Local village seed systems and pearl millet seed quality in Niger

This paper assesses the structure, conduct and performance of seed markets at the village level and highlights the relative contributions of both formal and informal sectors to local village seed systems in Niger. Three sets of data were used, one each at the institutional, farm and rural household levels. Data from institutions and members were obtained from an informal survey during September-October 1996. Household-level data were gathered from a survey of 302 rural households conducted during June-July 1997. Donors have invested more than $45 million in seed production projects in Niger during the past two decades. These investments have largely failed. Public seed systems consistently supplied less than 2% of the total national seed planted by farmers. Through subsidies, seed prices represent less than one-third of the average cost of seed production. In contrast, at the village level, most farmers consistently obtain pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) seed from their own harvests, from neighbours or from village markets. Seed is of acceptable quality and a range of varieties is available. Village seed systems offer a cheaper and more efficient means of delivering seed to farmers. Future investment in seed systems development should target improvements in the capacity of village seed systems to maintain and distribute seed security stocks in drought years. Efficient seed producers or groups of farmers in each community should be identified and encouraged to become entrepreneurs tasked with the multiplication and distribution of new pearl millet varieties

Stochastic dominance analysis of soil fertility restoration options on sandy Sahelian soils in Southwest Niger

The poor fertility of sandy Sahelian soils remains one of the major constraints to pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) production in West Africa. On-farm trials under farmers' management were conducted in two rainfall zones of Niger in 1996 and 1997 to evaluate the risk characteristics of six soil fertility restoration options. Stochastic dominance analysis was used to compare the fertilizer treatments tested. Results showed that the farmers' traditional method (no fertilizer control), Tahoua phosphate rock (PRT) alone applied at 13 kg P ha-1 broadcast, and a combination of PRT broadcast at 13 kg P ha-1 and single super phosphate (SSP) hill-placed at 4 kg P ha-1 had the most desirable risk characteristics and were acceptable to risk averse decision-makers in both rainfall zones. At current input-output price ratios, most fertilizer-using farmers would choose the combination of PRT broadcast and SSP hill-placed. If the availability of SSP was limited, some farmers would use PRT alone. The demand for risk efficient alternatives could significantly increase if farmers could bear less than half the fertilizer costs at the current output price, although further research is required to say if a fertilizer subsidy could be justified on broader economic or social grounds

Uptake of improved technologies in the semi-arid tropics of West Africa: why is agricultural transformation lagging behind?

During the last 3 decades, donors and governments have invested in the development and dissemination of new technologies in the semiarid tropics of West Africa. Though a wide range of improved technologies has been developed, adoption remains low without a significant impact on crop productivity, rural income and poverty. Agricultural transformation that occurred in East Asia has not yet occurred in the semiarid tropics of West Africa. This paper uses data from a regional survey of rural households (n=983) in 3 countries in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger) conducted in 2000-01, to identify the determinants of uptake of improved technologies. Limited productivity gain is found to be a major constraint to the uptake of technologies. In addition, poorly functioning institutions, lack of information or poor exposure of farmers to agricultural innovations, and poor functioning or missing markets have also hindered the uptake of many new technologie

Enhancing Business Skills of Small-Scale Rural Entrepreneurs - A technical training note

This technical note is intended for use by small-scale rural entrepreneurs, business people and community-based organizations interested in groundnut seed production and marketing and groundnut processing and marketing. It is targeted to people with little to no formal training or experience in small-scale business. It focuses on the establishment and management of small scale businesses. It does not address the technical aspects of groundnut seed production or processing. Manuals on technical aspects of producing seed or processing groundnut may be available from other organizations. Two illustrative examples from a groundnut seed producer and groundnut oil and cakes processor will be used throughout the technical note

Prospects for a Pearl Millet and Sorghum Food Processing Industry in West Africa Semi-Arid Tropics

The necessary conditions for the growth of a coarse grain processing industry in West Africa are discussed and significant research themes that need to be investigated are highlighted. Sections cover: raw material supply (definition of production zones, climate, soils, farming systems; coarse grain production, acreage and yields; the competitive position of sorghum and pearl millet); finished product demand (current utilization and consumption); and market organization (dependence on imports, marketing channels, prices, and processing constraint

Research Evaluation and Priority Assessment at the International Crops Research Insitute for the Semi-arid Tropics(ICRISAT): Continuing cycles of Learning to Improve Impacts

This chapter documents the research priority assessment methods used a the ICRISAT. Research evaluation and priority assessment have evolved to provide continuous cycles of learning to improve impacts. Prior to 1992, research priorities were established based on consultative meetings with ICRISAT and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) scientist to identify key productivity constraints and propose research themes and approaches to address them...

