Hand book on use and maintenance of small scale agricultural machines

Small-scale farmers are estimated to account for the cultivation of about 90% of the total cultivated land area in Nigeria, producing about 90% of the total agricultural output (CTA, 1997). This category of farmers still depends on manual labour to carry out their various farming operations. However, with labour demand at critical crop production stages, high labour cost and food demand for the teaming population of over 170 million with an annual growth rate of 2.5%, the introduction of agricultural labour saving devices to Nigeria agriculture has become indispensable. Though successive administrations in Nigeria have made concerted efforts aimed at achieving self sufficiency in food production, these efforts have failed to achieve their intended goals. There are many factors responsible for this, a major one being the lack of an integrated and appropriate labour saving agricultural tools and machines. Therefore, the need to develop and introduce more labour saving devices on Nigeria farms has never been more critical than now. Knowing fully well that increased land productivity (greater output per unit of land) generally depends on the application of higher technology and a higher level of knowledge and management ability, it is necessary to appreciate those changes in mechanization level and farm management abilities that can have a multiplier effect on output per unit of land. It is in view of the above that ICRISAT Nigeria is poise with the massive promotion of standardized small and medium scale agricultural machinery and equipment as well as promotes the production of locally designed prototypes in order to help increase the productivity of the poor agrarian community of the country..

Variability in yield of some selected Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. lines under varying shade conditions

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is an important legume in the tropics providing an inexpensive source of vegetable protein for both human beings and livestock. It is well adapted to relatively dry environments, and contributes to the sustainability of cropping systems in marginal lands of semi-arid areas by virtue of its high levels of nitrogen fixation, effective ground cover and soil improvement from plant residues. Given that light is an important limiting factor especially in intercropped cowpea, the shade adaptability of the selected cowpea varieties were analyzed in a pot experiment. The study was conducted to elucidate the effect of varying shade conditions of some selected cowpea lines in relation to their vegetative growth and yield which has proven to be of particular value in intercropping systems. The experiment was conducted in the screen house at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Kano, Nigeria with cultivars exposed to three levels of shading. Vegetative growth parameters measured revealed positive phenotypic correlation coefficients of higher magnitudes for varieties grown under the single and double shading conditions

Handbook On Improved Agronomic Practices Of Groundnut Production In North East Nigeria

This handbook is intended to guide farmers, extension personnel, students of agriculture and researchers in Nigeria to use improved varieties and associated production practices to increase productivity. The guide draws its lessons from the work and experiences of ICRISAT and its partners in Research for Development on crop-based systems in Nigeria. The publication of this handbook is a demonstration of effective collaboration between ICRISAT, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), numerous farmers’ groups and Innovation Platform (IPs). The authors are grateful to the Management of these Institutes and organizations and gratefully acknowledge the work of other researchers that have helped immensely in compiling this manual

Hand Book on Improved Pearl Millet Production Practices in North Eastern Nigeria

This handbook is intended to guide farmers, extension personnel, students of agriculture and researchers in Nigeria to use improved varieties and complementary production practices to increase pearl millet productivity. The guide draws its lessons from the work and experience of ICRISAT and partners in Research for Development on crop-based systems in Nigeria. The publication of this handbook is a demonstration of effective collaboration between ICRISAT, Lake Chad Research Institute, (LCRI) Maiduguri, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), several farmer organizations and the demand by Innovation Platform members (IPs) members. ICRISAT and the authors are grateful to the management of these Institutes. The authors gratefully acknowledge the work of other researchers whose work have helped immensely in compiling this manual

Handbook on Improved Agronomic Practices for Sorghum Production in North East Nigeria

This handbook is intended to guide farmers, extension personnel, students of agriculture and researchers in Nigeria to use improved varieties and associated production practices to increase productivity. The guide draws its lessons from the work and experiences of ICRISAT and its partners in Research for Development on crop-based systems in Nigeria. The publication of this handbook is a demonstration of effective collaboration between ICRISAT, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), numerous farmers’ groups and Innovation Platform (IPs). The authors are grateful to the Management of these Institutes and organizations and gratefully acknowledge the work of other researchers that have helped immensely in compiling this manual

Understanding the response of sorghum cultivars to nitrogen applications in the semi-arid Nigeria using the agricultural production systems simulator

