This chapter examines ways in which an equal balance of power can be established in designing and implementing higher-education partnerships. The partnerships featured here are transnational - both within and outside Africa - so they typically have different academic structures, traditions and resources. The chapter presents an approach to partnership design and implementation with the intention of helping African tertiary agricultural education (TAE) institutions strategically pursue arrangements which build enduring institutional and human-resource capacity through joint and equitable engagement in their core mandates: educational instructional, research and outreach.

This study aimed at evaluating the most effective commercialisation pathway (smallholder and inclusive) and its impacts on productivity and welfare on smallholder rice farmers in the pathways versus rain-fed farmers in Mbarali District. Output and input commercialisation indices (CCI and ICI) and propensity score matching were used for data analysis. The overall output commercialisation was more than half of the produced rice (CCI=59%) but the use of improved inputs in the study area was low (ICI = 27%). The proportion of rice sold was higher in the inclusive pathway (80%) relative to smallholder pathway (70%) and rain-fed scheme (41%). Total factor productivity ranged between 1.17 - 1.21 and 0.98 – 1.02 in the smallholder and inclusive pathways respectively more than that in the rain-fed scheme. In terms of welfare, inclusive pathway was better-off relative to the two groups. Therefore, both smallholder and inclusive pathways should be adopted to explore the synergies.

ABSTRACT This paper seeks to share cross-border (geographic, disciplinary and cultural) challenges in the ethical design, establishment, implementation, and evaluation of the performance of alliances and partnerships. The paper reviews the Alliance for African Partnership’s two-year experience stressing lessons learned and shows how it has benefitted philosophically on the subject from recent linkage with the International Development Ethics Association. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need to be patient as alliances and partnerships go through the learning curve before maturity in embracing the ethical values that come to bear. Strategies for nurturing, upkeep, and sustainability of these values are outlined.

The profitability of inorganic fertilizer use in smallholder maize production in Tanzania: Implications for alternative and complementary strategies to improve smallholder maize productivity

Enhancing United States Efforts to Develop Sustainable Agri-Food Systems in Africa

Demand for rice remains high in Liberia with low farm-level productivity (1.2 t/ha). The ability of smallholder rice farmers to improve output levels and attain sustainable production depends on efficient farm practices, hence technical efficiency. A stochastic frontier production function was applied to examine the technical efficiency of rice production. A two stage random sampling with stratification was used to collect data from 400 rice farmers in Bein Garr and Panta Districts, Central Liberia. The study has revealed that technical efficiency among farmers range from 14% to 88%, with the mean of 55%; indicating that on average, the actual output can be increased by 45% in the study area with the available technology and resources. The determinants explaining efficiency variation in the study area were education, farming experience, household size, credit access, group membership and the type of seed used. The study recommends policies that target on increasing and improving farmers’ access to credit so as to enable the farmers get the needed production inputs such as improved seeds and fertilizer on time. Furthermore, farmers should be encouraged to organize themselves into associations/cooperatives around major rice producing and processing hubs. Keywords: smallholder farmers, rice, technical efficiency, stochastic frontier, Liberia

The Innovative Agricultural Research Initiative (iAGRI) is a long-term investment in agricultural higher education and research capacity in Tanzania funded by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and led by The Ohio State University in conjunction with five other U.S. land grant universities and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM). Although University contributions to sustainable agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa have been well documented, for the past several decades, donors and national governments have neglected agricultural higher education institutions. The main goal of the iAGRI project is to improve food security and agricultural productivity in Tanzania by strengthening the training and collaborative research capacities of Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MALF) and has four major objectives:1) implementing a program of collaborative agriculture research with SUA and MALF; 2) providing advanced degree training in agriculture for Tanzanian graduate students; 3) strengthening the capacity of SUA to develop and implement instructional, research and outreach programs; and 4) promoting cooperation between SUA, U.S. universities, and global south universities. The paper summarizes outcomes of the degree training, collaborative research and institutional strengthening efforts and innovative approaches to institutional capacity development (ICD). iAGRI granted scholarships to 139 Tanzanians to pursue graduate degrees in the agricultural sciences, with half studying at U.S. universities and half studying at RUFORUM affiliated universities in Africa and India. Nearly half of the candidates were women. Although human capacity development (HCD) is important, it is not a substitute for ICD. Approaches used to promote ICD are discussed including improved planning processes, organizational experiments, and promotion of innovations and linkages to the private sector.

Purpose - Agricultural education and training (AET) institutions will play a strategic role in helping to prepare Africa's rapidly growing youth populations for productive careers in agriculture and related agri-businesses. The purpose of this paper is to examine the magnitude of skills and youth employment needs emanating from high-population growth rates. It then explores how agricultural education institutions are responding to these challenges in four different countries at different levels of food system development: South Africa tier 1, Tanzania in tier 2 and Malawi and Uganda in tier 3.Design/methodology/approach - Demographic and school enrollment data provide information on themagnitude of jobmarket entrants at different levels of education while Living Standards Measurement Studies in the respective countries provide a snapshot of current skill requirements in different segments of the agri-food system. In order to evaluate AET responses, the authors have conducted country-level reviews of AET systems as well as in-depth assessments at key tertiary AET institutions in each of the four case study countries.Findings - Growth rates in primary school enrollments are high in sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, because of budgetary constraints, transition rates decline rapidly - about 40 percent from primary to secondary and 7 percent from secondary to tertiary. As a result, substantial numbers of primary and secondary school graduates seek jobs.Research limitations/implications - The case study countries are limited to four. Had more financial resources and time been available, researchers could have spread further afield and in so doing increasing the precision of the results.Originality/value - Estimation of the number of primary and secondary school leavers seeking employment because of failure to proceed to the next level of education. Estimation of the level of education shares in the various components of the agri-food system.

