Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat
Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat
Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat
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country governments in agricultural research <strong>for</strong> development. The table reveals high variability among<br />
regions and countries on the various parameters measured – i.e. issues are region-specific or countryspecific.<br />
Other studies show that variability exists even within countries.<br />
Here are the major conclusions from the baseline and situation analysis studies:<br />
• Rural smallholder households are dominated by aging populations (avg. 48 years) and low levels <strong>of</strong><br />
education (< 4 years <strong>of</strong> schooling);<br />
• Research systems in the SSA region are also faced with aging population, with the average age <strong>of</strong><br />
researchers more than 50 years;<br />
• Grain legumes account <strong>for</strong> less than 20% <strong>of</strong> total cultivated area in the majority <strong>of</strong> target countries<br />
(exceptions are: Niger, Malawi, and Kenya);<br />
• Use <strong>of</strong> improved, modern varieties was generally low across target countries during the baseline<br />
studies; unavailability <strong>of</strong> improved seed and, in some cases, lack <strong>of</strong> access to credit have been<br />
identified as major bottlenecks <strong>for</strong> improved variety adoption;<br />
• More than 70% <strong>of</strong> farmers use their own saved seed across target countries; the only exception is<br />
Kenya, where own saved seed accounted <strong>for</strong> just over 34%;<br />
• Depending on the country, farmer-to-farmer exchange and government extension are two major<br />
sources <strong>of</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mation on agricultural technologies <strong>for</strong> farmers;<br />
• The radio would be the most appropriate means <strong>of</strong> disseminating in<strong>for</strong>mation on agricultural<br />
technologies in Africa whereas television would be appropriate <strong>for</strong> India;<br />
• The current investment in AR4D falls short <strong>of</strong> the recommended 1.0-1.5% intensity ratio (i.e.<br />
investment as percentage <strong>of</strong> AgDP).<br />
Fast-Tracking and Variety Release<br />
Screening <strong>for</strong> desirable traits (grain yield, tolerance to biotic and abiotic factors) has progressed<br />
according to the set milestones, or better. Large numbers <strong>of</strong> lines have been provided to NARS programs.<br />
NARS scientists also made crosses and carried out their screening process according to their needs and<br />
priorities.<br />
Each <strong>of</strong> the crop objectives has carried out a large number <strong>of</strong> PVS trials in the target countries using<br />
released varieties or pre-released advanced lines, in comparison with one or more local check(s), over<br />
the three to four seasons between 2007/08 and 2010/11. A total <strong>of</strong> 80 varieties have been released<br />
during this period (Table 1-2). The countries (and number <strong>of</strong> varieties released) were Mali (4), Niger<br />
(8), Nigeria (7), Ethiopia (8), Kenya (13), Malawi (3), Mozambique (18), Tanzania (9), and India (10). In<br />
terms <strong>of</strong> crops these were chickpea (12), common bean (6), cowpea (14), groundnut (22), pigeonpea<br />
(9), and soybean (17).<br />
All <strong>of</strong> these are farmer- and market-preferred varieties that have been identified through the PVS trials in<br />
respective countries. Their yield advantages over the checks ranged from 5% to 300%. The range (and<br />
average) <strong>for</strong> each <strong>of</strong> the crops were: 5-54% (30%) <strong>for</strong> chickpea; 110-115% (113%) <strong>for</strong> common bean,<br />
56-300% (124%) <strong>for</strong> cowpea; 27-78% (47%) <strong>for</strong> groundnut; 27-59% (38%) <strong>for</strong> pigeonpea; and 5-38%<br />
(17%) <strong>for</strong> soybean, as presented in Table 1-2. Some <strong>of</strong> the varieties with the same pedigree have been<br />
released in more than one country. These included chickpea varieties ICCV 00305, ICCV 00108, and<br />
ICCV 97105 released both in Kenya and Tanzania; the cowpea variety IT97k-499-35 released in Mali,<br />
Niger and Nigeria; and the soybean variety TGx 1740-2F released in Kenya and Malawi (Table 1-2).<br />
4<br />
Engaging Smallholder Farmers | <strong>Tropical</strong> <strong>Legumes</strong> <strong>II</strong> <strong>Project</strong>