East Africa Resources From Past Events

2025

2025 Presentations - ECHO East Africa & Hope International Burundi Joint Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

The 8^th ECHO East Africa Biannual symposium in collaboration with HOPE International Burundi was held at the end of February, 2025. The symposium had 30 presenters and 130 participants from 14 countries across continents. Participants shared and encouraged one another in areas of sustainable agricultural practices, agroecology, farming systems, and more!

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Past ECHO East Africa Events

Why Pfumvudza Works ECHO Burundi - Foundations for Farming

The topics in this presentation include: An introduction to Foundations for Farming The Heart of FFF Why Pfumvudza is important The Concept The Science The Solution

Protéger, restaurer, stopper la dégradation des terres et la biodiversité - Ecoclimate Vision

Les ressources en eau et en terres sont essentielles au développement économique et social des pays et le BURUNDI est une préoccupation. Ces ressources subissent de fortes pressions dues à la croissance démographique, à la surexploitation des terres et à la demande croissante de ressources...

The Power of Partnerships: Advancing Sustainable Food Systems through Agroecology - Abram Bicksler, Ph.D.

In this presentation, topics include: An agricultural ecosystem What is an ecosystem? Historic Approaches to Agroecology Brainstorming biotic & abiotic factors. And, finally, a case study to demonstrate how an agroecosystem is an agricultural ecosystem (shaped by...

Green Manure agroforestry systems - Nathan Deboer

This presentation will go over what GM/CCs are and an example of how they can be used. According to the FAO, "Green manure/cover crops are plants that are grown to provide soil cover and to improve the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil."

Chaya, A Public Health Important Shrub Whose Time has Come in Africa - Margret Tagwira, Assisted by Sarudzai Mukachana

Presentation outline: What is the problem What is Chaya So why Chaya Importance of Chaya in: a) Public health, b) Gender issues, c) Climate change Propagation of Chaya Challenges Solutions Cyanogenic compounds in Chaya and...

Some Serious Invasive Weeds in Northern Tanzania & their Management

This presentation will cover five of the most invasive, noxious plants in the north Tanzania. Parthenium hysterophorus, Chromolaena odorata, Prosopis juliflora, Opuntia sp., and Lantana camara. However, if you look at this link, you will find over 200 invasive plants, many of which are...

An Overview of the ECHO East Africa Regional Impact Center - Charei Munene & Sophia Kasubi

Overview of the EA RIC: ECHO opened its 3rd Impact Center in East Africa in 2012 in Arusha, Tanzania Offers sustainable small-scale options for farmers/pastoralists throughout East Africa ECHO East Africa’s Niche: Demonstrating Agroecology-sustainable agriculture...

Plant Tissue Culture Training - Margret Tagwira

Topics included in this training: To expose and empower anybody who is interested in Tissue culture Technologies for sustainable agriculture, seed sustainability and just as a hobby To revolutionise agriculture by introducing as many people as is possible by introducing them to Tissue...

Agribusiness & Market Strategies - Mellen Nyabuto

Agribusiness refers to the industry involved in the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products, encompassing farming, supply chains, input supply, and value-added activities like agro-processing and marketing. Importance of Agribusiness: Economic Growth Food...

Advancing Global Seed Banking Through Capacitating a Network of Seed Savers - Faith Juma

This presentation highlights the history of ECHO East Africa's Seedbank, ECHO's Strategic Seedbanking Goal, and much more!

Conservation Agriculture PLUS + in Kenya: Lessons Learned for the Past 15 Years - Charei Munene & Sophia Kasubi

This presentaion covers the following topics: Conservation Agruculture (CA) is a proven regenerative agricultural methodology CA has greater impact when complemented and supplemented by other activities identified by the community Community participation, contribution, ownership and...

Sustainable Rural Development & Low-Tech Biochar Production - Karl Frogner and Abram J. Bicksler

Biochar & Soils (IBI) biochar‐international.org: Biochar enhances soils. By converting agricultural waste into a powerful soil enhancer that holds carbon and makes soils more fertile, we can boost food security, discourage deforestation, and preserve cropland diversity. Sustainable...

Low-Tech Biochar Production - Karl Frogner and Abram J. Bicksler

This presentation provides a visual respresentation of how to achieve a low-tech Biochar Production.

Integrating Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Puree in Bakery Products: A Case Study of Small-Scale Processors in Burundi - Charei Munene & Sophia Kasubi

The study underscores the potential of OFSP for value addition in local communities, The use of OFSP Puree by MSMEs potentially reduce wheat imports Enhances improvement in the nutritional status while Providing employment opportunities especially for youth and...

Agricultural Loan Products Design & Processes - Brice Davy KEZIMANA

At TURAME we finance specific crops, and the funds are used mainly for wages, fertilizers or to bridge the gap between the sowing and the harvest. Agriculture Finance can be broadly classified into: Crop loan Term loan for land and water resources development, mechanisation of...

Advancing Regenerative Agriculture Amongst Smallholder Farming Communities - Aaron Mapupa

Our approach as practitioners… We read about them, they tell us, and we listen We build empathy and understanding life from their end We value their community – its their life with the past, present and future We come and go – we ignite the fire in them, passion drive them We...

