Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat

Table 4-7: Relative importance of variety attributes in Mali, Niger and Nigeria
Trait
Country/ Relative value
Mali Niger Nigeria
Plant maturity 9 NA 13
Number of pods 14 28 19
Size of pods 13 NA NA
Pod constriction 7 NA NA
Pod yield 8 23 15
Pod filling 34 9 NA
Taste 15 NA NA
Disease resistance NA 11 NA
Pod beak NA 16 NA
Seed color NA 13 NA
Plant vigor NA NA 20
Plant type NA NA 11
Pod size NA NA 7
Haulm quality NA NA 10
Haulm yield NA NA 5
Total 100 100 100
NA = not applicable; values are percentages of response
For some traits, varieties selected for the PVS were similar/identical not allowing farmers to differentiate
between varieties based on those characteristics. Varieties selected by farmers can be site-specific and
finally, attributes such as color of leaves, pod reticulation and pod beak tend to be neglected. Lessons
learned include (1) a better choice of varieties for PVS with different traits, and (2) the need for targeting
varieties to recommendation domains.
Early diffusion of groundnut varieties in the Dosso region, Niger
The contribution of groundnut to cash income of smallholder farmers has significantly increased in
the surveyed areas. The total value of groundnut sales has increased. Groundnut contributes to 66%
of household cash revenues in Niger in 2007/08 and has increased to 83% in Niger. No statistical
differences were found between program and non-program villages.
Groundnut market participation has increased in the surveyed sites. In Niger, in 2007/08, it is estimated
that about 79% of households are net-sellers of groundnut against 93% in 2009/10. In Niger, 39 and
42% of households are net-buyers of maize and pearl millet respectively.
The uptake of modern groundnut varieties in surveyed sites in the Dosso region in Niger has increased
significantly from 14% of groundnut area planted in 2007/08. More than 95% of the area was covered
with the variety RRB. Survey results showed that 47% of area was planted with the variety 55-437.
Several varieties were introduced during the GGP project and promoted during the GSP project
including TS 32-1, RRB, etc have been adopted with 14% of area planted mostly with RRB. The major
constraints to using improved varieties have been reported by farmers to be the non-availability of seed
for 60%. Lack of cash was cited as a major constraint.
In 2009/10, it is estimated that 64% of farmers have adopted at least one improved variety of which
more 90% was the variety RRB i.e. 56%. The proportion of area covered with improved varieties is
estimated to about 49% with RRB alone accounting for 39% and other varieties such as Fleur 11, J11,
ICG 9346 and TS 32-1 accounting for about 10%. However, the area covered by 55-437 has decreased
to 32%.
Progress of Phase 1
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