1 West and Central Africa Research ProgramRamadjita Tabo Regional Program Director-WCA on behalf of WCA Team
2 West and Central Africa- Research Program : ObjectivesTo develop improved technologies for sustainably increasing agricultural productivity, and achieving food and nutritional security for the smallholder farmers in the WCA region. To provide a range of alternatives to farmers, combining in a holistic manner, research on cereals, legumes, vegetables, crop-livestock interactions, crop and water management, agronomy, innovation systems and policy impact. Market-oriented and comprises four major themes : Crop improvement, Integrated Crop Management, Systems analysis, and Policy and Impact.
3 Country Strategies and Operational Plans-WCACountry strategies for Mali, Niger and Nigeria were developed in consultation with various stakeholders. The preparation of the operational plans for these strategies is in progress
4 CROP IMPROVEMENT Sorghum6 hybrids were released in Mali in 2016 : 35 % higher yield than Local varieties 4 multi-purpose sweet sorghum varieties were developed in Mali: 2.5 t/ha grain; 15 t/ha biomass A national sorghum IP was formed to link stakeholders to Honeywell Flower Mills Nigeria to supply 100,000 t of sorghum grains Photo caption
5 CROP IMPROVEMENT (Cont’d)Two Improved Sorghum Varieties were released in Nigeria in Feb 2016 SAMSORG 45 (12KNICSV-188) early maturing (75 – 80 days) flowering in 67 days High micronutrient content potential grain yield of 4.2 t ha-1 SAMSORG 46 (12KNICSV-22) flowering 68 days potential grain yield of 3.5 t ha-1
6 CROP IMPROVEMENT Pearl MilletPearl millet varieties were screened for Fe and Zn density over 16 locations across WCA (Fe : ppm). Fe base line for WCA was defined at 40 ppm (HarvestPlus target is 70 ppm) GB 8735 and ICTP 8203 were found to be highest in Fe and ready for fast track commercialization and release in Niger, Ghana and Senegal . Selected high Fe OPVs along with local controls are in on farm testing at more than 30 locations across five countries.
7 CROP IMPROVEMENT Groundnut> 200 advanced breeding lines were provided to Mali, Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso breeding programs. 286 and 290 demonstrations were established on integrated crop management practices and aflatoxin management, respectively 24.35 t breeder seed, t foundation seed and t certified seed were produced and distributed. Two Technicians each from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger were trained on breeding methodologies, crossing techniques, data collection, analysis and interpretation.
8 INTEGRATED CROP MANAGEMENTWatershed management program benefiting farmers in Mali Participatory Monitoring & Modelling Moving from traditional water access to improved technology through use of Technology Parks and Innovation Platforms Training and capacity building SWC measure Male headed (n=244) Female headed (n=37) T- statistic P-value Zai 0.43 (0.50) 0.35 (0.48) -0.95 0.34 Artificial ponds 0.23 (0.42) 0.24 (0.43) 0.24 0.81 Vegetative barriers 0.27 (0.45) 0.54 Courbes de niveau (ridges) 0.18 Shallow Wells 1.08 0.28 Irrigated fields 0.22 (0.41) 0.30 (0.46) -1.46 0.15 Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) measures are the most critical entry points for improving land resource resilience and productivity. SWC measures maintain long term productivity and ecosystem functions (land, water and biodiversity) and increase productivity (quality, quantity and diversity) of goods and services (including safe and healthy food). In the studied watershed villages at least one SWC technology was implemented by more than half of the farmers. However the rate of adoption of the individual measures is generally low. Zai was the most common SWC measure used by the households (43%). The likelihood of adoption of any of the other SWC measures is less than 25%. The low uptake of SWC measures may hamper farmer households from achieving sustainable resilience to climate change. This is our entry point to implement and integrated watershed management approach through which training and capacity building programs are provided to famers and they are encouraged to implement useful SWC measures. The efficiency of each intervention measure be documented and evaluated overtime Evaluation of implemented technologies Improved land management practices Nutrition and Post-harvest Inter-cropping
