1. INNOVATIONS IN THE COWPEA SECTOR OF NORTHERN NIGERIA: RESEARCH INTO USE NIGERIA Jokthan Grace, Ugbe Utiang, Sanni Adunni

2. INTRODUCTION: Research into use (RIU)  A follow up of UK – DFID 200m USD investment on agriculture under RNRRS  Represents a shift in emphasis from generating new technologies to ensuring that existing ‘best bet’ research outputs are promoted and out scaled  Orchestrated the formation of multi-stakeholder Innovation Platform in 3 agricultural commodities Cowpea/soybeans, Cassava and Aquaculture

3. RIU-Nigeria programme Intervenes through Field level activities in each platform Engagement with policy makers Capacity development Inter-linkages with other public sectors and development programmes that have interface or impact on target agricultural sectors

4. Pre-implementation tasks in the cowpea sector A baseline study was conducted to:  Characterize cowpea farmers in the project sites (Fig 1)  Examine farmers’ awareness and adoption levels of cowpea innovations (Fig 2)  Access farmer’s and traders level of involvement in cowpea production, storage and marketing (Fig 3)  Identify the constraints and opportunities for increased cowpea production, storage and marketing

5. Profile of farmers involved in cowpea production Fig 1: Socio-economic characteristics of farmers involved in cowpea production Fig 2: Farmers’ awareness and adoption levels of some cowpea innovations

6. Fig 3: Farmers’ involvement in cowpea storage and marketing

7. PICS-RIU COLLABORATION In order to address a major challenge of cowpea storage  RIU- Nigeria brokered a multi- stakeholders collaboration with IITA in 2009 to contribute to the dissemination of Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) technology (Table 2)  Builds on PICS strategy Table 2: Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders Stakeholders IITA RIU Federal Government Agency (NAFDAC, SON) State level agencies – ADPs Local Government Agencies Resource persons Bags’ producer and supplier Community /religious leaders Mass media ( TV, Radio) Farmers’ /Marketer’s associations within the IP Role in the collaboration Overall coordination, training, technical backstopping and evaluation in Nig. Coordination and funding activities in additional villages in some states Receive information for possible policy Formulation Extension services Training of extension agents Produce and sell PICS bags Broadcast PICS messages Reinforce message on health benefits Relay PICS message Role in the collaboration Overall coordination, training, technical backstopping and evaluation in Nig. Coordination and funding activities in additional villages in some states Receive information for possible policy Formulation Extension services Training of extension agents Produce and sell PICS bags Broadcast PICS messages Reinforce message on health benefits Relay PICS message

8. Perception of farmers about hermetic cowpea storage before PICS intervention Hauwa Mohammed is a small scale bean cake (kosai) processor based in Kwalli, Gombe State. When she volunteered to provide some cowpea for demonstration using PICS bag other women laughed at her saying her cowpea will be fed to chickens after the storage period as a result of high weevil infestation. They asserted that it is not possible to store cowpea in a bag without chemical. After PICS intervention During the ‘open the bag’ ceremony six months later, they observed that the quality of the cowpea was retained after storage and that the quality was better than that of cowpea stored with chemical. Hauwa made more profit from her business that season (2010) because she bought cowpea at harvest time when price was low, stored in PICS bags and used it for her business throughout the year

9. Economic and health benefits of hermetic storage Increase in income of farmers/traders by about 48% for cowpea stored within 4 – 6 months 5 – 10% additional increase in price for cowpea stored in triple bags Less reported cases of human fatalities Better viability of seeds especially when chemicals involving H 2 O are applied Fig 4: Analysis of land area allocated to cowpea, estimated production and prices 2008 - 2010

10. Economic potential of the technology intervention in Nigeria Dr. Oyebanji officer in charge of Nigerian Stored Product Research said “there are huge economic and business potential for large industries that manufacture hermetic technologies for cowpea storage in Nigeria” The estimated total annual production of cowpea grains in 2009 was 2.44 million MT Suppose one third of production is consumed without storing, About 16.3 million bags (1.63 Million MT/100kg = 16.3 Million bags) will be needed annually to meet market demand.

11. SUCCESSES OF THE INTERVENTION Extension methodology Effective in creating awareness and enhancing rapid and extensive adoption of the technology among farmers Multi-agency partnership Hastened spatial coverage, increased target beneficiaries and facilitated wider adoption Quality assurance Impromptu on the spot check (thickness and sealing) of the bags produced

12. Challenges in production and distribution of triple bags There seems to be a disconnect in information between the producer and the end users Inadequate number of vendors The cost of bag (300.00 naira) is considered too high by most farmers and grain merchants. This appears to be the major reason for poor adoption by grain merchants Low private sector drive -The company plays little role in advertising the product and relies to a large extent on IITA and the ADP to market it

13. Way forward Identify major distributors in each senatorial district Number of pieces in a bale should be reduced The cost of the bags should be built into the selling price of the cowpea Various bag sizes should be introduced Advocate for policies to create enabling environment for private sector involvement and sustainability of the innovation Collaborate with other related public agencies such as NAFDAC, SON, and CPC to enforce laws Identify credible retail outlets and organise financial arrangement that will encourage new entry into the PICS value chain Hermetic silo for large scale cowpea merchants

14. Agricultural innovations requires brokering role by neutral party that is trusted by all stakeholders (PICS & RIU) for effective up and out scaling Addressing policy obstacles to adoption of innovations is challenging especially where reforms run counter to powerful vested interest ( chemical use in cowpea storage) Due to public over investment in agriculture over a long period, it will take time and creativity for a neutral entity to broker meaningful, effective and sustainable roles for private sector participation even though there is a strong potential for it to happen (bag companies) Conclusion

15. THANK YOU