Product development
(continuously validated and refined in a collaborative effort involving IITA, FUNAAB, NRCRI, ARI, CIAT, ETH and KUL)
Overall Goals
Demand-driven identification of intensification options (e.g. planting densities, planting arrangements, types of intercrop, varietal choice of cassava and intercrop, combination of intercrops, fertilizer application, …) in cassava intercropping systems; situational guidelines on approaches to assess the suitability of intensification options that can be easily applied by public and/or private extension sectorPrimary client
Extension agents directly engaged with farmers: 2SCALE, Sasakawa Africa Association, CAVA-II and Oyo State Cassava Growers Association (OYSCGA) in Nigeria and Farm Concern International (FCI) in Tanzania
Tool format
Intercropping Practices Expert Application for crop advisors (software application, paper-based manuals and extension guides))
Outcome goals
Decision support tool that offers intensification options based on environmental conditions and farmers’ demand and production interest in the AoIs by country
Product development protocol
(continuously validated and refined in a collaborative effort involving IITA, FUNAAB, NRCRI, ARI, CIAT, ETH and KUL)
delineate AoIs and identify farmers demand on intensification options
develop draft recommendations (V0) from existing literature on intercropping
design and conduct field research on intensification options in cassava-based intercropping systems and interaction with environmental conditions and farmers’ production objectives
consolidate findings into a refined set of options (V1), validate and refine further (V2) (Note: the DSSAT modelling component was dropped)
extract limiting factors (socio-economic and biophysical), translate into a “question-answer guide” and develop VF to facilitate use by development organizations
