In Borno State in the extreme northeast of Nigeria, 30 farming communities are reaping the benefits of adopting new and improved soybean and Striga-resistant maize and rice varieties and management practices. They also benefit from knowledge sharing, new products, availability of new markets, and investment in improved and sustainable agricultural practices.

These communities participate in an IITA project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency. The project, Promoting Sustainable Agriculture Project in Borno State or PROSAB, was launched in 2004, to improve the livelihoods of the rural communities in the State through improved food security, reduced environmental degradation, improved sustainable production using transfer of gender-responsive agricultural technologies and management practices, easier access to input and commodity markets, an enabling policy environment, and enhanced capacity of project stakeholders.

Threshing maize in Miringa, Biu, Borno State. Photo by IITA

The project operates within a sustainable livelihoods framework, which emphasizes increasing livelihood assets and improving the capabilities of the rural poor. Partners include Borno State Agricultural Development Program (BOSADP), University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), the State government, IITA’s sister center—the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and Community Research for Empowerment and Development (CRED).

“The project aims to increase farmer productivity through adoption of improved crop varieties and better management practices that ensure improved and viable agriculture-based economic livelihoods.” says Dr Amare Tegbaru, PROSAB Project Manager. “Small farmers form 80% of the population, and agriculture and trading are their only major activities.”

Problems for farmers include erratic rainfall, marginal soil fertility, and an underdeveloped market. Agriculture can no longer cope with the increasing population and greater demand for food. As in many other parts of Nigeria, farmers are diversifying their sources of livelihood outside agriculture, once the backbone of the country’s economy. Subsistence farming is based on growing crops and livestock keeping.

A socioeconomic survey was conducted in 2004 in the target communities to gather benchmark data on demographics, socioeconomic conditions, resource use patterns, market opportunities, and their effects on land degradation and agricultural productivity. Major crops grown are maize, sorghum, cowpea, groundnut, and vegetables, mostly grown for home use; any surplus is sold locally. Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry are the animals reared.

According to Tegbaru, the participatory research and extension approach used by the project was effective in undertaking the community analysis to identify livelihood opportunities, constraints, entry points, and plan interventions; participatory action planning to address priority problems; and deployment of best-bet technologies through male/female farmer-led participatory research and trials in pilot communities. More than 300 producer groups in 130 cluster villages, of which 50% comprise women, have also been targeted.

The 2004 survey identified Striga hermonthica, a parasitic weed, as the single biggest agronomic constraint in cereal production. Then 228 farmers from 193 farmer groups across the 30 communities tested integrated Striga control (ISC) options in 2004 and 2005. Soybean was planted as a trap crop in the first year followed by Striga-resistant or tolerant maize in the second year with the standard farmers’ practice. These reduced numbers of emerged Striga by 12% and increased maize productivity by 41%. Partial budget analysis showed a 200% higher profitability for ISC over traditional practices.

Male and female farmers selected the technologies that suited their circumstances and environment from a basket of options. These included maize tolerant to Striga and drought-, dual-purpose soybean and cowpea, early maturing groundnut, dwarf sorghum, and new rice for Africa (NERICA). Improved crop management practices included maize-soybean rotation to reduce Striga and improve fertility, proper and timely application of fertilizer, environmentally friendly agrochemicals, and appropriate planting densities.

Community-based seed multiplication operations were established to provide improved crop seeds. A market information system and links to major food processors provided ready markets.

Results in 2007 from farmers’ test plots showed that new varieties of maize, sorghum, cowpeas, and groundnut yielded well even under poor weather conditions. The project has more than doubled agricultural productivity with the use of new crop varieties and management practices. Yields have increased, compared with baseline data (2004), by 220% (maize), 100% (cowpea), 50% (sorghum), and 70% (groundnuts).

Fifty percent of the farmers adopted cereal and legume rotation and made better use of agrochemicals. Adoption rates of maize (77%) and soybean (53%) by male and female farmers were high. Improved Striga-resistant maize produced, on average, 3 t/ha (against 1 t/ha in 2004). Soybean was popular among women because of their good processing opportunities. Adoption of new sorghum and groundnut showed mixed results. Training increased cowpea yields by over 50%.

Animal fodder demo plots showed how fodder production has been integrated into crop production. Two years of crop and livestock integration have improved land preparation, animal nutrition, and health care. Farmers’ access to genuine veterinary drugs has been ensured.

On the whole, 76% of the farmers’ groups that used some or all of the improved PROSAB recommendations reported yield increases of over 100%, better food availability (94%), improved nutrition among children (86%), improved livelihoods through increased sales, and additional income (86%). Other benefits included better household nutrition through soybean processing and use, improved health care through affordable medicines, and more money for housing and children’s education.

During the review period, 291 seed producers were linked to seed markets, including Premier Seeds, a big seed producer; 21 processors sold 49 tons of improved seeds, yielding N2.4 million (US$18,462). Through improved market linkages, 485 farmers sold 811 tons of soybean, earning N46.8 million (US$414,159). Improved demand by industrial processors and attractive prices helped to motivate the farmers to grow the crop. “This development in the soybean market is likely to be sustained,” said Tegbaru.

The conduct of policy workshops, gender awareness and mainstreaming in technology development and dissemination, and field days have increased awareness among community leaders, policymakers, farmers, and market agents about the benefits of PROSAB’s technologies and management practices. Adoption rates among farmers continue to rise.

Outlying communities and neighboring states not directly involved in the project have started to benefit through the scaling out of technologies by project participants and others.

This shows how IITA R4D technologies—combined with farmers’ endeavors—add greater value to research products.

Success stories

Farmer James Buba and wife

Mrs. Bata Joshua is one of the leading members of the women’s group in a community called Vinadam located in the Hawul Local Government area of Borno State. When asked how PROSAB has contributed to their livelihoods, she stated: “In the past, prior to the introduction of PROSAB in our community, our harvests couldn’t feed us for the whole year. We had to supplement by buying grains from the market. Presently, our harvests are sufficient to feed our families and we even have surplus for sale in the market”. She further said, pointing to a new building under construction. ”This new building is being built from revenues realized from selling soybeans. The project is making a remarkable contribution to improving our livelihoods.” (a translation from Hausa)

Similarly in 2007, James Buba and his wife, who are promising soybean farmers in Nggabu Village had a similar success story with soybeans. Narrating his story, James said “We harvested 4.2 tons of soybeans from my 2-ha farm last year and made a profit of Nigerian N184,000 (about US$1,500) on soybean sales….This year, we have doubled the soybean farm and we expect about 6 tons to make more money.”