agrl_innovations_in_ssa.pdf?utm_content=buffercb41d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

varieties grown, some traditional, others introduced within the last 20 years. A general decline
in agricultural production from the late 1970s to early 1980s, as a result of reliance on revenues
from petroleum, also affected rice. Declines in oil revenue resulted in policy changes to address
national food security by promoting domestic agricultural production. This included rice. This
case study concerns an initiative at LGA level that was supported by FARA’s SSA CP KKM PLS
in the Northern Guinea agro-ecological zone (AEZ). It reports initiatives in Dandume LGA,
Katsina State. Dandume with its large lowland (fadama) areas has traditionally been a ricegrowing
area and in common with other Nigerian rice-growing areas, low productivity and
poor marketing limit the potential benefits.
The challenges. The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) was tasked by FARA
with coordinating and facilitating the bringing together of a range of partners to support IAR4D
through the formation of an IP that addressed a number of challenges. These challenges were
identified and prioritised by local farmers and the IP aimed to increase rice production to meet
increasing consumer demand and to improve farmer income through the development of
yield-increasing innovative farming practices that could be scaled out as rapidly as possible.
Innovation trigger. Low rice productivity and low incomes necessitated stakeholder action
to identify and introduce measures to change the situation. Five villages in Dandume LGA
were identified as part of a pilot scheme where stakeholders could work together to identify
opportunities for change.
Stakeholder interactions and interventions. As part of this initiative, an IP based in Dadume
supported by FARA’s SSA CP in KKM PLS and CORAF/WECARD has been operating, based on
agreed roles, responsibilities and activities for each partner. Partners include: elected male
and female farmers representing farmer groups from each of the five villages; representatives
from Dandume LGA Council; researchers from IFDC, who have been coordinating the IP;
the International Centre for Development-Oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA), National
Agricultural Extension, Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS) at Ahmadu Bello University
(ABU), the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) also at ABU, the Agricultural Engineering
Department of ABU, the Cooperative Extension Centre (CEC) at the University of Makurdi
in Benue State and the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) at Badeggi; Katsina State
Government including the Agricultural Commissioner and extension staff from the Katsina
Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KTARDA); the private sector including Premier
Seed Ltd, Maslaha Seed, Golden Fertilizer Ltd, NOTORE Chemicals, GoldAgric and OLAM, a rice
processor, packager and distributor.
Specific responsibilities included: NAERLS facilitating participatory learning and action research
activities supported by KTARDA and researchers; IAR and NCRI undertaking rice input and
output market studies and contributing to LGA policy analysis. CEC coordinated some of the
early community analysis and mobilisation for participatory research. ABU’s Engineering
Department supported farm mechanisation and local rice processing. The private sector was
linked to the IP to ensure ready availability of inputs and to support marketing activities. After
initial facilitation the LGA Council Chair assumed leadership of the IP, helping to build local
ownership and ensure that LGA resources were available for scaling out new technologies and
practices to other villages within Dadume LGA.
80 Agricultural Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa