International Research Institutions

This a presentation of  the CAADP-XP4 Programme 

This study aimed to investigate the effect of age at weaning of calves on non‐ esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and reproductive parameters of beef cows. Animals (n = 65) were randomly assigned to three treatments after calving: hyper‐early weaning (W30) at 32 ± 0.89 days, early weaning (W75) at 77 ± 0.95 days, and conventional weaning (W180) at 183 ± 0.82 days. Body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) were evaluated at parturition (AP) and at 30, 45, 64, 81, 100 and 115 days postpartum (dPP). Blood samples were collected to analyze NEFA levels and progesterone (P4) at 30, 45, 64 and 81 dPP. Higher BW and BCS were observed from 64 to 115 dPP in W30 cows than W180 ones (p < 0.05). Cows subjected to W30 condition had higher levels of NEFA at 30 dPP compared to 64 and 81 dPP (p < 0.05). We also observed that cows from W180 group showed decreased levels of NEFA at 30 dPP compared to 45 (p < 0.01) and 64 dPP (p < 0.05). The highest P4 level was observed at 64 dPP in W30 cows compared to W75 and W180 (p < 0.05). We also observed higher CR of W30 (86%) compared to W180 (47%) at 45 dPP (p < 0.05). The overall pregnancy rate (PR) was higher for W30 (95.5%) than W180 (73.9%). In addition, higher BW at calving and P4 levels at 30 dPP were positively correlated with the possibility of pregnancy (p < 0.05). Improvement in BW and BCS were observed in cows subjected to hyper‐early weaning management. However, levels of NEFA decreased as the postpartum period progressed. We concluded that cows who weaned calves hyper‐early have greater chances of increasing cyclicity and PRs.

Agricultural scientists developed new bean varieties adapted to low soil fertility and extreme weather event including drought, which are the major factors limiting agricultural productivity in Mozambique. The new bean varieties are drought tolerant and phosphorus-efficient, have the potential to yield almost double that of local varieties, ie, between 1.5 to 3.0 ton/hectare, and represent different market classes and consumer preferences. Adoption of the new varieties is crucial for increasing production and productivity of common bean (Sevilla, 2013; Smith & Findeis, 2013). However, it is recognized that many farmers may not adopt the new varieties but continue to grow varieties not well adapted to current soil and climatic conditions. Low adoption may result from differences in variety performance in stressed environments that farmers face in their own fields as compared to what happens on station/demonstration plots. Similarly, the potential mismatch between farmer preferences and new variety traits, higher labor or other input requirements for new varieties coupled with the difficulty in accessing newly-released seed slows adoption. Recognizing that dynamic power relations, often defined by gender roles, influence men and women’s access to information and new technology adoption, this research examined how farmers evaluate and identify their preferred common bean traits.

Climate change is now known to be a key threat to achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction targets, as well as attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in Africa. Climate change is altering rainfall patterns, water availability, and sea levels; it is increasing droughts and the frequency of bushfires, and increasingly impacting on human health, agricultural productivity, forests and biodiversity. In this way, climate change will negatively affect the social, economic and environmental dimensions of human livelihoods in Africa.

This chapter discusses how forest ecosystem services (FES) can contribute toward food security in the context of Sustainable Development Goal 2, which seeks to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

The articles discusses the Malabo interventions in Malawi, especially focusing on the Nutrition component under the Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme.

Study on Improving Existing Policies to Support Cross Border Trade in Agricultural Inputs and Commodities and National Trainings on Agricultural Innovation System Policy Practice Index in the SADC Region Inception Report

Regional Knowledge, Information & Data Capture Guidelines Regional Training Workshop Report:

TORS- Development of Climate Smart Agriculture Technical Information Products and Scaling Tools

CCARDESA is a key player in Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) activities and wants to take the AR4D agenda forward by ensuring that Agricultural Transformation embraces digitalization because it has the potential to provide productivity and sustainability gains for the whole agricultural sector. Significant changes in agricultural systems are anticipated because of the convergence of new digital technologies which have the potential to change farming along whole value chains. The demand for region-specific digital technologies for agricultural innovations, coupled with a conducive enabling environment, calls for a systematic assessment of levels of availability of relevant digital systems and the extent to which such technologies are accessible in each of the SADC countries.