AGRA

For smallholder farmers in Kaduna State, Nigeria the new currency is knowledge, and it is changing the business of local agriculture.  The 270,000 farmers enrolled in the AGRA-supported project to upscale the maize, rice and soybean value chains can now peg their livelihoods to markets rather than subsistence.

The Kaduna Maize-Rice-Soybean Consortium is amongst the best expressions of the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation (PIATA) that is stimulating agricultural development in at least 11 African countries. Priority nations include Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

The focus of the US $280 million initiative led by AGRA, USAID, Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is an integrated delivery system within agro-economic zones and across value chains that enhances in-country coordination to leverage wider investments and deliberate engagements with private sector to build sustainable systems capable of transitioning agriculture from subsistence into profitable businesses.

Under PIATA, the partners commit to delivering impact against a shared results framework aligned to each country’s overall vision and national agriculture plan. It is an important collaboration between development partners in both the public and private sectors that support countries in delivering on the Malabo Declaration and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed to by African heads of state and governments at scale.

According to Prof. Rufaro Madakadze, AGRA Program Officer for Capacity Building, providing farmers with new high-yielding seed varieties is an important part of the solution for Africa’s agricultural development and transformation.

A combination of public and private interventions is one of the approaches undertaken by AGRA to address crop challenges, support breeding programs to develop new crop varieties and establish an effective system that guarantees farmers quality seed for staple food.  These partnerships extend to private companies to meet the demand for seed and networks of agro-dealers to make the seeds available as close to the farmers as possible.

Brown Field days are normally organized when the crop is fully dried in the field and ready for harvest. The aim is to showcase the matured crop and demonstrate to farmers ideal harvest and postharvest procedures and technologies with a view to encouraging them to employ mechanization in their farming activities.

The farmers, many of them women and youths, attending the Brown Field Day last November were appreciative of the efficiency of both rice and maize threshers on display and other technologies showcased to improve on-farm efficiency and profits.  This generated a conversation on the opportunities available to farmer groups to source mechanized solutions for the benefit members. This approach could also be extended to making quality inputs and extension support available and accessible to meet a growing demand.

Abdullahi Musa, a farmer said that while he appreciated the performance and yield of Farro 44, an improved rice variety on the demo plot, he was keen to know from the seed company representatives if he could access the seed closer home, prompting a deeper discussion about linking farmers to agro-dealer networks in Kaduna State. Another farmer, Sule Makadi, was concerned about the risk of crop failure and if there were avenues for compensation given the requisite farmer investment in certified seed and fertilizers against the uncertainties posed by climate change.  This conversation led to the issue of linking farmers to credit facilities as well as provisions for crop insurance – an area that many farmers felt was still too complex for them.

Dr Esther Ibrahim, the AGRA Associate Program Officer called on the farmers attending the event to make use of the knowledge acquired for the betterment of their businesses and communities. She also observed that the impact of adopting improved farming and post-harvest practices ought to be visible across the entire value chain.

Aminu Muazu and Engineer Moshood Suleiman from Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA/SG2000 Nigeria Country Program), a member organization of the Consortium, were on hand to moderate the discussions and questions generated by farmers attending the event.  One of them, Mrs Faiza Dahiru, who belongs to a group of local food processors asked Engineer Suleiman the cost of the two threshing machines, and if there were preferential terms available within the Consortium.  To which the engineer explained that while the cost of the rice and maize threshing machines was N150,000 (US $416) and N75,000 (US $208)  respectively they could be fabricated from artisans trained to construct them.

SAA/SG2000-Nigeria works through the Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs) established in participating states to assign State and Zonal Coordinators and Extension Agents to implement field programs. They provide hands-on training for farmers, ensuring a successful technology transfer process, at the same time assisting them in obtaining inputs and solving the day-to-day challenges in food crop productivity.

Assisting smallholder farmers to confront the constraints to food crop production and the emerging threats brought on by climate change calls for experience, expertise and the strength of partnerships to scale up the delivery and adoption of improved seed and fertilizers.

AGRA supports both public and private sector partners to develop the systems capable of sustaining the availability, delivery and adoption of improved seeds and fertilizers. Within the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation (PIATA), an initiative that aligns with the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, AGRA, USAID, Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are collaborating for the agricultural transformation in Africa.

The interventions are in tandem with the African Union’s (AU) promise to end hunger by 2025, and complement national economic strategies by ensuring a seamless implementation of the various initiatives. Thus, the deliberate focus on a market driven, business agenda that encompasses the entire food system beyond agricultural production.

Led by AGRA and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in line with the Seeds Systems Development interventions to increase staple crop productivity, food and income security for smallholder farmers in Nigeria, a recent training was held to upgrade the skills of technical staff in partner seed companies, specifically those directly involved in field, processing and storage activities.

Among them were production managers, technical staff, young breeders, factory managers and outstanding out-growers. The 45 beneficiaries included 37 technical staff from 15 seed companies and 8 seed certification officers from the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Nigeria’s regulatory body in seed systems.