2023

2023 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

The ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies connects individuals and organizations who seek to share their knowledge and best practices in these areas:

to improve nutrition, reduce poverty, hunger, and physical hardship by engaging farmers more effectively to adapt their farming systems
to respond to climate change and declining yields in Africa with sustainable options which improve the environment, regenerate soils and water catchments, recycle resources and mitigate the effect of weather extremes
to combine a wide range of approaches holistically to enhance the resilience of the vulnerable and to care for the earth
to have a relevant response to the current COVID pandemic
to promote continued learning and sharing through networks

The ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium will provide a network and training opportunity for those involved in alleviating hunger and poverty in East Africa.

Social Inclusion - Jane Sabuni, Monica Ritte

Session: The session will discuss Hand in Hand’s work for the economic and social empowerment of marginalized women and their communities. It supports the creation of sustainable enterprises and jobs through community engagement, full participation in community socio-economic activities and...

Promoting Maresha Scaleup Through Mechanization Service Providers - Neil Rowe Miller, Harold Msanya

Session: This presentation will entail a discussion on the promotion of the ‘Maresha seed planter through the mechanism of private farmers who act as service providers for payment, and how the private sector can be an effective means of scaling up a project. Biographical information: Neil Rowe...

Creative Capacity Building to Promote Draft Power and Animal Welfare - Harold Msanya, Livingstone Masija

Session: The use of draft power to reduce human drudgery has been in existence in East Africa and other parts of the world for millennia. While there is so much potential in using draft power, especially for small-scale farmers, there are also challenges that need sustainable solutions....

Successes Promoting Water Crescents and FMNR in Dodoma - Njamasi Chiwanga

Session: The presentation will highlight the successes, challenges, and best practices to mobilize community buy-in in the adoption of FMNR and rainwater harvesting. * See Session Video Here Biographical information: Njamasi Chiwanga works as the Director of Programs at LEAD Foundation - a...

Some Practical Lessons we Learned in Developing and Implementing our Agriculture Program in Rural Zimbabwe - Randy Watson, Natalie Watson

Session: We overestimate what we can do in one year and underestimate what we can do in 10! Working with small communities: The presentation will address gaining trust, developing volunteer leaders, Identifying local needs and resources. Sustainability doesn’t just happen; beyond “I have taught,...

Factors Affecting Greater Uptake of CA in East Africa - The CA Plus Model - Neil Rowe Miller

Session: Conservation Agriculture (CA) provides clear soil conservation benefits, but meta-analyses from across sub-Saharan Africa indicate that CA on its own only provides a small increase in yields – not enough for most farmers to overcome food insecurity in the short term. Taking a more...

Mobilizing Communities to Accelerate Ecosystem Restoration

Session: We cannot face the climate crisis alone. We need solutions from grassroots communities, scientists, technology companies, governments, and the private sector. We need to create new pathways to share knowledge and best practice to accelerate ecosystem restoration. Let's imagine together...

Agroforestry Techniques for Maximizing Income - Dan Janzen

Session: Agroforestry systems have a poor record of adoption/diffusion! New innovative systems prioritize placement of highest value crops, flexibility of pruning regimes for optimal diffused shade by time of day & year, and that match to crop needs for mulch or green manure. The presentation...

Research on Climate Smart Agricultural Methods - George Karwani

Session: Climate change is severely affecting crop production in semi-arid area in Tanzania. However, yield potential is greater from using a tied ridged system in combination with manure, drought resilient maize intercropped with pigeon peas compared to yields from conventional, non- climate...

Reducing Wildlife Incursion on Forest Edges - Daudi Ngosengwa Manongi

Session: Crop-raiding by elephants can devastate small farmers, leading to food insecurity, lost opportunity costs, and even death, as well as negative attitudes towards elephants, but finding effective and inexpensive solutions has proven extremely difficult. Beehive fences surrounding crops...

Citizen Engagements on Land and Seed Rights Towards Agroecology - Pessa I. Kussaga

Session: The session will focus on PELUM Tanzania’s experience on intervention and impacts on land rights and local seed advocacy in Tanzania. Biographical information: Pessa I. Kussaga is PELUM-Tanzania’s Farmers Seed Advocacy Officer. He holds BSc in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness...

ECHO East Africa Symposiums

Presentation slides and videos by year and event.

Agroecology in Practice: The Work of SAT Morogoro - Dr. Kizito Mwajombe

Session: The presentation will present the vision, mission, and approaches used by SAT. Common agroecological interventions of SAT will be shared and challenges faced, including milestones on enhancing wide adoption of ecological practices. Biographical information: Dr. Kizito Mwajombe is an...

Using Interactive Radio to Promote Agricultural Messages - Method Charles

Session: The importance of the media to motivate sustainable agriculture and care for the soil The session will challenge agricultural stakeholders to use the media more fully to motivate people to adopt sustainable agriculture. Media can help reduce the number of farmers dependent on chemical...

Modifying Taungya System to Promote Soil and Water Conservation - Dr. Canisius Kayombo, Robert Faida

Session: The presentation will discuss recent changes being implemented in the TFS Meru Plantation Forest through the ‘Taungya’ management of land. Farmers contract to cultivate land which is planted to forestry species for annual crops until the tree canopy closes, but until recently, did not...

