Geographical area

The ASHC project takes place in sub-Saharan Africa. Field based activities to develop and test site-specific extension materials for on-going initiatives will take place in up to four countries and will be selected within the prioritized cropping systems and in countries where on-going initiatives are committed to work with the project. The AGRA soil health program funded projects in its priority countries Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, and Tanzania. These are key targets for ASHC too but the project will map out and engage with a wide range of initiatives as can be seen below. 

ASHC has been carrying out activities in regions: 

Southern Africa

• Malawi

• Mozambique

• Rwanda

• Zambia

East Africa

• Burundi

• DRC

• Kenya

• Tanzania

• Uganda

West Africa

• Burkina Faso

• Chad

• Ghana

• Mali

• Niger

• Nigeria

• Senegal

ASHC is prioritizing the development of materials on one of four ISFM cropping systems commonly used across the Africa.
 

1 Maize-legume systems

1.1 Maize-legume systems in the Southern African sub-humid zone: Mozambique (Beira Corridor), Malawi, Zambia

1.2 Maize-legume systems in the East African sub-humid zone Tanzania (Southern highlands and the Morogoro region), Kenya, Uganda

1.3 Maize-legume systems in West African - Northern Guinea Savannah (NGS) Ghana (Northern Region), Nigeria   

2 Irrigated rice based systems in Western and Central Africa (WCA) Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad 

3 Irrigated rice and favorable rainfed systems in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda 

4 Sorghum, Millet, Cowpea Systems in the Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger 

5 Highland banana and coffee Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC 

6 Cassava information to be identified
 

ASHC identified these 6 cropping systems from a series of consultations, e-discussions and as part of the ASHC Inaugural Workshop in Nairobi in May 2011. The selection criteria included: 

• High probability of large scale benefit to smallholder farmers; level of poverty within a region 
• Potential to increase productivity through ISFM including availability of knowledge and technologies 
• Active on-going programs that could help synergize activities within the countries e.g. projects funded by AGRA soil health program etc. that are willing and able to work with the present project 
• Existing transport and market infrastructures (input and output markets); market accessibility; availability or ability to develop functional distribution systems (i.e. accessibility of fertilizer); existence of active network of agro-input dealers 
• Supportive government policies and commitment 
• Water availability (rainfall and % area irrigated); areas with limited risk of drought (or with extensive use of water conservation options) 
• Credit availability to agro-input dealers and farmers