Presentation at the RTB Annual Review and Planning Meeting (Entebbe, Uganda, 29 Sep-3 Oct 2014)

1. Interactive session:
Innovation in postharvest in
Uganda
Diego Naziri
RTB Annual Review and Planning Meeting
30th September 2014

2. Structure of the session
 Challenges for RTB postharvest
 Overview of the EU RTB project
 Posters presentation

3. Challenges for RTB postharvest
● Bulky, perishable characteristics of all RTB crops
● Physiological characteristics limiting shelf-life
● Lack of handling and storage technologies
● Short, direct marketing channels with high PH losses
● Underdeveloped potential for value-adding

4. RTB/NRI partnership in postharvest
“Driving livelihood improvements through demand-oriented
interventions for competitive production and processing of RTBs”
 Optimization of selected processing systems for cassava
 Ensuring acceptability of food products resulting from new varieties
and new processing technologies for cassava (sensory evaluation and
consumer acceptance)
 Contribute a gender and livelihoods perspective to the study
methodology, tools and data analysis (cross cutting)

5. Overview of the EU RTB project
‘Expanding utilization of RTB and reducing
their postharvest losses”
EC funds channeled through IFAD
Goal: contribute to improved food security for RTB-producing
communities in East Africa, including
producers and other stakeholders along the value chain.
Objectives: improve food availability and income
generation through better PH management and
expanded use of RTB, based on:
(1) postharvest and processing technologies
(2) value chain development
(3) capacity development.

6. Overview of the EU RTB project
Embedded in CRP-RTB’s Theme 6
“Promoting postharvest technologies,
value chains, and market opportunities”.
Strong linkages with CRP- PIM “Policies,
Institutions, and Markets”.

7. Overview of the EU RTB project
RTB target crops:
Cassava
Banana
Sweetpotato Potato

8. Overview of the EU RTB project
Location: Uganda
On the ground testing of
innovations for improved
postharvest/value chain with
evidence of relevance for other
countries in East Africa.
Why?
Ideal country to develop and test these
innovations that can later be adapted to
apply to other EA countries.
• It has all the RTBs - banana, cassava,
sweetpotato, potato, and even yam.
• All the RTB CG centres (CIP, CIAT,
IITA, and Bioversity) have presence in
Uganda.

9. Steps
● Proposal planning workshop (June 2012)
Representatives of 15 potential partner institutions to select an initial set
of products, innovations, partners and sites based on opinions of the
participants.
● Funding for 3 yr implementation (Jan 2014 – Dec 2016)
● Inception workshop (March 2014)
 Establishment of 4 crop-based multi-agency teams to identify PH
research options, building on the recommendations from the planning
workshop and further inputs from partners and stakeholders.
 Development of 7 draft preliminary business cases/scoping plans for
selected research options.
 Revision of criteria for selecting business cases.

10. Steps
● Submission of preliminary business cases/scoping plans
(April 2014)
● Internal and external reviews of the preliminary business
cases/scoping plans and feedback on main gaps to be
addressed and assumptions to be validated (May 2014)
● Scoping phase to firm up the business cases ($ 25k per option;
approximately 3 months from signing contracts)
● PMCA Training workshop (June 2014):
 To obtain an understanding of PMCA principles.
 To gain sensitivity on how to mainstream gender in research activities
specifically under the EU-RTB Project.

11. Steps
● Submission of final business cases (August 2014, exc. cassava)
 2 for sweetpotato (CIP), banana (Bioversity) and cassava (IITA)
 1 for potato (CIP)
● Internal and external reviews (September 2014, exc. cassava)
● Selection of the business cases for funding by the Process
Committee according to a set of agreed criteria
 Ideally 4 research options (1 for each crop)
 By the end of the RTB meeting 3 research options will be selected
(the 4th is on hold awaiting for submission and evaluation of cassava BCs)
● 2 yr implementation period (Oct 2014 - Sept 2016)

12. Posters presentation
● 7 posters
● 2 presenters each: 1 CG and 1 non-CG
● Duration: 5min presentation + 5min Q&A
● Participants divided into 3 groups
Group A
First name
A to F
Group B
First name
G to N
Group C
First name
O to Z

13. Interactive/Dynamic session
Group A
P1
P2
P3
P4
P5
P6
P7
Group B Group C
Please avoid to speak too loudly in
order not to disturb other presenters

14. Thank you