CONVERDS: THE COLLABORATIVE NETWORK FOR VEGETABLE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTHERX AFRICAN REGION

Transcription

1 CONVERDS: THE COLLABORATIVE NETWORK FOR VEGETABLE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTHERX AFRICAN REGION JOINT PROJECT PROPOSAL ParticinatinP Countries: ANGOLA BOTSWANA * LESOTHO MALAWI MOZAMBIQUE. SWAZILAND TANZANIA ZAMBIA * ZIMBABWE Prenared by Southern African Centre for Cooperation in Agricutura Research and Training (SACCAR/SADCC) Asian Vegetabe Research and Deveopment Center (,4VRDC) September 1990 AVRDC, P-0. Box 205 Taipei Taiwan..

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. BACKGROUND II. CONVERDS: THE COLLABORATIVE NETWORK FOR VEGETABLE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE SADCC REGION Mandate.... Goa Objectives....2 Functions of the Network....3 Governance and Management Operationa Reationships....7 Lega, Poitica and Logistic Support....7 Administration and Funding Mechanisms....8 Expected Output....9 III. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES OF CONVERDS Priority Vegetabes for Network Research Priority Probem Areas for Network Research Lead Countries for Network Research Training Needs and Priorities Information Needs and Priorities IV. PROPOSAL FOR THE INITIAL FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM V. ANNEXES ANNEX I. (Regiona Consutation Workshop (Detais & Highights) ANNEX II. (Organization Chart of CONVERDS) ANNEX III. (List of Participants to the Consutation Workshop)... 27

3 I. BACKGROUND The Technica Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Consutative Group for Internationa Agricutura Research (CGIAR) has recognized the importance of improving vegetabe production in the deveoping tropica countries since the eary 1970s. Since then, it has commissioned severa studies to determine how vegetabe research coud be institutionaized on an internationa scae in the same manner that had been done for severa of the words major commodities. In 1975, TAC commissioned a vegetabe research appraisa mission foowed by a vegetabe research formuation mission the next year. A proposa to estabish the Internationa Vegetabe Research Institute for the Tropics (IVRIT) was examined by the CGIAR in 1979 but because of the ack of consensus and financia constraints this was not deveoped further. In its 1985 review of CGIAR priorities and future strategies, TAC assigned the highest priority to research on vegetabes in any new CG venture for which resources coud become avaiabe and reported in its May 1986 meeting that it considers vegetabes as a negected commodity in which considerabe impact coud be made in the short and medium terms. A conference on Research and Deveopment of Vegetabes in the Tropics was organized by Winrock ntemationa Institute for Agricutura Deveopment in January 1986, foowing which TAC, assisted by a Winrock staff member, Dr. A. Coin McCung, began working on a proposa to create the Internationa Service for Vegetabe Research (ISVER). The proposa advocated the deveopment of regiona vegetabe research networks supported by a sma but critica mass of quaified experts. The CGIAR, in its 1988 mid-term meeting in Berin, endorsed in principe the need for vegetabe research but it eft for future consideration a number of substantive issues incuding the specific roe of the AVRDC (Asian Vegetabe Research and Deveopment Center) in the proposed networks. In the foowing year!s mid-term meeting in Canberra, the Group decided that whie substantive issues on internationaizing vegetabe research are being resoved, as an interim action a proposa to estabish an African vegetabe research network shoud be deveoped for consideration by TAC and the CG in its October 1989 meeting. The above interim measure conformed we with the poicy decision of the member states of the Southern African Deveopment Coordination Conference (SADCC) to accord highest priority to horticutura research, particuary on vegetabes, giving a poicy directive to its research arm, SACCAR (Southern African Centre for Cooperation in Agricutura Research and Training), to aunch a regiona research initiative on vegetabes on a priority basis. In response to this directive, SACCAR took action preparing a proposa to estabish a regiona vegetabe breeding unit. The formuation of AVRDC s strategic agenda for the years 1990 and beyond coincided with the above events, in particuar, with respect to the Center s intention to reach out into the African continent in its future deveopment efforts. In an initia exporation of potentia coaborators in its African efforts, the Director Genera of AVRDC sounded out in a etter to the Director of SACCAR if there is an interest to have AVRDC as its partner on vegetabe research and deveopment in the southern African region. Foowing the CGIAR decision in the May 1988 Canberra meeting to initiate vegetabe research activities in Africa, and given the interest of SADCC, the CG secretariat organized a project identification mission to Southern Africa invoving SACCAR, AVRDC and ISNAR (Internationa Service for Nationa Agricutura Research) from August 22 to September 12, An indicative

