Millennials Africa Curriculum 4 - food to end poverty and sustain continent-wide growth

. .. .. .

Here some early searches around Africa if you want to understand how to change  value chains of food to end huger and end poverty and celebrate creating jobs wit farming millennials 

1 Search for both evidence and supporters of DBanj / Bono ONE campaign that best way to end poverty is invest 10% of GDP in agriculture-eg dbanj world bank tedx;

-first value chain ghana chocolate- main launch out of Ethiopia; in 2015 both dbanj and bono are pivotal toaction2015.org

as with all change-world guidelines this investment context specific - which programs in which countries at what stages of development are best cases of investing 10% in Agriculture to end poverty

2.0 compare also with the transformative millennials events and reports issued by world bank since Jim Kim's arrival in 2012- its audit of where will african jobs come from shared during african investment week aug 2014 predicted at least 50 million additional good for youht agriculture jobs are needed

Compare this with eg :ctn_africa_2014_publication_final.pdf ctn_africa_2014_publication_final.pdf,

attached seems to be a us mediated conference summary as well as the usaid value chain dataBASE

Also huntout which of BRAC rograms imported to Africa maor in agriculture - eg Tanzania case

Expect that some of the deepest learnings come from interactionof One movemkent and end to end diaspora value chain models - eg blessed value chains - were these are also linked in with feedback from the 3 billion millennials elearning satellite yazmi including its other searces of best for africa curricula

Ethiopians are in a good position to edit/mediate all the information that

1 circulates around the elarning world of millennials through ownership of yazmi

2 as largest diaspora in washington dc to proof check models with goal of ending all middlemen

with furter sases suc as the etiopoain pionnering of trasnparent commodicty exchnages - see Elena at world bank tedx

with potetial partberships with intel in mobiling uge datasets to put smalest famres on level infromation playing field

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Permalink Reply by chris macrae on January 22, 2015 at 11:28am

worldwide crop science networlks wot checking in with :

50 yera learning curve of nippon insitute (tokyo) and 40 yeras brac (bangladesh)- asia's particular experyside with rice - some say te fastet growing crop in africa; moreover banagldesh's specific experytise is redesining wole value cains so poorest are fully included; bangladesh also took world elad in mobile apps since 1996

50 year learining curve of borlaug mexico/usa

Permalink Reply by chris macrae on January 23, 2015 at 11:18am
tebabu clarification:  s.africa is currently best for Grade7 up-  leaving primary and anytime that a child leaves school and starts work/livelihood - that's not your question as I understand it
 my guess over 44 years of watching elearning collide with real learning  (and hopefully help eg Yazmi replace the 25% of human expenditure (up from 3% in 1948) that currently goes on advertising and vested interest PR) is the best primary rural-poor curricula are at BRAC (thats why WISE qatar voted their 30000 schools as best schooling for livelihoods in the first education oscar) or ::: Welcome: www.JagdishGandhiforWorldHappiness.org :::50000 urban schooling system especially if you want eg literacy and a lab for montesorri where 1000 teachers see each other change every day  

 

I believe both brac and lucknow are were gandhi and montessori would go first if they were alive today - but again in making these best guesses I am delighted to be told there is somewhere else for millennials to look at
( Of course dr ranga with gandhi family can review that over time but eg lucknow is the only school to have a unesco peace prize for its cross-cultural activities -and about 25 other unique characteristics coming from over half a century as an indian city's favorite and least costly schooling systems from the view of the children and parents not the view of government per se) though i think you will find that eg past president kalam voted it a favorite school - as both india's leading scientist and someone highly committed to sustainability 15 years before the UN adopted sustainability goals as this years transformational agenda (others doing likewise are branson bteams and action/2015) 
 
 - but the problem is your friend would need to want to go and visit them -its quite impossible to think wherever the best curriculum is being massively scaled between millions of children that leaders of that organisation can mentor one school at a time
??however precisely that constraint ---could also be the opportunity of yazmi mediation??
chris macrae mobile 240 316 8157
while writing I would like to ask you a different question- if it is a good thing that bono and the whole of one movement out of Ethiopian  launched  invest 10% of gdps in agriculture to end poverty  ...how does that investment feed through to schooling streams of farmers families-
 if ethiopians and usadbc and eg friends with intel and ifad have not got the collective wherewithal to debate that with bonos leadersip team then arguably you are not really going in 2015 to be milennials-integral to helping end agricultural poverty 
we need to be frank about how many tipping points are banging into each other- we need collab models of total everything to do with future for families in agriculture- i dont want to get more questions relating to 1 school within this unless there is something extraordinary that the person leading that school can also reciprocate
mostofa-will you be sending qatar an invite to your tokyo or dubai roundtable on asia investors education revolution in march  (thats only if tokyo, naila and dubai are happy politically with WISE which may not be the case as I dont understand qatar politics)
stefanos- did you send tat brief to each of intel, ifad and usaid as agreed at tebabu's pizza dinner 3 monts ago - because I need a meeting wit ifad on 6th feb in rome
muftah how near is your oman Omagine - Based on a true Story dream to groundbreaking after your 14 years of work on getting this partnership to spring alive
 
