Cowpea/Soybean Crop Livestock Integration Innovation Value Chain Platform


The RIU Nigeria cowpea and soybean innovation platform enabled farmers' access/ uptake of prosumer-preferred varieties.

The impact of this work should include reduced poverty and improved livelihoods for the participants and, more generally, improved food security.

This involved interventions on:

• local fabrication of crop residue compactor/baler equipment
• assisting in the provision of capacity building for proper management of crop residues for livestock feeding
• promotion uptake of improved cowpea storage (triple bagging)
• fostering linkages between farmers and other actors in the value chain (including credit institutions)

The team evaluated government policies as they affect the functioning of cowpea/ soybean value chain. The information created was used to support and influence decision making and to support an enabling environment for the cowpea/soybean sector.

RIU provided feedback and facilitate the sensitization of stakeholders on status of policies that are related to cowpea/soybean value chain.

They provided assistance for institutional capacity development for effective participation in research into use approach to research for development in collaboration with RIU's Central Research Team

RIU facilitated interventions to build the capacity of stakeholders to use, document and share lessons from implementing RIU approaches to Research for Development (R4D).

RIU Nigeria had to have in place a value chain innovation platform which is functional. This will involved:

• accessing uptake of farmers to prosumer- preferred varieties to support increased productivity by the farmers
• fostering linkages between farmers and reliable input/output markets, including credit
• facilitating local fabrication of crop residue compacter/baler equipment stimulating their business and making supply available
• building institutional capacity for proper management of crop residue for livestock feeding to support easier year-round access to livestock feed and therefore increase livestock productivity
• encouraging adoption of improved cowpea storage by farmers and marketers creating a longer shelf-life for harvested cowpea, reduced post-harvest losses and enhanced farmers' incomes

In the policy advocacy area they:

• facilitated activities leading to better understanding of existing policies as they affected the functioning of cowpea/ soybean value chain; provide feedback and sensitize stakeholders on status of policies that are related to cowpea/soybean value chain
• provided policymakers with evidence and advocacy towards creating an enabling policy for the cowpea/soybean sector
• provided assistance for institutional capacity development for effective participation in research into use approaches to Research for Development (R4D) in collaboration with RIU's Central Research Team
• facilitated capacity development of stakeholders to improve awareness of RIU approaches to foster synergies amongst themselves
• Documenting and sharing lessons from implementing RIU approaches to R4D

This has created a climate which can support effect policy dialogues and build the capacity of all stakeholders for effective participation in research into use approaches and ensure lessons learnt documented and shared. This included exploring the impact of cheap cooking oil.

This should result in a demand-driven research approach being adopted by NAERLS (The National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Service).Up- and out-scaling of research outputs to intended users was implemented.

Solarisation and triple bagging of cowpeas



RNRRS output:

• Full of beans: new varieties fight drought and sell well (CPP28)

A one-day capacity building crop/livestock Innovation Platform training was held in Kano in June, 2009. Participants at the training included cowpea and soybean farmers from Kano and Kaduna states, certified seed producers, companies, input dealers, NGOs, oil millers, feed millers and financial institutions. Capacity was built on proper storage technique for cowpea.

150 cowpea farmers, including 45 Innovation Platform members, took part in training and demonstrations in the use of post-harvest solarisation and triple bagging storage techniques. Farmers who took part in the training order bags from farmers who adopted the storage technique placed orders for the bags from the Lela Agro Industry Ltd a company which collaborates with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

Solarisation raises the temperature of the beans and help kill most if not all the pest-eggs, larvae and adult.

Solarisation and triple bagging technique preserves stored cowpea from severe damage by bruchid beetles (Callosobruchus maculates) thereby ensuring quality product with greater income to farmers.

This technology when out scaled will improve the income of millions of people and reduce malnutrition.

