Innovation Platform as an Approach to Enhance Food Security in Rwanda: Experiences from Maize Platform with Research into Use Project (2008-2010)

In spite of the many efforts made by the government, different projects and several NGOs, adoption of maize agricultural technologies by smallholder farmers in Rwanda had not been very successful. It was hypothesised that inadequate cooperation between the key players in the agricultural sector limits the uptake of new knowledge and technologies by the farmers. The Research Into Use (RIU) programme addressed this gap through the establishment of Innovation Platform (IP) to create and facilitate the essential collaborative relationships between stakeholders including farmers, cooperatives, seeds multipliers, inputs suppliers, processors, traders, credits services, local leaders, research and extension, etc. This case study focuses on the experiences of the maize innovation platform, in Nyagatare District, to foster diffusion of maize technologies in Rwanda. Data collection used various instruments such as focus group discussions, participant observations and individual interviews with plaftorm members. Farmers‘ challenges and solutions to priority issues alongside the maize value-chain were identified and translated into action plan through facilitation and research. Linkages with research institutions, NGOs, markets, micro-finance and banks were established for value addition and capacity building; while warrantee, credit and market links were done primarily to sustain production and income. Farmers were involved in crop management techniques, value addition and marketing of their products. The findings will be used by DFID, RIU managers, the Ministry of Agriculture and rural development agencies for scaling up and out the approach into Rwanda and/or other African countries.