CAVA II PROJECT STORIES

• A Youth’s Dreams Come To Life Thanks To The Opportunities Created By The Flash Dryers (9/23/2017) - Sarah Adong is 24 years old and a single mother with three children.  Currently, she works as a peeler at Adyaka Wholesalers Limited, a cassava flash dryer factory in Apac district. In a day, she earns between 4000 to 5000 Uganda shillings.  The factory employs various laborers including 10 women peelers for its day to day operations.  “The life changing moment of my life was when I was taken on for this job at the cassava factory. I know my future is brighter now, for I am able to make money.” With this employment, Adong is assured of a daily […]
• AfrII and Partners push for an integrated data system to achieve sustainable development in Uganda (11/7/2018) -
• AfrII builds collaboration with NOVA University of Lisbon (5/27/2019) -
• AfrII cassava project improves youth livelihoods in Northern Uganda (12/10/2021) -
• AfrII’s CAVA Project benefits over one million cassava value chain actors (7/19/2020) -
• AgriTT Partners meet over feasibility study on large scale cassava industrialization in Uganda (10/24/2016) -   Experts from China and UK jointly with experts from AfrII have teamed up to conduct a Feasibility Study on Large Scale Cassava Industrialisation in Uganda. The experts undertaking this study are exploring the areas around Investment and Finance, i.e a look at the wider situation for investment in larger scale processing of cassava in Uganda and also building a cassava industry in Uganda. This study is under the Agricultural Technology Transfer (AgriTT) Project of which AfrII is an implementing partner. The experts including Dr. Liang Guo Tao from China, Dr. Andrew Graffham and Mr. Ulrich Kleih of NRI were recently […]
• British MPs visit CAVA II Uganda project interventions (4/10/2017) - British MPs visit CAVA II Uganda project interventions, express admiration for efforts to transform lives of Small Holder Farmers 10 April 2017, Kampala-Lord Cameron of Dillington- Ewen James Hanning Cameron and 4 other dignitaries from the UK Parliaments Science and Technology Committee last week visited AfrII’s CAVA II project areas of operation in Nakasongola district, where the dignitaries were briefed by officials from AfrII on the projects interventions to beneficiaries in the district The Lords met AfrII Chairman Professor G. W Otim-Nape and senior representatives of the CAVA II Uganda project led by the Country Manager Mr. Francis Alacho. During […]
• Capacity building of CAVA II Uganda team and other AfrII Staff (12/2/2016) -   The AfrII Staff Results Oriented Management Training was successfully concluded on Thursday 1st December 2016 with the team generating a lot of knowledge in the areas of strategic management, revenue generation, planning and performance management as well as leadership and governance within an institution. In his wrap up message, the Trainer, Mr. John Linton, the Commercial Director at NRI advised AfrII Management to regularly analyze progress of the organization in the areas of staff performance and also business generation for track of progress of the organization. In his closing remarks, the AfrII Chairman Professor G.W. Otim-Nape appreciated NRI for […]
• Cassava farmer expands farming business with CAVA II trainings and Farmer-to-Farmer technical assistance (8/14/2017) - Christine Nalubinga is a farmer and member of NADIFA in Nakasongola. She is a housewife, but for the last 10 years has engaged in farming with her husband. She began cassava farming, despite having no prior training in cassava production. Christine and her husband have 13 Children. She is 45 and he is 48 years old. The couple had for a long time been planting cassava the old fashioned way until in 2013 when CAVA intervened. Their efforts then were not of much benefit given the poor harvests obtained from their small gardens.  Years later, their farming business has expanded […]
• CAVA II project partners review the project operation in Uganda (10/16/2016) - AfrII recently hosted partners on phase two of its Cassava: Adding Value for Africa (CAVA II) project on a 3 day’s project review and update visit trip. These included the CAVA II Nigeria team, the Project Director Professor Kolawole Adebayo and his communications assistant Halimat Badmus and the NRI team had Richard Lamboll and John Linton. The visit of August 14th-18th included a series of activities like a tour of the two flash dryer factories in Lira and Apac Districts as well as field visits to SME, CSE and CPGs as beneficiaries of the CAVA II project. The country manager […]
• CAVA II restores Farm Uganda’s cassava business to get bigger profits using the batch drying technology (12/10/2018) - Farm Uganda, is an agro processing company which has been in operation since 2008. It is located in Kigumba sub county in Kiryandongo district, Central Uganda and deals mainly in commercial farming, milling, packaging and trading of maize corn flour, white sorghum, and cassava flour. The company is co-owned by Mr. Sosimu Twesiga, Mr. Bamutaze Julius and Mr. Kalihanyu Claudio. Before 2015 and 2016, when the cassava projects; the Agricultural Technology Transfer (AgriTT) and Cassava Adding Value for Africa (CAVA) intervened respectively, the company faced a number of challenges including low quality and low volumes of cassava flour produced for […]
• CAVA II Uganda gets over 40 new SMEs and CPGs into cassava production and processing (10/26/2016) - With increased efforts to promote cassava value addition for increased shelf life and better income, new Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SME’s) and Community Processing Groups (CPGs) in Uganda are increasingly expressing interest in production of High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF), which interest is largely attributed to the CAVA II Uganda project. The 48 new SME’s and CPGs are from the Northern part of Uganda. In the month of August alone this year, 33 new SME’s and CPGs in Teso and Bullisa areas were initiated into active HQCF processing. Among these is Landmark Millers Limited in Soroti district (SME), Koloin Agro-processors in […]
• CAVA II Uganda hosts CAVA II Tanzania over Flash Drying Technology (12/7/2016) - The visiting team including Mrs. Grace Mahende the Country Manager CAVA II Tanzania and Mrs. Mahava Rhoda, the Lake Zonal Coordinator CAVA II Tanzania sat with the Uganda team in a brief meeting earlier today to share a few experiences on operations of the CAVA II Project activities in the two countries. ‘We want to learn from Uganda’s experience with the flash drying technology so as to be able to foresee how to handle challenges that may come with the new technology once we also have it up and running in Tanzania’ hinted Mrs. Mahende Grace, the Country Manager CAVA […]
