Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat
Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat
Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Enhancing Soybean Productivity <strong>and</strong><br />
Production in Drought-Prone Areas <strong>of</strong><br />
Sub-Saharan Africa<br />
Hailu Tefera (IITA-Malawi), Bernard Vanlauwe (CIAT/TSBF-Kenya), Stephen Boahen (IITA-<br />
Mozambique), Arega Alene (IITA-Malawi), Ge<strong>of</strong>frey Kananji (DARS-Malawi), Mohammad Ishaq<br />
(NCRI-Nigeria), Ranajit B<strong>and</strong>yopadhyay (IITA-Nigeria), Jendeka Mabel Mahasi (KARI-Kakamega,<br />
Kenya), Robert Abaidoo (IITA-Nigeria), Bussie Maziya-Dixon (IITA-Nigeria), Alpha Kamara (IITA-<br />
Nigeria), Ousmane Coulibaly (IITA-Cotonou), Ousmane Boukar (IITA-Nigeria) <strong>and</strong> David Chikoye<br />
(IITA-Zambia), Penina Muoki (IITA-Mozambique), Joseph Mligo (ARI- Ilonga, Tanzania)<br />
Socio-Economics/Targeting<br />
Gap <strong>and</strong> PVS analysis<br />
Surveys were carried-out with a set <strong>of</strong> questionnaires that were administered on scientists, extension<br />
agents, farmers <strong>and</strong> other relevant key informants. The study concludes that soybean a significant<br />
potential for income if a conducive policy for input supply, production <strong>and</strong> marketing are developed<br />
<strong>and</strong> implemented. A fragile <strong>and</strong> poorly defined relationship was observed among stakeholders in<br />
soybean innovation systems <strong>and</strong> value chains. Linkages need to be developed <strong>and</strong>/or strengthened.<br />
Furthermore, a more focused approach <strong>and</strong> coordination <strong>of</strong> efforts <strong>of</strong> all the stakeholders is needed<br />
to bridge these gaps, boost production <strong>and</strong> increase value added <strong>and</strong> ultimately increase food supply<br />
<strong>and</strong> incomes. Research is still needed to assess <strong>and</strong> quantify the actual <strong>and</strong> potential impacts <strong>of</strong> the<br />
adoption <strong>of</strong> improved varieties on farmer’s welfare, nutritional status, gender relations, soil fertility<br />
improvement, <strong>and</strong> crop-livestock integration systems.<br />
Outlook<br />
If recent trends in area expansion <strong>and</strong> yields growth continue into the future, global soybean production<br />
is projected to reach an estimated 293 million MT in 2020 <strong>and</strong> 360 million MT in 2030. While particular<br />
regions <strong>and</strong> countries in the developing world will face serious shortages, others such as the United<br />
States, Brazil, <strong>and</strong> Argentina will have surpluses. Asia, for example, is projected to have a deficit <strong>of</strong> over<br />
65 million MT <strong>of</strong> soybean in 2020 <strong>and</strong> 87 million in 2030, whereas Africa is projected to have a deficit<br />
<strong>of</strong> 196,000 MT in 2020 <strong>and</strong> 450,000 MT in 2030. Individual country as well as regional soybean supply<br />
is therefore projected to reach levels that barely meet country level <strong>and</strong> regional soybean dem<strong>and</strong>, with<br />
many developing countries facing greater shortages that should be met through imports from the United<br />
States, Brazil, or Argentina that are projected to have surpluses for export (Arega et. 2010). Africa will<br />
emerge as a net importer as it will be unable to meet is burgeoning dem<strong>and</strong> for oil <strong>and</strong> food owing<br />
to its rising incomes. If Africa <strong>and</strong> the developing world are to sustain cowpea production <strong>and</strong> if they<br />
are to catch up in soybean production, research on how to increase productivity is paramount. There<br />
is need for huge investments in plant breeding, awareness <strong>of</strong> integrated pest <strong>and</strong> disease management<br />
techniques, creation <strong>of</strong> markets <strong>and</strong> facilitation <strong>of</strong> market integration, development <strong>of</strong> efficient support<br />
systems <strong>and</strong> development <strong>of</strong> post-harvest storage technologies. The effectiveness <strong>of</strong> such efforts will<br />
ultimately depend on how closely researchers, farmers, financial partners <strong>and</strong> other stakeholders work<br />
together for a common cause.<br />
Progress <strong>of</strong> Phase 1<br />
217