IITA project IPM 25: Participatory technology development, diffusion and adoption of cowpea technology for poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods in West Africa

Duration: 3 years (2004 to 2006)

Purpose: To strengthen the achievements of the past phase and consolidate linkages with IFAD investment projects in participating countries and across the region, develop linkages with other research projects, promote private sector, and farmers’ organizations. The emphasis will be on capacity building, participatory processes, and sustainability of technologies proposed

Background/description: The project will build on progress made in the first phase of PRONAF by addressing constraints, while also taking advantage of identified opportunities that promise improvements in the quality of life of rural community dwellers. Development and diffusion of technologies for small-scale and resource poor farmers and consumer target groups in sites across agro-ecological zones and mainly IFAD investment projects will receive priority attention. Special efforts will be made to address the needs of risk-averse resource-limited farmers and in particular poor rural women. There are 5 participating countries including Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. Each participating country will carry out activities addressing cross cutting issues such as agro-ecological sustainability, participatory approaches, impact assessment on poverty, food security, and monitoring and evaluation. In addition, each country will choose two to three themes taking into consideration their comparative advantage and following priority setting exercise among a broad spectrum of in-country stakeholders. Activities will be carried out under the broad categories of technology development, empowering stakeholders, and strengthening linkages. Socio-economic analysis and capacity building will be an important cross-cutting concern. Work initiated in the first phase related to the dynamics of information sharing and learning in the FFF context will continue. Greater emphasis will also be placed on achieving a better understanding of the appropriateness of various technologies as a function of differing levels of asset availability by different classes of farmers. Training of researchers and project staff in socio-economic analysis techniques – a highly successful element of Phase I – will continue and be broadened to include information sharing with other TAGs. Links will be established with relevant projects, public and private sector organizations in the sub-region. Agreements will be signed between this project and such agencies wherever necessary to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of co-operation.

Agroecozone(s) and location(s): Sub humid and Sahelian zones in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria

Expected outputs: a) Encourage sustainable seed production systems to ensure availability of quality seeds to farmers; b) Develop and disseminate improved cropping practices and IPM technologies for control of cowpea insect pests in field and storage; c) Empower farmers and institutionalize Farmer Field For a for an effective mechanism for learning and making sound decisions; d) Establish strong linkages with IFAD rural development projects

Potential impact and beneficiaries: Increased food security and reduced poverty through the adoption and diffusion of improved cowpea technologies and knowledge. Protected environment and increased biodiversity with less pesticides and more improved cowpea varieties

Partners: National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems, NGOs, IFAD-funded development projects in Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali

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

IITA contact person(s)/principal investigator(s): Ousmane Coulibaly U.Coulibaly@cgiar.org and Christian Fatokun C.Fatokun@cgiar.org website http://www.iita.org