With a focus on seed production techniques for quality maize, rice and soybean seed production technique, trainees learned how to plan, establish and manage seed fields and post-harvest products to produce and distribute good quality foundation and certified seeds for maize, rice and soybean.  Special attention was given to hybrid seed production and maintenance of hybrid parental materials which require more complicated techniques. The local seed companies also benefitted from technical and operational skills to improve their competitiveness in a field dominated by multinational seed companies. hybrid certified and foundation seed production and maintenance techniques (field and post-harvest activities).  They were also introduced to seed certification regulations and standards as well as seed production planning.

Three categories of seed companies were given priority: those involved in Kaduna and Niger Consortia respectively, those that recently received rice breeder seeds from AfricaRice for the production of foundation and certified seeds and young registered seed companies with little experience.

The seed companies selected were from Kano State, Kaduna State, Niger State, Zanfara State, Katsina State and Plateau State respectively. Among the beneficiary seed companies were Premier Seeds, Value seeds, Tecni Seeds, Da-Allgreen Seed, Manoma Seeds, Goldagric, Maina Seeds, Ideal Agro Seeds, WACOT, GreenSpore Agric, Nagari Seeds, Savannah Seeds, Maslaha Seeds, Rahama Seeds and Jamy Nagari Seeds Ltd.

The focus on a market-driven, business agenda that encompasses the entire food system is deliberate.

Participants learned how to computerize their record keeping, data management and seed business analysis.  This is in addition to being able to store short-to-long-term data such as geographic coordinates of out-growers, pre-planting data, planting data, quality assurance data, harvest data as well as post-harvest data as well as generating information for performance evaluation, planning, tracking seed volumes and the evolution of productivity.

The potential for agricultural development and transformation in Nigeria is immense with targeted investments in specific value chains. Under supportive conditions, a clear policy framework catalyzes private sector investments, supports smallholder farmers, and builds a coalition with civil society and development partners.

Although Nigeria is the world’s largest cassava producer, the West African nation is also Africa’s largest rice importer.  This inability to export at the levels required for market success coupled with the inability to meet domestic food requirements calls for the identification of measures to capture international markets for cassava on the one hand, and for import substitution for rice on the other hand.

Drawing heavily from AGRA’s past investments in Nigeria valued at US $15 million, the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) comprising AGRA, USAID, Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has invested US $280 million over a five-year period to stimulate agricultural development in at least 11 priority African countries.  They are: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

To increase food security and income levels for 30 million smallholder African farm households by 2020, PIATA advocates for increased linkages between smallholder farmers and agribusinesses to create economic opportunities. Specifically, the program seeks to reduce food insecurity in at least 20 countries by 50 percent, double the incomes of 20 million smallholder farmers and spark a green revolution in at least 15 countries.

A recent training session sponsored by PIATA for women rice processors in Kaduna State is in line with the Government of Nigeria’s Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP 2016-2020) also known as the Green Alternative which aims to achieve national food security goals, import substitution, job creation, and economic diversification. This is a five-year intervention with a strong emphasis on gender inclusion and equity targeting 1.9 million smallholder farmers in Kaduna and Niger states respectively.

Drawn from three women groups in Maikarfi, Giwa and Kauru Local Government Areas (LGAs), 15 women representing Ungwan Makaranta Meyere Women Multi-Purpose Credit Society (MPCS) Ltd., Kaya Sa’a Women MPCS Ltd., Ungwan Daki Women Rice Farmers Credit Society Ltd.  were introduced to modern rice processing technologies. They were particularly excited to learn that their products could compete favourably with imported rice if they replaced the more cumbersome and laborious traditional processing methods with modern processing techniques including using tarpaulins to dry the grain, de-stoners, good packaging and labelling.

The PIATA partners have been involved in-country, supporting the governments of Kaduna and Niger States to translate the Green Alternative into action through improved policy formulation and implementation, enhanced coordination with agribusinesses as well as increased budget allocations to the sector.

The partnership has also designed system and farmer-level development for public-private partnerships (PPPs) to tackle structural constraints hindering the uptake of new technologies and the creation effective agricultural systems.

By strengthening the capacity of farmers in Kaduna and Niger states to tap into existing and new market opportunities, AGRA’s focus is on increasing their yield to produce surpluses and meet the quality requirements of selected market segments.  The intervention also involves de-risking smallholder farmers and other value chain actors to enhance their access to credit from financial institutions.

Increasing food security and income levels for 30 million smallholder African farm households calls for doing business differently.  Africa’s agricultural transformation requires a deliberate focus on a market-driven business agenda beyond agricultural production, that encompasses the entire food system.

The Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA), an initiative of AGRA, USAID, Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, supports and drives an inclusive agricultural transformation as a tool for poverty reduction. It is an important collaboration between development partners, governments, farmers and the private sector that support countries in delivering at scale on the Malabo Declaration and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed to by African heads of state and governments and signals an enduring commitment to Africa’s transformation.

The partners commit to delivering impact against a shared results framework that aligns each country’s operation to the overall vision and national agriculture plans. It is also an innovative partnership for an integrated delivery within agro-economic zones and across value chains with enhanced in-country coordination to leverage wider investments and deliberate engagements with private sector that build sustainable systems capable of transitioning agriculture from subsistence to viable and prosperous businesses.