Urban Forestry in a Developing City – The Case of Kampala - Padde Daniel

Session: This presentation will focus on urban tree audits, forestry planning and their importance. Daniel will share about the UN-FAO Tree Cities of World recognition of Kampala for its impact on tree management through the transformation from a treeless downtown Kampala to treed streets and the...

Update on African Orphan Legumes and the registration of Lablab in Tanzania - Dr. Pavithravani B Venkataramana

Session: Legumes are the chief source of global dietary protein for most of the small holder farmers. Although, there are several legumes existing, only few have been domesticated and utilized by the human community. Anticipating the most burning challenge on overcoming the adverse effects of...

Climate Variability and Honey Bee Forage - Frank Ademba, Reguli Marandu

Session: The session will be divided among three themes: biodiversity and the hidden cultural identity, Slow Food and the future of seed sovereignty, and Food rights and regenerative actions. Biographical information: Frank Ademba is Country of We Effect and Chairperson for Kilimanjaro...

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2021

2021 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

This collection contains presentations from the ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on 28-30 September 2021.

to improve nutrition, reduce poverty, hunger, and physical hardship by engaging farmers more effectively to adapt their farming systems
to respond to climate change and declining yields in Africa with sustainable options which improve the environment, regenerate soils and water catchments, recycle resources and mitigate the effect of weather extremes
to combine a wide range of approaches holistically to enhance the resilience of the vulnerable and to care for the earth
to have a relevant response to the current COVID pandemic
to promote continued learning and sharing through networks

The ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium will provide a network and training opportunity for those involved in alleviating hunger and poverty in East Africa.

Macho Sauti: ICT Platform for Agroecology - Gladness Martin Brush

Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania: Transforming Agriculture System in Tanzania - Janet Maro

Aggregated Marketing: Grain Crops - Lilian Zheke & John Mbae

Transforming Masculinities: A gender transformative approach to SGBV Prevention - Sabine Nkusi and Uwezo Lele

Promotion of Maresha direct seeder for small scale CA Mechanization - Harold Msanya

Scaling up the adoption of Rocket Stoves in rural communities of East Africa - Harold Msanya

FOOD DRYING: Best practices for ensuring availability of nutrient food during scarcity. - Sophia Kasubi

PERENNIAL VEGETABLES: Plant once and eat for a decade! - Sophia Kasubi and Faith Juma

CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE ADOPTION IN KENYA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD AND A NETWORK - Stephan Lutz

Conservative Agriculture Companion Farming - Fiona Barretto and William Kabelege

ECHO East Africa Symposiums

Presentation slides and videos by year and event.

2021 Videos - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

Scaling Up Conservation Agriculture in East Africa: How CA Programming and Advocacy Influenced Ethiopian Government Policy

Session: Mueni will present the major lessons learned from the recent CFGB evaluation and particularly the successes in promoting conservation agriculture through programming and advocacy in Ethiopia. Presenter: Adella Mueni Mutinda

Conservation Agriculture Adoption in Kenya: Lessons From the Field and a Network

Session: Stephan will present the importance of community involvement and participation for better and faster conservation agriculture adoption and learning. Gathering his experiences, even during the Covid pandemic, he will update the challenges and opportunities of a CA network. Stephan has had...

Scaling up CA Plus Among Smallholder Farmers

Session: Conservation Agriculture (CA) adoption has struggled to take off among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Combining CA principles with other good agronomic practices, which bring greater short-term returns in a "CA-Plus" approach, has been key to creating the economic incentives...

Lightning Talk - Adoption and Scaling Up of Tubular Bio Digesters

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 28, 2021 Presenter: Herry Charles

Lightning Talk - Remembering some Principles of Agroforestry, Soil, and Water Conservation

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 28, 2021 Presenter: Erwin Kinsey

Lightning Talk - Maresha Direct Seeder for Small-scale CA Mechanization

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 28, 2021 Presenter: Harold Msanya

Lightning Talk - ICT Platform for Agroecology

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 28, 2021 Presenter: Gladness Martin Brush

Promoting Nutrition with Perennial Vegetables

Session: This presentation will discuss perennial vegetables and their important role in improving nutrition and ensuring food security at the household and community level. This presentation will focus on multiplication and distribution of plants that are very nutritious for human consumption at...

Transforming Masculinity: A Gender Transformative Approach to SGBV Prevention

Session: The Transforming Masculinities(T.M) intervention is a community mobilization process and “community activist” approach within faith communities. It runs as facilitated dialogues between men and women, focusing on diffusion activities on the broader community. It aims to change behavior...

Transforming the Farming System in Tanzania

Session: Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania has multiple approaches to support the production and marketing of safe, organic produce, which benefits actors all through the value chain. The presentation shares examples of how their efforts are impacting the organic sector country-wide. Presenter:...

