the fertilizer data legacy…
5 July 2017: Following the recent close-out workshop of OFRA we asked Martin Macharia, the projects data manager at CABI, to talk us through the achievement of objective 1 to improve use of research data to support fertilizer recommendations. Making a database I think it would be good to start with a summary of the achievements […]
Read MoreFertilizer phone app coming soon …
27 June 2017: Martin Macharia OFRA data manager set out the challenge of the current fertilizer optimization tool or FOT that led them to develop a phone-based application.“The OFRA fertilizer optimization tool is a great way of supporting farmers. However, when we have been training extension staff we have encountered a number of challenges. First, extension […]
Read MoreDo-it-yourself posters with help from ASHC
16 June 2017: The ASHC team has developed a media guide to producing poster and a template in PowerPoint so that anyone can now make a simple campaign poster. The media guide using material developed by CABI to show different approaches to media design. It also talks through the major steps to consider when developing […]
Read MoreFertilizer approach could empower 50m African families
14 June 2017: Four years of dedicated work by scientists in 13 African countries has resulted in the creation of innovative tools to help farmers maximise their profits from investments in fertilizers. The Fertilizer Optimization Tools (FOTs) were created as part of the Optimizing Fertilizer Recommendations for Africa (OFRA) project, funded by AGRA, and coordinated by CABI and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. […]
Read MoreUPTAKE of cassava commercialization in Tz
13 June 2017: UPTAKE partner Farm Radio International (FRI) has produced a new briefing pack for radio stations in Tanzania. It covers post-harvest processing of cassava including the production of chips, high quality cassava flour and starch. It sets out opportunities for greater commercialization of cassava, responding to new regulatory and commercial environment. The Farm Radio International […]
Read MoreCampaign-based approaches in development
7 June 2017: In both East and West Africa the ASHC team is working to develop multi-media campaign. Duncan Sones reviews the question What do we mean by a campaign-based approach? The ASHC approach has seen us facilitating the creation of partnership across a number of organization that together can deliver a multiple-media campaign. The aim of […]
Read MoreSoybean demo training attracts farmers
2 June 2017 SILT: The delay in the rains in many parts of Tanzania during the soybean planting season meant that around half of the demo plots were planted up to 6 weeks later than normal. Usually farming season in the Southern Highlands starts from November/December but this year it was as late as January. This was […]
Read MoreSharing soil health approaches June 2017
1 June 2017: Welcome to our second e-newsletter. Here we look back over things you may have missed in the last two month. Be the first to know… Follow ASHC on Twitter to get all the project updates as they happen. Please note that we have a new new address – you can now follow us […]
Read MoreCropping guides now cover 7 crops
30 May 2017:Three new ISFM system cropping guides have been produced by CABI-ASHC, covering sweetpotato, groundnut and maize-legumes. This brings the total of guides available to download to 7. These guides are FREE to download now – follow the links on the table below. Talking of the sweetpotato guide, Edward Carey, from the International Potato […]
Read More1,000+ scientists trained in fertilizer optimization
22 May 2017 OFRA: The training session for scientists in Nigeria last week, means the Optimizing Fertilizer Recommendations for Africa (OFRA) team has trained more than 1,000 scientists from 13 countries in Eastern and Western Africa, on fertilizer optimization approach. 9-11 May 2017 trainers and trainees at the Faculty of Agricultural, University of Abuja, Nigeria OFRA has developed a […]
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