Enabling Environments for Sustainable Regional Agriculture Extension (ENSURE)

• Project funder: African Development Bank & East Africa Community
• Planned Budget: USD 13.14 million
• Location: East African Community (Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda)
• Planned duration: 2024–2027
• Deployment means: On-farm demonstrations, training, digital tools (SMS, IVR, video, radio, pictorial guides), bundled inputs + advisory services, Training of Trainers (ToT)
• Project main implementer: East African Community (EAC)
• Project Description: Strengthen agricultural extension systems using digital tools, private-sector approaches, regional coordination, and multi-commodity focus (maize, cassava, rice, drought-resilient crops).
• Objective: Promote regional extension, enhance advisory services, scale climate-smart technologies, build sustainable private sector–led extension systems, strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks.
• Expected outcome: Increased adoption of improved technologies, improved farmer productivity and profitability, enhanced access to quality inputs and pest management solutions, strengthened resilience to climate and pest risks, regional market integration, job creation for youth and agripreneurs.
• Figures of adoption: Target 3 million farmers reached over 4 years, digital extension pilots in 7 EAC states, training of extension agents, lead farmers, cooperatives, and youth agripreneurs, rollout of Pest Information Management Systems (PIMS).
• Profiles of adopters: Smallholder farmers, women, youth agripreneurs, cooperatives and producer organizations, public and private extension agents, National Plant Protection Officers (NPPOs).
• Lessons learnt: System-level approaches needed beyond technology delivery, digital tools most effective with in-person facilitation, supportive policy/regulatory environment critical, regional harmonization boosts scalability and cross-border diffusion of technologies. 

Projet d’Appui au Développement des Chaînes de Valeurs en soutien au Programme de Transformation de l’Agriculture (PADCV-PTA)

• Project funder: African Development Bank
• Planned Budget: USD 311.609 million
• Location: 6 provinces in Congo (Kongo Central, Kwango, Maï-Ndombe, Kasaï Oriental, Lomami, Sud-Kivu)
• Planned duration: 2024–2029
• Deployment means: Direct access to improved seeds and planting materials, seed system strengthening (INERA, SENASEM, multipliers), Farmer Field Schools and demonstration plots (1,600 sites), strengthened public extension (SNV), training/capacity building, subsidized or cost-shared inputs and equipment, irrigation infrastructure (5,200 ha), rural road rehabilitation (600 km), contract farming and private sector partnerships
• Project main implementer: Social Fund of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Project Description: Implements the National Pact for Food and Agriculture (PNAA) using an integrated value chain approach combining technology access (seeds, practices), infrastructure development (irrigation, roads), extension services, farmer organization, finance, and market access to boost productivity, reduce imports, strengthen resilience, and structure agricultural value chains.
• Objective: Restore national seed capital, scale improved and climate-resilient technologies, increase productivity, facilitate access to inputs/advisory/markets/finance, promote climate-smart agriculture, strengthen farmer organizations and value chain governance, reduce food imports, and enhance resilience to climate shocks and conflict.
• Expected outcome: ~80% crop yield increase (rice, cassava, maize, soybean), 1.68 million tons/year additional production, expansion of irrigated rice, improved access to seeds/inputs, stronger farmer organizations, better post-harvest handling and market integration, increased private sector engagement, reduced food imports, improved national food security.
• Figures of adoption: 900,000 farming households directly supported, ~295,000 ha cultivated with improved seeds, 5,200 ha irrigated rice, 600 km rural roads rehabilitated, 1,600 FFS/demonstration plots, 2 million households indirectly benefiting, +4.1 million tons private sector processing, ~1.68 million tons annual production increase
• Profiles of adopters: Smallholder farmers, women farmers (100% of women-headed households in target areas), youth/agripreneurs, internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Kivu, seed producers, cooperatives, farmer organizations/inter-professional associations, public extension services, local authorities
• Lessons learnt: Infrastructure (irrigation, roads) and market access are critical for adoption, seed system reform is a bottleneck, contract farming/aggregation incentivizes adoption, combining inputs + extension + finance accelerates impact, governance and institutional coordination are key for scaling and sustainability

Projet d'Urgence de Production et de Sécurite Alimentaire & Nutritionnelle (PUPSAN/AEFPF)

• Project funder: African Development Bank (AfDB) Group – Transition Support Facility (TSF) loan and grant
• Planned Budget: USD 7.040 million
• Location: Republic of Mali
• Planned duration: 2022–2024
• Deployment means: Distribution of certified seeds and subsidized fertilizers, training for extension staff and farmers on climate-resilient practices, use of digital tools (tablets with Rice Advice and WeedMaster applications)
• Project main implementer: Ministry of Rural Development (MDR) via Office Riz Ségou (ORS) and the PDIR-PD2 project management unit
• Project Description: Emergency intervention to counter food insecurity by providing climate-resilient inputs, supporting the acquisition of 1,027.14 tons of seeds and 2,234 tons of fertilizers, and assisting national seed policy reforms
• Objective: Increase agricultural production and reduce the negative impact of rising food and input prices on the Malian population
• Expected outcome: Additional production of 11,145.6 tons of food products, yield increase of 30–50% across targeted crops
• Figures of adoption: 35,274 producers targeted, 8,829 hectares cultivated, distribution of 1,027.14 tons of seeds and 2,234 tons of fertilizers
• Profiles of adopters: Vulnerable producers including 30% women (10,582), 20% youth (7,054), 10% internally displaced persons (3,527)
• Lessons learnt: Leveraging existing execution agencies accelerates startup, efficient procurement systems (advance actions, direct negotiation) are critical, and digitalization ensures transparency and traceability in input distribution

Emergency Food Production Project (Projet de Production Alimentaire d’Urgence - PPAU)

• Project funder: African Development Fund (ADF) (Loan and Grant) and the Government of Guinea
• Planned Budget: 19.39 million UC (~USD 25.23 million)
• Location: Republic of Guinea – national coverage
• Planned duration: Nov 2022 – June 2024 (Completion) / Dec 2024 (Closing)
• Deployment means: Distribution of certified seeds and fertilizers (30% government subsidy), GAP training, digital platforms (e-Voucher/e-Extension), TAAT technical assistance
• Project main implementer: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) via Project Management Unit (UGP) of PATAG-EAJ
• Project Description: Emergency operation to mitigate rising input/food prices and boost production of rice, maize, and tubers
• Objective: Improve food and nutritional security; increase agricultural production and productivity in intervention zones
• Expected outcome: Additional production of 71,429 tons rice, 57,000 tons maize, 12,000 tons cassava; significant yield increases across crops
• Figures of adoption: 35,750 direct farmers; 2,000 tons rice seeds, 750 tons maize seeds, 20,000 cassava cuttings distributed; 63,286 ha additional sown area
• Profiles of adopters: Smallholder farmers (≥10,750 women – 30%), 1,650 livestock farms, youth entrepreneurs; targeting vulnerable populations
• Lessons learnt:

  • Constraints: High international input prices, climate vulnerability

  • Success factors: Strong existing UGP (PATAG-EAJ), e-Voucher digitalization for transparency, TAAT technical support for rapid multiplication technologies (SAH)

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 1: no poverty

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Goal 13: climate action

1. Selection: Choose the appropriate DroughtTEGO variety based on local climate and soil conditions.
2. Planting: Follow standard maize planting practices, ensuring optimal soil and fertilizer management.
3. Nutrient Optimization: In low-fertility soils, supplement with inorganic fertilizers to enhance nutrient uptake.
4. Complementary Practices: Consider legume intercropping, manure application, and mulching for added nutrients and water retention.