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ACAI and IITA-Cassava Weed Management Project plan a joint platform on communication

The African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) and IITA Cassava Weed Management Project (IITA-CWMP) have announced plans to have a common communication platform. Both projects are supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and also led by IITA. The aim is to empower farmers with the knowledge and information that will help transform rural livelihoods. The idea of a joint communication platform was initiated by Dr Bernard Vanlauwe, IITA Director for Central Africa, who sees communication as a vital tool for changing lives. “No matter what we do, if we don’t communicate, we won’t make impact at farm levels. So, we must communicate our science,” Dr Vanlauwe said during the launch of the ACAI project recently. Project Leaders of ACAI and IITA CWMP (Drs Abdulai Jalloh and Alfred Dixon) endorsed the initiative of having a common

platform.“I see this as a win-win situation,” Dr Jalloh said.Both ACAI and IITA-CWMP aim to raise the productivity of cassava in Africa which currently averages 10–11 tons per

hectare, well below attainable yields of over 30 tons per hectare.Godwin Atser, Communication & Knowledge Exchange Expert will lead the implementation of the joint platform.

Nigerian engineers and members of the Cassava Weed Management team

Issue: CWMP/NL/007 March 2016

Dr Vanlauwe

A study on the Training Needs As-sessment of extension agents in Ni-geria has revealed several gaps and constraints that have hitherto limited the effectiveness of extension service in the country.Findings from the study which was recently presented in a paper titled, ‘The capacity of extension staff in managing weeds in cassava sys-tems in Nigeria’ in Nanning, China, during the World Congress on Root and Tuber Crops’ noted that unless extension workers have the capacity to transfer improved knowledge on weed control in cassava, farmers will not be able to maximize the benefits of improved weed management tech-nologies.Godwin Atser, a Communication and Knowledge Exchange Expert at the International Institute of Tropical Ag-riculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria who presented the paper also said that the current farmer-extension ratio of one extension worker to 3011 farm fami-lies was a major constraint limiting the effectiveness of extension system in Nigeria.

“The ratio of one extension worker to over 3,000 farmers drasti-cally fell short of the target of the Nigerian government to have one agricultural extension worker attached to 800 farmers, posing a serious challenge to the agricultural transformation agenda of the gov-ernment,” he explained.Atser said that apart from the gross-ly inadequate number of extension workers, his study indicated that the existing workers were older, and lacked capacity development as a result of underfunding.The study, which was funded by the IITA-CWMP specifically, investi-gated the capabilities of extension staff of Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) in weed management in cassava systems in Nigeria.The findings of the study, Atser said, “showed that more than 80 per cent of extension staff have not had training that specifically targets weed management in cassava.There is knowledge gap on weed identification, types of herbicides,

cassava varietal identification, and computer skills among extension staff.“Furthermore, the extension system in Nigeria is male dominated and majority are 50 years and above. Radio, telephone and group discus-sion were the most used commu-nication channels for technology transfer to farmers by extension staff.”He recommended training of extension staff on sustainable management of weeds in cassava systems with specific emphasis on weed identification, herbicides use and application, cassava varietal identification, gender and computer skills.Atser concluded by calling for recruitment of young, educated and upwardly mobile agricultural extension workers in Nigeria, with intensive capacity development to meet up with the need for effective dissemination of information to farmers on new technologies, varie-ties and market opportunities.

Study reveals gaps in Nigeria’s extension system

Dr Dixon

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IITA-CWMP explores weed control options with Chinese CATASThe IITA-CWMP and China’s

Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), are exploring the possibility of introducing biodegradable plastic mulching technology to control weeds in cassava farming systems in Nigeria.The discussion with CATAS is a

follow up to the recent visit during the World Congress on Root and Tuber Crops in Nanning, China where the IITA-CWMP team participated and had the opportunity to attend a field visit in China. Farmers in China are using the

biodegradable plastic mulching technology to control weeds in cassava and are recording impressive results.Project Leader of the CWMP, Dr

Alfred Dixon initiated the discussion with the CATAS delegation during their recent visit to IITA. Dr Dixon, who received the delegation on behalf of Dr Nteranya Sanginga (IITA Director General), spoke extensively on the need to collaborate in weed science. He informed the delegation of IITA’s

commitment to end the use of hoes and machetes on research farms, stressing that the IITA-CWMP had developed weed control methods but was still open to new technologies including the use of mechanical weeding to give farmers a variety of options.The leader of the Chinese

delegation Wang Jiabao, a Deputy Secretary-General of CATAS said

his organization was excited to visit IITA and proposed that both IITA and CATAS would work together in the framework being proposed in the Memorandum of Understanding on areas of mutual interest. “We hope this cooperation will

benefit both IITA and CATAS,” Jiabao said.Mr Jiabao, was accompanied by

Dr. Ou Wenjun, an expert in cassava cultivation from the cassava center of CATAS; Dang Xuanmin, an expert in vegetables breeding and cultivation from the tropical vegetables center