4 proposa was deveoped by this mission to estabhsh a regiona coaborative network for vegetabe research and deveopment (CONVERDS). The proposa was taken up by a group of donors in the annua CG meeting in October Start-up funding was aocated by some donors to enabe SACCAR and AVRDC to organize a regiona consutation workshop aimed at reviewing the CONVERDS proposa and deveoping the fina proposa for the regiona networking initiative. This regiona workshop was hed in Arusha, Tanzania on Juy 9-13, Detais of this consutation meeting, i.e. scope, goas, workshop mechanics, representation and summary of recommendations are given in Annex I. The present proposa is the resut of the above consutation workshop and represents a consensus of the SADCC NARS on what they wish to see the network do for the benefit of the region s vegetabe farmers and consumers and how the region s vegetabe researchers shoud coaborate in the true spirit of equa partnership. II. CONVERDS: THE COLLABORATIVE NETWORK FOR VEGETABLE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE SADCC REGION Mandate,-, : CONVERDS is a regiona technica organization within the framework of SACCAR charged with coordinating and promoting vegetabe research and deveopment in the SADCC countries, especiay fostering research partnership among the region s NARS so that the scarce resources avaiabe to generate new technoogy woud be utiized efficienty. Its fu meaning is Coaborative Network for Vegetabe Research and Deveopment in the SADCC Region. The acronym CONVERDS was deiberatey chosen because it sounds ike converge, the coming and working together of various eements towards a common goa. The genera goa of CONVERDS is to provide a regiona framework for coaborative vegetabe research and deveopment to sove the pressing probems of vegetabe production and utiization in the SADCC region. Objectives The specific objectives which sha be pursued by CONVERDS to attain its genera goa are as foows: to faciitate the generation and adoption of improved technoogies for seected vegetabe crops, through coaborative research, information exchange and scientific consutations; to deveop and/or upgrade, the technica proficiency of the vegetabe researchers and technicians in the NARS, the utimate goa being to buid the critica mass of scientists capabe of responding to the nationa and regiona needs for sustained vegetabe production; 2

5 to estabish ways and means for coaborative research partnership among the SADCC country members, to attain better and more efficient use of expertise, technoogies and the scarce resources avaiabe for vegetabe research and deveopment in the region; to estabish and strengthen the inkages for exchange and acquisition of reevant technoogies deveoped by regiona and internationa centers, or any other externa sources of technoogy; and, to deveop an information and diffusion network in the SADCC region which wi faciitate the assemby and dissemination of technica information to and from the region s vegetabe researchers and eventuay to and from their cientees, the extension workers and the vegetabe growers. Functions of the Network CONVERDS sha have the foowing genera functions: provide the forum and mechanisms for improving communication and rapid exchange of technoogy derived from research;. through consutation, identify research needs, set their priorities and encourage the NARS of the region to focus on these probems; foster coaborative and compementing research and technica exchanges, aways taking into account the institutiona strengths, weaknesses and needs of member NARS; minimize dupication of efforts and enabe the formation of compementing vegetabe research units that are abe to address the production and utiization probems at the nationa and regiona eves; hod periodic network meetings, as one of the means for deveoping coaborative pans, evauating resuts, and fostering exchange of information; identify training needs at various eves and set priorities according to the needs of the member NARS; provide financia and technica support to enabe the NARS with ead roes on specific commodities and/or cross-commodity network activities to effectivey discharge their responsibiities. Governance and Management Organization and structure. As a coaborative effort, CONVERDS wi require the cooperation and fu support of severa institutions and individuas at the regiona, nationa and project impementation eves. The organizationa chart of CONVERDS is given in Annex II. As may be noted, CONVERDS wi be comprised of severa functiona bodies with distinct management and technica obigations to the network. Technica Advisory Pane (TAP). This is the highest eve of governing authority for CONVERDS and essentiay functions as an oversight committee. Initiay, TAP is proposed to be 3

6 comprised of eight members as foows: Director of SACCAR, Director-Genera of the executing agency ( or a designated representative ), Directors of Research of the NARS (initiay four DRs) which are activey participating in network research activities, one seected representative from the regiona facuties of agricuture, and a donor representative(s). Each DR in TAP wi serve as the direct ink between CONVERDS and the agricutura authorities of the NARS which are activey engaged in network research. TAP wi be chaired by the DR of the NARS where the network team is depoyed by the executing agency. The main functions of TAP sha be as foows: To set poicy and ratify the strategic pan of the network. To appoint the members of the Steering Committee. To review and approve the annua work pan and budget of the network, as presented by the Steering Committee. To seek funding resources through SACCAR for executing additiona regiona activities reevant to the network other than those of the reguar program. It is proposed that TAP meet once a year, preferaby hed as an extension of the SACCAR s Board meeting (a Directors of Research of SADCc s NARS are members of the SACCAR Board) to minimize additiona trave and time expenditures of TAP s members. Steering Committee. This is an executive-technica committee whose main function is to provide direction to, program, monitor and deveop the strategic pan of the network; prepare the annua work program; iaise between the poicy-making body (TAP) and the operationa (impementing) units of the network. The Steering Committee sha be made up of the foowing members: one representative from TAP who wi serve as the chairman of the committee. nationa vegetabe program eaders (initiay four team eaders) from NARS which are activey participating in network research. a representative from a facuty of agricuture in the region. a representative from the executing agency (normay, the network coordinator acting on its behaf). a representative from the extension service of the host country and invited observers from the private seed sector and training institutions. The Steering Committee sha have a free mandate to invite any resource person it deems important in the conduct of its activities. It sha meet at east once a year (twice, if necessary) to review and hep deveop the annua pan of network activities, by consoidating the nationa and regiona priorities. 4

