outlook of field problems and opportunities for improved research and extension focus for increased...
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OUTLOOK OF FIELD PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION FOCUS FOR INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGERIA
JOHNSON EHIMA ONYIBE
NATIONAL COORDINATOR. APSPRESENTED AT 7TH NATIONAL EXTENSION REVEIEW AND PLANNING MEETING (NERPM) HELD AT NAERLS/ABU, ZARIA. NOVEMBER 19-23 2012
November 28 2011 FAO World report Worldwide, the poorest have the least access
to land and water and are locked in a poverty trap of small farms with poor quality soils and high vulnerability to land degradation and climatic uncertainty,”
I just rechecked my source, the FAOSTAT (2009-11) and this is exactly what you would see there. I have attached herewith the data I downloaded on 09 July 2012. Your observation actually raises a bigger question: FAO data are inconsistent in many cases.
That is why I have always insisted (both at DTMA and in my previous roles) that we rely on national data. I am still pushing this idea. ……
Dr Tsedeke Abate Project Coordinator, Gates Foundation Supported DTMA
Project
Agricultural Performance Survey
Objectives (APS)
Constrained to increased productivity identified
Agricultural production situation and factors affecting extension service documented
Feedbacks for improved research-extension and policy performance provided
Trend of APS
Conducted for over 18 years Partners involve continue to increase
over time Presented in three forms
Executive Summary State Reports National Report
The reports are useful planning tools (policy makers, development workers, private sector agencies)
Continuous improvement of the quality of report to eliminate discrepancies has been sustained
Methodology
Consultation with stakeholders Structured questionnaires ADPs/MANR Farmers Field survey Dialogues with ADPs/ States MANR On-farm report preparation 10-days Stratified sampling Farmers interviews at 148 sites Wrap-up/validation with ADPs/MANR MTRM/QTR/ Zonal meeting/ In-house reviews in previous Report from NIMET/ Zones Officers/field offices
Partners
NARIsNon NARIs
Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR)
Institute of Agriculture and Training (IAR&T)
Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI)
National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI)
National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI)
National Institute of Meteorological Agency (NIMET)
National Productivity Centre (NPC)
National Programme on Agriculture and Food Security (NPAFS)
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)
Planning Policy Appraisal and Statistics Dept
Federal Dept of Fertilizers Federal Dept of Agric Extension Federal Dept of Agric Federal Dept of Livestock Federal Dept of Fisheries FAO/USDA future involvement envisaged
Resources usedFrom ADPS From Other Agencies
Farmers listing Village listing Selection of sites for field visit Completion of questionnaires
templates Identification of farmer groups MTRM field situation reports Facilitators/Enumerators/ Some logistics
NBS (import data (trade summaries)/ Resource persons)
Report from ADPs and Logistics,
Funding support
Output trends of key commodities
Trend
Some states however recorded reduction in aquaculture outputs in 2012.
The trend in aquaculture output show reduction of -3.64% in Niger, -19.51 % in Gombe and -10.1% in Jigawa States respectively
Highlights of field problems
Field Problems- Rainfall
Flooding rain storms Floods and some dry
spells
Weather
Heavy rains beyond expectations that resulted in floods occurred this year in more than 20 states
Eroding Natural Resource Base Land
Erosion (SE & SW Zones) Declining soil fertility (NW, CZ & NE Zones)
Deforestation Fuel wood energy challenge due high
kerosene price Low response to tree planting campaign
Desertification Disappearing peri-urban farmlands Encroachment of grazing reserves Dis-appearing in-land waters Growing menace of troublesome weeds Droughts and Floods
Input problems
High cost of credits and cumbersome procedure
Delay in input supply (ATA)
Increased incidence of fake seeds discouraging adoption of improved seeds
High cost of fertilizer and delays in supply
Inadequate tractor operators and maintenance technicians
High incidence of pesticides failures (lack of technical skill to use)
Pesticide abuse due to lack of usage skill
High cost of diesel for tractors/farm operations
Scarcity of labour Disappearing peri-urban farm
lands High cost of transportaion High cost of vet drugs and feeds
especially fish feeds
Weeds are part of problem of Rice
The way we still do it
Field problems-crop
Low yields Pests and diseases Agro-pastoralist conflicts High post harvest losses Inadequate irrigation facilities
and problem of repairs of irrigation pumps/tube wells
High cost of land preparation and
Election/civil crisis
Low yields Pests and diseases Agro-pastoralist conflicts High post harvest losses Inadequate irrigation facilities
and problem of repairs of irrigation pumps/tube wells
High cost of land preparation and
Election/civil crisis
Low producers price except for Soybean and cowpea which was favourable
Politics taking up labour and attention
Cost of production doubled in many instances
Pests and diseasesCrop Pests Site Severity Control
Groundnut Mosaic Taraba Light Chemical
Nematode FCT LightModerate
InsecticidesSeed dressing
Leaf spot Adamawa ModerateHeavy
SprayChemical
Rosette Adamawa, FCT, Kogi,
LightModerate
Spray chemical
Aphids Bauchi, Ekiti, Zamfara, Kebbi,
ModerateLight
Pesticides spray
Millipedes Adamawa Moderate Chemical
Pests and Diseases -LivestockState Disease or Location of
incidenceTotal stock of Animal Number of
Animal Affected% No Vaccinated
or TreatedNumber Culled due to infection
Bayelsa Food poisoning, FMD and tick infestation
Ayakoro, Okordia.
