IITA IPM project 17: Technical backstopping of activities of the Benin ‘Programme de développement des plantes a racines et tubercules

Duration: 5 years (2003 to 2007)

Purpose: To enhance the capacities of the institutions of research and extension in Benin and make available healthy and productive root and tuber crops for the benefit of disadvantaged producers.

Background/description: Because of the risks in cotton production in Benin, and especially because of the continuous decline of its prices in the international markets, root and tuber crops present an opportunity to diversity the revenues of the state of Benin and its farmers. This is particularly important in light of the fact that conditions are quite favorable for producing root and tuber crops in Benin. The government of Benin initiated the ‘Programme de développement des plantes a racines et tubercules (PDRT)’ to develop this sub-sector with the goal of enhancing the livelihood of farmers in rural areas through enhanced production, transformation and commercialization of root and tuber crops. The PDRT initiated a partnership with the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRAB) in 2002 and with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in 2003 for technical backstopping in all aspects of root and tuber crops production. IITA’s role is to enhance national capacity in production and utilization of root and tuber crops through the provision of improved planting materials and enhancing local capacity in diagnostics and management of field and post harvest pests and diseases and food contaminants. IITA also plays a significant role in enhancing national capacity in impact assessment through formal training and periodic backstopping.

Agroecozone(s) and location(s): Humid and dry savannas in Benin

Expected outputs: a) New productive varieties of R&T are available for use by producers; b) Characteristics of local and improved varieties of R&T are documented in a database available in manuscript and electronic forms; c) Capacity of research institutions in the production of tissue culture R&T is enhanced; d) Capacity of research and extension institutions in diagnostics and control of R&T crops pests and diseases enhanced; e) Incidence of aflatoxins in conserved R&T decreased; f) Capacity of Agricultural Research Centers in impact assessment enhanced

Potential impact and beneficiaries: New productive and pest/disease resistant varieties increase production of R&T crops. Farmer income is increased through direct sales and transformation of R&T crops. Rural poverty decreased and livelihood of rural poor enhanced

Partners: Ministry of Agriculture, University of Benin

Development investor(s): International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

IITA contact person(s)/principal investigator(s): Rachid Hanna R.Hanna@cgiar.org, Robert Asiedu R.Asiedu@cgiar.org, Jacqueline Hughes J.Jughes@cgiar.org, Ousmane Coulibaly u.Coulibaly@cgiar.org; Kerstin Hell K.Hell@cgiar.org Muaka Toko M. Toko@cgiar.org, Bussie Maziya-Dixon, B.Maziya-Dixon@cgiar.org, Daniel Coyne D.Coyne@cgiar.org and Ranajit Bandyopadhyay R.Bandyopadhyay@cgiar.org website http://www.iita.org