CCSL_project_ShambaShapeUp_partnership

= CCSL project: Shamba Shape-Up episodes = CCAFS (Patti Kristjanson, Christine Jost)


 * Duration: January - July 2013 **

If in Kenya watch episodes on Citizen TV.
 * For all the TV episodes and further informatin see [] **

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CCAFS is helping to bring CG science into use in an innovative collaboration with a TV series reaching over 10 million households in East Africa called 'Shamba Shape Up'. Shamba Shape Up is a practical, make-over style TV series produced by Mediae, aimed at East Africa’s rapidly growing rural and peri-urban TV audience and designed to deliver effective agricultural and livelihoods Research-Into-Use to benefit both farmers and international research organizations concerned with East Africa.

Each season, the series features the Shamba Shape Up presenters and guest experts addressing the needs of 13 small, diverse farms (“Shambas”) around Kenya and Tanzania, investigating specific local challenges and problems, and using latest and appropriate ideas and technologies to transform the shambas and the livelihoods of their owners. Through carefully explained, practical demonstrations, the series shows how different practical and accessible methods and approaches can bring about significant livelihood improvements on small farms, often at very low – or even no –cost.

In many cases, these guest experts are local partners of CCAFS and its 15 contributing international agricultural research centres (CGIAR), and the interventions featured on the shows are the latest 'best bet' agricultural practices that will help smallholders in this region become more resilient to all the changes and challenges they face, including a changing climate. Each show not only highlights improved agricultural practices, but also demonstrates better water management approaches, improved stoves and use of solar power that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thus helping to spread the word on 'climate smart' technologies.

Mediae is working closely with its audiences, as each broadcast is accompanied by an interactive mobile phone SMS/text service to enable viewers to request additional detailed information, allowing even more widespread sharing of the science-based techniques, strategies and technologies highlighted. CCAFS is working closely with Mediae to undertake joint research that will help identify the extent to which this approach can bring science into use and help enhance food security.

Some of the subjects to be covered in the series include: integrated pest management (how Napier grass can be intercropped to deter the Maize stalk borer); silage-making (how dairy farmers can improve yields during dry season with simple fodder); rain water harvesting (affordable methods for catching and storing rain water); how to make and use low-energy stoves (reducing fuel demands); human and animal health issues, access and use of micro-finance, etc.

The Shamba Shape Up pilot episode was supported by Natural Resources International through the Research Into Use programme. In addition to CCAFS/CGIAR, partner research organizations include Kenya Agricultural Research Institute; Farm International; Land o’Lakes; DfID; IFDC; AECF, ICIPE and others.