Extension of PICS Technology in Cameroon : an example of efficient approach of parternership building between research and development G. Sobda, C. Lontchi, I. Sadou, Mbolda, B. Nyomo, O. Boukar, A. Tahirou, D. Baributsa et J. Lowenberg-DeBoer

Objective The goal of the project is to have 50% of farm-stored cowpea in hermetic storage plastic bags without insecticides in West and Central Africa by 2012 (cover villages in 10 countries within 5 years) Cover 1451 villages store cowpea in hermetic storage plastic bags without insecticides.

Location of PICS activities in Cameroon Mainly cultivated in 2 regions : North and the Far North regions  2010 : Village demonstrations 8 divisions 427 villages in the North 1038 villages in the Far North  2011: Market demonstrations 55 markets

Approaches for PICS BAGS diffusion Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) : 02 scientists; 04 technicians External Partners - Purdue University - IITA Internal Partners : -Extension services (PNVRA) : 02 regional supervisors; 08 division supervisors; 7 technicians and 146 field extensions agents - NGOs : 05 women leaders; - 1 business consultant - GIC Demri : PICS BAGS vendor

Activities Step1 : Trainings Fg.1 Training of Extension agents and PICS bags vendors Year No. of Men No. of Women Total Total Fg.2 Divisional officer of Diamare launching the training session Table.1: Attendance to extension agents and vendors training

Step 2 : Sensitization - Localities : Villages, Markets, Churches, Mosques,…. - Support : Radios, posters in French and Fulfulde, caravans, T-shirts, Gadgets and flyers, Caps, PICS BAGS

Fig. 3: Sensitization in a church

Phone in with bags users on the radios Fig. 4: Phone talk with bags users at radio Salaamane

Step 2 : PICS BAGS demonstration YearTotalFemale %ConductedPlannedDifference 2010 : Villages : Markets TOTAL Table 2: Attendance to PICS demonstrations Fig. 5: Demonstration in the market Fig. 6: PICS Demonstration in the village of Gaschiga, North region

Step 4 : Follow up and Opening the Bag ceremonies S/NRegion Attendance Total MenWomenChildren 1Far North North TOTAL Table.3: Attendance to the Opening the Bag Ceremonies Fig.7: OBC in the North and Far North region

Impact of the project 5 households /village x 1465 = 7325 in households/market x 55 = 165 in 2011 Total = = 7490 households Training of 01 Master student from University of Maroua

Lessons learned Teaching of PICS Technology at the University Fig. 8: Students from the High Institute of Sahel, University of Maroua learning how to use the PICS BAGS

Development of strategies by farmers to solve the problem of PICS bag availability: - PICS bags lending; - Storage of cowpea in the neighbor villages or to a relationship where PICS bag is available Use of PICS BAGS to store other crops : Bambara groundnut, peanut, corn, sorgho, sesame Integration of PICS activities to the work plan of the agricultural extension services Farmers became more confident on activities conducted by Extension service in the field Recruitment of News agents to cover additional Villages

Recommendations Straighten of PICS BAGS supply chain Farmers express the need to be assisted in pest control at the field level and to have good quality seeds. Conclusions Cowpea farmers and dealers are satisfied with PICS BAGS technology; Farmers are waiting for the recommendations of PICS technology on other crops.

THANK YOU! Photo: D. Baributsa