Putting nitrogen fixation to work for smallholder farmers in Africa

Sustainable intensification of farming systems through legume technologies:

Lessons learnt for expansion of N2Africa to new countries

Esther Ronner1, Linus C. Franke1, Greta J. van den Brand1, Judith J. de Wolf2, Ken E. Giller1

1 Wageningen University; 2 CIAT Zimbabwe

Putting nitrogen fixation to work for smallholder farmers in Africa

Outline

• Introduction

• Lessons learnt and new approaches:– From proof of concept to understanding variability– Tailoring of technologies to farm types– Dissemination approaches

• Conclusions

Introduction – The N2Africa project

• ‘Putting nitrogen fixation to work for smallholder farmers growing legume crops in Africa’

• Focus on cowpea, soybean, common bean and groundnut

• Funds: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Howard G. Buffet Foundation

• Led by Wageningen University; main partners IITA and CIAT-TSBF

• Originally eight countries in 2009• Extension to Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda,

Liberia, Sierra Leone and DR Congo

Introduction – New countries, new approach?

• Dissemination and delivery are the core

• Monitoring & evaluation provides the learning

• Research analyses and feeds back

M&E

D&D

Research

‘Development to research’

From proof of concept... (1)

• Hypothesis in N2Africa: BNF and legume yields determined by interaction of:

(GL x GR) x E x M

• Detailed agronomy trials in limited number of sites to test this concept

From proof of concept... (2)

Soybean input trial (TGx1740-2F); Nyanza, Western Kenya; long rains 2011 (F. Baijukya + team)

None

MRP-D

UST

MRP-P

ALLETSDAP

TSP

TSP/KCL

SYMPAL

0

500

1000

1500 - inoc

+ inoc

So

yb

ea

n g

rain

yie

ld (

kg

/ha

)

From proof of concept... (3)

Soybean input trial; Murehwa, Zimbabwe, season 2010/2011 (T. Mombeyarara + team)

... to understanding variability (1)

• In first year already proof of valuable concept• But with testing technologies at scale in farmers

fields: huge variability.• New questions: how to explain this variability?• More emphasis on analysis of simple, non-

replicated demonstration trials under farmers’ management

... to understanding variability (2)

Control + P-fertilizer

+ inoculation + P-fert + inoc.

... to understanding variability (3)

Ghana, 2011

… to understanding variability (4)

Time of planting Soybean Groundnut Cowpea

< 15 July 1899 1403 731

July 15-31 1561 1015 2040

August 935 876 1126

Soybean yield category Time between inoculation and planting

0-500 kg 58 h

>500 kg 18 h

Groundnut yield category Farm size (ha) TLU % female

0-500 kg 6.3 3.6 9.1

500-1000 kg 4.4 2.0 18.2

1000-1500 kg 3.9 2.6 25.0

>1500 kg 2.7 4.8 60.8

Targeting of technologies to farm types (1)

• Factors influencing adoption:– Not only high crop yields – Need to fit within farming system (labour availability, trade-

off other crops)

• Need for ‘tailoring of technologies’– Per agro-ecological zone– Per region– Per farm type

Targeting of technologies to farm types (2)

Country Cereal Groundnut Soybean Climbing beansMaize-bush bean

intercrop

Kenya Grain yield (t/ha) 2,44 2,89

LUE (kg/h) 1,18 1,22

Rwanda Grain yield (t/ha) 1,60 1,72

LUE (kg/h) 0,55 0,57

Nigeria Grain yield (t/ha) 4,48 1,95 1,83

LUE (kg/h) 6,40 2,13 3,21

Malawi Grain yield (t/ha) 2,45 1,24

LUE (kg/h) 2,00 0,78

LUE = labour use efficiency

Targeting of technologies to farm types (2)

Country Cereal Groundnut Soybean Climbing beansMaize-bush bean

intercrop

Kenya Grain yield (t/ha) 2,44 2,89

LUE (kg/h) 1,18 1,22

Rwanda Grain yield (t/ha) 1,60 1,72

LUE (kg/h) 0,55 0,57

Nigeria Grain yield (t/ha) 4,48 1,95 1,83

LUE (kg/h) 6,40 2,13 3,21

Malawi Grain yield (t/ha) 2,45 1,24

LUE (kg/h) 2,00 0,78

LUE = labour use efficiency

Targeting of technologies to farm types (2)

Country Cereal Groundnut Soybean Climbing beansMaize-bush bean

intercrop

Kenya Grain yield (t/ha) 2,44 2,89

LUE (kg/h) 1,18 1,22

Rwanda Grain yield (t/ha) 1,60 1,72

LUE (kg/h) 0,55 0,57

Nigeria Grain yield (t/ha) 4,48 1,95 1,83

LUE (kg/h) 6,40 2,13 3,21

Malawi Grain yield (t/ha) 2,45 1,24

LUE (kg/h) 2,00 0,78

LUE = labour use efficiency

Dissemination approaches

• Great diversity in opportunities legumes demands diversity in dissemination approaches

• From uniform lead farmer – satellite farmer approach to dissemination approaches as part of research question

• Work along partners in input/ output markets; enable access to inoculants

Conclusions

• More emphasis on understanding variability yields in farmers’ fields – start with demonstration trials at scale; detailed agronomy trials for specific issues

• Start with characterization of farming systems and farm types – ex ante impact assessment of how legumes fit best within a particular farming system

• Adjust dissemination approaches, seed systems and extension messages accordingly

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