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ABSTRACT
The innovation platforms (IP) concept was adopted in Sudan as an effective multi-stakeholders approach for sustainable agricultural R4D. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the IP approach in enhancing wheat production and contributing to food security in Sudan. Six community-based IPs were established in four states. A range of activities were implemented within IPs including technology demonstration, seed production, capacity strengthening, field days, etc. A total of 440 farmer-managed demonstration plots were conducted and yields up to 6.0–8.0 t/ha achieved in some fields. The 4-year average yield across all IPs was 3.8 t/ha compared to the national average of 2.3 t/ha. A total of 2031 (66.6% female) trainees participated in 31 training courses targeted all stakeholders along the value chain. A total of 4335 tons of seeds produced and distributed to seed producers and farmers. More than 2500 tons of seeds produced by farmers diffused to neighbouring farmers. Due to the raised awareness of improved varieties, demand for quality seeds increased. Overall, more than 15,700 (31% female) stakeholders were directly reached. Coupled with enabling production measures, improved technologies encouraged national wheat production and productivity to significantly increase since 2011/2012 by 118,000 ton/year and 0.39 ton/ha/year, respectively. The IP approach was able to engage all stakeholders and brought changes in the attitude of many of them. The IP concept was adopted for technology dissemination and enhancing interaction among stakeholders of a number of crops in Sudan.
Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by African Development Bank through the SARD-SC Wheat sub-project in Sudan. Our gratitude and sincere thanks are expressed to all stakeholders along the wheat value chain who devoted their knowledge, insights and sincere efforts to make this work achievable and successful.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Izzat S. A. Tahir
Izzat S. A. Tahir A plant breeder with special interest in crop improvement for stress environment. Former wheat breeder at ICARDA. He was the regional coordinator of Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC) Wheat sub-project in east Africa lowlands hub. Contributed in the release of more than 10 bread and durum wheat varieties in Sudan as well as a number of Sub Saharan African countries.
Hala M. Mustafa
Hala M. Mustafa Senior wheat breeder at Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC), Sudan. Her main area of interest is in breeding for stress environment using doubled haploid technique. She has a working experience as a pigeon pea breeder. Gained experience in working in multi-stakeholder environment through her work as a research facilitator of IP.
Amani A. M. Idris
Amani A. M. Idris National Coordinator, Wheat Research Program at ARC. She is an agronomist with special interest on studying physiological traits associated with heat stress tolerance. She developed interest in dissemination of technologies to beneficiaries through her work as a research facilitator of IP.
Ashraf M. A. Elhashimi
Ashraf M. A. Elhashimi Plant breeder at ARC with special interest in wheat improvement under heat stress. He has a working experience as a chickpea breeder. His skills in bringing different stakeholders together significantly improved through his work as an IP facilitator.
Mohamed K. Hassan
Mohamed K. Hassan Plant breeder at ARC with special interest in wheat improvement for biotic stress (rust diseases). He has a working experience as a groundnut breeder. He worked as an IP research facilitator thus developed interest in multi-stakeholder approach for technology dissemination.
Elmoiez M. Fadul
Elmoiez M. Fadul Plant nutrition specialist at ARC. He is interested in studying crop response to nutrients especially phosphorus and nitrogen. Gained experience in working in multi-stakeholder environment through her work as a research facilitator of IP.
Abdalla M. A. Kurmut
Abdalla M. A. Kurmut Former Director of New Halfa Research Station. He is a plant pathologist with special interest in wheat rust diseases. National Coordinator of Plant Pathology Research Program at ARC. He developed skills in bringing different stakeholders together through his work as an IP facilitator.
Salah Mohamed Eltayeb
Salah Mohamed Eltayeb Director of New Halfa Research Station. He is a plant pathologist at ARC. He developed interest in working together with all stakeholders along the value chain through his work as an IP facilitator.
Sara Meheesi
Sara Meheesi Wheat breeder at ARC with special interest in wheat improvement for abiotic stresses such as heat and water deficit. Her skills of communication with different stakeholders improved through her work as an IP facilitator.
Alawia O. Hassan
Alawia O. Hassan She is a socioeconomic specialist at ARC. She coordinated the socioeconomic activities of the SARD-SC Wheat Sub-project including baseline and impact assessment surveys. She is interested in linking farmers to the market for more socio-economic impact.
Osman S. Abdalla
Osman S. Abdalla Former senior wheat breeder at CIMMYT and ICARDA. He has a substantial experience in wheat improvement for biotic and abiotic stresses globally. Developed several wheat varieties that have been released in many countries specially in CWANA region. He is now working as a consultant at Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), Khartoum, Sudan.
Solomon Assefa
Solomon Assefa He was the coordinator of SARD-SC Wheat sub-project. He is a plant breeder and was the former Director General of Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research (EIAR). He is working with ICARDA as the Coordinator of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Wheat Compact.