Permalink Reply by chris macrae on January 23, 2015 at 5:48pm

Search Liberation Theology :1 Francis and Farmer;  2 Paul Farmer

Liberation theology and indigenous Brazil[edit]

The Tapeba[edit]

Anthropologist and author Max Maranhao Piorsky Aires analyzes the influence of liberation theology on the transformation of the indigenous Tapeba population of Brazil from poor, uneducated, and state neglected inhabitants to rights bearing and involved citizens of the Brazilian population. Specifically he largely attributes the work of the Brazilian Catholic Church to the progression of the Tapeba. The Catholic Church enlisted state authorities, anthropologists, and journalists to help uncover the identity of the neglected indigenous people of Brazil. Early recognition by missionaries and followers of liberation theology stimulated indigenous identification of the Tapeba population as a possibility for attaining rights, especially land, health, and education.[29] The Church gathered and contributed historical knowledge of indigenous territory and identity of the Tapeba in Caucaia that ultimately succeeded in the tribes obtaining a legally codified identity as well as a rightful place as Brazilian subjects.

Gurupá[edit]

In Gurupá, the Catholic Church has employed liberation theology to defend indigenous tribes, farmers, and extractors from unethical expropriation from their lands by federal or corporate forces. New religious ideas, in the form of liberation theology, have fortified and given legitimacy to an evolving political culture of resistance.[26] Meanwhile, the Church supported Base Ecclesial Communities (CEBs) have promoted stronger social connections among Community members that has led to more effective activism in Gurupá. Anthropologist Richard Pace's study of Gurupá revealed that CEBs assured safety in united activism and, combined with liberation theology, encouraged members to challenge landowner's commercial monopolies and fight for better standards of living. Pace references a specific incident in the CEB of Nossa Senhora de Fátima in which a community of 24 families of farmers, timber extractors, and traders resisted an extra regional timber extraction firm that would have taken resources from their land. The indigenous families of the community were able to negotiate an agreement with the firm that gained them a higher standard of living that included imported goods, increased food availability, and access to health products. While severe social dislocations such as government-initiated capitalist penetration, land expropriation, and poor wages persist, small-farmer activism is fortified by liberation theology and receives structural support from unions, political parties, and church organizations.[26]

Permalink Reply by chris macrae on March 1, 2015 at 6:24pm

The Rice Magician: Story of Dr. M.A. Salam

 MA Salam

M.A. Salam is the man responsible for one third of the rice that 160 million Bangladeshis consume every day. No, he is not a super farmer, or cook. He is a rice breeder; scientist Dr. M. A. Salam.

Dr. Salam was born in 1953, in the Village Kanchon of Mahadebpur, Naogaon. He is humble in appearance. He believes in simple living, and high thinking. He has invented more than 15 breeds of rice including most popularly taken 'Najishail' grain. Bangladesh has three cropping seasons- from April to July 'Aoush', July to November 'Amon' and from December to March 'Boro'. Mid June to September is the rainy season in here. During that time, whole country suffers heavy rain, floods and water logged areas. Farmers from north eastern part-Sylhet, Sunamgonj, Moulovibajar districts- face flash flood immersing the crop fields weeks before the harvest which damages the yield.

Salam's first work was inventing water submergence tolerant rice breed for the north-eastern farmers. This variety could survive up to 15 days surrounded by the water. During his 30 years of carrier he invented submergence tolerant rice BR-17, BR-18, BR-19, high yielding 'Amon' rice-BRRI 30, BRRI 31, Short maturity 'Amon' rice-BRRI 33, BRRI-39; for the southern farmers salt tolerant rice variety- BRRI-40 and BRRI-41, and scented rice grain variety BRRI 37, BRRI 38 and 'Banglamoti' BRRI-50.

"I wanted to work with rice variety because it is the main crop of our country, I have seen how a bad yield affects the farmers as well as the food market." said Dr. Salam. He worked with Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) from 1977 to 2009. Currently, he is working with BRAC as an Advisor of the Agriculture and Food Security Programme. "I work with 'inbreed' varieties, one of the distinctions of inbreed from hybrids is farmers can collect and conserve rice seeds from inbreed varieties. Presently I'm working to develop a short maturing rice variety with thin grains. Usually short maturing variety grains are stocky." More than 30 years BRAC has been working in the sector of agriculture and food security. In two BRAC agricultural research centres scientists are working to develop high yielding climate adaptive better crop varieties to ensure better harvest and higher profit for the farmers, BRAC agriculture programme is also operating credit programme specifically designed for tenant farmers and other programme targeting the cyclone affected people. After retiring from BRRI, Dr. M. A. Salam joined BRAC in its fight of ensuring food security on the path to eradicate poverty.