IITA-CWMP selects 58 sites for on-farm trials in key cassava growing zones

of CATAS; and John Wen, Manager of the marketing department of Green Agriculture West Africa Ltd(GAWAL).In Nigeria, IITA and CATAS will be

working with GAWAL—a Chinese private agricultural firm on several agricultural issues. GAWAL has also offered to serve as a link between IITA and other Chinese agricultural solution providers.Mr Wen promised to get back to

the IITA-CWMP team on the plastic mulching technology.

CATAS team examines IITA motorised weeder

The IITA Cassava Weed Management Project has selected 58 sites for on-farm trials across the four states of Nigeria where cassava is a major source of food security. The states

are: Abia, Benue, Ogun and Oyo. The selection of the on-farm trial sites was done in collaboration with extension service providers. In Abia, the Project team worked with the National Root

Crops Research Institute (Umudike), Abia State Agricultural Development Program, and KOLPING—an arm of the Catholic church in the farm selections. In Benue, the team worked with the University of Agriculture Makurdi, and the Benue Agricultural and Rural Development Authority; while in Ogun State, the team worked with the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, and the Ogun State Agricultural Development Program, and the Justice Development and Peace Movement—an arm of the Catholic Church. In Oyo state, the team worked with the Oyo State Agricultural Development Program and the Justice Development and Peace Movement in Oyo.Selected farmers will contribute to the trials by bearing the cost of stumping. Two sets of trials are envisaged: Herbicides trials and mechanical weeding trials. Farmers will observe the trials and chose the best bet options for adoption. Prof Friday Ekeleme and Godwin Atser who led the site selection teams expressed optimism that the on-farm trials would offer farmers the right tools and approaches in controlling weeds in cassava.

Selected sites

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A new dawn: ACAI launched in Nigeria and Tanzania… To benefit 150,000 householdsThe African Cassava Agronomy

Initiative (ACAI) project has been launched in Nigeria and Tanzania. The Project plans to improve the livelihoods and incomes of cassava farmers in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, and DR Congo by researching, and tapping into and implementing best-bet agronomic practices.The Project, which is led by IITA

with funding support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will specifically improve cassava yields, cassava root quality, cassava supply to the processing sector, and fertilizer sales, thereby engaging over 100,000 households in Nigeria and Tanzania, and facilitating the engagement of at least 30% women farmers.“The value of benefits from this

project in Nigeria and Tanzania is projected to be over 27 million USD. Furthermore, through engagement of households in Ghana, Uganda, and DR Congo and through extra interest generated in the products developed by the Project, these figures are expected to increase for at least 150,000 households and a value created of at least 40 million USD within the 5-year time frame of the project,” explained Dr Bernard Vanlauwe, IITA Director for Central Africa.In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA),

cassava productivity has marginally increased to around 10–11 tons per hectare, well below attainable yields of over 30 tons per hectare. With the need for intensifying cassava production in areas where population densities have reduced access to fallow land and with cassava roots becoming important raw material for the processing sector, this yield gap needs to be reduced.Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture

and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbe, said the current yield of less than 15 tons per hectare makes

Nigerian farmers uncompetitive in the cassava sector.“This initiative should find a solution

to the issue of low productivity,” Ogbe who was represented by Mrs Comfort Awe said. The comments by Nigeria’s

Minister were reechoed by Hussein Mansoor, Director of Research and Development at the Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. He noted that much investment in cassava production had gone into development of improved high-yielding disease-resistant varieties and less on cassava agronomy, and thus the persistent high yield gap.“With the need to intensify cassava

production in areas where population densities have reduced access to land for agriculture and with cassava roots becoming an important raw material for the processing sector, the yield gap needs to be reduced. This requires investments in inputs and labor and access to fresh root markets or value-adding processing markets to ensure that farming households can generate the income required,” he said.Lawrence Kent from the Gates