7 Other important functions of Steering Committee sha be: to carry out for TAP, through deegated authority, executive functions in order to speed up the execution of network activities. to evauate and assess new initiatives in coaborative research, training and information exchange. Executing Agency. It is proposed that the Asian Vegetabe Research and Deveopment Center (hereafter referred to as AVRDC), an organization with ong and vauabe experience in the fied of vegetabe research, be designated as the executing agency of CONVERDS. As the executing agency, AVRDC is expected to provide the scientific, training and information resource base for the network. AVRDC wi be an active partner in the network through the coordinator and the team of speciaists who wi work with their nationa counterparts. The specific responsibiities of AVRDC sha be as foows: fisca management of the network. depoyment of a quaified team of experts composed of speciaists in crucia areas of research to compement the NARS research as they graduay buid their critica mass of technica staff. coordination of the network activities (through the network coordinator) incuding training, study tours, workshops, regiona information buid-up, etc. provision of genetic materias and other technoogies for evauation and adoption by the network. provision of an important venue for training of the NARS personne on vegetabe research and production methodoogies. provision of iaison service with other speciaized centers, institutions, universities and other externa sources of knowedge deemed reevant to the objectives of the network. provision of technica backstop service for the network s research and training needs. Network Coordinator. The network coordinator sha be mainy responsibe for the overa coordination and execution of the network activities. In addition, the coordinator sha hep provide scientific guidance, as we as serve as iaison between the Steering Committee and the impementing units of the network. The coordinator sha be contracted on a fu time basis and sha be responsibe to TAP with respect to genera network responsibiities and to AVRDC in terms of the scientific and technica performance. The coordinator shoud be a we respected scientist with ampe experience in the execution and management of research programs. The coordinator sha aso take part in the execution of research activities, especiay during the initia years of the project, unti such time that the demands of coordination function become too heavy for him/her to continue to do so.

8 The functions of the coordinator, subject to any rues drawn up by TAP, incude the foowing: to act as secretary of the Steering Committee. to formuate, in consutation with the NARS vegetabe program eaders, the network s annua program and budget. to supervise, monitor and evauate the regiona activities of the network. to supervise, with the assistance of SACCAR administrative officer, the program budget execution and insure efficient financia management in accordance with the budget aocated for the activities of CONVERDS. to provide the scientific and technica iaison with AVRDC, as we as, with other agencies or institutions of regiona and internationa nature. to draw up the network s strategic pan in coaboration with the NARS vegetabe research program eaders acting in consutation with the key vegetabe researchers in the NARS and the network s expert team. To accompish the above~ functions, the coordinator wi be assisted by a team of speciaists. This team sha work fu time in supporting specific research and deveopment activities where expertise is sti inadequate in the region or requires suppementary efforts. The duties of the speciaists sha be: in a cose partnership with the coordinator, to pan, program and execute the activities of the network aong with their nationa counterparts. to support and carry out activities aimed to improve the ski and expertise of their counterparts.. to serve as a ink with other externa sources of knowedge in specific areas of his/her expertise. Impementing Units. The NARS vegetabe research program or its equivaent sha form the centra core for the impementation of CONVERDS activities. The network wi operate taking into account the mechanisms aready estabished within the NARS, in terms of their organizationa structures such as: the nationa coordinating committee in vegetabe research in Tanzania; the Zambian vegetabe research team in Zambia; the horticuture research institute in Zimbabwe; and in Botswana, the nationa vegetabe research unit. Each country with eadership roe in the network wi appoint a CONVERDS research eader (member of the Steering Committee), who wi continue to function as a NARS country empoyee, but who, in addition, wi take on regiona responsibiities on behaf of the network. It is recognized that these additiona responsibiities wi make important regiona demands on the appointed scientists; in such cases, CONVERDS wi provide support services so that the eader can carry effectivey out his/her nationa and regiona tasks. In addition, it has been recommended and ater ratified by the deegates that the NARS which has been vested the ead roe for a particuar commodity shoud be initiay backed up by a speciaist on that crop. 6

9 The duties and responsibiities of the CONVERDS research eaders within the regiona network wi incude: to provide eadership and serve as the foca point of coordination for coaborative research and/or other network activities specificay assigned to his/her country. to design and formuate the annua work program and budget thereof with the cooperation of his/her feow network researchers and the assistance of the network coordinator and the team of speciaists. to coaborate with other country research eaders in carrying out the regiona activities of the network. to maintain effective iaison among the vegetabe researchers of the region, as we as with AVRDC and the speciaists. to advise the coordinator on matters reated to the research and activities undertaken on behaf of and for CONVERDS. to report on the resuts obtained as a part of their regiona activities. Onerationa Reationships The nationa agricutura research systems activey participating in the network are the basic impementing units for coaborative research. A nationa vegetabe program eader entrusted with research responsibiities for a specific crop, for exampe,wi be the foca point for a network activities reated to that crop. Expatiate speciaists depoyed by the executing agency wi work cosey with their nationa counterparts within the respective nationa research systems. The ead country for a specific commodity and/or activity is expected to coaborate with the other countries assigned different commodities and/or activities. Lega. Poitica and Lo&tic Suunort SACCAR, the research arm of SADCC, sha provide the ega and poitica umbrea for CONVERDS. SACCAR s main task wi be to faciitate the provision of support servicei and functions as may be necessary in order to assist the coordinator, the team speciaists, and the NARS eaders in the design, panning, monitoring and impementation of the network s program. The responsibiities of SADCWACCAR wi be as foows: to serve as a base for the governing body (TAP) of the network. to participate through representatives in the oversight committee (TAP) and the executive/technica committee (Steering Committee) in the overa panning, programming, budgeting and monitoring of the network.

