Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat

The use of other inputs (credit, inorganic and organic fertilizers) has not improved in surveyed areas.
The use of inputs on groundnut fields remained limited. But access to seed has significantly improved
as a result of building seed supply systems in project sites.
Access to major productive resources is still limited for women. In surveyed sites, female farmers still
plant less groundnut area than men 0.77 ha against 0.94 ha for ex. Farmers have less access to improved
seed. In particular, female farmers have almost no access to organic fertilizers. About 2.5% of female
farmers surveyed used manure in their fields against 22% for men.
Variety Development
Summary
This report highlights the progress made during the last four years of project implementation in WCA.
The project is being implemented in Mali, Niger and Nigeria. The major activities focused on farmer
participatory variety selection (PVS), crop improvement and capacity building. Significant achievements
have been made in all the areas.
Starting from the 2007/2008 cropping season, PVS was carried out in 18 locations (six each in Mali, Niger
and Nigeria) using a mother-baby trial approach. These trials were used to assess farmers’ preferences
for plant and seed traits of selected varieties. Preference for traits were revealed using structured surveys
administered to a panel of farmers in each pilot site. Based on the PVS trials the national program
in Niger released four varieties (RRB, ICG 9346, J11, and Fleur 11) in 2010. Similarly, five varieties,
including ICGV 86015 and ICGV 86124 from the PVS have been submitted to the national registration
committee for inclusion in the variety catalog in 2011. Three short-duration rosette resistant varieties
(ICIAT 19 BT, ICIAT 6A and ICIAR 7B were included in national demonstrations/trials and ICIAR 19
BT was released as SAMNUT 24 in Dec. 2011. Between 400 and 500 farmers directly or indirectly
participated in the trials in each participating country. Participation of technology transfer/extension
institutions and farmers organizations facilitated the access of farmers to new varieties, management
practices and information. In Niger and Mali groundnut farmers especially women are keen to adopt
new improved varieties.
Various pathways were used to share information, methodologies and outputs among stakeholders.
This was achieved through hosting workshops, annual planning sessions, progress reports, user-friendly
brochures and flyers; on-farm and on-station field days, farmer-to-farmer visits; radio and television
coverage. Over 5000 farmers are aware of new improved varieties.
Significant achievements were made in variety development. ICRISAT supplied close to 1000 traitspecific
advanced breeding lines (resistance to aflatoxin contamination, foliar diseases, rosette, early –
and medium maturing, confectionery types and tolerant to drought including 45 segregating populations
were made available to the national programs. Phenotyping facilities (laboratory and field) in Mali,
Niger and Nigeria were rehabilitated and hybridization initiated in Niger and Nigeria.
Four scientists from Nigeria, two from Mali, and one from Niger benefitted from a 10-day training
workshop in breeding methodologies. A technical guide consisting of 10 training modules was
compiled. Ms Idi Mariam of INRAN Niger completed her MSc program in May 2010 and successfully
defended her. Mr. Mamary Traore of IER Mali started his MSc research at ICRISAT in July 2011 and is
expected to graduate in December at University of Ouagadougou. Simplified brochures on varieties
grown in Mali and crop management were prepared in French for eventual translation into the local
language- Bambara.
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Engaging Smallholder Farmers | Tropical Legumes II Project