Keywords

6.1 Introduction

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) is a major oilseed crop grown in the savanna zone of Nigeria. It is mainly grown for its nut, oil, and its haulms. Recently, the use of groundnut meal is becoming more recognized not only as a dietary supplement for children on protein poor cereals-based diets but also as effective treatment for protein related malnutrition in children. It is the 13th most important food crop of the world and the fourth most important source of edible oil. Its seeds contain high quality edible oil (50%), easily digestible protein (25%), and carbohydrates (20%) (APS 2014).

Inconsistencies in government policies as regards production, transportation, and marketing of groundnut in Nigeria, which the government was actively involved before the disappearance of the groundnut pyramids of the North, have been identified as the major setback for the decline in groundnut production. The high rate of population growth in Nigeria calls for the need for more groundnut to meet the population need of the crop. Groundnut production in Nigeria is constrained by many factors notably biotic and abiotic factors. Principal among these factors are diseases especially rosette and leaf spots; drought; lack of quality planting materials; and inefficient market. Concerted efforts have been made by various initiatives such as the Tropical Legumes (TL) III project to alleviate these constraints to improve farmers’ income and household food security as well as make Nigeria regain its lost glory in groundnut production.

The TL III project led by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is a major international initiative supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and jointly implemented with International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) partners from sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia. The project launched in 2015 has seven broad objectives and aims to develop improved cultivars of common bean, cowpea, chickpea, and groundnut and deliver their seed at scale to small holders in the BMGF focus geographies.

In Nigeria the project focused on enhancing smallholder farmers’ access to seed of improved varieties of groundnut and cowpeas through formation of multi-stakeholder innovation platforms (IPs) in selected states of the country. The project implementation is led by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaru while the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) of Bayero University, Kano specifically leads objective 6; the Seed Systems for Groundnut. The CDA worked with ADPs of six states—Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Sokoto—to implement the project activities. The project ended in 2019 and seeks to assess the impact of the intervention to provide scientific documentation of the IP activities and achievements in the target states. The documentation considered the TL III intervention areas specifically the project beneficiaries. The Open Data Kit (ODK) was used to collect information from the platform members using structured questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions. Descriptive statistics and adoption score were used to analyze the data.

6.2 Objectives of the Impact Study

The study was undertaken to achieve the following objectives:

  • To establish the significance of the innovation platforms and its effects in enhancing smallholder groundnut productivity

  • To determine the additional income accruable to SHFs who benefited from the innovation platform activities

  • To assess rate adoption of the improved groundnut varieties and associated technologies among SHFs

  • Identify existing potential differences of productivity drivers (farm size, income, yield and access to market, etc.) before and after the project among SHFs

  • Identify the major constraints militating against the innovation platform of the TL III project

6.3 Establishment of the Innovation Platforms

Seven IPs were established at the start of the project in 2015. However, for the purpose of this study only two of the IPs prominent in two Local Government Areas (LGA) of Bauchi (Ningi Groundnut Alkhairi Farmers’ Association - NGAFA) and Kebbi (Bela Groundnut Cooperative Farmers - BGCF) States were considered. At the onset, the IPs started with 12 members each, which currently increased to 24 and 25 members for the NGAFA and the BGCF, respectively. Platform governance structure for each of the group involved steering committee at the beginning that facilitate membership election for smooth implementation of platform activities.

The composition of the two groups is made up of 32 (65.3%) males and 17 (34.7%) females, including18 youths (36.7%); those under the age of 35 years. One of the most important activity records for the groups was establishment of IPs, whose purpose was to create a forum for sharing knowledge on good agronomic practices and other services that will facilitate effectiveness especially members’ groundnut productivity approaches. The strategy for establishing the IPs started by identification of appropriate location that can favor the production of groundnut seed for both wet and dry seasons. Emphasis was given to Fadama areas or those with potential sources of water particularly for the dry season groundnut seed production activities. The next aspect involved sensitization, identification, and registration of stakeholders with interest and concerns in groundnut seed production value chain. Selected farmers were provided initially with foundation seeds of four released varieties of groundnut and superphosphate fertilizer enough to commence production of 5 ha by each group. The varieties produced were Samnut 24 for all farmers in Bauchi State and Samnut 24, Samnut 25, and Samnut 26 for their counterparts in Kebbi State. The farmers were continuously monitored and trained by EAs who provided regular trainings in the application of GAPs for groundnut seed production.

6.4 Composition, Roles, and Responsibilities of the IP Members

The composition of the IP and other stakeholders such as seed companies, processors, agro-input dealers, community leaders, extension agents, and buyers/marketers from nearby communities within the study area is depicted in Table 6.1. The innovation platform serves as an umbrella where members meet on monthly basis to discuss matters associated with groundnut seed production in the presence of the EAs responsible for the communities. The major responsibility of the IP members was to produce quality seeds of improved groundnut varieties for supply to interested members of their communities and beyond. This turned out to be a significant effort to facilitate efficient development of the groundnut seed system and quality of groundnut grain production.