In line with PIATA initiative in Nigeria, the Kaduna Maize-Rice-Soybean Consortium, has been supporting farmers in the adoption of contemporary agricultural technologies, inputs support and improving access to markets. Last September, 2018, a Mega Field Day organized by the Consortium in Salauwa Village, Ikara Local Government Area (LGA) in Kaduna State showcased the use of improved soybean variety VSS 4875 promoted by Value Seeds Nigeria Limited. Farmers observed the recommended planting pattern suited to 0.25 hectares, the average size in farmer practice.  They also learned the recommended planting space of 10 cm between stands.  Attended by over 200 farmers, the event was co-hosted and supported by the PIATA implementing partners including SG2000, Value Seeds Ltd., Premier Seeds, National Agro-Input Dealers Association (NAIDA), OLAM Nigeria Limited.  Also in attendance were officials of the Kaduna Agricultural Development Agency (KADA), community leaders, extension agents and Community-Based Facilitators.

Impressed by the good performance of crops in the demonstration field, the farmers relived their experiences from an earlier Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training, and discussed what they had learned about plant density, number of pods per stand, field hygiene and the absence of disease infestation. They also shared their experiences of replicating the trainings in their fields and the promise of a bumper harvest.  The event will be complemented by 80 Mini Field Days scheduled across Kaduna State to demonstrate the performance of maize, rice and soybean.

The OLAM Nigeria Ltd. representative at the event expressed his company’s readiness to purchase all the grains produced by the farmers at a competitive price.  Although the company navigates the supply-demand dynamics for food staples as producers and also through long-standing relationships with local farmers, OLAM’s requirements still exceed the aggregated output of soybean by all the farmers in Kaduna.

This points to the production and food crop marketing challenges that AGRA and the PIATA partners are addressing by leveraging the the full complement of tools, systems, knowledge, and partner resources to the common goal of sustaining an inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa. It includes

strengthening the policy environment, increasing youth and women’s empowerment and participation in the processes as well as securing public-private partnerships to support farmer capacity to increase staple crop productivity with an expanded access to national and regional markets.  It also seeks to prepare smallholder farming households and agricultural systems to adapt to the shocks and stresses brought on by climate change.

The PIATA initiative in collaboration with the Kaduna Maize-Rice-Soybean Consortium adds a valuable improvement to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, who include women and youth, to commercialize food staple production that impacts selected crop value chains.  Taking a holistic approach to strengthening the extension advisory services provided to farmers, the Consortium actively promotes technology dissemination and adoption.  Through a more holistic approach, it has introduced a market-driven, value chain approach to extension that works back from proven sources of market demand towards production that focuses on improving productivity in both crop production and post-harvest handling and storage.

That youth and women are an essential component in Africa’ agricultural transformation is no longer debatable. Although they form the majority among poor, rural smallholder farmers, they hold the key to ending hunger and poverty.

In Kaduna State, Nigeria, 250 youth drawn from six Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the state recently underwent training in the safe use of crop-protection chemicals to not only support smallholder farmers against crop pests and disease but also to prepare young people for self-employment.

This is one of the interventions supported by the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation (PIATA), a program involving AGRA, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to stimulate agricultural development by linking them to agribusiness opportunities that ignite the spark for job creation, food security, sustainable livelihoods, economic advancement and poverty reduction for 30 million smallholder African farm households.

The $280 million PIATA program is stimulating agricultural development in 11 African countries, including Nigeria, by advocating for increased linkages between smallholder farmers and agribusiness to create economic opportunity. It further embodies the principles of the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods where the African Union (AU) pledged to end hunger by 2025. PIATA also corresponds to the AU’s national economic strategy, ensuring seamless implementation of the initiative.

The critical link in these efforts are investments in improved seeds, machinery, technologies, knowledge and training that increases productivity and opens up access to markets. For the newly trained youth in Kaduna State, intervention has led to an immediate windfall for them.  Although 45 of the youth trainees received spray-kits and other equipment to start them off, farmer groups in Kaura LGA purchased additional spraying kits, creating a demand for spray-agents across several LGAs guaranteeing the youthful entrepreneurs of an assured livelihood as they work with local farmers to ensure their crops are well protected, at the same time securing human and environmental health. They have also been linked to agro-dealers and village level stockists for business partnerships.

At this point in time, the lessons generated from PIATA are that the technologies, practices and policies necessary for the required transformation are known and ready to be taken to scale. To complement the moment, is the broad sustained economic growth being experienced across the continent that has led to significant increases in public and private investments with firm commitments from African leaders to take ownership of their own national agricultural plans for broader economic growth.

PAITA’s strategic objectives for an inclusive agricultural transformation include increased staple crop productivity as well as strengthening and expanding access to national and regional markets for smallholder farmers. In increasing the capacity of smallholder farming households and agricultural systems to be better prepared and adapt to shocks and stresses, some outcomes are inevitable such as the importance of strengthening the policy environment for public-private partnerships and increasing youth and women’s empowerment.  All these efforts call for strengthened multi-sectoral coordination at the continental, regional and national levels that support mutual accountability in the agricultural sector.