Since childhood Salam was an industrious pupil. He used to stand first in his class. In grade 4 he once decided to leave his school. "In the opening class of grade 4, I found that though I have stood first in our final exam, girls who placed second, third or fourth had been promoted to grade five! Our class teacher's reason was the girls would be married off, so he wanted to complete their primary education hurriedly. It was unbearable for me, I did not want to go to that school anymore.'' said Salam laughing. He finished his secondary school certificate exam from another school at a one hour walking distance.

After completing the S.S.C he entered the Agriculture University in Mymensingh. Salam's father Abu Taher Dewan motivated him to enroll there. The university was offering scholarship and stipend to any student attending which made it easier for Salam with his economical condition. Being a student of Arts up to the secondary level, it was not easy for him to cope with the mathematical studies. However, through hard work he secured 97% marks in the final exam. He completed his B.S.S and M.S.S with distinction and joined Bangladesh Rice research institute in 1977.

In 1985 Dr. Salam received scholarship for his Ph. D in International Rice Research Institute, Philippines. He had then already invented the rice variety BR-17, BR-18, BR-19 and received skilled worker award from BRRI for his contribution.

A range of rice varieties show photoperiod sensitivity which interested Salam. Photo period sensitivity is the responsiveness of plants with the length of the day. The blooming of the photo period sensitive plants are triggered by changed length of day-light.  Dr. Salam chose this as his thesis topic. He studied the genetic as well as physical characteristics of 'photo period sensitive' or scientifically referred 'Hd-1' plants. Together with his supervisor Dr. David J. Mackill, Salam succeeded to identify a 'marker' for 'Hd-1' plants and features which enabled him to invent a range of rice varieties from 'Shail' category which are photoperiod insensitive.

"During my effort to invent a aromatic rice grain, one day we received a letter from Indian High Commission requesting to discard our research. Misguided by a local newspaper, they thought we were trying to replicate the 'Bashmoti rice'. I sent a response assuring them that we were not exploring 'Basmoti' variety." "After years' toil invented BR-50; a delicate, aromatic rice breed and named it 'Banglamoti'."

In 2006 Dr.Salam received the prestigious 'Sinedhira Rice research award' for his outstanding contribution in agricultural sector. This year he received Food & Agriculture Award 2011 in recognition of his contribution to rice variety development by Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL).

Dr. Salam is the pioneer in using farmer participatory breeding in evaluating breeding lines for unfavorable environment which advanced the development of saline and stagnant water condition adaptive varieties. He worked to develop arsenic-tolerant and iron-rich rice varieties as well as other varieties. He is one of the revolutionaries who has made it possible to achieve food security in bangladesh with a reality of arable land declining at a 1% and population increasing at more than 3% rate.

Permalink Reply by chris macrae on March 1, 2015 at 6:46pm


AgriSeeds

Seed enterprises http://afsp.brac.net/enterprises
BRAC addresses the scarcity of quality seeds in the market by means of cutting edge research to develop better seeds and environmentally sustainable practices, and by building systems of production, distribution and marketing at fair prices. BRAC continues to research and innovate as farmers face new challenges involving climate threats and declining arable lands.

From the very inception of its operation, BRAC has regarded improved agricultural inputs and management as important means of raising living standards through increased income and food production. In early 80s, BRAC started high quality seed distribution among the group members using the group approach as BRAC figured out that only 13 percent of seed available to farmers are produced in controlled conditions to ensure high quality. In 1996, BRAC seed marketing with vegetable seed production emerged as an enterprise. Within a short duration, it added hybrid maize, rice and tissue culture potato in its product list. Under the brand name ‘SUFOLA BEEJ’, BRAC started its marketing activities. In early 2000s, BRAC moved towards dual approach of seed marketing which included professional dealers and distributors in the system along with the VO members. In 2005, BRAC entirely moved to dealers and distributions policy to underpin its distribution system across the country. Presently, BRAC seed enterprise has country’s largest distribution channel that includes around 550 dealers and distributors, and over 4000 retailers.

BRAC produces high quality seeds of hybrid and inbred varieties of rice, maize and different vegetables on its own farms as well as through contract growers. A number of hybrid varieties have been sourced from other countries and have imported seeds which have a high potential and adaptability in Bangladesh’s climate. Seed enterprise currently consists of two seed processing plants and nine seed farms. Two automatic Seed Processing and Packing Plants process around 5500 MT of seeds per year, which BRAC sells to the distribution channel. As of 2011, it has achieved market shares of 32 percent in hybrid rice, 50 percent in hybrid maize, 12 percent in potatoes, and five percent in vegetables.

