Accelerated learning through characterization of smallholder cassava production systems Veronica NE Uzokwe1, Theresa Ampadu-Boakye1, Guillaume Ezui1,2, Stefan Hauser1, Abdulai Jalloh1, Christine Kreye1, Geoffrey Mkamilo3, Deusdedit Peter Mlay3, George Sonda3, Haji Saleh, Patricia Moreno Cadena4, Felix Kolawole Salako5, Olalekan Jacob Olaoye5, Adeyemi Olujide Olojede6, Mark Tokula6, Pieter Pypers1, Alex Verlinden7, Shamie Zingore2, and Bernard Vanlauwe1 1 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) 2 International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) 3 Agriculture Research Institute – Tanzania (ARI) 4 International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) 5 Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta – Nigeria (FUNAAB) 6 National Root Crops Research Institute – Nigeria (NRCRI) 7 African Soil Information Service (AfSIS) Introduction Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics. Cassava is a major staple food in the developing world, providing a basic diet for over half a billion people. It is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, capable of growing on marginal soils (FAOSTAT 2012). Nigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava. The African Cassava Agronomy Initiative in 2016 established 563 trials across Nigeria and Tanzania to help unlock the agronomy of cassava. The trials were part of the broader initiative by the research community led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) with its international and national partners to increase the productivity of cassava and improve the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers. Researchers hope that the trials will resolve the puzzle around fertilizer recommendation, best planting practices, intercropping, and scheduled planting of cassava to ensure all year cultivation and harvesting of the root crop (www.cassavamatters.org). Tanzania Nigeria Targeting: Tanzania: Promote ridging and less intensive tilling Fig. 4: Survey results from Tanzania Nigeria showed greater use of fertilizer than Tanzania, where fertilizer use was very low. There was considerable variation in the planting conditions used which suggest opportunities for accelerated learning by assessing local yields and management modifications in field subsections. Fig.1: Current cassava yields: 10 t ha −1 Potential cassava yield: 30 t ha−1 Materials and Methods The study was performed in LZ, EZ, SZ, Zanzibar in Tanzania, SE and SW in Nigeria where the ACAI project is implemented. Both open and close ended questionnaires were administered to the cassava farmers. 2016 cassava farmers were identified, interviewed, and ear marked with GPS coordinates. Questions were asked to each farmer individually by an interviewer using a tablet and ODK app forms. Measures were taken to avoid farmers copying each other answers and ensure that we grasped exactly how the farmer performed their farming. The questionnaires data were curated, processed and analyzed to deduce information in a meaningful way using R-Statistical package. Table 1: Use of fertilizer (by type) Lake zone Eastern zone Southern zone Zanzibar SE Nigeria SW Nigeria Urea MC 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 30.5 0.0 Urea IC 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 24.1 0.9 NPK MC 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 62.1 5.2 NPK IC 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 83.5 3.8 MOP MC 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 MOP IC 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 Other MC 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.5 Other IC 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.7 0.0 P N K Harvest Non-ridged fields SZ had more farmers using intercropping than other project areas, while fewer famers used mono-cropping in LZ and SW regions. Fig.2: Illustration of survey region, and factors considered in questioning of farmers including identification of the farmer, general household information, general questions on all cassava fields, specific questions on the selected cassava monocrop field, planting, fertilizers application, crop management and harvest Results and Discussion Fig.4: Distance between lines (non-ridged fields planted in line) Conclusions This entry point for accelerating characterization of small holders cassava production used two versions of the same approach in two ACAI project countries. The survey characteristics of small holders cassava production in Nigeria suggested that production would be more enhanced if farmers use herbicide in conjunction with fertilizers because there is a clear association between the two. In Tanzania, an emphasis should be placed on fertilizer use and needs to be stressed because the use of fertilizer in cassava growth is currently minimal. Targeting: Nigeria: Promote fertilizer by improving access to herbicide formation Acknowledgements We are grateful to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation who provided funds for these studies, and to all partners, including the farmers who participated in characterization exercise. Targeting: Nigeria: Promote fertilizer by improving access to herbicide formation References Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, "Roots, tubers, plantains and bananas in human nutrition", Rome, 1990, Ch. 7 "Toxic substances and antinutritional factors", third paragraph. Bailey 1976, FAOSTAT 2012, Sadik 1988, Wikipedia 2011. www.cassavamatters.org. Fig.3: Survey results from Nigeria OYSCGA Partners