Table 6.1 Roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders
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6.5 Facilitation of Innovation Platform Activities

The IP programs are facilitated by the EAs and the major activities undertaken include creation of awareness among community members, pre-season training on Good Agronomic Practices (GAPs) for groundnut seed production, and periodic supervision of members’ activities during pre-production, production, and post-production periods. Prior to the commencement of production activities, annual pre-season trainings are provided to the members of the IPs. Areas of pre-season training covered GAPs ranging from site selection, land preparation, sowing, field sanitation, fertilizer application, and harvest and postharvest operations. The EAs in the project areas ensure maximum adherence to the GAPs among the selected farmers’ fields.

6.6 Achievements of the Platform

6.6.1 Access to Knowledge and Farm Advisory Services

Achievements in the areas of access to knowledge and farm advisory services are required to be documented in any development project. Findings from this study indicated significant increase (98%) in extension advisory services of the IP members following the TL III project compared to the low advisory level (38%) before the intervention. This increase was attributed to the TL III IP support in training and frequent supervision by EAs in the project areas.

6.6.2 Training on Improved Groundnut Seed Production

The documentation further made enquiry in the areas of training on improved groundnut seed production. The training areas covered include both pre-production, production, harvest, and postharvest as well as business management skills. Basically, the IP members were trained on best practices for the production of improved seeds with particular reference to planting method (to maximize plant population), planting depth (for assured germinability), fertilizer requirements (for enhanced nutrition), and pest control strategies (for efficient health and wellbeing of plants) among others. IP members that received such trainings recorded higher yields than non-members in the same communities. Such trained farmers are most likely to practice the skills acquired compared to those who have not and in areas with limited access to good development intervention (APS 2014) (Fig. 6.1).

Fig. 6.1
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Training on improved groundnut seed production

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6.6.3 Access to Improved Seeds and Their Types

It was confirmed that, prior to the TL III project, groundnut producers mostly used local seeds because they have no access to seeds of improved varieties. Most of the local groundnut planting materials available to farmers for planting in the study area have low genetic potentials for pod yields, resistance to major pests and diseases as well as poor tolerance to drought. These constraints and many others result in low productivity of groundnut in Nigeria. The TL III intervention has increased farmers’ access to improved groundnut seeds with spill-over effects to even beyond the IP member communities. The overall results showed that 88.7% of the beneficiaries now have access to quality improved seeds due to the TL III intervention compared to the previous access level of 26.3% before project. Majority (86.9%) of the beneficiaries have adopted Samnut 24, one of the improved early varieties for production (Fig. 6.2).

Fig. 6.2
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Access to improved seeds

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6.7 Average Farm Size and Yield Assessment among Members

Farm size and average yield are two primary parameters that determine farm productivity. This assessment indicated increase in farm size devoted for groundnut production during both wet and dry seasons. The average farm size for the dry season production was 1.22 ha and 1.78 ha before and after the project intervention, respectively. For the wet season, the average farm size increased from 1.53 to 1.81 ha. This impliedly showed expansion in farm area devoted for groundnut production among the IP members both wet and dry season productions, with greater increase in dry season than wet season (Fig. 6.3).

Fig. 6.3
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Average farm size assessment

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Similarly, the documentation exercise further computed the statistics of average pod yield (kg/ha) obtained from the groundnut production activities. Findings indicated increased average yield for both wet and dry seasons. The average yield increased from 939 to 1217 kg/ha, recording about 29.6% increase for the wet season production. Similarly, the study revealed that the average yield for the dry season production increased almost ninefolds from 155 to 1352 kg/ha per hectare (Fig. 6.4).

Fig. 6.4
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Average yield assessment

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6.8 Income Assessment of Groundnut Seed Producers

The statistics for the groundnut farmers income assessment revealed positive improvement for both wet and dry season productions. The results indicated that the IP members accrued additional income ranging from $214 to $453 for wet season. The same increase in beneficiaries’ income was reported for dry season groundnut seed production from $193 to $823, after the TL III intervention. This implies positive contribution of the innovation platforms activities among the IP members. Diversification of income sources is a vital instrument for the development of farming activities, household living standard, and overall rural economic activities (Fadipe et al. 2014). It was observed that all income stream increased after the presence of the IP. The additional income obtained after TL III project can be used to improve other investment activities such as livestock production and off-farm enterprises among others (Fig. 6.5).