10 to draw up the memorandum of understanding (MOU) among a parties invoved, i.e. SACCAR, AVRDC, NARS, to estabish the network and enabe its effective functioning. to provide assistance for obtaining donor support where required. to secure, in cose interaction with AVRDC, the coordinator, and NARS, the overa poitica support of the regiona network activities, particuary workshops, seminars and other activities which wi hep promote the rapid and continuous interchange and utiization of scientific and technica information in the SADCC region. Administration and Funding Mechanisms The network, according to its mandate, does away with the concept of independent research by the network speciaists. Instead the team wi engage in joint research with the vegetabe research units in the NARS. Such an arrangement and the fact that CONVERDS is a new regiona approach to technica cooperation among different organizationa eements (SACCAR; AVRDC; Southern African NARS; and donors) make imperative that the administration and, in particuar, the funding and disbursement mechanisms be fexibe, easy to carry out, and non-bureaucratic. As CONVERDS wi be party autonomous of SACCAR in the sense that a its strategic decisions rest on TAP, the administration of funds sha be charged to an institutiona eement of the network which is vested with adequate experience to meet the fisca management standards of the donors. AVRDC is the network member which bears the infrastructure, expertise and credentias to administer the networks financia resources and is thus vested with this responsibiity. AVRDC, wi, as a resut, fufi a dua roe within the regiona framework, i.e. as a technica resource base and as a fisca administrator. It wi receive the funds directy from the donors and disburse them according to the network s annua budget approved by TAP. AVRDC sha organize the proper account and auditing procedures, as we as submit the required accounting reports to the donor(s), as the case may be. The director and the financia officer of SACCAR sha act as the administrative counterparts of AVRDC in terms of the mechanisms and procedures for the disbursement of the approved operationa budget of the network. The disbursement of approved budget for network operations sha be done through an operating fund to be handed by the financia officer of SACCAR, who in turn, sha insure that the financia resources are received in timey fashion by the a impementing units of the network, incuding the network team, through the network coordinator. The use of a revoving fund under the responsibiity of the network coordinator, is proposed to provide him/her and the team of speciaists with sufficient atitude to operate; in such a case, the coordinator sha be accountabe to the finance officer of SACCAR. Saary and other benefits for ai internationay recruited speciaists and consutants, as we as acquisition of equipment and vehices on behaf of the network, sha be directy handed by AVRDC. a

11 Exnected Outnut of CONVERDS CONVERDS is to be viewed as an organization which wi, out of necessity and design, evove in stages, but with cear objectives to insure positive contributions in the short- to mediumterm bases. In the short term, the foowing resuts are expected from the initia activities of the network: sound assessment and priority setting for vegetabe research and deveopment at the nationa and regiona eves; formuation of strategic technica and institutiona approaches aimed towards resoving the major constraints of the vegetabe industry in the SADCC region; estabishment of a framework for research partnership among SADCC counties and with externa technoogy sources such as AVRDC and other institutions engaged in vegetabe research. In the medium to ong term bases, the expected accompishments of CONVERDS are as foiows: generation of concrete research findings in the form of improved cutivars, proper cutura practices, good quaity seeds and others, for use by the region s vegetabe growers; deveopment of a nuceus of vegetabe researchers in SADCc s NARS with improved capacity for research and interacting vigorousy with each other and with researchers within and outside the SADCC region; promotion of centers of exceence in horticutura training (both at dipoma and professiona degree eves) in the SADCC region with an enhanced capacity to continuay deveop professiona horticuturists, eventuay to achieve the required critica mass of technica peope in the NARS and in the region necessary to generate new technoogy; deveopment of a center of eadership in vegetabe research in the SADCC region to perform the future roe of coordinating the activities of CONVERDS after its devoution from the externa executing agency, and finay; pacement of a ong-asting framework for coaboration in vegetabe research in the SADCC region, with strong inkages among the member NARS and with other regiona and intemationa institutes, and serving as an exceent mode of research partnership for the deveoping regions of the word. 9

