The Root and Tuber Crops Development Trust (RTCDT) was set up with the mandate of coordinating root and tuber crops (RTC) technology advancement, production development, value addition development and market growth in order to elevate RTCs for sustainable food and nutritional security as well as a huge potential for investment at national and international levels.
The RTCDT was established in 2010 as Root and Tuber Crops Innovation Platform and was formally incorporated as a Trust in 2016.
To fulfill its mandate, The RTCDT has multi-level and functional collaborative partnerships and membership with a variety of stakeholders along the entire RTC value chain including institutions such as the Department of Agriculture Research Services (DARS), the CG centers (CIP and IITA), RTC farmers, RTC seed supplier and processors organizations.
Vision
To be a trusted leader in driving forward sustainable economic development and prosperity for all stakeholders in the root and tuber crops value chains in Malawi, based on dialogue, integrity and quality services.
Mission
Spearheading the development of a vibrant root and tuber crops industry through facilitating and coordinating linkages within the entire value chains and enhancing innovations to generate quality products for food security, national and international markets.
Goal
The overall goal of RTCDT is to provide services that promote investment and commercialization to improve the contribution of root and tuber crops to socio-economic development of Malawi.
Purpose of RTCDT Existence
RTCDT pursues six strategic objectives as stipulated in its constitution. These include:
- To facilitate linkages & coordination of stakeholders & activities for RTC development such as identification of technological gaps, stakeholder capacity, research needs & other improved interventions to address the identified gaps.
- To enhance increased investment for market development of the roots and tuber crops sector to address food security, nutrition & industrial product issues.
- To advocate at the policy level for promotion of improved business operational environment.
- To establish an advisory, information & knowledge-sharing service to support interventions of relevant players & users of root & tuber crops.
- To establish the Trust as a permanent non-profit dialogue & advocacy forum.
Table 1: Summary of RTCDT Pillars and Strategic objectives
| Pillar | Strategic Objective |
|---|---|
| Pillar I: Value Chain Coordination and Linkage | SO I: To strengthen coordination and linkages of stakeholders in the RTC value chain at all times |
| Pillar II: Value Chain Advocacy and Dialogue | SO II: To engage in effective advocacy and dialogue for the promotion of the RTC value chain at all time |
| Pillar III: Information Sharing and Knowledge Management | SO III: To effectively and efficiently collect, disseminate and manage information and knowledge relevant to the stakeholders in the RTC value chain at all times |
| Pillar IV: Resource Mobilisation For Sustainability | SO IV: To build institutional capacity for resource mobilisation to sustain the operations of the RTCDT at all times |
Each SO has key strategies, activities, outputs, time frame, responsibility and resource requirements. These are further elaborated in the implementation matrix and in the annual work plans that the RTCDT Secretariat develops.
This is a two year annual report for the Fiscal Years 2018/19 and 2019/2020. The report highlights achievements from the implementation with partners.