Research & Development

what we do

Research & Development

Research/research and development
FIPS-approach to research
FIPS-Africa is one of a small number of organizations in Africa that can support the entire research into use continuum. The research is farmer-led, with farmers and VBAs identifying the challenges faced by the smallholder farmers. The research focuses on soil health and fertility, water management, pest and disease prevention and control, crop yields, reduction of drudgery and market system innovations. The emphasis is always on frugal innovations suitable for resource-constrained smallholder farmers.
FIPS is currently research programmes in western Kenya, Rift Valley, and coastal Kenya.

FIPS Farmer Research Networks
FIPS-Africa has developed facilitation guide covering all of the Farmer Research Network principles. Whilst the core of the Farmer Research Networks work is about using replicable research techniques appropriate for on-farm trialling of different approaches, the approach to facilitation and building commitment in the network works on the members emotions. The emotional hook maybe imagining losses in the agroecological landscape, or personal benefits (prioritization and interpretation of experiments). FIPS is keen measure these emotional impacts empirically to assess their impact on the engagement and concentration of network members.

Small Dialogue Groups

FIPS noted that splitting the Farmer Research Network into smaller dialogue groups ideally consisting of around five members, ensured women, youth, and less outspoken members had a voice. These discussions enabled comfortable sharing, and empowering subgroups to relay insights to the larger network assembly. They also worked to create role for the more confident network members to become part of the facilitation team, with the support of the facilitation guide. This is also building in some sustainability to the group, enabling them to develop their own projects without facilitation from FIPS. FIPS is in the process of adapting training guides on agronomic practices to include FRN principles. Success with indigenous chicken and day-old chicks have been adapted to include an element of visioning with a strong emotional response. Further guides will be developed.

What Works Where and for Whom (4Ws)

Option for Agro-Ecological Intensification
In Western Kenya, FIPS-Africa is supporting Farmer Research Network (FRN) groups, aligning with co-creation and knowledge-sharing principles under McKnight Foundation’s Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems (CRFS). We support the FRNs to develop experiments which are helping to improve advice on soil fertility and controlling crop pests and diseases by combining local and global knowledge.
FIPS-Africa has developed process guides tailored to address farmers’ needs and facilitate the expression of their concerns, aligning with the “Farmer” principle within FRN principles. The approach empowers farmers to set the research agenda, co-create and design experiments, and collect data by following farmer research network principles.
Farmer Research Network principles include:
• Farmers who represent the social and biophysical diversity of their communities participate in the whole research process.
• Research is rigorous, democratized, and useful, providing practical benefits to farmers as well as insights on biophysical and social variation.
• Networks foster collaboration and opportunities for learning and knowledge sharing.
The research being undertaken by the FRNs are designed to be locally relevant, transdisciplinary and inclusive. The FRNs help to co-create and share knowledge that supports the livelihoods and well-being of smallholder farmers, their communities and the land we all rely on for our sustenance.

Farmer Research Network test new composting methods

Background: Bokashi composting rapidly breaks down materials into compost which can be used along planting lines to boost soil fertility and crop production. The starting recipe used around KES 1,150 [$9 USD] of materials and labour to produce 270kg or three 90 kg bags – costing around $3 USD a bag.

Challenge: Can frugal innovation be applied to Bokashi composting?

Use Bokashi compost
The farmers are adopting Bokashi— a 14-day composting method introduced by Manor House Agricultural Centre. Bokashi addresses challenges of conventional composting methods which is labour intensive and slow, and escalating fertilizer prices. Bokashi’s flexible recipe, adaptable to local materials, involves creating a nutrient-rich pile, turned twice daily for 3 days, and then daily for 11 days. Bokashi surpasses traditional composted manure in nutrient content, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to soil enhancement, addressing the specific needs of western Kenya’s agricultural practices.
Use of lime to address high soil acidity
Use of Lablab purpureus to control striga weed
Crop disease and pest management using homemade biopesticides.
Farmers in Kakamega County had been trailing bokashi composting. Whilst the idea of quick composting was appealing the textbook approach was demanding. Regular turning of the compost was labour intensive, and the additives (sugar/ molasses and yeast) were only available in markets that required travelling costs to collect. Yeast was also considered to be expensive.