• CAVA II Uganda is advised to adopt other improved technologies to boost cassava (10/10/2016) - Dr. Ola Ogunyinka, NRI’s Senior Research Fellow Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact Specialist has recommended that the CAVA II Uganda project looks into other drying mechanisms that are affordable to most of the farmers (small holder farmers). He particularly pointed out a possible look into the inflatable (Collapsible) solar drying technology that is already being used in Ghana and that Uganda can learn from their experience with this new technology and adopt it as well. He noted that the successful establishment of the 3 improved varieties (NASE 14, NASE 19 and NAROCASS 1) in partnership with the cassava seed systems project […]
• CSS Project supported farmer gets accolade for best Cassava Seed Entrepreneur (8/29/2017) - Successful cassava farmer and beneficiary of the Cassava Seed Systems Project (CSS), Mr. Akuttu Augustine recently won an award for “Best Cassava Seed Entrepreneur 2013-2017” under the Cassava Seed Systems Project. Mr. Akutu, a resident of Amuria district in Eastern Uganda was also awarded a certificate of inspection on fulfilling the quality and plant health standards for cassava planting materials. The certificate qualifies him to supply certified cassava stems for planting during the year 2017. He got the two credits in June 2017 this year. Mr. Akuttu owns over 300 acres of cassava spread out in parts of Amuria, Soroti […]
• Farmers urged to Intensify production of drought tolerant crops (10/14/2016) - As the world today jointly commemorates the World Food Day under the theme “Climate is changing. Food and Agriculture must too” agricultural experts at the Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII) shared a message that to address hunger and food insecurity issues, there is need to intensify production of drought tolerant crops including cassava, sweet potato, sorghum and millet. With climate challenges affecting crop life today thus resulting into shortage of food, these drought tolerant crops are regarded as the ‘foods of the future’. Today, the world is witnessing an unprecedented wave of food crises/ emergencies linked to climate change and natural […]
• Flash Dryer technology eases commercial cassava processing in Northern Uganda (5/20/2018) - Feeding wet cassava cake into the flash dryer to obtain Hiqh Quality Cassava Flour(HQCF), a product highly valued on the market today for its versatile use in many industries   Farmers engaged in cassava value addition in the Lango region are smiling home after an upgrade from open air processing to use of high precision indoor modern cassava flash dryers, a technology that offers the best answer to weather challenges especially during wet seasons when cassava processing comes under burdens of rains, thus affecting the quality of the end product as it takes longer to dry and is also exposed […]
• FLASH DRYING TECHNOLOGY- An Investors Extraordinary Journey With The New Technology In Uganda (5/10/2019) -
• I can see a bright future ahead thanks to opportunities from the flash dryer investment in Uganda (10/17/2018) -
• ICTs for Nutrition, Agriculture, and Time Use: Can we do better than 24-hour recall by using “innovative methods” of nutrition data collection? (2/13/2018) -   In the over fifty years in which explicit efforts have been made to improve nutrition, there have been countless achievements in global understanding of the causes and consequences of malnutrition, and the actions required to change outcomes for women and children. In these same fifty years, technological advances have changed the modern world. We communicate with friends and family everywhere instantaneously on hand-held devices, and track our location, heart rate, and calories burned real-time. The confluence of smartphones with high resolution cameras and widespread access to social media outlets have made first-person photography ubiquitous. Limitations of traditional methods. However, […]
• Journalists urged to report more on agriculture to trigger total transformation of the sector (7/30/2018) -
• Over 400 youths in Northern Uganda benefit from AfrII’s youth in agribusiness project (6/14/2018) -
• Over 50 Cassava Processors acquire skills and knowledge in processing HQCF (11/28/2016) - Agricultural and food scientists from AfrII and NRI recently teamed up to train processors in production of High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF). 80 Cassava Processors from the regions of Eastern, Central, Northern and West Nile have benefited from the HQCF Quality Management Training in which they were availed skills and knowledge in processing HQCF. The training happened in Lira District from 21st- 22nd November. The lead trainer, Dr. Aurelie Bechoff, a Food Technologist at the Natural Resources Institute (NRI)-University of Greenwich took the participants through the necessary steps and procedures required to produce HQCF including Use of good quality cassava […]
• Prominent cassava farmer sets up millions worth cassava commercial building (9/2/2017) - Mr. Akutu Augustine is one man whose tale with cassava is quite admirable. He is earning big both as a cassava farmer and a cassava processor of the High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF). He is also highly recognized as influential in the community and is praised by not only by the community persons but also the local area/ community leaders of the church and political statures. Mr. Akutu is reaping big as a cassava farmer. He makes proceeds worth millions from selling cassava seed. “I harvested 3,500 bags of cassava stems in 2016 and earned 170 million, this year I […]
• Reaping big from cassava farming (11/16/2016) - Mr. Okiror Gilbert a Cassava Seed Entrepreneur (CSE) from Koloin in Ngora District, with his bags of packaged clean cassava stem cuttings he intends to sell to fellow farmers to boost multiplication of clean cassava seed. Mr. Okiror recently made sales on cassava cuttings / stems worth about 2.5 million Uganda Shillings from clean planting materials of the NaSE 19 variety that he accessed from AfrII through the Cassava Seed Systems Project in collaboration with the CAVA II Project, both implemented by AfrII. Through the two projects, farmers like Mr. Okiror have readily accessed certified and high yielding disease tolerant […]
• Reporting Gender Dis-aggregated Data in climate action. (5/26/2019) -