Fig. 6.5
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Income assessment of groundnut seed producers

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6.9 Access to Markets, Financial, and Other Services

Access to market among smallholder farmers in developing countries has been a serious challenge hindering increased agricultural activities in rural areas. The results from this study indicated increased access to market after TL III intervention as reported by 91.8% beneficiaries. Farmers were trained to produce quality outputs using quality inputs and other GAPs, which attracts market demand. Findings from the FGDs indicated that presence of off-takers, local processors, demand from other communities, and seed recovery by TL III are important in improving access to market.

6.10 Improvement in Market Price

The prices at which farmers dispose agricultural commodities determine to some extent the level of profit to be generated per unit time. The higher the price of farm output, the higher will be the revenue obtained by smallholder farming households (Olukosi et al. 2008). The IP member responses revealed information about farmers’ opinion on market price improvement of groundnut seeds before and after the TL III intervention. These findings revealed appreciable increase in the market prices of groundnut seeds as reported by 90.8% of the beneficiaries after executing the TL III activities in the project areas. Poor prices were reported before the TL III intervention as claimed by 71.2% of the IP members. Findings further revealed an average increased market price of 21.5% and 18% for dry and wet season groundnut as reported during the Focus Group Discussions, respectively. These increased prices of groundnut were reported as the major element of investment attraction in both wet and dry seasons.

6.11 Access to Credit among IP Members

Access to credit among smallholder farmers has been considered as major constraints affecting agricultural and other investment opportunities in developing countries. Within the IPs, it was reported that 40.7% of the beneficiaries had access to credit following the TL III intervention. Even though some improvements were recorded for access to credit from 1.7% before the TL III project, the current scenario is not enough for the farmers as reported during the FGDs. Similar findings on access to credit were reported by Mamman et al. (2016) who worked on socio-economic factors and income diversification affecting food security status of farming households in Jigawa state, Nigeria. The increasing access to credit can be attributed to the training and farmer sensitization to seek for more income to expand their agricultural production activities. The program of Anchor Borrower Scheme of the Federal Government of Nigeria is believed to have contributed to the increased access to credit.

6.12 Cooperative Membership among Beneficiaries

The study further provides information on cooperative membership among project beneficiaries. From the group statistics, majority (89.3%) of the members belong to one cooperative group or another. There was increased participation in farmer organizations, as proved by members of the Ningi Groundnut Alkhairi Farmers’ Association and Bela Groundnut Cooperative Farmers. Farmer cooperative organizations might be crop specific in rare cases and in most cases, they tend to be multi-purpose, comprising many crop ventures. In any case, farmer associations are expected to render some essential benefits such as collective purchase of inputs, output marketing, social interaction, and learning of technology dissemination among its members (Ahmed et al. 2013) (Fig. 6.6).

Fig. 6.6
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Cooperative membership among beneficiaries

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6.13 Achievements in Areas of Social Assets

Findings from this study revealed increasing participation in community social activities from 63.2% to 84.8% before and after the intervention, respectively. Participation in community social activities such as meetings and community development activities bring farmers together to interact, share knowledge and skills that might help them in improving production activities. The study further revealed that 17% of the IP members claimed improvement in their social assets, owing to their involvement in social participation.

The use of mobile phone in agricultural and other household economic activities has become a matter of importance and in most cases a serious concern to Government and other development agencies. Farmers are encouraged to accept the technology of modern communication systems. The response of the FGD indicated increased access to mobile phones from 61.4% to 82.7% for before and after the TL III project intervention. Farmers with improved access to mobile phone are likely better in receiving and sharing information on new technologies, input and output market prices, availability of improved seeds, and other GAPs techniques among others.

6.14 Assessment of Innovation Platform Achievements

6.14.1 Members Perception on IP Performance

The IPs have provided ground for supplying quality improved groundnut seeds, fertilizers, trainings, and access to market members and others in their communities. The study revealed that 89% of the beneficiaries assessed the IP performance as good while 11% reported moderated performance for the IPs.

6.14.2 Technology Adoption of Groundnut Seed Production under TL III Project

The intervention provided to the IP a package of inputs and training supports on GAPs. This study therefore assessed the adoption of various component technologies with reference to conventional adoption stages. The component technologies assessed include improved seeds supply, choice of appropriate sowing date, sowing method (spacing inclusive), sowing depth, number of seeds per hole, fertilizer application, weed control as well as harvest and postharvest operations. Findings across technology components showed that farmers put into consideration the adoption stages (i.e., awareness, interest, trial, evaluation, and adoption). The statistics of the various component technologies revealed high adoption score of 0.79 with a grand adoption score mean of 0.76 (Table 6.2).