Groundnut seed systems in Senegal and Niger

The informal seed systems in Senegal and Niger are described. These systems still remain the main seed sources for almost all small-scale holder farmers in both countries. The systems perform fairly well at supplying seeds to end-users, distributing seeds at relatively low cost, and maintaining acceptable levels of seed viability and health. A tabulated list of groundnut varieties released in Niger and Senegal is provided. The trends in commercialized production of groundnut seeds in Niger and Senegal are presented

Impacts of sorghum and millet research in West and Central Africa (WCA): A synthesis and lessons learnt. Working Paper Series no. 22

In a time of increasing scrutiny about the usefulness of investments in agricultural research, impact assessment studies assist to demonstrate the value of continued investments in research. Lessons learnt from impact assessments can be used to improve future research strategies, plans and management. This paper reviews and synthesizes the findings of various studies on the adoption and impact of the research on sorghum and millet technologies in West and Central Africa (WCA). The review covers Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Nigeria and Niger, where relatively more breeding research has been conducted. Furthermore, the information presented in this paper is mainly drawn from the diffusion and impacts of varieties generated by ICRISAT and the national agricultural research systems (NARS) of WCA. Findings from reviewed studies show that returns to research (and diffusion) investments are quite high, but the performance varies across countries. These results could be of use to policy makers, donors and other scientists within the region of WCA. This fundamental information about the levels of adoption and impact of sorghum and millet is critical for priority setting and impact assessment. However, the results of the studies reviewed also indicate that if improved technology is to make a meaningful impact at the farm level, it must be accompanied by at least three complementary factors: (1) an effective extension service, (2) an efficient inputs distribution system, and (3) appropriate economic incentives

Crop - Livestock Economies in the Semi - Arid Tropics Facts, Trends and Outlook

This report analyzes the structure and trends in the crop-livestock economies of developing countries falling wi thin the semi-arid tropics of the wor ld. Population growth, urbanization and increasing per capita incomes are fuelling rapid growth in the demand for animal-based foods in developing countries including those located in the semi-arid tropics. The rising demand for animal-based foods is likely to have several implications for livestock production systems (structure, production, productivity, intensification etc), the environment, markets, institutions and trade, and ultimately for livestock producers. We are thus witnessing a dualistic mode of development: a fast growing commercial sector that is coming up close to demand centers even as the traditional semi-subsistence sector continues to be the lifeline of many small and poor livestock keepers. In the commercial sector, the non-food functions of livestock (draught, transport, asset etc) are on the decline. The rising demand for animal-based food is also fuelling the derived demand for livestock feed, particularly crop residues in South Asia and SSA, and agro-industrial by-products in all regions of the SAT. The livestock sector is also under pressure to adjust to forces of market liberalization and globalization. Wi th distortions in the wor ld trading environment for livestock products and stiff SPS standards, the competitiveness of domestic dairy and meat production in SAT countries is under threat. The best option to remain competitive is through the adoption of improved technologies, investments in infrastructure to meet quality standards, domestic reforms, public-private sector partnerships particularly in the delivery of health services, innovative institutions and policies that link small-scale producers wi th markets/processors. Poverty is high in all SAT countries of SSA and South Asia. For a majority of the rural poor, livestock rearing is an important means of survival. The productivity of livestock is low owing to numerous constraints. Alleviating these constraints would help improve performance of livestock in SAT countries, which in turn would benefit millions of poor

The economics of low pressure drip irrigation and hand watering for vegetable production in the Sahel

Low pressure drip irrigation is being promoted in Sub Saharan Africa as an alternative to traditional methods of small scale irrigation of vegetables. The African Market Garden (AMG) is a horticultural production system for smallholders based on low-pressure drip irrigation combined with an improved crop management package. The agronomic and economic performance of the AMG is compared to two gardens irrigated manually with watering cans. One of these gardens is managed according to the same improved crop management package as in the AMG, this treatment is called Improved Management (IM). The other garden is managed according to common practices of vegetable producers in the area, this treatment is called the Farmer Practice (FP). Crop productivity, labor and water use were monitored for two vegetable species (okra and eggplants). The experiment was performed on-station in Niger on three adjacent 500 m2 plots in a sandy acid soil. It was found that improved crop management practices greatly enhance crop productivity over traditional methods at comparable production costs. The AMG gave higher crop yields and higher returns to investment than the treatments irrigated with watering cans. Labor accounts for up to 45% of the production cost in vegetable gardens irrigated by hand, where 80% of the producer time is spent on irrigation. The total labor requirement for the drip irrigated AMG was on average 1.1 man hours per day against 4.7 man hours per day for the Farmers Practice on a 500 m2 garden. Returns on labor are at least double for the AMG against the other treatments. The returns on land from eggplant were found to be US$1.7, 0.8 and 0.1 per m2 for the AMG, IM and FP respectively. The returns on water for the cultivation of eggplant are around US$ 2 per m3 in the AMG, against US$ 0.1 in the Farmers Practice. This experiment showed the strong positive impact of drip irrigation and improved crop management practices on profits at minimal environmental costs, indicating that transformation of existing practices poses a considerable potential towards sustainable agricultural developmen