Lightning Talk - Organic Pest Management on Arabica Coffee

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 29, 2021 Presenter: Dean Peterson

Lightning Talk - Weather Forecasting Tools for Northern Tanzania

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 29, 2021 Presenter: Zac Peterson

Lightning Talk - Reducing Contamination of Foods in Arusha Value Chain

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 29, 2021 Presenter: David Leyssens

Lightning Talk - Food Drying Best Practices

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 29, 2021 Presenter: Sophia Kasubi

Lightning Talk - Scaling up the Adoption of Rocket Stoves

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 29, 2021 Presenter: Harold Msanya

Empowering Voices From Every Discipline: ECHOcommunity

Session: Nate Flood and Steve Snyder will explain how ECHO uses the ECHOcommunity platform to empower each member of our community of practice to hear and be heard. We will look at the services offered through ECHOcommunity and demonstrate how members can share their knowledge, get answers, and...

Lightning Talk - Stingless Bees

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 30, 2021 Presenter: David Manongi

Lightning Talk - Circular Compost Making

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 29, 2021 Presenter: Christopher Kellner

Lightning Talks - Focused Simple Solutions that Last

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 29, 2021 Presenter: Elliot Kinsey

Lightning Talk - Aggregated Marketing of Grain Crops

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 29, 2021 Presenters: Lilian Zheke & John Mbae

Lightning Talk - Revitalization of the Farmer Managed Seed System

Lightning Talk, 2021 ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies, September 30, 2021 Presenter: Ayesiga Buberwa

ECHO East Africa Symposiums

Presentation slides and videos by year and event.

2019

2019 Presentations - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

Best Practices in Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

12th – 14th February, 2019 Naura Spring Hotel Arusha, Tanzania

Panel Session Title: Cheers and tears of conservation agriculture in Kenya – examples from Eastern, Central, Rift Valley and Western Kenya - Stephen Lutz / Daniel N. Njunge

Session: The session will focus on highlighting and sharing with the participants the lessons learned from implementing two food security programs promoting CA principles in Eastern (Tharaka Nitii), Central (Muranga), Rift Valley (Nakuru) and Western Kenya (Busia) in the last 5-7 years. Even...

Addressing Problems of Soil Fertility with Emphasis on Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes & the Temporal & Spatial Dynamics of Local Resources - Ken Giller

Session: Ken’s research focuses on smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular problems of soil fertility with emphasis on nitrogen fixation by legumes and the temporal and spatial dynamics of resources within crop/livestock farming systems. Biographical information:...

The role of green manure/cover crops vis a vis Africa’s worsening droughts - Roland Bunch

Session: The major factor in the increase in droughts across Africa has been caused mostly by the gradual death of fallowing, and the resulting decrease in rainwater infiltration from about 60% down to 20% in most areas. GM/CCs are the only feasible way to save Africa from the rapidly increasing...

Sustainable Agro Ecological Crops Pest Management Using Botanical Pesticides & IPM - Angela Mkindi

Session: There exists a perfect synergy between research and community perceptions and expectations in agro-ecology. Farmer involvement provides evidence-based research questions and fosters in-depth research and constructive findings for the society. The presentation shares strategies for farmer...

Valuing landscapes through ecosystem services - REDD as a mechanism to reduce land use change - Marc Baker

Session: This presentation by Carbon Tanzania looks at valuing ecosystem services in Tanzania, how this is done by measuring carbon content, understanding land use change and how Carbon Tanzania links these landscapes to the carbon markets, providing significant income to communities in the Yaeda...

Impact of livestock: Dairy development in SW Tanzania – mediation and translation in innovation, & Sustainability assessments of low-input ruminant production systems - Ben Eyre

Session: There is a long history of dairy development in Rungwe District, Mbeya Region, Tanzania. Part of this presentation offers a case study of the introduction of dairy cows in one ward since the early 1980s. It suggests how ideas from science and technology studies (STS) about innovation...

Food Smart Cities and how to incentivize sustainable practices at farm and trader levels - Mark Blackett

Session: Cities host over half the world’s population and therefore have a strategic role to play in developing sustainable food systems and promoting healthy diets. The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact was therefore established to support cities to strengthen this role and Arusha City Council is a...

Legumes and Soil Health – Participatory Action Research - Sieg Snapp

Session: Soil degradation and rapid change are faced across Africa, and require attention to both old and new technologies. Over two decades of action research with farmers in Malawi has shown that smallholder food production and nutrition can be improved through biological principles and...

Bridging the Gap Between Farmers and Extensionists with ICT & Radio - Rex Chapota

Session: ICTs can bridge the distance between farmers and extension officers through radio combined with mobile phones. Agricultural extension officers are an invaluable resource for farmers looking to increase their yields. Extension officers can provide tips on combating a new disease, or...

Homegardens with traditional African vegetables to increase the consumption of nutrient dense vegetables and improve income generation for men and women - lessons from East Africa - Ralph Roothaert

Session: WorldVeg has implemented a project funded by USAID on scaling home gardens with traditional African vegetables to improve nutrition of young women and small children, and enhance incomes. The session will focus on the diversity of species being produced, the choices of adoption of good...

Conversion of the maresha plow to a direct seeder - Harold Msanya

Session: Modifications have been done to make a lowest-cost direct seeder for single and multi-row applications powered by animal draught power, prototypes which will be viewed and discussed seeking improvements for wider experimentation across the region. Biographical information: Harold...

