Sorghum is a crop that is plagued by the striga weed. Charles is a RUFORUM grantee who is working together with the farmers to develop high-yielding, striga-tolerant varieties. There is mutual learning between the farmers and the student.
The video features RUFORUM funded Robert Kawuki working together with the national crop research institute in developing soybean and cassava varieties, working with the farmers to ensure the address farmer needs. The story also highlights the importance of building capacity for African research institutions.
RUFORUM has been a helping hand in rebuilding the University of Rwanda on agricultural developments and promoting Masters and PhD programs after the outbreak of the genocide. Leonidas Dusengemungu a Rwandan national was funded by RUFORUM for his Master’s studies at Makerere University. RUFORUM has also supported his Livestock IP innovation platform projects in Rwanda, hence transforming African communities.
The video features a RUFORUM grantee called Msekiwa Matsimbe, a researcher with the Nepad Regional Fish Node at LUANAR in Malawi. Msekiwa worked closely with rural communities to develop fish farming groups and to enhance farm aquaculture.
The Project has enabled Farmer Associations to develop their business plans, initiate contract farming, produce striga tolerant seed maize, increased sorghum and soya production, improved management and built the capacity of the Farming Associations to undertake value addition