Abstract:
During the eighties, heads ofNARS and the IARCs operating in the region expressed concern at the decline
in productivity in the highlands o f Eastern and Central Africa in spite o f adequate rainfall and relatively
heavy investment in research and extension. This situation was generally attributed to inability o f the
farmers to invest adequately on maintenance and improvement o f land productivity, including control o f soil
erosion, crop pests and diseases. It was further observed that the opportunities offered by collaborative and
systems research, were not being exploited. ICRuAF was therefore requested to coordinate the development
o f an integrated natural resource management research programme fo r the highlands o f Eastern and
Central Africa. A consultative study was launched under the guidance o f a joint Task Force comprising o f
representatives o f NARS, IARCs and interested donor agencies The result o f this exercise was "A
Conceptual Framework” which formed the basis fo r the launching o f the African Highlands Initiative (AHI)
and its subsequent adoption as the first regional programme under the auspices o f the newly established
ASARECA. The AHI has become a model o f tenacious effort to establish a new method o f adding value to
commodity and disciplinary research and enlisting the participation o f stakeholders to fin d sustainable
solutions to problems o f natural resource management and improvement in land productivity. Progress is
being made, but evolution o f more effective and efficient methods and mechanisms fo r integrated approach
to management o f natural resources at farm and watershed levels remains the biggest challenge to the AHI.