Mitigation of Newcastle Disease for reducing food insecurity: A focus on family poultry production - Msafiri Kalloka

Session: This presentation will be co-presented through a combination of video and discussion. Village chickens play a vital role in the lives of rural poor, providing meat, eggs, and income from sales which meet family needs. They are generally owned by women and children and provide food...

Airtight underground grain stores among Dodoma farmers - Mussa Chilemu

Session: Grains, mainly maize, and pulses are staple foods for most African subsistence farmers. Post-harvest losses for these crops are estimated up to 40% in Africa. Efforts to reduce these losses include identification of post-harvest problems, how to manage the crops from field to storage....

Evidence-based best practices to impact food security – a collaboration of RECODA and World Vision - Dominic Ringo

Session: Evidenced-based practices are needed to build trust and to close the agricultural technology gap as a means of improving livelihoods and self-support among rural small-scale farmers. The approach is as well a documented step-by-step guide on how organizations working with small-scale...

Ecosystem adaptation - Stephen Ababo

Session: Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EBA) is the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people to adapt to the adverse effects of Climate Change. Ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation may include sustainable management, conservation and...

How can we support the extreme poor to facilitate their food security with CA? - Carl Wahl

Session: How can we support the extreme poor to be better enabled (with regards to having sufficient food security) to commit to learning and executing CA? It’s “addressing poverty before production” in parallel with CA training, as the extremely poor (yet capable) can choose not to work on...

Terraces to Control Soil Erosion and Increase Land Availability for Agriculture in the DRC - Filbert Leone Ahmat

Session: The presenter will describe the use of terraces to control soil erosion and increase land availability for agriculture in the DRC. Biographical information: Filbert Leone Ahmat works for FHI in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Invasive weeds and their control - Ahmed Mbugi

Session: The presenter will highlight serious, new invasive weeds and their control. Recent data shows more than 150 Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Tanzania, making it the most vulnerable country in East and Central Africa. The number of IAS is expected to increase due to increases in tourism...

Social contract on water, a pave for multiplier effects of biodiversity practices to industrial economic growth in Tanzania - Dr. Alliy Saidi Mbwana

Session: The principles informing the notion of a Social Contract on Water in Tanzania still needs to be more legally binding, democratically enforceable and widely accepted in interpreting the current Industrial Economic Growth Policy. IRTECO wants to share its experiences on how democratic...

Using Evidence-Based Agricultural Advice - Neil Rowe-Miller

Session: Agriculture Extension agents often need to respond to a wide range of questions from farmers and other stake holders. This session will discuss the importance of respecting locally-developed technologies, but verifying them with scientific research before promoting them widely. Methods...

Composting with biochar and urine - Christopher Kellner

Session: The productivity of garden land depends on soil fertility, water and climate. Compost is an excellent resource to increase water holding capacity in the first place and to provide nutrients to the soil. Recent trends have introduced other techniques and key words for organic farming...

Addressing Conflict Between Farmers and Pastoralists - Dr James Kahurananga

Session: Decreasing agricultural land in Shinyanga and neighboring regions has forced a large number of pastoralists to migrate to southern Tanzania especially Morogoro region. This has led to increasing conflict between pastoralists and farmers particularly in Kilosa. Land use planning offers an...

The imperative for Conservation Agricultural mechanization - Ann Adjei

Session: Mechanized farming is no longer an option but necessary to help meet the increasing demand of food in Africa. Today there are different types of mechanization that support Conservation Agriculture from land preparation through planting to harvesting. The idea of mechanization sounds...

Integrated Approach to Top Bar Beekeeping in Tanzania - Rachel Monger

Session: This workshop seeks to draw together people involved in or interested in top-bar beekeeping. Drawing from our experience of starting beekeeper groups in rural villages in the Mwanza region, we will discuss challenges faced, lessons learned and also the potential for the future of...

EMI- Designing a world of hope - Rex Barber

Session: Development projects are usually the largest capital investment a Christian ministry will make—it is so critical to plan them well and get professional advice. EMI (engineering ministries international) is a network of architects, engineers, land surveyors, and other design professionals...

CA scale-up through service providers - Hamis Dulla Mzoba

Session: His talk will cover definitions with some mention of basic CA principles and practices, the origin of CA technologies in reference to the US Dust Bowl of 1930’s and comparison between conservation and conventional agricultural technologies. It will highlight the main problems...

Climate Variability and Honey Bee Forage - Goodluck Malisa

Session: Pollinators are a key component of global biodiversity, providing vital ecosystem services to crops and wild plants. There is clear evidence of recent declines in both wild and domesticated pollinators, and parallel declines in the plants that rely upon them. Here we describe the nature...

Rice trading and information systems - Mark Blackett

Session: Rice is the daily staple food of 3.5 billion people. One out of 5 people on our planet derives a livelihood from rice. In 2050, the world will face a big production shortfall estimated at 40%. How can we address this global challenge while protecting the environment, adapting to and...

Basic seed and soil preparation for propagation - techniques used at ECHO Florida

Session: Propagation techniques, in particular seed and soil bed preparation, methods which enhance success and are used at ECHO Florida in the nursery which provides thousands of fruit trees for sale to the community at large as well as refurbishing the 10 acres of food gardens at the ECHO...

