Good agricultural practices for increased incomes and improved food - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Good agricultural practices for increased incomes and improved food security in Kaduna and Niger States C. K. Daudu & I. Y. Amapu USAID/ AGRA/ NAERLS CBA Project National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Introduction www.naerls.gov.ng  Agriculture is a key component of the Nigerian economy,  income from agricultural production, processing and marketing is marginal  mainly due to low input use by small holder farmers  which stems from a lack of awareness resulting from an in-effective extension service  2 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Introduction www.naerls.gov.ng  The main reasons for low crop productivity area:  Use of low-yielding local varieties with only 5% of farmers using improved varieties, – Low use of fertiliser (national average is less than 20 kg / ha), – inappropriate use of organic (manure) and inorganic fertilizers and – Inadequately structured markets for farmers’ produce. 3 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

key interventions www.naerls.gov.ng  The development of training materials for both extension agents and CBAs  The Promotion of new technologies including improved varieties and fertilizer options:  Strengthening use of ICT for Agriculture through development of content for radios, videos, mobile phones and other methods to reach millions of smallholder farmers. 4 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Introduction www.naerls.gov.ng After this session, participants will be able to:  describe basic GAPs principles.  apply GAPs principles in field production practices for maize, rice and soybean. 5 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Good agricultural practices www.naerls.gov.ng  a collection of principles to apply for on-farm production and post-production processes, resulting in safe and healthy food and non-food agricultural products, while taking into account economical, social and environmental sustainability- FAO  Economically (improved livelihoods) and efficiently produce sufficient (food security), safe (food safety) and nutritious food (food quality)  applies to all production steps from cultivating to post- harvest handling at farm level. 6 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Specific Objectives: www.naerls.gov.ng  Develop appropriate protocols and processes which fit the local context, with a special focus to ensure that small and medium- scale farmers increase in output and income  Give logical guidance in implementing best management practices 7 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Key Goals www.naerls.gov.ng  increased productivity of maize, rice and soybean farming systems in rainfed agriculture in Niger and Kaduna states  To promote best bet agricultural practices (improve knowledge and skill in GAP) applied to rice, maize and soybean production at a large-scale using mother baby demonstration methods.  Generation of higher farmer income through facilitation of smallholder farmers’ access to agricultural inputs and their participation in agricultural products markets   To micro enterprising skills of EA’s and farmers 8 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Target : www.naerls.gov.ng  Smallholder farmers,  Agro-dealers,  Extensionists,  NGOs,  Trainers 9 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Principles www.naerls.gov.ng  GAP should be specific and relevant to each state/ ADP zone/ geographical area or eco-region- need, market etc based  Soil – Establish a detailed knowledge of the nature, properties, distribution, and potential uses of soils of the farm- soil tests/ literature – Application of fertilizers at appropriate times and in adequate doses – Apply fertilizers, organic and inorganic,  10 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies 

Principles www.naerls.gov.ng  CROP PRODUCTION-  Select crops, cultivars or varieties on an understanding of their – characteristics, – its responses to sowing/planting time, – Quality/ market acceptability, – suitability to the site (comparative advantage) – productivity 11 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Principles www.naerls.gov.ng  CROP PRODUCTION-  Select crops, cultivars or varieties on an understanding of their – characteristics, – its responses to sowing/planting time, – Quality/ market acceptability, – suitability to the site (comparative advantage) – productivity 12 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Principles- ranking of LGAs/ crops of comparative advantage. www.naerls.gov.ng  Kaduna State  Maize:Lere,Giwa, Soba, Kauru, Ikara  Rice: Makarfi, Kubau, Soba, S/gari, Kagarko  Soybeans: Giwa Soba, Kubau, Ikara, Zaria  Rice: Wushishi, Lavun, Katcha  Maize: Kontagora, Mashegu, Mariga, Magama  Soyabeans: Rafi, Paikoro, Lapai  LGA selection: AGRA INFORMED??  Crop presence in LGA’s? 13 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

CROP PROTECTION www.naerls.gov.ng  The basic principle for pest/ disease management are any potential management method – environmentally, technologically and economically feasible,  Integrated Pest Management is the approach of mutual integration of available pest control tactics to maintain the pest numbers below economic threshold levels with an aim of least or no hazards to the environment.  IDM may be defined as managing plant disease severity below the economic threshold level following ecologically sound, economically viable and easy operational procedures.  Chemical usages is minimized by combining with other non- chemical or chemical methods.  Resistant cultivars and varieties 14 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Key GAP Practices www.naerls.gov.ng  Spacing- Simple LSD/ (TOFHAN)  Variety – Maize variety selector (TAMASSA), Rice Advise (AfricaRice)  Fertilizer- FOT (OFRA)  Decision support tool- CBA  Climate informed decision making- NIMET 15 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Maize  Land preparation- sow maize in well prepared ridges of www.naerls.gov.ng 75cm apart  Planting Date Plant as soon as the rains are established-NIMET  Choice of variety Choose a variety (certified seeds from reputable sources) suited to your geographical zone.  Date of planting  The recommended dates for planting soybean are Early June–early July  Seed dressing Treat seeds with recommended seed dressing chemical 16 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Maize  Plant spacing and sowing www.naerls.gov.ng  Sow by hand or planter – Plant a spacing of 75cm x 50cm when two plants per stand or – 75 x 25cm when one plant per stand is adopted  Fertilizer – Fertilizer recommendation is 120-60-60 – N-fertilizer rate should be applied in two split applications. – First dose is applied at planting or within the first week of planting – 2 nd dose should be applied between 4 and 5 wap  Weeds and their control- herbicide recommendation  17 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Maize  Pests and Diseases and their Control www.naerls.gov.ng  FAW, Striga, stem borers termites and storage pests.  Harvesting- Done when the silk has turned brown (55 – 70 days after planting).  Post Harvest Processing - Using double intake disc (may be hand/pedal/engine operated)  Grain cleaning  Storage and control of storage pests  Assembly, bagging and grading actions leading to aggregators/off-takers possession 18 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies

Rice  Site Selection/ Land preparation- suitable soils, Upland www.naerls.gov.ng rice is better planted on flat. For direct seeded rice, the field is ploughed and harrowed just before the first rain  Planting Date Plant as soon as the rains are established- NIMET  Choice of variety Choose a variety (certified seeds from reputable sources) suited to your geographical zone. e.g. disease or toxicity occurrence  Date of planting - The recommended dates for planting soybean are Early June–early July  Seed dressing Chemical treatment should be undertaken with a mixture of insecticide and fungicide. 19 …Delivering Innovative and Proven Agricultural Information & Technologies