Extension of PICS Technology in Cameroon : an example of efficient approach of parternership building between

research and development

G. Sobda, C. Lontchi, I. Sadou, Mbolda, B. Nyomo, O. Boukar, A. Tahirou, D. Baributsa et J. Lowenberg-DeBoer

ObjectiveThe goal of the project is to have 50% of farm-stored cowpea in

hermetic storage plastic bags without insecticides in West and Central Africa by 2012 (cover 28 000 villages in 10 countries within 5 years)

Cover 1451 villages store cowpea in hermetic storage plastic bags without insecticides.

Location of PICS activities in Cameroon• Mainly cultivated in 2 regions

: North and the Far North regions

2010 : Village demonstrations

• 8 divisions

• 427 villages in the North

• 1038 villages in the Far North

2011: Market demonstrations

• 55 markets

Approaches for PICS BAGS diffusion

Institute of Agricultural Research forDevelopment (IRAD) : 02 scientists; 04 technicians

External Partners - Purdue University- IITAInternal Partners :-Extension services (PNVRA) : 02 regional supervisors; 08

division supervisors; 7 technicians and 146 field extensions agents

- NGOs : 05 women leaders;- 1 business consultant- GIC Demri : PICS BAGS vendor

Activities

Step1 : Trainings

Fg.1 Training of Extension agents and PICS bags vendors

Year No.

of

Men

No. of

Women

Tota

l

2010 169 71 240

2011 34 13 47

Total 193 84 287

Fg.2 Divisional officer of Diamare launching the training session

Table.1: Attendance to extension agents and vendors training

Step 2 : Sensitization

- Localities : Villages, Markets, Churches, Mosques,….

- Support : Radios, posters in French and Fulfulde, caravans, T-shirts, Gadgets and flyers, Caps, PICS BAGS

Fig. 3: Sensitization in a church

Phone in with bags users on the radios

Fig. 4: Phone talk with bags users at radio Salaamane

Step 2 : PICS BAGS demonstration

Year Total Female % Conducted Planned Difference

2010 : Villages 64 540 49.7 1465 1451 +14

2011 : Markets 6 649 58.9 55 50 +5

TOTAL 71 189

Table 2:

Attendance to PICS demonstrations

Fig. 5: Demonstration in the market Fig. 6: PICS Demonstration in the village of Gaschiga, North region

Step 4 : Follow up and Opening the Bag ceremonies

S/N Region Attendance Total

Men Women Children

1Far North 24940 29886 18239 73065

2North 14362 15487 8545 38394

TOTAL 39302 45373 26784 111459

Table.3: Attendance to the Opening the Bag Ceremonies

Fig.7: OBC in the North and Far North region

Impact of the project5 households /village x 1465 = 7325 in 2010

3 households/market x 55 = 165 in 2011

Total = 7325 + 165 = 7490 households

Training of 01 Master student from University of Maroua

Lessons learnedTeaching of PICS Technology at the University

Fig. 8: Students from the High Institute of Sahel, University of Maroua learning how to use the PICS BAGS

Development of strategies by farmers to solve the problem of PICS bag availability:

- PICS bags lending;- Storage of cowpea in the neighbor villages or to a

relationship where PICS bag is available

Use of PICS BAGS to store other crops : Bambara groundnut, peanut, corn, sorgho, sesame

Integration of PICS activities to the work plan of the agricultural extension services

Farmers became more confident on activities conducted by Extension service in the field

Recruitment of News agents to cover additional Villages

RecommendationsStraighten of PICS BAGS supply chain

Farmers express the need to be assisted in pest control at the field level and to have good quality seeds.

ConclusionsCowpea farmers and dealers are satisfied

with PICS BAGS technology;

Farmers are waiting for the recommendations of PICS technology on other crops.

THANK YOU!

Photo: D. Baributsa