Basic vegetative propagation by air layers, cuttings and divisions, used at ECHO Florida - Lydia Hofland

Session: Lydia will join ECHO’s East Africa team to share practical propagation techniques, in particular, air layering, cuttings and divisions, methods which enhance success and are used at ECHO East Africa and ECHO Florida in the nurseries which provide thousands of fruit trees for sale to the...

Basic vegetative propagation by grafting and budding

Session: Sharing practical propagation techniques, in particular, grafting and budding, methods which enhance success and are used at ECHO East Africa and ECHO Florida in the nurseries which provide thousands of fruit trees for sale to the community at large.

ECHO East Africa Symposiums

Presentation slides and videos by year and event.

2019 Videos - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

12th – 14th February, 2019 Naura Spring Hotel Arusha, Tanzania

Promoting Conservation Agriculture in Kenya

Addressing Problems of Soil Fertility with Emphasis on Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes and the Temporal & Spatial Dynamics of Local Resources

The Role of Green Manure Cover Crops

Sustainable Agro Ecological Crops Pest Management Using Botanical Pesticides & IPM

Valuing Landscapes Through Ecosystem Services

Impact of livestock: Dairy development in SW Tanzania

Food Smart Cities and how to incentivize sustainable practices

Legumes and Soil Health – Participatory Action Research

Bridging the Gap Between Farmers and Extensionists with ICT & Radio

Homegardens with traditional African vegetables to increase the consumption of nutrient dense vegetables and improve income generation for men and women - lessons from East Africa

Conversion of the maresha plow to a direct seeder

Mitigation of Newcastle Disease for reducing food insecurity

Practical Learnings - Panel

Biographical information: Ken Giller, Professor of Plant Production Systems, Wageningen University - joined Wageningen in 2001 after holding professorships at Wye College, University of London, and the University of Zimbabwe. He currently heads up a multifaceted project, N2Africa, which puts...

PANEL: Scaling up of conservation agriculture through marketing inducements

Session: Scaling up of conservation agriculture can be enhanced through marketing inducements described in two different initiatives. You will hear of case studies of introducing farmers to contract farming & pre-financing and of partnerships which have resulted with research institutes,...

ECHO East Africa Symposiums

Presentation slides and videos by year and event.

2019 Presentations - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Improved Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture in Highland Areas

Tropical Highlands

Tropical highland regions include multiple locations throughout Central and South America, East Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and many of the islands in the tropics. Highland regions are characterized by high altitudes and variable rainfall. One of the main agricultural concerns for highland regions is soil erosion.

2019 Videos - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Improved Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture in Highland Areas

East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Improved Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture in Highland Areas

Regenerative agriculture: why it is the only future for humanity - Tim LaSalle

Session: With increasing threat of climate crisis, soil loss, and continued economic challenges to farmers, building extremely robust and healthy soils provides the whole systems approach that is affordable and immediately available to all farmers. At its premise it is biologically based using...

Best Practices NGOs can adopt to improve human nutrition especially for vulnerable groups - Dr. Mukantwali Christine

Session: The Sustainable Development Goal number two is about Zero Hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. To respond to this goal, stakeholders can engage themselves into activities falling into the seven targets of this goal including promotion...

Soil Biodiversity and Productivity - Fredrick Ayuke

Session: Conservation agriculture (CA) (zero tillage + organic inputs as surface residue) is believed to improve soil nutrient status, soil structure, control soil erosion, and also enhance soil fauna diversity. Despite the widespread interest in CA, empirical evidence of the benefits of CA on...

Research on Green Manure Cover Crops in 6 Districts of Rwanda - Dr. Karangwa Antoine

Session: Permanent ground cover is one of the fundamental principles of conservation agriculture. This coverage can be achieved by keeping crop residues on the ground, but if the time between harvest and installation of the next crop is large, it may be necessary to install other cover plants...

Green Manure/Cover Crops: The Simplest and Cheapest Route to Achieving Adequate Nutrition - Roland Bunch

Session: By using green manure/cover crops, rural families can make sure they have enough calories, with or without droughts. By growing edible gm/ccs (nearly all of which are leguminous, they can get enough proteins. By drying and storing the leaves of lablab beans or cowpeas, they can add to...

Initiatives by IITA and Partners to Mitigate Banana Diseases in the Great Lakes region - Emmanuel Njukwe

Session: Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. Musacearum (Xcm) and Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) caused by banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) (genus Babuvirus, family Nanoviridae) are two most important banana diseases threatening food security in the...

Farmer Field Schools (FFS) approach to food security - Brian Neza

Session: The Farmer Field School approach has been used all over the world to transfer technologies to farmers in a sustainable, participatory and experiential way. As communities are increasingly faced with food insecurity and climate change, there’s a need to involve farmers in validating...

Best practices in agroforestry and nutrition - A. Mukuralinda

Good news for farmers: Development of CBSD and CMD tolerant cassava varieties to alleviate hunger in Southern Province - Gervais Gashaka

Session: Cassava production is faced with increased pressure from pests and diseases (CMD and CBSD). The management of these virus diseases requires the development or breeding for resistant/tolerant cassava varieties with high yield and preferred by farmers. Cassava research program in...

