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-Farmers anticipate higher yields from trials of key -s taples B1 JlMOH BABATUNDE
F
ARMERS participating in field trials 01 staple food crops with researchers from the Nigerian national programs land the I nternational Institute oCll'opical Agriculture (llTA) in Kwara l State aTe hopeful of increasing lheir yield this season, as the growth of plants s how promise of a bumper harvest in the days ahead. The trialsjWhich commenced inJuly this year are part 01 the Africa Development Bank (AIDB).funded Community-based Agriculture and Rural Development Project which is targeting lour key crops in the region; maize, cassava, soybean and yam . JosepbAyelll, a participating-fanner, said the maize plants under the trials have better ears and the soybean has more pods. "We expect more yield from this participatory trials because the crops are performing better, he explains. 1fpically, lDost farmers use local planting ma terials. a situation Ulat predisposes them to low yields . They also lack faJm ing expertise and in some cases inputs are scarce and not available.. The NDB-CBAROP project is mitigating these constraints to production by assisting farmers with improved seeds backed with training . Fanner Kehinde Adeyemi said the trainings we.re very helpful because they introduced farmers to new ways of farming and getti ng better results .' "For instance, we were trained on the use of recommended plant spacing . which is often neglected, and because we adopted the right spacing, we are seeing bette r results," he' said. Scientists introduced high yielding and ext r a-early maturi ng maize varieties and other varieties tbat are tolerant of pes t and diseases such as Stsiga and s temborer. The same approach w as used for the other crops - soybean, cassava. and yams.
The Kwara state's success story is part of the bigger project which also covers Adamawa, Combe, Bauchi. and Kaduna . Resea rchers who are implementing the project come from the Internationallrutitute of 'fiopical Agriculture, the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) and the National Agricull\ual Extension and Research liaison Services (NAERlS) both of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), the National Cereal ReSearch Institute (NCR!) and the University of
110rin.
Dr. sain Ajala says the essence of the project is to contribute to bouse-level food security and enhance income by exposing fanners to better varieties and agronomic practices that increase productivity, Sunday Atanda, Managing Director, Kwara State Agricultural Development Project described the project as 'good and inte resting.' Our farmers are happy over the results we are seeing , ~ he says. .
According to him, from the plethora of varieties planted, farmers Visiting the trials were already making their choices for the varieties to grow in next planting season. While lauding the partners hi p between ADP and IITA.: Alanda says the project is looking a t the Whole value chain of the key crops including marketing. Harvest of the trials will be done later this year in an event that will attract wore fanners and spark more adoption,
M
FT()m lelt: Mrs. Morenikeji Sobojo, Head 01 Planning Research and Edu cation,. Ministry 01 Women alJairs and A:Jverly , Alleviation, representing Deputy Governor 01 Lagos; Mrs. Sola David-Borha. CEO, Stanbic IBTC Bank; O t1.lnba Fatai Olukoga, Special Adviser on Education to Lagos State Governor; and Mr. Ayobade Obojimi, Thior General I Permanent Secretary. Education DislIict 4, Yaba, during !he handoveroltirst pllase o(relurbished tripod schools 01 Lagos Progressive Sch ool Surulere to Lagos state Governm ent by Stanbic fBTC Bank. Photo Bunmi Azee7.-
IFe, Societ e Generale to help Africa manage agricultural risks
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CBN Esdaoge rate as at 03llllZOU
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provide a new risk-management tool to allow producers and buyers in Africa, the Middle East, and Central and Eastern Europe to lock in prices for agricultural goods cmd gain better access to finance . The tool, whic h was introduced earlier tbis yea r in a sepa r ate transaction withJF Morgan, will now focus for the first time on clients in Africa and the Middle East. The $100 million facility provides credit-risk protection on s pecific types of price hedges, enabling producers and buyers to protect against price swings. "Higber food prices have pushed
millions of p e ople into poverty, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. Volatile prices a lso ma.ke it ha rder for fanners and agricultural intermediaries to increase food production. IFC is belping strengthen food security in important ways, giving growers new tools to mitigate price risks," said IFC EVP and CEO lars Thunell. l "We are proud that the World Bank and IFC have selected Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking to partner with them to provide risk management solutions to producers and consumers inAhica, the Middle East, as well as CentTal and Eastern Europe regions where Societe Generale ben'efils from a strong
presence, " said Michel Pe retie, CEO of Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking. Price stability is c ritical for . increasing investments in agricultural productivity, enhancing access to markets, and addressing long. term food-security issues. Global food prices remain high and price volatility is apected to continue over the medium term, according to the World Bank's quarterly Food Price Watc h report issued today. Without greater access to hedging solutions made possible by the price riskmanagement product, financing options for producers would be constrained and incomes of buyers would be threatened.