9 LEARNINGS CONTEXT OUTCOMESCost of commercia VHR imagery can easily be absorbed in multi- stakeholder business models LEARNINGS Most of African smallholder (SH) systems heterogeneity is due to variability in management Satellite imagery can resolve heterogeneity, monitor SH crop response to fertilizer, etc. The strongly negative yield-heterogeneity correlation is not a result of sub-optimal resource management by farmers. It stems from lack of (affordable) inputs. Precision agriculture in SH systems is not about optimizing within-field/farm management of existing resources. It is about unlocking access to new resources. Monitoring farm management, performance is key to reduce risk for input providers and to industrialize PA. CONTEXT Ongoing developments in fertilizer supply chains, pro-poor financial services will profoundly change African smallholder agriculture in the next decade OUTCOMES We proved that mobile data networks are required to realize the potential value of VHR imagery for reducing industrial risks associated with SH markets penetration To transform knowledge content into services, an innovative PP joint-venture led to ICRISAT scientist hired as Director, R&D (Digital MANOBI Project results and combined EO+IT platform helped trigger significant market extension commitments by world leading fertilizer (OCP), re-insurance (SwissRe), imagery providers Yesterday Sukumba, Mali, 2014 50-70 cm pan time series multispectral (4-8 bands) $ 0.25/ha The background animation shows the power of VHR (very high resolution) satellite imagery which can today explicitly resolve smallholder agricultural practices including major agronomic operations: land preparation planting density weeding harvesting fertilizer response (once other factors of management variability resolved with the help of ground mobile data networks) – see left column image insert Source imagery: Digital Globe ® © 2014 STARS project – Spurring a Transformation for Agriculture through Remote Sensing (BMGF funded) Today 30 cm pan time series superspectral (29 bands) $ 0.23/ha (ms: $ 0.15/ha) Tomorrow? 20 cm pan time series hyperspectral (50+ bands) $ 0.1?/ha
10 POLICY AND IMPACT Building actors’ capacity to strengthen local policy with plausible future developments Ghana Livestock Policy and Burkina Faso National Plan for Rural Sector revised for robustness to climate change, socioeconomic and political uncertainties through a scenario-guided multi-level policy review approach led by CCAFS and its national science policy dialogue platforms Supported groups in 100 villages to adopt one or more climate smart practices and technologies Trained 50 extension agents and 2,000 farmers in the use of climate information by the warning system thru phone sms
11 MALI AGRIBUSINESS INCUBATION HUBKeys Achievements Training program and orientation for 145 youth and cooperatives; Commercialized 6 types of Juices, and 8 processed food and snacks (with IER); Sensitization program for youth employment in agribusiness with MPs at the National Assembly. Perspectives Enable program with the AfDB for youth employment in Agribusiness in AFRICA; Partnership with private sector and Randgold for the Agropoles.
12 STRENGTHENED INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES IN BAMAKOCar shelters were completed and are being used; Acquisition of bus and vehicles, tractors, farm/security equipment, using funds from the SSA Strategic investments is done; Irrigation equipment and overhead tank were installed and are operational; Renovation of the roofs of old facilities was initiated; Fields toilets are functional. ICRISAT Mali Office Staff in front of the new building
13 MAJOR EVENTS IN NIAMEY Dr Paula Bramel reviewing the GB operationHE Albade Abouba, Niger State Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Visiting ISC Joint INRAN-ICRISAT field day with attendance of the former Minister of Agriculture HE Eunice Reddick , US ambassador to Niger visiting ISC
14 STRENGHENED INFRASTRUCTURE IN KANOConstruction of ICRISAT Kano Office facilities were completed : 14 offices; 1 Conference room (> 50 participants, 1 laboratory Construction of Seed store was initiated Fencing of research farm at BUK was initiated Purchase of irrigation facilities is in progress. Two (2) Aflatoxin laboratories were set up at IAR/Zaria and Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi in Nigeria
15 PRIORITY INITIATIVES Technology for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Food Security in the Sahel for a budget of over 100 million USD was submitted to AfDB. Joint IITA/ICRISAT CN to the Nigerian Government and AfDB for upscaling the ongoing Agricultural Transformational Agenda Support Program-1 (ATASP-1) with inclusion of groundnut (US$ 4 million each for sorghum and groundnut for 4 years). Public-Private Joint Venture was signed between ICRISAT and MANOBI on Digital Agriculture to support IMOD for smallholders 1.3 M EU project on Enhancing Resilience to climate change in Niger Decision on funding of a project by the WB on climate smart agriculture (at least US$2 M) expected in 2017 in Niger Second Phase of Africa RISING sustainable intensification of farming systems (US$20 M)– IITA overall coordinator; ICRISAT coordinates the Mali component in WCA
16 Thank You Merci