Crop Improvement with Endophyte Symbiosis - Steve Clark

Session: This presentation will focus on a review of research and development with endophyte symbiosis and the potential for plant improvement in East Africa. Steve Clark is a Pasture agronomy research scientist with the Victorian Department of Agriculture, Australia from 1982-2018 where he...

Processing of high Iron Beans into Convenient Products - Dr. George Nyombaire

Session: Iron is considered a very important nutrient in the human body because it plays a vital role in oxygen transport as well as other several physiological functions. Iron deficiency is a serious health concern especially during childhood and adolescence at it impairs mental development and...

Approaches of SRI - Espour Musafiri

Orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) production and its added nutritional value - Jean Claude Nshimiyimana

Session: Potatoes and sweet potatoes play a big role as a staple and nutritious food, as well as a source of farmer incomes in the densely populated highlands of sub-Saharan Africa. They are grown by small family farms mainly intercropped with beans and maize. Per capita, potato annual...

Long Miles Coffee’s Approach to Making Markets to Work for Farmers - Matthew Gates, Athanas Nikumana

Session: Coffee farmers in Burundi have been dogged in recent years by low prices and poor input availability. Can best practices in coffee farming realistically lead to profitable farms, given the small land size and capital constraints of small-scale coffee farmers? We will look at empirical...

Food security initiatives to improve nutrition - Laurence Mukamana, CNFA/Feed the Future USAID

Approaches and interventions to make Sustainable intensification function in the Ethiopian highlands: Africa RISING experience - Dr. Kindu Mekonnen

Session : Sustainable intensification (SI) has received much attention in order to ensure future food-feed-energy security and meet current needs of communities in developing countries. Proper identification of smallholder farmers’ needs and priorities, development of target oriented and...

Perennial Vegetables, Indigenous Nutrient-Dense Greens and Simple Ways to Preserve Them - Sophia Kasubi

Session: The presentation will discuss perennial vegetables, traditional nutrient dense vegetables, and their important role in improving nutrition at the household level. This presentation will focus on multiplication and distribution of plants that are very nutritious for human...

The importance of follow up to achieve high adoption- experiences from Kiramutse and Bugesera in improving food security - Innocent Sibomana

Session: Farmer to farmer follow up is playing a complementary role to formal extension services in facilitating the spread of agriculture technologies and the improvement of food security across rural village, Kiramutse, Southern Province of Rwanda. This session will discuss the importance of...

Highland food security options - Leonidas Niyongabo

Leonidas Niyongabo is the Provincial Development Officer for the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi. It coordinates a broad food security and environmental program in the province and at the national level. Prior to that, he worked with Concern Worldwide Burundi on their livelihoods...

Community seed banks to improve plant-based nutrition - Sophia Kasubi & Faith Juma ECHO

Tailoring rural advisory services for family farms - Gabriel and Ernestine Kamarora

Session: The presentation contains the impact of integrating rural farmers and creation of awareness of group lead farmers in food security. Gabriel and Ernestine Kamarora, is a Food security project manager at AEBR-CFGB and has a five years in food security project and community development

Session: Activities will be shared which have impacted the marginalized in Kondoa town by improving nutrition for the most insecure. A multi-sectoral approach was used involving staff from agriculture, health and community development departments. Dorice Munisi has a BSc in Home Economics and...

ECHO East Africa Symposiums

Presentation slides and videos by year and event.

2019 Videos - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Improved Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture in Highland Areas

East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Improved Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture in Highland Areas

Tropical Highlands

2019 Presentations - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Improved Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture in Highland Areas

2018 Videos - East Africa Symposium on Improving Nutrition in Dryland Areas

2018 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Pastoralist Symposium

2017 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Symposium

2017 Videos - ECHO East Africa Symposium

2016 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Pastoralist Symposium

2016 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Highlands Symposium

2015 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Symposium

2015 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Best Practices in Areas of Conflict

2014 ECHO East Africa Symposium

2014 ECHO East Africa Pastoralist Symposium

2014 ECHO East Africa Highlands Symposium

2013 ECHO East Africa Symposium

2011 ECHO East Africa Symposium

East Africa Resources From Past Events

2025

2025 Presentations - ECHO East Africa & Hope International Burundi Joint Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

Why Pfumvudza Works ECHO Burundi - Foundations for Farming

Protéger, restaurer, stopper la dégradation des terres et la biodiversité - Ecoclimate Vision

Best Practices in Livestock Projects​

Direct Solar Food Dryers:​ Simpler, Cheaper, Better?​ - James Dontje​

Carbonized Rice Husks for Increased Production

Biogas Technology for Smallholder Farmers - Harold Msanya & Herry Charles

The Power of Partnerships: Advancing Sustainable Food Systems through Agroecology - Abram Bicksler, Ph.D.

