University engagement with farming communities in Africa : : : community action research platforms / / edited by Anthony Egeru, Megan Lindow, and Kay Muir-Leresche.

• TeilnehmendeR: Egeru, Anthony,; Lindow, Megan,; Muir-Leresche, Kay,
• Place / Publishing House: New York : : Taylor & Francis,, 2024.
• Year of Publication: 2024
• Language: English
• Series: Earthscan Food and Agriculture
• Physical Description: 1 Online-Ressource (329 pages).

This book explains and explores how collaborations can be built and strengthened between African universities and farming communities to address real-world contemporary challenges. The book focuses on Community Action Research Platforms, an approach that has successfully enabled African universities to break free of the ivory tower and prove their relevance to society through deep collaborative engagements in targeted agricultural value chains. Developed in a pan-African network of universities (RUFORUM) focused on capacity building in agriculture, the approach has been tested in diverse settings over the last 15 years. The book draws on the experiences and lessons from 21 different projects initiated by RUFORUM member universities in Benin, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. It highlights a critical yet underutilised role for African universities as collaborators and catalysts for multisector solutions. These are solutions that increase productivity and address climate change. They develop livelihoods and resilience in rural communities, as well as promote farmers' access to markets, innovation and trade while safeguarding biodiversity and enhancing food and nutrition security. The book makes a case for repositioning African universities as fulcrums of development in society. It shares the rich experiences, learnings and scientific findings of diverse researchers, practitioners and students who have been working towards achieving this reality on the ground. This multidisciplinary book holds appeal for university leaders, higher education, agrifood and development specialists, researchers and practitioners, policymakers and development agencies engaged in African agriculture and rural development, higher education and sustainable growth.

Table of Contents

Designing for Relevance : a new orientation for research -- Anthony Egeru, Megan Lindow, Patrick Okori--Building Value Chain Innovation Platforms with Communities -- Megan Lindow, Anthony Egeru, Kay Muir Leresche--Universities Fit for Purpose -- Megan Lindow, Anthony Egeru, Kay Muir Leresche--Learning in Motion -- Megan Lindow, Anthony Egeru, Kay Muir Leresche--Change Agents, Ripple Effects, Wider Impacts -- Megan Lindow, Anthony Egeru, Kay Muir Leresche--Facilitating a Student and Community-centred, Experiential Approach to Research and Innovation -- Nancy Mungai, Duncan Ongeng, Patience Mshenga, Megan Lindow--Enhancing agribusiness rice clusters and market linkages for food security and incomes in northern Uganda -- Basil Mugonola, Apollo Kasharu, Jimmy Lamo, Daniel Ogwang--Enhancing safflower production and product development for food security and improving incomes of small-scale farmers in Botswana -- Emongor Vallantino Erone, Bamphithi Tiroesele, Moatshe Onkgoletse Mashiqa--Sustainable commercial pineapple value chain system for increased yield and income, and improved livelihood of smallholder farmers in Central Region of Ghana -- Festus Annor-Frempong--Empowerment and Poverty Reduction in Rural Coastal Kenya through the cassava value chain -- Samuel Onyango, Agnes Mwang'ombe, D.C. Kilalo, P. Waswa--Impacting livelihoods through the CARP cassava value chain project in Nakuru County, Kenya -- Richard M.S. Mulwa, Joseph W. Matafari, Joshua O. Ogendo, Peter F. Arama, Bockline O. Bebe--Seed potato production in Nakuru : Outcomes and implications of an active multi-stakeholder platform -- Anthony Mwangi Kibe, Mariam Mwangi, Agnes Nkurumwa--Inclusion of Farmer Communities in Value Chain Development : A case of potato in southwestern Uganda -- Johnny Mugisha, Peter Waswa, Napole̹on Heri Bahati-Kajunju, Abel Atukwase--Enhancing Pig Production and Marketing for Smallholder Farmers in Northern Uganda -- Elly Kurobuza Ndyomugyenyi, Tony Aliro, Walter Odongo--Building Competitiveness for Communal Farmers through Developing the Wool Value Chain in the Free State Province of South Africa -- Jan W. Swanepoel--Climate-Smart Agriculture : improving dryland crop yields and value addition through university-community partnership in Zimbabwe -- Mandumbu Ronald, Nyamadzawo George, Nyakudya Innocent Wadzanayi, Kamota--Agathar, Kubiku Friday N. M--Enhancing Community Adaptation through Climate Resilient Agriculture : Encroacher bushes value chains initiative in Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia -- Angombe S., Togarepi C., Mupangwa J. and Ndinomuwa, H--The Empowerment of Women and Youth : Enhancing climate-smart productivity of vegetables and key livestock value chains, Sudan -- Muna Mohamed Elhag, Tafaol E. Ali, Luna M. Musa, Igbal E. I. Mohamed, Mutasim A. M. Elagab and Ali E. Eljack--Strengthening the Beekeeping Value Chain in Western Kordofan State, Sudan -- Ahmed Idris, Ali Mohamed, Asma Hamad, Ruhama Abdallh, Osman Khmis, Hana Mohammed--Improvement of Indigenous Coping Strategies in Famine-Stricken Darfur, Sudan -- Elkhalil, Elhadi. A. I., Osman, H. A. H., Elzein, A. E. M., Mohammed, E. M.; Ahmed, E, E. A--Scaling up African baobab food products valuation through enhancement of their safety and value chains for food and nutritional security in Benin (West-Africa) -- Achille E. Assogbadjo, A. Hounkpèvi, K.V. Salako, F.J. Chadaré, R. Idohou, C. Gbèdomon and R. Glèlè Kakaï.