12 III. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES OF CONVERDS The SADCC NARS unanimousy agreed during the regiona consutation meeting in Arusha, Tanzania to conduct a number of network-based activities which are considered strategicay important and which serve the common interests of a member countries of CONVERDS. Broady speaking, these activities fa under three major areas-research, training and information. Given the present scarcity of technica manpower in the region, the SADCC NARS recommended a gradua systematic buid-up of the network, starting at the outset ony with the most critica research and deveopment programs, and utiizing at this time the resources of the NARS with comparative advantage in vegetabe research who are asked to assume ead roes in the network. Initiay, the network members recommended the depoyment of a team of vegetabe experts in the region, consisting of three experts based at HORTI-Tengeru in Arusha, Tanzania (identified by the SADCC NARS as the base for the network s secretariat) and three other speciaists to be based with the NARS assigned eading roes in vegetabe research for the network. Together, this team constitutes the network s coordinating unit. As the network members deveop strength and gain experience, and as resources become avaiabe, the priorities wi be reviewed and expanded to distribute responsibiity and broaden participation more equitaby among the NARS. Prioritv Vegetabes for Network Research As a first step, the SADCC NARS agreed to confine the network research on a few strategicay important vegetabe species. Prioritization of vegetabe species within the nationa systems based on popuarity, consumption and extent of oca production ed to the identification of a few strategicay important commodities. The species that the NARS deegates agreed unanimousy to consider for network research are as foows: TOMATO, ONION, CABBAGE and INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES (the ast considered as a group to incude mainy native species such as amaranths, Corchorus, African eggpant, Ceome, etc) Tomato is very easiy the most popuar vegetabe in the SADCC region. It is popuary grown and consistenty cited by every NARS among the most important vegetabes in their nationa research agenda. 1 Onions and cabbages are aso prominenty cited as vegetabe species with great potentia for the SADCC countries. 2 Like tomato, these vegetabes are invariaby incuded in the NARS ist of priority species. 1 SACCAR Potentia of horticutura production in SADCC countries. SACCAR Workshop Series No. 6. ed. C. R. Namponya. 92pp. 2 Kyomo, M. L Potentia of horticutura production in SADCC. In SACCAR Workshop Series No. 6. p

13 The indigenous vegetabes were chosen by the SADCC NARS for network research based on a number of considerations-nutritiona contribution to the oca diet; important roe in food security; minima production inputs; famiiarity to most peope, especiay in the rura areas; and, oca seed production possibiities. Furthermore, the indigenous vegetabes have ong been a part of the region s cutura heritage. Priority Probem Areas for Network Research The network members considered two genera probem areas within which priorities for research on seected network commodities need to be confined. These genera areas are: a) Genetic Resources and Enhancements; and, b) Production Systems and Component Technoogies. The priority areas of research in each network commodity for each of the above genera areas are given in the research component x commodity matrix of Tabe 1 beow: Tabe 1. Recommended research activities of CONVERDS on the network s priority vegetabe species Tomato Cabbage Onion Indigenous vegetabes I. Genetic Resources and Enhancements 1. Survey and exporation 2. Coection* 3. Germpasm characterization 4. Cutivar evauation 5. Utiization II. Production Systems & Component Technoogies 1. Cutura practices 2. Pant protection 3. Home gardens * 4. Seed production 5. Postharvest technoogy 6. Socioeconomics t + + i Jr t = high priority; - = ow priority (or absence of activity in some cases) * Incudes the coection of oca andraces as we as improved modem-day cutivars for evauation 11

14 Of the above research activities, some of the most important on genetic resources and enhancements that are panned to be conducted at the eariest possibe time by the network are as foows:. Exporation/survey of the oca production of indigenous vegetabes and prioritization of network research to the most important species. Coection of the oca andraces of the priority commodities for maintenance, characterization, evauation and utiization. Performance trias of introduced and oca varieties especiay of the conventiona vegetabes such as tomatoes, onions and cabbages. The exporation, survey and coection of oca germpasm wi be carried out in cose coabo ration with the IBPGR s regiona office and the SADCC Regiona Gene Bank (see Recommendation No. 18 in Annex I). The ack of appropriate varieties has been a genera probem of the region s NARS so much so that one of the possibe projects recommended under the horticutura deveopment program in the region was the estabishment of a regiona vegetabe research station charged with the task of deveoping good genetic materias and producing good quaity seeds. 2 It was recognized that the introduction, evauation and adoption of advanced breeding ines wi probaby have the most immediate impact in improving the productivity of the network s conventiona vegetabes (tomatoes, onions and cabbages). Advanced genetic materias that are high yieding, adapted to high temperatures and resistant to diseases are avaiabe at AVRDC and from other sources and coud be immediatey usefu to the region. Thus, the introduction of improved germpasm wi be a key activity of the network. Among the components considered under the genera area of production systems and component technoogies, consensus among the SADCC NARS indicated that the most pressing needs are studies in the fied of management practices and seed production. Under management practices, studies on pant protection methods to contro harmfu pests and diseases wi have the highest priority. In particuar, the transfer and adoption of technoogies such as the integrated pest management (IPM) from centers such as AVRDC, promise to have an immediate and significant impact on the productivity and quaity of vegetabes in the SADCC region.,-. [ I, It was recognized that home gardens provide inexpensive and readiy accessibe suppy of vegetabes to ow income famiies. A specia effort needs to be aunched so that home gardens, in particuar the roe of women therein in production and nutrition, is further promoted and enhanced. This wi have to reate especiay with the indigenous vegetabe initiative of the network. Postharvest osses in vegetabes are very high in a countries incuding those of SADCC. The network wi associate itsef and take advantage of the strong regiona program on horticutura postharvest handing and processing in Southeast Asia where essentiay the same commodities are handed under fairy simiar conditions. 12