Green Manure agroforestry systems - Nathan Deboer

Chaya, A Public Health Important Shrub Whose Time has Come in Africa​ - Margret Tagwira, Assisted by Sarudzai Mukachana

Some Serious Invasive Weeds​ in Northern Tanzania ​& their Management

An Overview of the ECHO East Africa Regional Impact Center - Charei Munene & Sophia Kasubi

Plant Tissue Culture Training - Margret Tagwira

Agribusiness & Market Strategies - Mellen Nyabuto

Advancing Global Seed Banking Through Capacitating a Network of Seed Savers - Faith Juma

Conservation Agriculture PLUS + in Kenya: Lessons Learned for the Past 15 Years - Charei Munene & Sophia Kasubi

Sustainable Rural Development & Low-Tech Biochar Production - Karl Frogner and Abram J. Bicksler

Low-Tech Biochar Production - Karl Frogner and Abram J. Bicksler

Integrating Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Puree in Bakery Products: A Case Study of Small-Scale Processors in Burundi - Charei Munene & Sophia Kasubi

Agricultural Loan Products Design & Processes - Brice Davy KEZIMANA

Advancing Regenerative Agriculture Amongst Smallholder Farming Communities - Aaron Mapupa

2023

2023 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

Social Inclusion - Jane Sabuni, Monica Ritte

Promoting Maresha Scaleup Through Mechanization Service Providers - Neil Rowe Miller, Harold Msanya

Creative Capacity Building to Promote Draft Power and Animal Welfare - Harold Msanya, Livingstone Masija

Successes Promoting Water Crescents and FMNR in Dodoma - Njamasi Chiwanga

Some Practical Lessons we Learned in Developing and Implementing our Agriculture Program in Rural Zimbabwe - Randy Watson, Natalie Watson

Factors Affecting Greater Uptake of CA in East Africa - The CA Plus Model - Neil Rowe Miller

Mobilizing Communities to Accelerate Ecosystem Restoration

Agroforestry Techniques for Maximizing Income - Dan Janzen

Research on Climate Smart Agricultural Methods - George Karwani

Reducing Wildlife Incursion on Forest Edges - Daudi Ngosengwa Manongi

Citizen Engagements on Land and Seed Rights Towards Agroecology - Pessa I. Kussaga

ECHO East Africa Symposiums

Agroecology in Practice: The Work of SAT Morogoro - Dr. Kizito Mwajombe

Using Interactive Radio to Promote Agricultural Messages - Method Charles

Modifying Taungya System to Promote Soil and Water Conservation - Dr. Canisius Kayombo, Robert Faida

Urban Forestry in a Developing City – The Case of Kampala - Padde Daniel

Update on African Orphan Legumes and the registration of Lablab in Tanzania - Dr. Pavithravani B Venkataramana

Climate Variability and Honey Bee Forage - Frank Ademba, Reguli Marandu

2021

2021 Presentations - ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

Macho Sauti: ICT Platform for Agroecology - Gladness Martin Brush

Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania: Transforming Agriculture System in Tanzania - Janet Maro

Aggregated Marketing: Grain Crops - Lilian Zheke & John Mbae

Transforming Masculinities: A gender transformative approach to SGBV Prevention - Sabine Nkusi and Uwezo Lele

Promotion of Maresha direct seeder for small scale CA Mechanization - Harold Msanya

Scaling up the adoption of Rocket Stoves in rural communities of East Africa - Harold Msanya

FOOD DRYING: Best practices for ensuring availability of nutrient food during scarcity. - Sophia Kasubi

PERENNIAL VEGETABLES: Plant once and eat for a decade! - Sophia Kasubi and Faith Juma

CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE ADOPTION IN KENYA: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD AND A NETWORK - Stephan Lutz

Conservative Agriculture Companion Farming - Fiona Barretto and William Kabelege

ECHO East Africa Symposiums

2021 Videos - East Africa Symposium on Best Practices in Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies

Scaling Up Conservation Agriculture in East Africa: How CA Programming and Advocacy Influenced Ethiopian Government Policy

Conservation Agriculture Adoption in Kenya: Lessons From the Field and a Network

Scaling up CA Plus Among Smallholder Farmers

Lightning Talk - Adoption and Scaling Up of Tubular Bio Digesters

Lightning Talk - Remembering some Principles of Agroforestry, Soil, and Water Conservation

Lightning Talk - Maresha Direct Seeder for Small-scale CA Mechanization

Lightning Talk - ICT Platform for Agroecology

Promoting Nutrition with Perennial Vegetables

Transforming Masculinity: A Gender Transformative Approach to SGBV Prevention

Transforming the Farming System in Tanzania

Lightning Talk - Organic Pest Management on Arabica Coffee

Lightning Talk - Weather Forecasting Tools for Northern Tanzania

Lightning Talk - Reducing Contamination of Foods in Arusha Value Chain

Lightning Talk - Food Drying Best Practices

Lightning Talk - Scaling up the Adoption of Rocket Stoves

Empowering Voices From Every Discipline: ECHOcommunity

Lightning Talk - Stingless Bees

Lightning Talk - Circular Compost Making

Lightning Talks - Focused Simple Solutions that Last

Lightning Talk - Aggregated Marketing of Grain Crops

Lightning Talk - Revitalization of the Farmer Managed Seed System

ECHO East Africa Symposiums

2019

Best Practices in Livestock Projects

Direct Solar Food Dryers: Simpler, Cheaper, Better? - James Dontje

Chaya, A Public Health Important Shrub Whose Time has Come in Africa - Margret Tagwira, Assisted by Sarudzai Mukachana

Some Serious Invasive Weeds in Northern Tanzania & their Management