Using the unparallel rural distribution channel, BRAC has planned to include another highly required agro input namely micro nutrient in the channel to market to the farmers. BRAC seed enterprise is continuously endeavouring to introduce saline tolerant and drought tolerant varieties through its research and development unit and international collaboration to combat with the climate change. 

Sunflower oil
BRAC pursues its unique value chain approach to procure the inputs of sunflower oil from the Southern parts of Bangladesh while other organisations are importing it from outside the country at a higher cost. The sunflower value chain approach is distinctively linked to crop intensification project (funded by European Union), one of the successful interventions of BRAC to restore the livelihood of victims of cyclones SIDR and Aila, which immensely affected the southern parts of Bangladesh.

During the implementation phase of the crop intensification project, BRAC supplied high value ‘Rabi’ crops seed including sunflower seed to the coastal belt farmers and they received astounding profitable return from the sunflower cultivation. Following the success, large numbers of farmers stated cultivating sunflower in the coastal belt of Bangladesh. BRAC arranged and supplied high quality sunflower seeds to the farmers through its seed enterprise and pursued with contract firming approach to bring the large sunflower produce in the market for further processing. BRAC’s effort in this sunflower value chain activity is undoubtedly exceptional and a milestone for others performing similar activities. The construction of the processing factory near Rupganj, Naraonganj is going on full-fledged and will soon become operational. BRAC Agriculture & Food Security Programme is very hopeful to deliver the stated products within the next six months. The product will be marketed under the ‘Shuruchi’ brand. Primarily, the product will be available in the Dhaka city areas but eventually, will be marketed throughout the country. 

Boiled Rice Marketing
BRAC markets a unique quality of boiled rice and pulse at fair prices under the brand ‘Aarong’. BRAC sells two types of boiled rice, namely ‘Chinigura’ and ‘Kaligira’. BRAC ensures premium quality of inputs while procuring from the farmers. After collection, raw rice and pulses are carefully processed and packaged in its own factory setup for market distribution. Presently BRAC markets these products only in the Dhaka city areas. Along with departmental and super shop sales, BRAC also promotes institutional sales with big corporates in Bangladesh. BRAC is planning to extend its market coverage by adding it with the upcoming agro consumer products. 

D.light:
BRAC Agriculture and Food Security Programme has launched D.light - solar powered products in Bangladesh, aiming to provide power sources for the marginalised people with zero/limited access to the national power grid. These population groups are almost 40 percent of the rural poor and these products have immensely improved the quality of their lives, specially the school going children, as they now have better quality light. This light also contributes in meeting the growing demand of electricity in Bangladesh. On May 28, 2012, the products were officially launched through an event where BRAC officials met the press and responded to questions regarding the products. 

BRAC is marketing three types of solar light: S1, S10 and S250. The prices of the products range from BDT 750 to 3000. The products are long lasting, designed for maximum flexibility and are equipped with high quality, efficient solar panels that are weather resistant. Additionally, D.light S250 can serve as a mobile phone charger and has multiple brightness settings. BRAC has planned to market a million pieces of D.light to the rural parts of Bangladesh though its unparallel market networks.

BRAC AFSP is marketing the product through two different sales channel which includes the following:
(1)    Appointing new dealers and using existing seed dealers: BRAC is appointing new local dealers to market the products. Along with the new dealers, BRAC AFSP is also using its extensive seed dealer network to distribute in the rural Bangladesh. BRAC AFSP is currently linked with over 4000 seed retailers across the country
(2)    Using the BCUP Farmers: BRAC AFSP is working with over 300,000 tenant farmers though its BCUP programme. Therefore, BRAC AFSP is distributing the light to the tenant farmers who can pay in instalments to buy the product. 

D.light design is a social enterprise started out in Palo Alto, California in 2006, fathered by a socially motivated team of business people and engineers. Currently, their products are marketed in 40 different countries, reaching around seven million people globally.

Permalink Reply by chris macrae on March 31, 2015 at 6:46pm
Information and Communications Technologies

Photo credit: GSMA Development Fund mAgri Programme

Information and communications technologies (ICTs) are powerful tools with the potential to increase the reach and impact of agriculture development activities. Applications range from agriculture extension services and digital financial services to the remote management of irrigation and combating counterfeit pesticides and seeds. A key challenge is in better understanding which ICT solutions have the most impact, cost effectiveness and potential for scaling using financially and organizationally sustainable approaches.


Information and communications technologies (ICTs) include a variety of “channels,” such as mobile applications (voice, text and data; both “push

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