15 Lead Countries for Network-based Research. Consideration of the reative strength, resources and interests, and on-going research programs on network-mandated vegetabe species among the SADCC NARS ed to the foowing division of responsibiities on commtiity research: MALAWI-cabbage; TANZANIA-indigenous vegetabes; ZAMBIA-onion; and, ZIMBABWE-tomato. Consensus of opinion among the deegates during the Arusha workshop and from previous interviews of the region s researchers by the project identification mission ceary indicate the comparative advantage of Maawi in its research on eafy vegetab?s. Cabbage, among the eafy vegetabes, is featured prominenty in its research achievements. Tanzania s research agenda indicate the reative importance it paces on the indigenous vegetabes in the country. 4 The 1989 project identification mission identified a number of aready ongoing research activities on indigenous vegetabes in Tanzania, ranging from production and marketing studies; agronomy and genetic resources. Onions have seed production probems that need to be addressed by the network on behaf of its members. Zambia has comparative strength in the area of seed production research among the ead NARS and considers onion among its priority vegetabes. 4,s Whie tomato is invariaby important in eve SADCC NARS, the reative strength of Zimbabwe in cutivar improvement research 4, r with emphasis on cimatic adaptabiity makes it a suitabe choice by the SADCC NARS to take the ead on network research for this crop. Of particuar importance is its research experience in t he area of adapting tomatoes to the hot and humid subtropica conditions at Chidrezi. Training Needs and Priorities The ack of trained professionas in horticuture and the absence of a critica mass of researchers in each of the NARS was considered a primary constraint which the network shouid immediatey address. A the counties represented expressed the need for BSc, MSc and PhD training but in addition, Maawi, Lesotho, and Swaziand fet that they sti needed support at the dipoma eve. 3 Chiembwe, E. H. C Research and production status of horticutura crops in Maawi. In SACCAR Workshop Series No. 6. ~ Anon A coaborative vegetabe research network in Southern Africa-a proposa. CG/SADCC/AVRDC mission. September pp. 9 annexes. 5 Nkhunguu, I. C. and D. Mingochi Status of horticutura production, rcscarch and extension in Zambia. In SACCAR Workshop Series No. 6. ~ Nzima, M.D.S Horticutura research in Zimbabwe. In SACCAR Workshop Series No. 6. ~

16 The member countries agreed that the foowing types of training activities shoud be supported by the network: + Dipoma Course. This is a two-year course for genera agricuture certificate hoders as we as for high schoo graduates. This is avaiabe in some of the SADCC countries, one of which is the Tanzanian course at HORTI-Tengeru. * Intensive Course on Vegetabe Production. Horticutura research and extension officers in the region for the most part possess genera BSc in agricuture backgrounds. This intensive 5-6 month course wi provide them the additiona training necessary to improve their competence in vegetabe crops. The participants wi go through at east one cropping cyce and wi cover subject matter areas from sowing to marketing and processing. As a first step, this wi be extremey usefu in immediatey upgrading the research skis of the present cadre of NARS vegetabe researchers. Athough designed to admit BSc hoders, outstanding dipoma hoders and those with adequate experiences may aso be admitted. In the medium term, this course wi serve as a regiona course for vegetabe subject matter speciaists, junior researchers and teachers of vocationa agricuture. At some point in the future, the network wi assist some of the NARS to organize simiar nationa courses in order to broaden the opportunities for manpower deveopment. * BSc and MSc in Horticuture. Professiona training in horticuture at the graduate eve was deemed as better done at this time at the SADCC regiona eve. Moreover, the NARS deegates favored that in-depth speciaization in the fied of horticuture be conducted at the MSc eve rather than start outright at the BSc eve in order to avoid the narrowness of work scope of the BSc degree hoders who are normay expected to hande non-horticutura crops as we in the fied. However, horticutura training in the present BSc genera agricuture curricua coud be augmented by specific courses in the production of vegetabes, fruits and ornamentas for which teachers possessing MScs in horticuture wi be needed. * Specia Research Skis Training. In addition to the above, seected researchers from the NARS are envisaged to be sent for specia research skis training. These wi vary from one week to a few months research internship at AVRDC, other IARCs, deveoped country aboratories and at the network headquarters in HORTI-Tengeru. Exampes of specia skis training incude cuture/rearing of pathogens and insects and their predators and parasites; virus-indexing and ceaning-up of vegetabe panting materias; quaity and sensory evauation of vegetabes; management of germpasm; use of RFLPs and other biotechnoogy toos.. 14

17 The NARS deegates identified and recommended to deveop two centers of training in horticuture for the SADCC region as foows: * HORTI-TenPeruKanzania. As this institute has the basic infrastructures for training and is currenty aready offering a dipoma course in horticuture, CONVERDS wi use this center for the short-term intensive course in vegetabe production and for the network-supported dipoma course in horticuture. * Universitv of Zimbabwe. The NARS representatives recommended that the professiona training in horticuture be conducted at the University of Zimbabwe. Information Needs and Priorities The deegates unanimousy agreed and recommended to deveop a vegetabe information database for the SADCC region. Initiay, the most pressing need is to compie the vegetabe research information in the region, have them documented and distributed to the region s vegetabe researchers. The deveopment of this information base sha be among the immediate concerns of the network. Later, this database wi be expanded to incude the internationay avaiabe research information databases, incuding those that are aready avaiabe at AVRDC. Other types of information services, e.g. newsetters, short communications, bibiographies, buetins, manuas, videos and tapes etc., wi be produced by the network coordinating unit for use by the horticutura research, teaching and extension services in the NARS. 15

