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 Ronner 1, Linus C. Franke 1, Greta J. van den Brand 1, Judith J. de Wolf 2, Ken E. Giller 1 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: (G L x G R ) 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)

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 plantingSoybeanGroundnutCowpea < 15 July July August Soybean yield categoryTime between inoculation and planting kg58 h >500 kg18 h Groundnut yield categoryFarm size (ha)TLU% female kg kg kg >1500 kg

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) CountryCerealGroundnutSoybeanClimbing beans Maize-bush bean intercrop KenyaGrain yield (t/ha)2,442,89 LUE (kg/h)1,181,22 RwandaGrain yield (t/ha)1,601,72 LUE (kg/h)0,550,57 NigeriaGrain yield (t/ha)4,481,951,83 LUE (kg/h)6,402,133,21 MalawiGrain yield (t/ha)2,451,24 LUE (kg/h)2,000,78 LUE = labour use efficiency

Targeting of technologies to farm types (2) CountryCerealGroundnutSoybeanClimbing beans Maize-bush bean intercrop KenyaGrain yield (t/ha)2,442,89 LUE (kg/h)1,181,22 RwandaGrain yield (t/ha)1,601,72 LUE (kg/h)0,550,57 NigeriaGrain yield (t/ha)4,481,951,83 LUE (kg/h)6,402,133,21 MalawiGrain yield (t/ha)2,451,24 LUE (kg/h)2,000,78 LUE = labour use efficiency

Targeting of technologies to farm types (2) CountryCerealGroundnutSoybeanClimbing beans Maize-bush bean intercrop KenyaGrain yield (t/ha)2,442,89 LUE (kg/h)1,181,22 RwandaGrain yield (t/ha)1,601,72 LUE (kg/h)0,550,57 NigeriaGrain yield (t/ha)4,481,951,83 LUE (kg/h)6,402,133,21 MalawiGrain yield (t/ha)2,451,24 LUE (kg/h)2,000,78 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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