Controlling diseases in sweet potato and enset in Ethiopia and South Sudan

Project title: Controlling diseases in sweet potato and enset in Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Background

In Ethiopia and South Sudan, root and tuber crops are a staple food in times of food insecurity. In contrast to the high cost of cereal crops, root crops can provide more energy per unit area basis than any other field crop and are cheap “source of energy” for low income households.

Enset and sweet potato, in particular, make an important contribution to the diet of millions of people in Ethiopia. Both crops produce more calories and high quality proteins per unit area than commonly grown cereals and therefore have the potential to significantly improve food security and diet quality.

However, the yield and productivity of most root and tuber crops in Ethiopia have been declining over the years. One of the major reasons for this decline is lack of adequate quality of planting material due to various plant pathologies which have received very little attention from the scientific community worldwide.

Strengthening food security and climate change adaptation through higher education and research networks

The project aims to enhance climate adaptation and food security in Ethiopia and South Sudan through building capacity in education and research on the staple food crops of sweet potato and enset.

The project strengthens capacity at Hawassa University and Mekelle University in Ethiopia and the University of Juba in South Sudan in the field of plant sciences. The Agreement Partner is the NMBU in Norway, with Hawassa University in Ethiopia as the main low income country-based partner.

Other partners include: Juba University in South Sudan, Mekelle University in Ethiopia, the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), a CGIAR-research institute based in Nigeria, the Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk), the International Potato Center (CIP -  a CGIAR-research institute based in Peru) and the Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research (EIAR).

Mobilising local farmers and integrating gender perspectives for research-based solutions to food insecurity

The project is designed to meet the needs for plant protection research and higher education strengthening in South Sudan and Ethiopia. At the same time, regional and international research networks in plant protection are developed. The special needs of the University of Juba after years of conflict in South Sudan will also be addressed, including through strengthening their partnership with the stronger universities in Ethiopia.

Close contacts with farmers is another important aspect of the project. Gender issues will be addressed at all times, particularly as farmers in this region often are women, with men doing the planting and women caring for the crops.

Key goals and achievements

Overall goal

Strengthened capacity in higher education and research on plant protection to improve productivity in sweet potato and enset and resilience of small farmers to climatic changes in Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The objectives of the project are:

1. Strengthened, gender sensitive education and research capacity in plant production and protection at Hawassa University, Mekelle University and Juba University;
2. Establishing regional and international research networks on plant health and food security in Ethiopia and South Sudan
3. Improved food security and rural livelihoods in Ethiopia and South Sudan