Crop scientists initiate climate smart innovations to improve simsim (sesame).
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 in sesame production with about 101,000 Mt from an area of 176,000 ha. The biggest percentage of this production, 93.7% is realized from northern Uganda.
It is therefore against such background that crop scientists led by the Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII) formed an alliance to introduce the Sesame Project dubbed -Stabilizing Sesame Yields and Production in the Lango Region- Northern Uganda, that aims at improving livelihoods of the Simsim (Sesame) farmers.
Through this research focused project, drought tolerant sesame varieties have been evaluated and released and also innovations in gall midge and webworm control have been effected. The released clean materials are taken to farmer’s fields for comparison with the farmer seed/local variety.
“When you compare, Yield, from the released varieties outstands that from the local farmers’ variety. The local variety also succumbs very much to webworm which is why our research on the Sesame crop is very important because the improved varieties are tolerant to drought and also resistant to pest and diseases” says the Sesame Project Coordinator, Mr. Francis Alacho from the Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII).
Experimental trials have been conducted and released varieties of Simsim2 and 3 (Sesim 2 and 3) distributed to farmers to give them chance to select among the released varieties which is most suitable for them. They are then to compare the performance and make a selection that they will adopt basing on the crop yield and resistance to pests and diseases.
Photo: The released SimSim 2 (Sesema2) variety that is drought tolerant
“We have extended our research on the Simsim (Sesame) crop to the farmers so that they can own it for their benefit. When they are part of the whole process, they get to appreciate and embrace new technologies and innovations for better farming. They will also closely monitor the performance of the crop when on the field and see what it in turn gives them, when they harvest” adds Mr. Alacho
8 host farmers for the experiments that were conducted mid 2016 last year, were selected from the different parts of Otuke, Lira and Amolatar Districts, the Project operation areas.
On the different trial plots, some were treated with fungicides (spray) while the fertilizer trials were for evaluating different fertilizer rates to establish which rates/ combination of fertilizer gives better /high yields (these different fertilizers are used at different combinations).
The Sesame project is a consortium comprising of the National Semi Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI), Uganda Oilseeds Producers and Processors Association (UOSPPA), FICA Seeds Ltd and Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII) as the lead implementer.
Cassava farming saves farmers from trekking miles to access water
The Awuco family, 77-year-old Victor and 57-year-old Phoebe Awuco, cassava farmers of Alito sub county in Kole District, Northern Uganda are enjoying the benefits of investing in value addition of the cassava crop and have recently constructed an underground water tank from earnings they saved from cassava production. The couple has been travelling a distance of 2 Kilo meters to fetch / access water for use during the processing of cassava.
They delightfully shared their moment of bliss of their new innovation “We spent nearly 1 million Uganda Shillings of our savings from cassava to construct this water tank and we are content with this new development for we no longer have to walk many kilo meters to get water with which to use to wash the fresh cassava roots, as well as rinse and soak the roots before processing them to obtain HQCC and flour. The water for all this is now right in our back yard” (Both smile)
Mr. Awuco then adds “It has not been a smooth road but we have managed, my wife is very supportive in each step of the way”
Blessed with 3 children of their own and 8 grandchildren, the Awuco family is greatly benefitting from farming cassava and have also realized the benefits of conducting business in cassava processing following the successes that have come along with this.
The couple’s first achievement from cassava farming and processing was a motorcycle they purchased back in 2014. The motorcycle has since eased their transportation challenges to easily access the market where they sell their cassava flour, and also purchase other household requirements like food stuffs.
The Awuco’s have also been able to finance the education of their grandchildren to as far as university level through cassava farming “Cassava has greatly improved our household livelihoods. We are able to buy food, cater for medical expenses and also take our grandchildren to school. Our eldest grandson has been admitted to Kyambogo University this year 2016 to study electrical engineering. This is great for us as a family” Mr. Awuco recounts.
The couple has been farming cassava for 3 years and in May 2016 this season, they set up a 1acre demonstration garden of the Narocass1 cassava seed variety. They have been growing the Nase14 cassava variety since 2013.
The couple is also a member of Alito Cassava Farmer Growers Association and Community Processing Group (CPG) that is supported by AfrII under the CAVA II project. The Alito cassava processing site was commissioned in 2014 by the Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII) at the commencement of the second phase of the Cassava: Adding Value for Africa (CAVA II) project.
The Awuco’s acknowledged CAVA II Uganda for the support extended ‘We are grateful to CAVA II for their contribution and also appreciate the work they are extending to us at the community through the CAVA II project in as far as providing us access to new technologies aimed to promote cassava production”
The Cassava: Adding Value for Africa Phase Two (CAVA II) Project supports value addition in cassava and commercialization of cassava in Africa. In Uganda, the CAVA II project has successfully developed value chains for High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) by supporting investors to establish HQCF processing sites in Eastern, Northern and Central Uganda. The project beneficiaries include among others, small holder farmers, Small and Medium Enterprises and selected actors working on cassava value chains.
CAVA II’s purpose is to increase the incomes of 23,010 Small Holder Framers (SHFs) and community processors through participation in profitable and sustainable value added cassava chains in Uganda and is being implemented in 18 districts of Pallisa, Kibuku, Budaka, Bukedea, Kumi, Soroti, Ngora, Serere, Dokolo, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Lira, Apac, Otuke, Oyam, Kole and Alebtong.
The project is also being implemented in 4 other African countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Malawi.
