Scaling up the technology and achieving system-level outcomes requires an adequate understanding of the reasons why farmers adopt MRB, based on an insightful assessment of the technology’s efficiency, system performance and impacts.

MRB combined with the increase of yields, results in the realization of more income with fewer expenses, thus a higher net income.  Thus, improving the existing farming system using the communities' indigenous knowledge and skills through innovative approaches is much better than introducing new systems.

In leadership and awareness, leadership to coordinate efforts to reverse land degradation are scattered and not properly recognized. Therefore, there is a need of local initiatives and tools to enhance involvement and sustainability of the solution. The local technology included in this solution, a low-cost, zero-tillage seeder, has permitted an empowerment of local people through the creation of jobs and use of local inputs. 

For the producers and community authorities, there are specific demands for information, training, dialogue and coordination of activities. Innovative agricultural development approaches are needed to inform and demonstrate the benefits of conservation agriculture to farmers. This can be achieved through activities such as: Intensive guidance of farmers to change the centuries-old conventional farming heritage. On-the-job training and creation of ‘conservation agriculture services’ for farmers in areas such as planting and weed control and for support around other practical issues for the adoption of conservation practices.

The knowledge acquired to support reproductive platforms in support of the breeding programs in low-input systems is composed of modules which can be easily replicated through capacity development and technical fine-tuning. Capacity development of Ethiopian researchers and extension staff must continue to the expansion of Community Based Breeding Program’s and the orientation at the government level to adopt this approach for the genetic improvement of the indigenous sheep and goat breeds. Identifying gaps in the current state of knowledge encourages new investments in research and potential for further replication.

• Contextualized approaches from a technical and institutional angle to establish the reproductive labs and the services provided
• Developed technologies are mainly based upon locally available supplies and equipment for the business model to be replicated with a minimum external support

Knowledge of environment and genotype × environment interactions are important to develop stable biofortified cultivars or to design location-specific breeding in any biofortification program. In lentils, accumulation of Fe, and Zn in the seeds varies with the weather, location, and soil conditions such as nutrient hungry soil, high pH, temperature, precipitation, and soil organic matter. Multilocation testing of varieties/advanced lines of lentil in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, and Syria showed significant genotype × environment (G × E) interaction for Fe and Zn. It has been observed that Fe concentration is more sensitive to environmental fluctuations compared to seed Zn concentration. Our study also suggested that high iron and zinc can be combined in short duration varieties without compromising the grain yield.

Large scale feeding trials are required to assess the impact of biofortified lentils on health along with studies related to the bioavailability of iron and zinc.

Shifting attitudes and mindsets towards a business-orientation is challenging; some youth are still at a stage in which they spend their earnings immediately without setting aside savings. This approach of creating an enabling environment for sheep fattening and providing start-up inputs to youth has demonstrated reproducibility across 29 sub-villages in Ethiopia. Legally organized groups also have better access to loans (for expansion of sheep fattening) from microfinance institutions, thus the formal registration of groups should be facilitated.

The benefit and sustainability of utilizing local feeds should be emphasized; several farmers were disappointed because they did not receive commercial concentrates.