Purpose - African agri-food systems are undergoing major structural change in response to growing urbanization, rising incomes and shifting patterns of food consumption. The purpose of this paper is to explore four major dimensions of this surprisingly rapid structural shift in African food systems.Design/methodology/approach - This chapter synthesizes the six chapters and in addition discusses future implications for agricultural education and training (AET) in Africa.Findings - AET institutions face multiple pressures as a result of these ongoing changes. High fertility rates have produced a youth bulge that currently strains educational capacity at all levels and places huge pressures accommodating 700 million youth job market entrants over the coming 30 years.Research limitations/implications - Countries vary considerably in a number of socio-economic and political dimensions making it difficult to completely generalize on each and every issue. Cross-country comparison to the level of determining which country is better than the other in many of the variables is difficult.Originality/value - Synthesis of key parameters to consider in increasing the relevance of AET institutions in Africa.

Regional spillovers offer prospects for accelerating Africa's agricultural productivity growth, market development and food security. West Africa has recognised and embraced the importance of regional technology transfers, agricultural commodity trade, food security monitoring and agricultural planning. In order for the Southern African region to follow suit, South Africa's country Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme ( CAADP) plan will need to recognise the country's critical role in enhancing regional agricultural development. An outward-looking country vision from South Africa promises to benefit regional as well as domestic agricultural growth and food security.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the career trajectories of 66 distinguished African agricultural professionals in order to explore how agricultural education and training (AET) institutions can better motivate and prepare youth for productive careers in Africa's rapidly changing agrifood system.Design/methodology/approach - Based on in-depth qualitative interviews with these role models, the paper explores the answers to two critical questions: How can Africa motivate its youth to consider careers in agriculture and agribusiness? How can AET institutions better prepare youth for productive careers in agribusiness?Findings - Rural youth enter agribusiness careers in response to clearly perceived rural needs coupled with demonstrable profitability of modern agricultural and agribusiness opportunities. In contrast, urban youth embark on agricultural career paths in response to inspiring science education, particularly practical applications in biology, coupled with emerging awareness of the range of professional opportunities afforded by modern agribusiness and commercial agriculture.Research limitations/implications - The study relies on the basic premise that seasoned, successful professionals - from the private and public sector - can offer useful insights into ways of improving job preparation training for the youth of today seeking careers in the food system of tomorrow. The approach assumes that the role models have both the practical experience and forward-looking vision necessary to identify key elements of preparation likely to benefit future job market entrants.Originality/value - This paper relies on primary interviews with distinguished agricultural professionals from 14 different African countries.

This study sought to assess the technical and institutional capacity of tertiary agricultural education and training (AET) institutions in Africa with specific reference to three institutions in eastern and southern Africa—Makerere University, University of Pretoria and Sokoine University of Agriculture. The aim of the assessment was to determine the existing gaps between them and what we envisage a 21st century university to be. The technical assessment refers to the quality and quantity of programmatic side of things such as the number and quality of instructors for a given population of students, the types and relevance of the curricula, the research output and its relevance to the communities and linkages with the public and private sectors. The institutional capacity referred to the quality and adequacy of physical and infrastructure to support teaching, research and outreach activities. The rules of the game that govern the running of these institutions also fall into this institutional category.

This paper examines the career trajectories of 66 distinguished African agricultural professionals. Based on in-depth qualitative interviews, the paper explores the answers to two critical questions: How can Africa motivate its youth to consider careers in agriculture and agribusiness? How can agricultural education and training (AET) institutions better prepare youth for productive careers in agribusiness?

Using data from ICRISAT 2010/11 household and fertilizer retailer surveys, the study reveals that open vouchers enhance farmers input choice. The targeting of vulnerable farmers was efficient in selecting, households with less livestock ownership and those affected by HIV/AIDS. The use of open vouchers enabled retailers to sale agricultural inputs, boost revenue and link them to suppliers. The use of open voucher is preferable in areas where retailer’s infrastructure and mobile telephone network coverage is good. Timely payment of retailers and suppliers is necessary to encourage their willingness to participate in the program. Risk bearing options like wholesaler insurance are critical to ensure wholesalers are compensated in the event that agro-inputs are not purchased. Credit facilities specifically meant for retailers to stock and trade agricultural inputs will be useful. Programs and policies that enable farmers to access credit to buy inputs should also be put in place. A well planned voucher system links commercial retail channels and has multiplier effects to the society. Experiences from the PRP input program demonstrated that voucher system, as an alternative to direct input distribution, is workable in the Zimbabwe situation and can be adequately supported by suppliers and rural retailers. Voucher programs have the potential to support retail linkage and there is need for increasing more stakeholders, such as seed and fertilizer companies, and wholesalers.

INTRODUCTION As has been recognized by both African governments and donors in recent years, one of the keys to reducing rural poverty and improving the nutritional status of rural households in Tanzania will be to achieve wide-spread improvements in food crop productivity among smallholder farmers. Prior to the international food price crisis of 2007/08, maize yields in Tanzania remained low, averaging between 800-900 tons/ha nation-wide, despite Tanzania’s favorable agro-ecological potential. While there are a range of factors which determine maize yields, an obvious constraint in Tanzania is the fact that as of 2007/08, only 14.3% of smallholder maize producers applied inorganic fertilizer to maize, though this varied considerably by agro-ecological zone from a low of 0.9% in the Lake zone to 21% in the Southern highlands (Mather et al, 2016a). In addition, only 23% of smallholder maize growers used improved maize seed (either OPVs or hybrids) in 2007/08.