AfDB Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Progress Report October to December 2020


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The Aquaculture Compact continued to work in collaboration with national partners for demonstration and dissemination of Aquaculture technologies across ten countries (Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Tanzania, and Zambia). Continuous technical support was provided to Aquaculture Value Chain Actors (AVCA) that include capacity building on: mono-sex tilapia farming, mass production of fingerlings in haps, hybrids of Clarias species, value addition and product development from catfish and tilapia, quality fish feed formulation, Better Management Practices (BMPs), fish diseases and improved rearing system. Specific activities during this quarter include: 1. Participated in a virtual meeting organized by TAAT Project Management Unit (PMU) to discuss with the TAAT Task Manager (Dr Jonas Chianu) the status and implementation approach to TAAT 2a preparation. The output of the meeting was for all TAAT compacts to provide their proposed work plan, by activities and budget as well as their RBLF for TAAT 2a outputs in alignment with the proposed budget envelope. 2. Development of a capacity building proposal on aquaculture technologies being deployed by the compact to the Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC) project that was submitted to through TAAT Clearinghouse Coordinator. 3. Participation in the Country Engagement Coordination (CEC) virtual meeting for Tanzania, Malawi, Nigeria and Benin organized by Clearing House and facilitated by Dr Attah-Krah. The aim of the country CEC meeting was to discuss ways to achieve accelerated impact of deployed agriculture technologies through strengthened Coordination, Harmonization and Alignment of TAAT delivery operations to country goals and targets where TAAT activities are being implemented were discussed. 4. Concluded and finalized outreach materials in collaboration with FARA (Capacity Development Enabler) on training modules on mono-sex tilapia for effective delivery of training in the participating countries. 5. Participation in a virtual meeting on technology driven modernization of African Agriculture with an objective of bringing together some top strategists and advocates for the promotion of technology to drive agriculture productivity; assess status of the affairs and brainstorm on possible responses in a post-COVID context. It was moderated by Dr Kwesi Atta-Krah, Director and Senior Programme Engagement Specialist. 6. Aquaculture Compact in collaboration with the AfDB Blue Economy participated in a Virtual Supervision Mission of the LEAF II (Lakes Albert and Edwards) for DR Congo. It was planned that a study trip will be organized by of the local management committees to visit Bukavu where technologies are being demonstrated and demonstrated to aquaculture value chain actors by DRC Team of TAAT Aquaculture; thereby benefit from the experiences of other committees in the region. 7. The Compact participated in the AfDB Virtual Mission Projet de Développement des Chaînes de valeur de la Pêche et de l’Aquaculture Compétitives Mission de de Préparation, République du Benin. During the meeting WorldFish and TAAT Aquaculture Compact were identified as sources of technologies for aquaculture development using the AfDB loan which will be disbursed in second half of 2021 to Republic of Benin 8. Aquaculture Compact in collaboration with the AfDB Blue Economy participated in a Virtual Supervision Mission for Sustainable Fisheries, Aquaculture Development and Watershed Development Project for Malawi. During the launching of the SFAD-WM, it was documented that AfDB-WorldFish TAAT Aquaculture Compact will assist to provide capacity support for the training of women and youths in aquaculture technologies through IFFNT. Therefore, a sub-grant agreement (Grant number: 2100155036067) was signed between WorldFish and IFFNT to end 31st January 2021. An amount of USD 9,985 was disbursed to IFFNT for implementation of the activities. The Compact participated in the AfDB Virtual Preparation Mission on Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy in SADC Region. WorldFish and Aquaculture Compact will work together to scale-out the TAAT Blue Economy Compact activities and align with Regional Economic Community interventions. Through TAAT IIa, will promote aquaculture development and fish value chains as a means of attaining regional food security, livelihoods and GDP growth through cross border trade by establishing harmonised regulatory policies and collaborative governance frameworks. Working with our partners on the ground Virtual meetings with partners and collaborators on the progress of activities at country level through close follow up continued as partners adopted online and telephone communication with fish farmers as well as one on one extension service delivery. This is a means of providing technical support at the country level for aquaculture value chain actors. The latter delivery of one-on-one extension delivery system was more effective but required more investment in terms of time and capital compared to providing group/cluster extension support to farmers at this period due to social distancing. Funds from the Aquaculture Compact were used to purchase airtime and data. It should be noted however in most Aquaculture Compact implementation countries (Nigeria, Ghana, DR Congo, Zambia and Kenya) physical activities have commenced gradually. This allowed national partners to carry out field visit and trainings within the countries by complying to COVID-19 precaution and measures in accordance to the government direction but not in full operation.

Citation

Bernadette Fregene, Ajibola Olaniyi. (14/1/2021). AfDB Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Progress Report October to December 2020.

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