ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

Collaborating Scientists:
All scientists from all global themes, units and regions, ICRISAT.
Report on impact assessment of sorghum and millet research in West and Central Africa: A synthesis and
lessons learnt
Rationale: 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 sorghum and millet
technologies research in West and Central Africa (WCA).
Methodology: The review covers Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Nigeria and Niger where relatively
more breeding research has been conducted. The information is mainly drawn from studies on the diffusion and
impacts of varieties carried out by ICRISAT and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of WCA.
Results: Findings from reviewed studies show that returns to research (and diffusion) investments are quite high,
but the performance varies across countries. However, 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 input distribution system, and (3) appropriate economic incentives. These results are
essential for priority setting of research and development interventions.
Impact assessment of sorghum and pearl millet varieties in Northern Nigeria (WCA)
Rationale: Nigeria is ranked first in terms of pearl millet and sorghum production in West Africa. It accounts for
about 50% of total sorghum or pearl millet production. However, productivity of these crops that are essential to
ensure food security for smallholder farmers in the Sahel is still low. Since 1990, ICRISAT in partnership with
IAR developed a large range of pearl millet and sorghum varieties and hybrids that are preferred by farmers and
some of these varieties have the traits required by the markets. However, little is known about the level and
extent of the level of adoption of these improved varieties and constraints to adoption. As the first step, this
study evaluates the adoption of sorghum and millet varieties in selected states in Northern Nigeria.
Methodology: Six states (Borno, Jigawa, Gombe Kaduna, Kano and Katsina) in northern Nigeria were selected
based on the relative importance of sorghum and millet. Following a PRA, a structured survey was carried out
covering 840 small-scale farmers. The varieties investigated include ICSV400, ICSV111, SK5912,
ICSH89002NG, ICSH89009NG, NSSH91001 and NSSH91002 for sorghum cultivars and SOSAT-C88,
GB8735, EX BORNO, LCIC9702, LCIC9703, ICMV-IS89305 and GWAGWA for millet cultivars.
Results: Adoption survey results showed that yields from improved varieties are significantly higher than the
local landraces. The average yield for improved pearl millet varieties is estimated to about 1126 kg per hectare
against about 940 kg/ha for the local for the period 2003-2005. This represents a yield advantage of about 20%.
As for sorghum, the productivity gains are estimated to about 31% (1324 kg per hectare for improved cultivars
and 1011 kg for local varieties). The gains are realized from the reduced productivity loss as a result of drought
and disease resistance of improved varieties. Kano State enjoyed the highest yield increase (43%) for sorghum
whereas the mean yield (1474 kg per hectare) from improved millet cultivars was highest in Borno State.
The overall rates of farmers growing improved sorghum varieties were estimated to 78% for ICSV400, 66% for
ICSV 111, 92% for SK5912 and 66% for KSV8. Concerning improved millet varieties, the rates of awareness
were 91% for Ex-Borno, 76% for SOSAT-C88 and 67% for GB8735. On average, about 56 % (1.28 ha) of the
total area under sorghum in 2004/05 was planted with improved sorghum and 47% (1.07 ha) of the total area
under was planted with improved millet varieties. These represented increases of 21% (1.05 ha) for sorghum
areas and 30% (0.82 ha) for millet areas relative to the preceding 2003/04 cropping year. It is worth noting that
of all the cultivars investigated; ICSV 400 and SOSAT-C88 have the highest proportions of cultivated allocated
them. They were respectively 47% and 31%.
The most important drivers for adoption of improved sorghum varieties were different from the ones cited for
adopting improved millet varieties. For sorghum, high yield was ranked first followed by early maturity, selling
price, storage ability, food quality and drought/disease resistance. For millet, early maturity ranked first,
followed by high yield, food quality, selling price and drought/disease resistance. The high ranking of early
maturity trait is a confirmation that drought is the major constraint to pearl millet production in northeastern part
of Nigeria. In effect, most farmers are small-scale and semi-subsistence farmers whose major goal is to ensure
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