Pic 10: A Hybrid Dryer

(I) Hybrid Dryer

Pic. 10: A Hybrid Dryer

vii. Technology deployment: Introduction of improvedagricultural technologies are key drivers of achieving the objectives ATASP-1. Increase in yield of crops per unit area, efficient control of pests and diseases, enhanced commodity quality, improved processing and value addition are all dependent on the scale of deployment of respective technology. Agricultural technologies can assist reduce vulnerability. It is recommended that ATASP-1 deploy improved technologies through groups. The following criteria may be considered.

Some Criteria for deploying Improved Technologies to Groups The group members are in need of the technology being provided; They are willing to adopt the technology; They are willing to pay a token for the technology; Group members are willing to allow their wives and youth to be involved the management of the technology; They are willing to ensure proper use of the technology, hence will keep both technical and financial records; They see the use of the technology from business perspective.

Deployment Strategy 1. Identify a 'performing' association/group; 2. The association/group is willing to pay 10% of the cost of the technology; 3. Agree on the payment modalities with the association/group; 4. Agree on the modalities of managing the technology with them; 5. In case of mechanical technology, work with the members to establish subgroups within the groups; 6. Sub-groups could be youths and women, and between 5-10 persons in number; 7. Train the sub-group on the use of the technology 8. The sub-group to use the technology as an income generation activity; 9. The sub-group must agree to keep accurate record of their income and expenditure; 10. The sub-group must agree to pay 30% of their profit to the main group.

viii. Community Seed Multiplication: The priority agricultural commodities that ATASP-1 is presently promoting are rice, sorghum and cassava. Scarcity of improved and appropriate varieties of agricultural seed has been one of the constraints to high agricultural productivity in Nigeria. The quantity of certified seed produced by local seed companies is meeting less than 10% of the national requirement. The Federal and State governments have tried various forms of procurement subsidies and incentives to address the problem, but the scarcity of high-quality seeds for the nation's priority crops has persisted. Under a broad strategy aimed at contributing to significant increases in

the national supply of improved genetic materials, ATASP-1 should strive to make intervention to increase the production and supply of agricultural seeds. This involves targeted scheme-wise increases in the production of improved varieties of certified seeds by supporting community-based seeds multiplication to sustain rural agricultural seed sufficiency in the project areas. The following procedure is suggested. 1. ATASP-1 to procure some quantities of foundation seeds from the Mandate National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs). 2. These foundation seeds are to be distributed in conjunction with the with the research associates of the outreach program to carefully selected farmers'

associations in the zones. 3. The criteria for selecting these selected farmers' associations are to be setup by the Project and made known to the farmers' associations. 4. The Project and NARIs will work with each farmer's association to identify farmers in the groups that would multiply the foundation seeds to certified seeds. 5. The Project and NARIs are to guide the farmers in the entire process of the multiplication. 6. ATASP-1 is to link up with the seed council for monitoring and certification of the seeds multiplied. 7. That after harvesting, declaring and getting inspection and certification for their certified seeds, each participating farmer in the ATASP-1-assisted community seeds multiplication project shall share at least 10kg of the seeds with at least 10 other farmers within the community, with the details carefully documented by the Project and NARIs. 8. That the Project and NARIs should take the initiative in ensuring appropriate bagging, branding, inspection, certification, tagging, and appropriate storage for the seeds, whether in central or decentralized storage as may be appropriate to scheme. 9. That the ATASP-1 and NARIs would explore seed markets in the states, where to sell off their surplus seeds, if any; and that appropriately bagged, branded, certified and tagged seeds would increase the presentation and marketing appeal for the seeds; and 10. That, as a last resort after the seed needs of the state have been fully met for each commodity, ATASP-1, with the assistance of the NARIs, could negotiate good prices and sell the remaining seeds in bulk to private seed companies; 11. That attempts by seed companies to buy off seeds at lowest prices from the

ATASP-1 -assisted seed farmers during harvest time should be resisted by the

ATASP-1 and NARIs, in order to protect the aims and objectives of ATASP-1 intervention in community seed multiplication.