RICE ENRICH PROJECT STORIES

• AfrII extends technologies to farmers to boost production of upland rice in Uganda. (7/13/2017) - The Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII) through the East African wetlands: Optimizing sustainable production for future food security project is extending Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) technologies aimed to boost upland rice production in the two districts of Wakiso and Luweero. The project is operating in Rice Sector Development Hubs in the 3 countries of Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. In Uganda, 10 farmers from each of the three selected villages in the two districts will partake in this research through a participatory process with aim to equip them with skills and knowledge in practicing climate smart agriculture to boost production of upland […]
• AfrII successfully closes the rice ENRICH project (6/28/2019) -
• Evaluating the Benefits of Micro-nutrients on Rice Farming in Uganda (1/28/2018) -
• Partners visit project areas on progress of their research work on the rice crop (11/20/2017) - Last week, AfrII hosted partners on the Enhancing Rice Markets in Uganda through Smart Micronutrient Fertilization (ENRICH) Project to field visits to witness progress of the experimental trials established at Doho and Kibimba rice irrigation schemes in the two districts of Butaleja and Bugiri, respectively. The Project under collaborative research efforts aims to address rice nutrient problems through testing and recommending best micro and macronutrient fertilizer combinations and application methods that give best yield results for farmers. The partners interacted with the farmers of both FRGs to share ideas on enhancing nutrient use to increase rice productivity. Scientists at the […]
• Research proves efficiency of fertiliser application on the rice crop (12/13/2016) - Research on the rice crop has proved efficiency of fertiliser application by 100% when micronutrients are applied onto the fields. Evidence to this is the crop yield on the trial plots established by AfrII and farmers at Doho rice Irrigation Scheme in Butaleja District. The different fertilisers applied on these trial plots are nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B), sulphur (S) and a commercial micronutrient fertiliser Elfert-F. Micronutrients have been reported to enhance uptake efficiency of NPK, improving rice grain yields, profit margins, grain nutritional quality and disease tolerance. For instance, Sulphur, Zinc, Copper, […]
• Rice Farmer’ Research Group Transforms into a Farmer Organization (7/4/2019) -
• Scientists train rice farmers in Uganda on fertilizer use and application for improved yields (10/16/2016) - Soil nutrient depletion is one of the top most agricultural production constraints in Uganda, with over 80% of rice farmers perceiving this constraint to be one of the factors constraining crop yields. Yet, fertilizers are barely used, and yield responses to conventional NPK-fertilizers are poor. Micronutrients have been reported to enhance uptake efficiency of NPK, improving rice grain yields, profit margins, grain nutritional quality and disease tolerance. For instance, Sulphur, zinc, copper, magnesium, calcium, boron, iron and manganese applied in combination rather than individual micronutrients have been reported to increase yields of rice, maize, wheat, beans and potato in Ethiopia, […]

