Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat

TL II was implemented in 10 target countries during Phase 1. These were Mali, Niger, and Nigeria representing
West and Central Africa (WCA); Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe in Eastern
and Southern Africa (ESA); and India, representing South Asia (Figure 1-1).
The TL II project’s approach for improving the productivity and production of tropical legumes includes,
among others:
• Understanding the legumes’ environment (through baseline, market and impact studies, effective
monitoring and evaluation systems) and leveraging existing knowledge;
• Developing farmer- and market-preferred crop varieties and integrated crop management
technologies;
• Establishing sustainable seed production and delivery systems;
• Capacity building for national agricultural research systems (NARS); and
• Creating awareness and reaching farmers with available technologies.
Detailed presentations of progress made and lessons learned during Phase 1 are presented for each of
the two crosscutting (targeting and seed systems) and six crop objectives in the respective sections that
follow this report. Highlights of progress made so far are presented here.
Figure 1-1: TL II target countries in Phase 1
Mali
Niger
Nigeria
Ethiopia
India
Kenya
Tanzania
Malawi
1000 Ha (avg. 2005-07: FAOSTAT)
Bean
Chickpea
Cowpea
Groundnut
Pigeonpea
Soybean
Zimbabwe
Mozambique
COUNTRY
CROP
Chickpea Common Cowpea Ground Pigeon Soybean
bean
nut pea
Mali - - 261 308 - 2
Niger 0 18 4132 338 - -
Nigeria - - 4346 2214 - 623
Ethiopia 204 209 - 34 - 5
Kenya - 959 136 17 177 3
Tanzania 70 720 150 411 68 5
Malawi 89 246 79 250 156 -
Mozambique - - - 294 - -
India 7043 8722 - 6263 3553 8307
Total 7406 10874 9105 10129 3954 8945
World total 10903 26133 10749 23069 4678 92507
% of world 67.9 41.6 84.7 43.9 84.5 9.7
The Environment
Data on understanding the grain legumes’ environment in the target countries have been obtained from
baseline studies through household surveys (e.g. Asfaw et al 2009; Kiresur et al 2009a, 2009b; Lokesha
et al 2009a, 2009b; Ndjeunga et al 2010; Simtowe et al 2009; and Suhasini et al 2009a, 2009b);
situation analyses studies (Kassie et al 2009; Katungi et al 2009); literature reviews of published works
(Shiferaw et al 2008a; Abate et al 2011, 2012; Kassie et al 2011).
Table 1-1 presents highlights of some data on socio-demographic information, ownership of some
physical capital, sources of information on improved technologies, adoption, and investment by target
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Engaging Smallholder Farmers | Tropical Legumes II Project