Foundation said the Foundation was keen on the project due to the link between improved varieties and good agronomic practices.“By developing improved varieties,

we are only addressing half the problem. Low yields in farmers’ fields are a result of poor varieties and poor agronomic practices,” Kent said.The vision of success of ACAI is

to deliver the necessary knowledge base and tools for accessing this knowledge to cassava scaling partners and ultimately farmers in the target countries while instituting the necessary capacity and skills for national system scientists to engage in transformative cassava agronomy.“The ultimate goal is to improve

the productivity per unit area,” Dr Abdulai Jalloh, Project Coordinator for ACAI said.It is envisaged that through

institutionalization of innovative approaches for problem-solving, the initiative will build the capacity of national partners to sustain the technology development pipeline, deliver continuous improvements in cassava agronomy technologies, as well as address new constraints.Partners in the Project include

Sasakawa Global 2000, Psaltry/2SCALE, Catholic Relief Services, Africa Soil Health Consortium, International Plant Nutrition Initiative, Cassava Source Sink , International Center for Tropical Agriculture, The Africa Soil Information Service, Notore, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, Cassava Adding Value for Africa (C:AVA), Farm Concern International (FCI), Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Minjingu Mines & Fertilizers Ltd and cassava farmers.

L-R: Jacob Mignouna (from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), Mrs Awe, Drs Jalloh and Vanlauwe and the launch of ACAI in Nigeria

Dr Hussein Mansoor speaks to the press about ACAI in Tanzania

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Sound bites from ACAI launch

There have been a lot of investments in improving better planting materials, which is important. These are needed for good yields, and to get good yields, farmers need more than better planting materials, you need water, nutrients and good agronomy, and this project is going to fill that gap. People often say that cassava is a crop that grows everywhere even on poor soils. Cassava loves good soils and nutrients just like any other crop; if we are to follow the logic of the Nigerian government to make cassava a commercial product, we need those good roots and to get those roots, we need agronomy. – Bernard Vanlauwe

I have always believed that we must produce food in ways that create wealth. And I have been working on the breeding aspect to come up with improved varieties from which over 400 varieties have been distributed across Africa... But to produce food in ways that create wealth, you must increase productivity, and improved varieties without the agronomic aspect would not get optimum yield. Breeding contributes about 40% of productivity of cassava, the 60% comes from improved management practices so we can have at least 25-30 t/ha which will make the crop a commercial crop. – Alfred Dixon

Announcements

What is very clear is that there is a huge gap between what the potential is, and what is achieved from farmers’ fields. What ACAI is going to do is to provide the tools that will enable the farmers to bridge that gap. – Abdulai Jalloh“What we would like to see is for

this investment to bring more wealth to small-scale farmers... that it should reach as many farmers as possible so that their productivity can increase from the current level to about 30t/ha. – Jacob Mignouna

Training of Trainers in weed controlA six-day Training of Trainers for extension service providers will hold 18-23 April 2016. The training is aimed at equipping extension agents with the necessary skills to train farmers, spray service providers, and other stakeholders involved in weed management.

Application Techniques and Safe Use of Herbicides The IITA -CWMP and Bayer CropScience will hold a training on “Application Techniques and Safe Use of Herbicides.” The training will take place at the IITA campus in Ibadan, 21 – 23 April 2016. The aim of the training is to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills on application techniques and safe use of herbicides. For more details, contact: Ezinne Ibe, e.ibe@cgiar.org.

Annual Review Work and Plan Meeting will hold in IITA-Ibadan, 25-26 April 2016

Steering Committee Meeting will hold in Ibadan, 28-29 April 2016

This newsletter is produced by the Cassava Weed Management Project with technical support from Drs Alfred Dixon, Abdulai Jalloh, and Friday Ekeleme.

Editor: Godwin Atser (g.atser@cgiar.org)Writers: Godwin Atser and Timilehin Osunde

From WCRTC in Nanning, China

The IITA-CWMP participated in the 2016 World Congress on Root and Tu-ber Crops (WCRTC) in Nanning, China. Chair of the Steering Committee of the Project, Dr Julius Okonkwo; Principal Investigator of IITA-CWMP, Prof Friday Ekeleme; Agronomist, Dr Stefan Hauser; and the Communication and Knowledge Exchange Expert, Godwin Atser participated in the event. The team made both oral and poster presentation. The congress also provided the opportunity for the team to meet colleagues from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Lawrence Kent and Lauren Good) and review and reflect on the future of the Project.

L-R: Godwin Atser, Friday Ekeleme, Lawrence Kent, Julius Okonkwo, Lauren Good and Stefan Hauser in Nanning, China

Dr Vanlauwe

Dr Jalloh

Dr Mignouna