SESAME PROJECT STORIES

• Crop scientists initiate climate smart innovations to improve simsim (sesame). (1/26/2017) - Sesame has small nutritious seeds, is a very important oil crop, and is valued for its high quality oils (44% to 52%). However, despite its high value and potential, sesame has received less development attention with its Production characterized by low yields and low productivity. This is as a result of the impact of frequent extreme weather events (droughts, unpredictable seasons, or too much rainfall). Use of traditional varieties and management practices, Poor pests and diseases control practices, declining soil fertility, Pre and post-harvest losses are other factors affecting the crops productivity. In Uganda, about 250,000 smallholder farmers are engaged […]
• Exposure to new technologies greatly impacts on sesame farmers in Northern Uganda (4/11/2018) -

VITAL SIGNS STORIES

• Are benefits from agricultural intensification related to household income, level of education, and gender? – results from 758 households in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ghana (9/4/2017) - By Robert Shaffer, Vital Signs Fellows &Scientists_DSSG 2017  ,Africa Innovations Institute,Tanzania Forest Conservation Group,Wildlife Conservation Society Rwanda,The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Ghana This analysis is a result of the collaboration between the eScience Insitute Data Science for Social Good Program and Vital Signs. Learn more about this program here. In developing countries, agricultural intensification (defined as increased input per unit of land) is a key phenomenon of interest. These inputs may include land, fertilizers, pesticides and labor including use of agricultural machinery. Increasing agricultural intensification can contribute to aggregate-level increases in food availability and economic performance. However, these benefits may not be evenly […]
• Are the effects of extension services on crop productivity moderated by farmer’s education attainment? Results from 25 Landscapes in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ghana (8/5/2017) - This analysis is a result of the collaboration between the eScience Insitute Data Science for Social Good Program and Vital Signs. Learn more about this program here. Existing studies of farmer field schools (FFS) have found that these programs exhibit a sizable positive effect on per-acre crop productivity value among households with lower educational attainment, with negligible effects on higher-education households[1] [2]. In these analyses, we examined whether a similar effect can be observed when examining a broader set of extension services.Agricultural households in Vital Signs landscapes were therefore asked whether they received extension services in the past 12 months. The categories of extension services used […]
• Do female-headed households have less access to agricultural capital and services? results from vital signs data from 26 African landscapes (6/29/2017) - By Matthew Cooper, Felly Tusiime, Madeleine Nyiratuza, Kame Westerman, Tabby Njung’e, Alice Ruhweza, Peter Alele and Alex Zvoleff In the struggle to produce more food sustainably, create economic growth, and improve health outcomes across the developing world, women play a pivotal role.  Women often assume different agricultural roles than men: they grow more garden crops while men grow more commodity crops and field grains[1].  Women are also generally charged with childcare and eldercare, and pay more attention to household nutrition and child health.  At the same time, women also face significant burdens in patriarchal societies where they have less access to […]
• High Resolution Soil Nutrient Maps Using Machine Learning (8/10/2017) - As part of its mission, Vital Signs collects soil samples from points scattered across the countries that it works in – filling critical gaps on soil nutrients, agricultural suitability, and land degradation. These soil samples are then analyzed in the World Agroforestry Center laboratory in Nairobi to yield data on soil properties including particle size, pH, nutrient availability and nutrient content. To date, Vital Signs has collected 5,969 soil samples and has had 3,714 analyzed by the lab. Here is the breakdown by country: These soil samples fill critical data gaps for soils scientists and researchers worldwide. Recently, the lab-analyzed samples were used […]
• Soil scientists at AfrII host the CI President to Vital Signs data collection work in Nakasongola district (10/10/2017) - Soil Scientists at the Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII) are conducting countrywide data collection on soils and ecosystems under the Vital Signs Project (VS). Vital Signs generates near-real time data for better decisions in support of sustainable agriculture, environment conservation and climate change resilience. Vital Signs is a global project led by Conservation International (CI).  The team recently hosted the CI President, Dr. Jennifer Morris on the Project work in Nakasongola district. She was accompanied by Dr. Alex, the Manager, Data Science-CI, and Dr. Alice Ruhweza, the Executive Director-Vital Signs Monitoring System.   The team met with senior officials of the Nakasongola […]
• Vital Signs Uganda team benefit from capacity building Science Course (11/9/2016) - AfrII Vital Signs members participating in a discussion about research in the Process of Science short course class. This short course is conducted by Professor Mark P. Simmons, a visiting Fulbright Scholar from Colorado State University. The short course contributes to AfrII’s Capacity Building Programme in which our scientists and, or staff are to benefit in various areas including skills development in research among others. The topics to be discussed in this class include; 1. Ten simple rules for aspiring scientists in a low-income country 2. How simple ideas lead to scientific discoveries 3. Limitations of statistical analyses and problems […]