18 IV. PROPOSAL FOR THE INITIAL FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM The SADCC NARS agreed that a five-year project period is the minimum requirement at the outset to set the network in pace, enabe it to engage significanty on a number of strategic activities, and prepare the NARS to take more active roes in the future coordination and impementation of network-mandated tasks. The research and deveopment activities that the participating NARS of CONVERDS put high priority on during the start-up five-year period (pease refer to Section III. Research and Deveopment Activities of CONVERDS) wi require the resources as shown in Tabe 2. The major ine items of this five-year budget are further eaborated beow. Expatriate Staff. At this stage, the network ideay wi have six expatriate staff to estabish a critica mass of experts to back up the network. They shoud represent the foowing discipines: breeding, production and management, entomoogy, pathoogy socio-economics, and information cum training. The pan is to have three based at the network coordinating unit headquarters in Tanzania and one each at the three other ead NARS. One of the six wi concurrenty serve as Network Coordinator. The staff cost is based on a figure of $100,000 per person per year, covering benefits as foows: basic saary, post-differentia, housing aowance, retirement and insurance, educationa aowance, home eave and other support. An estimated 5% increase in personne cost each year is projected. The fu team is expected to be in pace during the second year. Capita Outay. The network activities wi be grafted into the NARS impementing units and this wi enabe the use of aready existing faciities. The project wi provide a modest amount to put up new compementing faciities and/or improve existing ones. The network coordinating unit at HORTI-Tengeru wi be abe to share the existing training, aboratory, fied and farm shop faciities of the Institute. However, the coordinating unit wi need to deveop a 20-hectare area of and as the existing deveoped experimenta and is fuy utiized for research and training activities. The and is avaiabe at the station but needs to be deveoped. Moreover, the coordinating unit needs additiona training rooms and offices to suppement the existing faciities used by the on-going nationa dipoma training activities. Each of the ead NARS wi ikewise be provided with suppementa capita funds for experimenta and improvement and renovation of works areas/offices as deemed necessary. The breakdown of capita improvements is as foows: At HORTI-Tengeru Improvement of 20-ha and-eveing, irrigation, fencing and road improvement...~... $ 60,000 Training cassrooms cum offices $260,000 Workshed _... $ 19,000 At three other ead NARS Land improvement and renovation of work areas and offices at $50,000 each...._..._..._... $150,000 GRAND TOTAL _..._ $429,000 16

19 Tabe 2. Projected five-year budget requirements of CONVERDS $ BUDGET ITEM YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5 TOTAL Expatriate staff cost $300,000 $615,000 $645,000 $678,000 $712,000 $2,950,000 Capita cost $260,000 $115,000 $18,000 $18,000 $18,000 $429,000 Equipment $510,000 $90,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $690,000 Operationa support for network activities $195,000 $375,000 $375,000 $375,000 $375,000 $1,695,000 Externa review & evauation $50,000 - $50,000 - $100,000 Annua programming meeting $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $75,000 Regiona review & panning workshop - $70,000 $80,000 $150,000 Training $178,000 $325,000 $315,000 $260,000 $100,000 $1,I 78,000 Contingency $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $250,000 Administrative cost $150,000 $144,000 $142,000 $142,000 $145,000 $723,000 ANNUAL TOTAL $1,658,000 $1,779,000 $1,660,000 $1,678,0&I $1,525,000 GRAND TOTAL $8,240,000

20 Eouinment. The major equipment needs of the network incude the foowing: one (1) minibus for transport of trainees, three (3) four-whee drive jeeps, one (1) pickup truck and three sedans for the network coordinating unit; three (3) four-whee drive jeeps and three sedans, for the three ead NARS, for use in daiy operations; one (1) medium-size tractor and three (3) hand tractors for the network coordinating unit; one computer/printer each for the participating NARS for use in the information ink-up assorted aboratory and fied equipment for the network coordinating unit and ead NARS. ODerationa SUDDOII of Network Activities. This amount is intended to augment the nationa research budgets and directy support those activities initiated in behaf of the network. It is estimated at US $60,000 per speciaist and is broken down as foows: Nationa support staff (project basis): Two (2) research assistants and six (6) support personne $ 35,000 Trave, suppies, communication, and misceaneous expenses , TOTAL (per speciaist per annum) $ 25,000 $60,000 In addition, $15,000 per annum is incuded in the operationa budget to be used in estabishing the network s information base and other essentia communication activities. Externa Review and Evauation. Management and technica review of the network is programmed during the second year, to be repeated in the fourth year as preparation for deveoping its future pans after the five-year project period ends. The item incudes trave, aowance (hote and food), and honorarium (for invited experts) for a six-man externa review team composed of representatives from SACCAR, AVRDC, NARS and invited expert(s). Interested donor representatives may aso be invited. The review is programmed as a three-week activity,incuding the preparation of report and recommendations. B. The principa mechanism for coordination are the annua programming meetings. The meetings wi invove the network coordinator, his/her team of speciaists, and the nationa research eaders from NARS who have ead roes in network research. The budget item incudes: transportation cost, trave aowance (hote and food), and other meeting costs. The meeting is reguary schedued as a two-day event and wi be on a rotationa basis among the activey participating NARS. Regiona Technica Review and Panning. Regiona workshops are programmed in the third and fifth years. These workshops are to invove participants from various agencies as foows: SACCAR, AVRDC, the network coordinating unit, seected NARS deegates (three per NARS from the technica and poicy sectors) from a the SADCC countries, and other interested organizations. These workshops are projected as one-week exercises. The estimated budget incudes 18