The Kakamega Farmer Research Network identified that the labour input could be reduced by 50%. FIPS adjusted its training materials and trained ,200 farmers on Bokashi, composting:

472 (39%) started making Bokashi and are applying it crops ranging such as maize, vegetables and on fruit trees.
176 (37% of those making) have made it more than once.
The research network is now exploring if the additives can be reduced.

In February 2024, 540 members of the FIPS Farmer Research Network were carrying out on farm research exploring the impact of soil health interventions such as soil pH testing, managing soil and water by making terraces, bokashi compost making and application. Better poultry and dairy management are also focused activity by network members.

Testing soil to sustainably manage fall armyworm (FAW)

With funding from the USAID Development Innovation Ventures (DIV), FIPS-Africa is working with partners to assess a low-cost approach to fall armyworm control in maize. The approach is known as the soil method. This method is based on traditional farmer knowledge, which is now being rigorously tested. The goal of this research project is to provide evidence whether soil can be effectively included as one of the options for management of the pest in smallholder maize farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. The research seeks to evaluate the effectiveness, as well as establish mode of action, of applying various soil types as a low-cost management technique for FAW for use by smallholder resource-limited farmers. This region is characterized by agroclimatic conditions and farming practices relatively similar to larger Sub-Saharan Africa, thus results will facilitate scale-up of the innovation.

Trials on staples using WonderGro soil conditioner

We with farmers and the University of Eldoret and Pwani University to conduct trials on maize, greengram and cowpea using WonderGro soil conditioner.

FIPS is working with the University of Eldoret to test the efficacy of Wondergrow. Several treatments are being tested:

DAP at 50 kg/acre
DAP at 25 kg/acre
DAP at 25 kg/acre and Wondergrow 21
DAP at 25 kg/acre and Wondergrow 3
No soil addition

In Bungoma, between pH 5.5 there was no significant difference among the treatments. When compared to full rate DAP:

Wondergrow 21 and 25 kg DAP was 7-8% better in 50% of sites
Wondergrow 3 and 25 kg DAP was 4% better in 25% of the site.

In Kakamega County there was no significant difference among the treatments.:

Wondergrow 21 and 25 kg DAP was 13-23% better in 75% of the sites
Wondergrow 3 and 25 kg DAP was 13% better in 25% of the sites when compared with full rate DAP.

Pwani University is studying the impact of WonderGro on productivity of crops, 10 research sites have been established (5 in Kwale and 5 in Kilifi). for greengram, cowpeas and maize. IITA trials on nematodes will be established in early 2024.

Research and Development (Consultancy services for the private sector)

The team at FIPS-Africa can deliver consultancies across Africa. These consultancies would either work alongside FIPS-Africa international training, or can stand alone.

International Training and Development
The VBA-trail pack model, developed by FIPS, has been widely copied across Africa and beyond. This has had inconsistent
results, especially when the work omits key and critical elements of the FIPS-Africa’s approach.

The International Training and Development Team has developed a workshop process based on FIPS-Africa’s twenty years’ experience of implementing the VBA-Trial Pack approach. It also supports its implementing partners in other countries to fine-tune the model to their specific country context, opportunities and challenges. FIPS-Africa works in countries across Africa to develop the self-employed VBA model.

FIPS-Africa is currently supporting teams developing VBAs in 16 African countries.

Policy advocacy

FIPS advocates for smallholder-farmer friendly policies. Because of the detailed knowledge of smallholder practices build up over the last twenty years, FIPS is often asked to advise of policy development.

Examples of policy processes that FIPS is supporting, recent work in the Kenya on the potato regulation and policy exemplify the importance of this area of work

Agency: Government of Kenya

Policy area: FIPS is working to have the rooted apical cuttings declared as source materials for Quality Declared Seed (QDS). This suggestion will be reviewed by the National Economic Impact Assessment, then goes to parliament of successful.

Agency: COMESA