Table 6.2 Technology adoption of groundnut seed production under TLIII project
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6.15 Overall Benefits of the Innovation Platforms/Seed Support System

Youth engagement in groundnut seed production was the most interesting emerging issue in most of the rural communities as reported by the Ningi Groundnut Alkhairi Farmers’ Association and Bela Groundnut Cooperative Farmers. Findings from FGDs revealed that many young adults who traveled to distant places in search of jobs, now stay in their respective communities and put efforts to produce and sale groundnut seeds. This implied that the intervention has practically reduced rural-urban migration, which affects rural labor force engagement especially for agriculture. The IP supported improved groundnut grain production (73.3%) by supplying the bulk improved seeds requirement to members of their communities. The supply of improved groundnut seed has greatly helped farmers who were earlier using seeds of local varieties before the TL III intervention. Other benefits reported among project beneficiaries include emergence of dry season seed production, which hitherto is not practiced in these communities. Similarly, women engagement in postharvest operations for them to generate income, training on improved groundnut seed production practices, cooperative participation among the farmers and improved access to extension services are important key benefits derived from the TL III intervention in the study area (Table 6.3).

Table 6.3 Overall benefits of innovation platforms/seed support system
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6.15.1 Comparison of Some Selected Key Variables by Gender

6.15.1.1 Assessment of Average Farm Size (ha) by Gender

The statistics for farm size indicated that male devoted more farm size compared to female for both wet and dry season groundnut seed production. This can be attributed to the nature of farm ownership, access and control of households and individual resources in developing countries. The statistics of average yield obtained also follow similar trend, where male farmers obtained higher yields compared to their female counterparts, showing clear evidence of increasing productivity for both land and groundnut yield among the IP members. There was increasing participation of women in groundnut production as shown by the member composition of the farmer associations (Table 6.4) (Figs. 6.7 and 6.8).

Table 6.4 Average farm size (ha) by gender
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Fig. 6.7
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Average yield (kg/ha) by gender

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6.16 Constraints to Groundnut Seed Production

Fig. 6.8
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Comparison of selected variables by gender

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The IPs ranked inadequate capital and credit facilities as the major constraints to groundnut seed production. This implied that, resource poor farmers could not purchase quality production inputs, pay for labor and efficient postharvest operations. Similar discoveries were made during the FGDs where farmers identified availability of capital, credit facilities, and transport as most important challenges to groundnut production in general. Other constraints include inadequate farm tools and equipment, pests and diseases problems as well as means to reduce drudgery, especially for women (Table 6.5).

Table 6.5 Challenges affecting groundnut production
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6.17 Reflections, Focus, and Lesson Learnt

The IP system is believed to be ideal process to promote technologies to intensify agricultural production in local communities. The TL III as a development intervention has focused on enhancing smallholder farmers’ access to improved seeds of groundnut varieties through formation of multi-stakeholder platforms. Implementation evidence has shown that selection of appropriate project location, reliable beneficiaries, training and re-training on GAPs, and effective supervision on production activities are the major pillars of success of the TL III intervention in Nigeria.

6.18 Areas of Focus in the Future

Based on the reflections stated above, the following areas of focus are recommended for future interventions:

  • The need for replicating the intervention in other focal areas especially those with potentials for dry season groundnut production.

  • The need to strengthen capacity building on GAPs to EAs and farmer group leaders who could train their members to build on the successes so far achieved.

  • The need to create more awareness on the potentials of the Samnut varieties particularly for dry season production as a panacea to reducing unemployment in rural areas and rural-urban migration of youth and able-bodied persons.

  • There is need to develop the capacity of the SHFs in business plan and management to enable them to decide on when, where and which groundnut variety to produce based on market demand.

  • Attention should be given on gender balance in the subsequent and similar interventions to increase the proportion of participation of women in such development activities.

  • There is need to evaluate the likely spill-over effects of the IP system and diffusion of the improved groundnut varieties to non-project LGAs and other neighboring states.

6.19 Lessons Learnt

This assessment has documented some lessons worthy of learning from the beneficiaries of the TL III intervention. These include:

  • Timely provision of inputs, delivering appropriate pre-season training and follow-up supervisions by EAs are key to the success of innovation platforms.

  • Women and youth have keen interest and are willing to engage in dry season groundnut production in areas with available sources of irrigation. This will reduce unemployment and involvement in social crimes among youth.

  • Introduction of modern technologies requires multi-stakeholder approach and involvement of SHFs in cooperative groups or associations to share knowledge and skills. This will help in ensuring sustainability of the innovations for enhanced productivity.

  • IPs have high potentials for spill-over effects as farmers in non-project communities are eager to access improved seeds and other GAPs from the beneficiaries.

  • Market information is vital and strong for both input and output markets. This will enable smallholder farmers generate premium from sales of improved seeds.

  • Availability of the IPs has attracted investors to express interest to engage SHFs into contract cultivation of improved groundnut varieties thereby confirming assured market.