21 transportation, trave aowance (hote and food), pubication fees and other essentia services. Representation in the fifth year workshop may be extended to deegates from donor organizations and to experts invited for the purpose of overa review of the network activities and future panning. This review sha take into account the evauation report and recommendations prepared by the externa review pane in the fourth year. Training. The network strongy emphasizes the upgrading of the NARS capacity for research and deveopment through degree-oriented and/or specia skis training of personne of the member countries. Budget estimates for this activity were cacuated as foows: Dipoma training in horticuture. This is a two-year course in horticuture proposed to be undertaken at HORTI-Tengeru which aready offers it, mainy to Tanzanian nationas. A tota of two students per NARS for the SADCC countries which expressed interest in dipoma training are expected to compete this course during the five-year project period. The budget for this type of training is based on estimated iving aowance of $210 per person per month and a round-tip airfare of $600. Intensive vegetabe production course. This is an intensive five- month course on vegetabe production to be offered at HORTI- Tengeru by the network coordinating unit, assisted by the institute s staff and other resource persons. The course wi be offered mainy to BSc hoders but coud possiby be extended to dipoma hoders, if the need is identified. The budget item is based on an estimated iving aowance of $210 per schoar per month and a round-trip airfare within the SADCC region of $600. At east 100 trainees from the research and extension services of SADCC are expected to undergo this once-a-year course over the five-year period. Specia research skis training. This is a five-month research internship and/or vegetabe production course at AVRDC and other suitabe centers of training to upgrade the competence of the NARS staff in the network. Cost estimate incudes the foowing: round-trip trave cost of $2,500 per schoar; training fee (incuding tuition, book aowance, board and odging, insurance, etc) of $1,500 per month. Thirty-four (34) researchers from the SADCC NARS are envisaged to compete this program. Advanced degree training in horticuture. The budget for this professiona eve training (MSc eve) at the University of Zimbabwe is estimated at $5,000 per student per year (incudes iving aowance, stipend, tuition, schoo suppies, etc). Transportation cost is estimated at $600 round-trip within the SADCC region. The projected training duration is two-years. After the competion of the two-year MSc course, each schoar wi be sent on a 5-month specia training program in a speciaized aboratory abroad before resuming his/her duties in the NARS. Arrangements wi be made with appropriate institutions in Europe and esewhere where this finishing up training wi be undertaken. At the end of the five-year project period, it is expected that thirty (30) professiona horticuturists (MSc eve) woud have been added to the vegetabe research cadre in SADCC. Provisions for PhD training wi be incorporated in the network probaby in the next phase after the doctora program at the University of Zimbabwe is propery estabished. V. ANNEXES ANNEX I. REGIONAL CONSULTATION WORKSHOP ANNEX II. ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF CONVERDS ANNEX III. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS TO THE CONSULTATION WORKSHOP 19

22 ANNEX I REGIONAL CONSULTATION WORKSHOP (Description and Highights) Date and Venue The regiona consutation workshop among SADCC NARS was hed at Arusha, Tanzania on Juy 9-13, Scoue & Nature The workshop provided contributed country papers on nationa agricutura poicies and the current status of vegetabe research and deveopment in the nationa programs of the SADCC (Southern African Deveopment Coordination Conference) region. As we, papers on home gardening, seed production, integrated pest management, and postharvest technoogy of vegetabes were presented to provide an adequate background on substantive issues which affect the deveopment of the vegetabe industry. Together, these papers set the tone for the working group discussions and in-depth review of CONVERDS, a comprehensive proposa for coaborative vegetabe research and deveopment in the SADCC region, and paved the way for deveoping appropriate recommendations and endorsing in principe the proposed coaborative network. CONVERDS, which stands for Coaborative Network on Vegetabe Research and Deveopment in the SADCC Region, was conceived by a joint project identification mission mounted by the CGIAR Secretariat (Consutative Group on Internationa Agricutura Research), SACCAR (Southern African Center for Cooperation in Agricutura Research and Training), AVRDC (Asian Vegetabe Research and Deveopment Center) and ISNAR (Internationa Service for Nationa Agricutura Research) in August It is an attempt to band together the nationa agricutura research systems (NARS) into a cohesive and singuary effective group which addresses the strategic research and deveopment needs on vegetabe of the region as a whoe. Individuay, the NARS do not have the critica mass of resources to address the most important probems of their vegetabe industries; together with the other NARS, however, their pooed resources woud enabe them to pay profound attention to a number of research and deveopment issues that are strategicay common to a NARS in the region. The CONVERDS proposa was reviewed by a group of donors during the October 1989 CGIAR meeting, foowing which, funds were aocated for the regiona consutarion workshop by GTZ (the German Agency for Technica Cooperation), by the Government of France, and by CDA (Canadian Internationa Deveopment Agency). Goas / The consutation workshop had the foowing goas: to update the state of the art in vegetabe research and deveopment in the SADCC region; to gain a comprehensive understanding of the priorities in vegetabe research and deveopment of the member states of SADCC and of the region as a whoe; to bring together vegetabe researchers, educarors, extension speciaists and poicy makers and secure a broad consensus on the priorities and mechanisms for coaborative research and deveopment which wi mutuay benefit a member states of SADCC, and, 20