PURDUE IMPROVED COWPEA STORAGE (PICS) PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS, CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED IN PROGREEN STATES By A. Abifarin, A. M. Bolaji, T. Abdoulaye, H. Garba, C. Dusu and J. Lowenberg-Deboer

INTRODUCTION  Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) bag was introduced in 2008 into Nigeria as a pilot project;  The main project was in 2009 – 2010;  The extended phase of the project was executed from October, 2010 to April, 2011;  “Initiative for the Promotion of Green Resources” (PROGREEN) extended the technology in: Benue, Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Niger, Plateau and Taraba States.

Pilot Phase Demonstration Bag Opening Number of Villages19 Number of PICS Bags Sold Date started11/12/200819/05/2009 Date Ended17/02/200931/05/2009 Cowpea Price (N)/Kg95160 Male Female Children1,0701,195 Total attendance1,5982,408 Table1. Data collected during the Pilot Phase in Plateau State.

Table 2. PICS Data Collected During the Main Project in 8 PROGREEN States. Main Project DemonstrationBag Opening Number of Villages2,000 Number of PICS Bags Sold 6304,099 Date started29/11/20098/4/2010 Date Ended28/02/201031/05/10 Cowpea Price (N)/Kg80180 Male5,5988,374 Female5,1919,288 Children3,9026,145 Total attendance14,69123,807

Extended Phase DemonstrationBag Opening Number of Villages100 Number of PICS Bags Sold 450 2,900 Date started7/12/2010 5/04/2011 Date Ended15/01/2011 5/05/2011 Cowpea Price (N)/Kg Male2,246 13,187 Female1,878 8,062 Children1,933 5,858 Total attendance6,057 27,107 Table 3. Data collected in Benue and Niger states during the extension phase.

Figure 3: Cowpea Price Variation.

Table 6. Total Number of Participants During the Pilot Phase, Main Project and Extended Phase. Pilot PhaseMain ProjectExtended Phase Demonstration Bag Opening Demonstration Bag Opening Demonstration Bag Opening Number of Villages 19 2, Male ,5988,3742,24613,187 Female ,1919,2881,8788,062 Children1,0701,1953,9026,1451,9335,858 Total attendance 1,5982,40814,69123,8076,05727,107.

Figure 4: Distribution of participants at pilot, main and extended phases across the states DEMO = Demonstration. BO = Bag Opening

 A traditional ruler, the ‘Atar–Aten’ of Ganawuri Plateau state was surprised at the excellent results and termed the PICS technology “America Wonder”;  Farmers solicited for technology for storing other crops such as maize, sorghum and other grains;  Farmers in Benue, Nassarawa and Taraba requested for bigger bags and suggested that Lelan Agro should consider a bag for 125 kg.

5.0 LESSONS LEARNED AND RECOMMENDATION  The work done so far by State ADPs is good but not sustainable because more work needed to be done in creating awareness;  The bag supply chain is still weak in some States;  We recommend one-day training for the selected merchants. Special incentive is to be given to the trained merchants.

6.0 CONCLUSION  The PICS technology has been wholly adopted in the PROGREEN Sates and the demonstrations were highly successful.  Participants openly confessed that PICS technology was the best innovation extended with full acceptance.  Farmers were very impressed by the outcomes of the project and are friendlier with the EAs because of the PICS technology.

7.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  PROGREEN appreciates the opportunity of collaborating with IITA and Purdue in the extension of PICS technology in Nigeria.

THANK YOU ALL