Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat

Increasing farmers’ awareness of new varieties
Various pathways including workshops, field days, farmer friendly literature, radio and television,
were used to share information, methodologies and outputs among the various stakeholders.
Achievements
PVS
Mali
ICGV 86124 and ICGV 86015 were the highest yielding varieties in the pilot sites in the Kayes region
compared to the local checks (Table 4-11). In the Koulikoro region, the average yield of ICGV86124
was 1692 kg per ha, compared to 1478 kg per ha for the local check in the mother trials. The pod
yield of ICGV 86015 averaged 1721 kg/ ha or 16% above the check. In the Kayes region, ICGV 86124
averaged 1873 kg per ha, compared to 965 kg per ha for the check. On the other hand, ICGV 86015
averaged 2055 Kg/ha more than double the check variety. The superiority of these two varieties was
corroborated by yields from 120 individual farmers’ fields (baby trials) in the two regions. These two
varieties have been recommended for release. ICGV86124 has been renamed YIRIWA tiga and Nietagtiga
for ICGV 86015. The two varieties are early maturing (100 days) and tolerant to drought.
Niger
Overall, three varieties - RRB, ICG 9346, and J11 stood out to be the preferred by farmers because of
higher pod yield, early maturity, higher number of pod per plant, and good pod filling (Ndjeunga et
al, 2010. Thirty rural women processors performed sensory tests which indicated that Fleur 11, RRB,
ICG 9346, J 11 and TS32-1 were superior to 55-437 in terms of oil color and fluidity. The quality of the
groundnut paste was also better. The national program registered RRB, ICG 9636, JII and Fleur 11 in the
National Variety Catalog in 2010.
Nigeria
Overall 37 baby and 12 mother trials were established in the project sites 2008/09 seasons. In the
2010 season selected varieties were put into large demonstrations in the pilot states and two others
(Bauchi and Kaduna) to enhance awareness of farmers’ about the new varieties and release. Preference
tests revealed that early maturity, high pod and fodder yield, resistance to foliar diseases and tolerance
to drought were the preferred traits. However, preferences often differed among regions and sites,
reflecting differences in agro-ecological zones.
Production of nucleus and breeder seed of farmer-preferred varieties
The availability of nucleus and breeder seed is critical to ensure that varieties that meet the needs of the
farmers and market requirements are accessible to those who want to grow the new varieties. During
the 2007 /08 crop season ICRISAT in Mali assembled 99 elite lines and produced nucleus and Breeder
Seed that provided the seed stock for the PVS trials in the project pilot sites. In subsequent years,
Breeder Seed and some times, Foundation Seed was produced to support the seed systems objective as
well as sharing the germplasm with NARS.
Overall, the production of breeder seed by the NARS partners remains very low and inconsistence
(Annex). This is partly due to reliance on rainfed conditions in drought prone-areas resulting in low
yield in case of drought stress. This calls for a careful choice of sites where seed should be produced or
have functional irrigation facilities to assure seed quality and supply.
Progress of Phase 1
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