The Agricultural Production Systems simulator (APSIM) model was calibrated and evaluated using two improved sorghum varieties conducted in an experiment designed in a randomized complete block, 2014–2016 at two research stations in Nigeria. The results show that the model replicated the observed yield accounting for yield differences and variations in phenological development between the two sorghum cultivars. For early-maturing cultivar (ICSV-400), the model indicated by low accuracy with root means square error (RMSE) for biomass and grain yields of 20.3% and 23.7%. Meanwhile, Improved-Deko (medium-maturing) cultivar shows the model was calibrated with low RMSE (11.1% for biomass and 13.9% for grain). Also, the model captured yield response to varying Nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications in the three agroecological zones simulated. The N-fertilizer increased simulated grain yield by 26–52% for ICSV-400 and 19–50% for Improved-Deko compared to unfertilized treatment in Sudano-Sahelian zone. The insignificant yield differences between N-fertilizer rates of 60 and 100 kgha−1 suggests 60 kgNha−1 as the optimal rate for Sudano-Sahelian zone. Similarly, grain yield increased by 23–57% for ICSV-400 and 19–59% for Improved Deko compared to unfertilized N-treatment while the optimal mean grain yield was simulated at 80 kgNha−1 in the Sudan savanna zone. In the northern Guinea savanna, mean simulated grain yield increased by 8–20% for ICSV-400 and 12–23% for Improved-Deko when N-fertilizer was applied compared to unfertilized treatment. Optimum grain yield was obtained at 40 kgha−1. Our study suggests a review of blanket recommended fertilizer rates across semi-arid environments for sorghum to maximize productivity and eliminate fertilizer losses, means of adaptation strategies to climate variability

Intensive Cereal–Legume–Livestock Systems in West African Dry Savannas

The dry savannas of West Africa are undergoing rapid transformation of agricultural practices owing to the rapid human and livestock population growth, increase in agricultural intensification and accelerated climate change which has increased the incidence and severity of diseases, pests and drought. The major constraints to agricultural production in the savanna include poor soil fertility, pests and diseases of crops and livestock, parasitic weeds such as Striga hermonthica, drought, and competition between crops and livestock for resources, Inadequate policies, weak institutional mechanisms, and poor linkages among farmers, and researchers prevent adoption of improved agricultural technologies that can combat these constraints. The risk of continuous cultivation on these poor and fragile soils is huge. Integrating crop and livestock production offers ways to increase production while protecting the environment. Over the years, research and development institutions have generated several agricultural technologies to alleviate the majority of the production constraints in the West African savannas. However, most development organizations use traditional extension methods that result in poor adoption of the improved technologies. The integration of crop and livestock production is particularly desirable in intensively farmed and densely populated areas with access to urban markets. Proper integration of these practices will diversify smallholder income and increase food security. Integrated genetic and natural resource management provides the keys improved eco-efficiency. This includes integrating pesticide use with cultural practices such as modified planting date and disease control; rotating/intercropping cereals and legumes; use of pest resistant\tolerant cultivars to increase the effectiveness of pest control and reduce the need for pesticides; and improving soil fertility restoration/maintenance. Government and national institutions in West Africa are encouraged to scale-out these technologies to wider areas for increased benefit to farmers through the use of proven extension methods

Using a Participatory Approach and Legume Integration to Increase the Productivity of Early Maturing Maize in the Nigerian Sudan Savannas

Drought, infestation of cereal crops by the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica, and poor soil fertility are the major constraints to maize production by smallholder farmers in the Sudan savannas of northern Nigeria. Four innovation platforms (IPs) were therefore established in 2008 in the Sudan savanna (SS) agroecological zone of northern Nigeria to create a stakeholder forum to address these identified food production challenges in the target areas. )e IPs comprised researchers from Bayero University, Kano; Institute for Agricultural Research, Zaria; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture; state and local government extension programs in Kano and Katsina states; input and output dealers; community-based organisations; and media organisations in the two states. )e current study reports on the effects of legume integration on maize performance in farmer fields and the adoption of Striga management technologies introduced in the IPs over a four-year period. )e deployment of drought- Striga-tolerant and early-maturing maize varieties along with legume rotation reduced Striga infestation by 46–100% when cowpea was rotated with maize, 80–97% when groundnut was rotated with maize, and 59–94% when soybean was rotated with maize. Grain yield of maize increased by 63–88% when cowpea was rotated with maize, 69–128% when groundnut was rotated with maize, and 9–133% when soybean was rotated with maize. Participatory and detailed questionnaire-based adoption surveys showed high adoption of improved maize varieties, five years after program interventions. )e maize variety 99EVDT-W-STR C0 was the most popular among all the IPs because it is early maturing, Striga-resistant, and drought-tolerant. )e high maize yields and high adoption rates suggest that the IP approach was effective in disseminating maize technologies

Seed Needs Assessment in Northeastern Nigeria

Harnessing the genetic potential inherent in crops for higher yields requires the supporting role of all inputs (Manjunatha et al., 2015), of which, quality seed is the most important. In many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a recurrent conflict has become a major factor distorting the availability of quality seeds and the seed system; this has since been the case in northeastern Nigeria. Farmers need quality seeds and planting materials of preferred crops to enable them resume agricultural activities after conflicts. Similarly, seed security is an important component of overall resilience in risk prone environments (FAO, 2016). This study was set-out to analyze existing seed systems in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States of Northern Nigeria in order to identify practical ways of improving farmer’s access to quality seed