RIU Nigeria is faciliatating this uptake through collaboration with:

• Institute of Agricultural Research
• Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (IAR-ABU)
• Lela Agro Industry Ltd
• Agricultural Research for Development in Africa (IITA)
• Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute (NISPRI)
• Agricultural Development Projects Kaduna state
• Agricultural Development Projects Kano state

Improved dual-purpose cowpea varieties

RNRRS outputs:

• Full of beans: new varieties fight drought and sell well (CPP28)
• Legume rotations improve fertility and help control witchweed (CPP66)

The platform started with a needs analysis and planned capacity building activities appropriate to optimise yield of cowpea and soybeans. RIU Nigeria facilitated the adoption of improved cowpea seed varieties by 3,000 farmers in Kaduna and Kano states. They did this by working in collaboration with seed producing companies: the IAR-ABU, Seed Project Ltd and the IITA. 100 of the adopters were members of the RIU-assisted Cowpea-Soybean Innovation Platform.

Adopted varieties of cowpea

IT277-2	Dual purpose, medium maturing: i.e. high yielding and high forage potential
IT97K-499-35	High yielding striga-resistant, medium maturing
IT98K-205-8	High forage potential, striga resistant

The rapid multiplication of striga on cultivated farmlands has resulted in a serious decrease in yields both cereals and legumes. Often, farmers are forced to move further from their homesteads to farm. These striga resistant varieties therefore, offer opportunity for farmers to reclaim their abundant farmlands.

The dual purpose nature of the new varieties offers potential for the leafy residue to provide feed for livestock. This is especially important during the dry season when forage is in short supply and livestock owners experience poor livestock performance and mortality with attendant loss of income.

These varieties offer an opportunity for crop/livestock integration a framework necessary for the sustainability of our rural farming system. Once RIU Nigeria has successful supported the adoption of these varietie, it should stem huge losses incurred by farmers due to striga hermonthica. Increased efficiency of production and raise the profitability of the farms and the farmers' incomes. Good performance of adopter-farms should spur keen interest and demand for these among other farmers in the target localities, in subsequent planting seasons.

News Dual-purpose cowpeas make hay for Jos cattle
News: 29 October 2010

Rust resistant soybean variety

NARS Output: Rust resistant soybean TGX1835–10E

RIU Nigeria has identified 3,000 farmers in Kaduna interested in obtaining the rust resistant soybean TGX1835–10E variety. They largely belong to farmer's associations or are linked NGOs.

TGX1835–10E is available through the collaboration between the Innovation Platform members.

• Institute of Agricultural Research
• Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (IAR-ABU)
• International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
• The Seed Project Company Ltd

Certified TGX1835-10E soybean seed was purchased by the groups/associations. RIU facilitated the distribution of the seeds to individual farmers. Distribution was carried out in three locations:

• UBA Office Kasuwan Barchi
• Farmer's House Sabon Tasha
• Kasuwan Magani Primary School at Kasuwan Magani

Farm size ranged from 0.5 to 4ha. Seeds were dressed and packaged in 2kg bags. Farmers with 0.5 -1.0ha got 6kg of seeds while those with farm size above 1.5ha got 10kg of seeds.

Appraisal of the cowpea-soybean policy in Nigeria

Two consultants have started work on appraising the national policies on cowpea and soybean sectors. This incorporates the importation of vegetable oils and the impact of these on the cowpea-soybean value chain in Nigeria.

This study was driven by arguments put forward by private sector members of the RIU Nigeria Cowpea-Soybean Innovation Platform, that trade policy on the importation of cheap animal fats (sold cheaply in open markets across the country as 'cooking oil') was stultifying the economic development of the domestic soybean value chain. The private sector group appealed to RIU Nigeria to generate evidence with which could influence policymakers.

The group claims that, in association with other non-IP entities, they had met with, and complained to, various national agencies, including the National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), alerting them to the public health dangers of allowing the domestic markets to be flooded by cheap imports of animal fats which the public is consuming as 'vegetable oils'. But NAFDAC reportedly advised the group to also report the issue to the policymakers, since the import policy did not originate at NAFDAC.

The consultants are scheduled to present their initial findings in January 2010, at a forum to be attended by the key stakeholders (including responsible agencies of government), to gather input from everyone before presenting a final report to RIU Nigeria.

The final report would then be presented to the responsible agencies of government at an appropriate forum to be decided and organized.

The cowpea-soybean policy enhancement effort, under the cowpea-soybean Innovation Platform, is expected to result in direct benefits to millions of people resident in Nigeria who buy cooking oil from the open markets. It is also expected to unblock the development of the vegetable oil value chain which includes the soybean sector, and create enormous economic incentives for all stakeholders in the soybean sector to increase their investment and productivity.