Current Projects 1. CABE in collaboration with RVE.SOL-Soluçoes de Energia Rural Lda is piloting a renewable energy initiative in Busia County to enhance access to sustainable energy, through the provision of electricity, biogas for cooking, fresh drinking water and fertilizer for crops. 2. Microfinance and Savings and Credit Model: A new approach to capital constraint and self economic empowerment. This project involves micro-credit savings and loaning schemes, table banking and revolving fund. The approach is facilitating the communities’ involvement in income generating micro-enterprises. 3. Poultry and Banana Production and Marketing in Busia and Kakamega Counties respectively-Through a 5 year project with funding from World Bank, through Kenya Agricultural Productivity and Agribusiness Project (KAPAP), CABE has already started implementing a capacity building project on poultry and banana production and has already done sensitization and mobilization of farmers, recruited farmer groups and Common Interest Groups in readiness for the implementation of the project. 4. Improving soil nutrient content-soil nutrient replenishment (using legumes such as soy bean). Through the N2 Africa project, in collaboration with TBSF/CIAT, CABE has facilitated the distribution of soybean seeds, SSP/NPK fertilizer and Biofix for planting of soy bean seed to individual farmers and farmer groups in Busia County. 5. Emerging and Re-Emerging Transboundary Animal Diseases - Comparative Study. Case Study of BSE in the United Kingdom (UK) and RVF in Kenya. A 3-year study of the STEPS Centre of IDS/Sussex, UK, in collaboration with CABE, focuses on opening up discussions for comparative knowledge learning and sharing of policy responses on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and diseases such as Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in Kenya. 6. Co-convening Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Theme of Future Agricultures Consortium (FAC). FAC comprises UK and African-based policy researchers set up to engage and influence agricultural policy-making in Africa. Our recent work in STI Theme include political economy of seed systems in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Ghana and Zimbabwe. Consultancy Assignments: ·A baseline study in collaboration with University of Amsterdam on rural livelihoods and well-being in Samia District to inform researchers and policymakers around issues of agricultural production and marketing, wealth creation, participation in social groups and support systems. ·Measuring Private Agricultural Research and Innovation in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. This was a joint research project of Rutgers University, USA and IFPRI, USA and McGill University in Canada; and funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. ·Appraisal of Agribusiness Public-Private Partnerships in Africa. The study was commissioned by UNECA/FAO and undertaken in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. ·Establishing why most of the available proven technologies have very low or no adoption and impact in ECA. This was a study commissioned to CABE by Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA). ·Writing a Background Paper for Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (SARECA’s) Non-Staple Crops Programme. ·Feasibility Study for Developing and Deploying Herbicide Resistant Sorghum Varieties to Striga in Sub-Saharan Africa. Commissioned by AATF. · A scoping study commissioned by IDS/Sussex , UK as part of the launch of the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) theme of the Future Agricultures Consortium and ‘Innovation Alliance’ building to facilitate policy discussion around agricultural STI issues in Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Ghana and Senegal. A working paper on political economy of seed systems in Kenya has been published in Phase 1 of this project and a second publication is underway for phase 2-on the political economy of agro-dealers delivering GM cereal seed in Kenya. ·Review of Tissue Culture (TC) Technologies Utilized for Production of Clean Banana Plants in the Great Lakes Region of Africa: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwnada and Burundi. ·Environmental Change and Maize Innovation Pathways in Kenya, a project of STEPS Centre is based at the University of Sussex, UK. The partners are ACTS, Tegemeo Institute and CABE. The project uses maize as a ‘window’ though which to analyse the dynamics of environmental and socio-technical change in ‘innovation systems’ in Kenya. ·How National Public Policies Encourage or Impede Agribusiness Innovation”. Commissioned by the World Bank Institute and the Governments of Denmark and Ireland. The study analyzes and strengthens agricultural innovation efforts in Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. ·Contracted by ACTS in collaboration with UNU-MERIT/LINK to carry out Innovation response capacity in relation to livestock related emergencies in East Africa and facilitate policy process as part of the IGAD Livestock Policy Initiative. ·Completed a business plan for AATF to mobilise resources for R&D work to control the Banana Bacterial Wilt (BBW) in SSA. This followed a feasibility study for AATF on banana improvement against BBW and deployment to smallholders. ·In collaboration with Warwick University in UK, prepared a study on economics of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) in Kenyan agriculture. ·Carried out dissemination workshops involving farmers, scientists and intermediaries to share study findings on Biotechnology governance. ·Contracted by the World Bank to analyze selected agribusinesses and innovations in Kenya, as part of a wider African study. The study focused on the dairy, tomato and maize subsectors and resulted in a published book which analyzes and strengthens agricultural innovation efforts in Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. It was commissioned by the World Bank Institute and the Governments of Denmark and Ireland.