14 cases of food poisoning in Ayakoro, 24 cases of FMD in Okordia and 45 cases of tick infestation in Okordia
- - 14 in Ayakoro, 46 in Okordia
3
Rivers FMD and Helminthiases
NA 120 and 200 40 and 50 NA NA NA
Kogi Helminthiasis, Trypanosomisaia, Ectoparasite, Piropesmosis
Statewide NA 26736, 18815, 22672 and 10130, respectively.
NA 26736, 18815, 22672, 10134, respectively.
NA
Jigawa CBPP, FMD, Poisoning
Statewide NA 400,000 NA 600,000 NA
Kano FMD and Food poisoning
Mabosi and Albasu, respectively
15 and 69, respectively
NA NA 15 and 63, respectively
NA
Kaduna Helminthes Statewide 700,000 73,000 1.04 201,000 NABauchi CBPP and FMD DARAZO,
ZAKI and KATAGUM
5000 CBPP cases in Darazo, 150 CBPP cases in Zaki and 3 FMD cases in Katagum.
8 in Darazo, 50 in Zaki and 1 in Katagum.
0.16in Darazo, 33 in Zaki and Katagum
4900 in Darazo, 40 in Zaki and none in Katagum
8 and 7 in Darazo and Zaki, respectively.
Pests & diseases- FisheriesFish species Pest/diseases States Where
ReportedSeverity Control Measures
undertakenCatfish Bacterial infection, Birds,
broken headEkiti ,Gombe Moderate Anti biotics
Catfish Protozoa, helminths Taraba Mild
Catfish broken head Moderate
Catfish Gill rot Myxobacteria, nematodes and open belly
Ondo Light Treatment with drugs and vitamin C
Heterobranchus spp
Nutritional deficiency, skin infection broken head
Rivers High
Catfish Fish louse, swollen skin. Light
Catfish Leeches, bruises king fisher ulcerative caudal fin
Bayelsa Severe Proper hygiene
Catfish White head broken headGill rot, Barbell rot
Bauchi Light Water quality management
Catfish Helminthes Imo Light Water managementCatfish Birds ,snakes, frogs Several States Severe
Tilapia Bacterial infection Several States Light
Clarias spp Dragon flies, monitor lizards Rivers and Ogun Severe
Pest and DiseasesTomato Wilt Oyo, Heavy Tolerant variety
Pepper Fruits drop Oyo Moderate Tolerant variety
Plantain Sigatoka Delta Light chemical
Coconut Die-back Rivers Heavy Chemical
Ginger Beetle FCT Light Pesticide
Pests and disease-crop
Yam Mealy bug Plateau Heavy Use of neem leaf
Mosaic Kogi Moderate chemical
Rot Kogi, Taraba, Rivers
Moderate chemical
Nematode Ekiti, Ebonyi Light Nematocides
Flood , Akwa Ibom, , Moderate drainage
Pests and DiseasesCrop Pest/D Site Severity Control
Maize Downy mildew , Ogun, Rivers, Taraba
Light, Moderate Chemical
Weevils FCT Moderate pesticides
Mosaic Taraba Light Fungicides
Weaver birds Akwa Ibom, Imo, Moderate Scaring, timely harvesting
Streak Adamawa, Ebonyi Light Chemical
Striga Adamawa, Gombe, Nasarawa
Heavy cultural practice, resistance variety,
Termites Oyo Light Chemical
Smut Oyo Chemical
Situation
The Cocoyam wilt and scourge of Striga continued
Numan, Adamawa State
Lokoja
Irrigation facilities are breaking down, Example from Kura, Kano State
Problem of extension service (ADPs) Poor funding Low EA: farmer ratios Politicization of leadership of extension
service agencies Parallel Extension outfits emerging and
duplicating efforts/diversion of resources Mobility problem Poor staffing and non-replacement of retired
staff
ADP Funding and Staffing Adequacy average age of extension agents in most of
the ADPS ranged from 45 to 55 years. In many states, up to 35 % of the existing staff will retire over the next 4 years and more than 74 % will retire within the next 10 years
Problems of ADPsS/No Problems % of ADPs1. Poor funding 853. Inadequate qualified Extension staff 732.
Lack/inadequate serviceable vehicles 57
7. Provision of improved high yielding, pest and disease resistant varieties/Breeds
27
4. Lack of incentives/motivation for Extension staff 196. Lack of cottage industries at community level for
processing and storage of fruits and vegetables at commercial level
14
8. Lack of ACHA de-husking machines at commercial level 115. Lack of inputs/working materials 810. High cost of farm inputs 812. Poor supervision 59. Lack of access road to the communities for evacuating
farm products3
11. Lack of in-service Training for extension staff 313. Unavailability of production packages 3
Extension Activities-selected statesState MTRM/QTRM FNT No Farm
FamilyEAs
2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012
Borno 0 0 o 0 536,322 223 273
Bauchi 3 3 12 12 407,834 306 285
Kogi 4 4 20 14 228,964 100 100
Kwara 8 nil 16 nil 288,517 120 137
Osun 9 5 26 15 254,984 24 18
Lagos 12 8 36 22 128,975 64 62
Delta 2 NA 10 NA 179,256 105 na
Enugu 6 2 16 16 246,542 22 80
C/Rivers 1 2 8 8 481,506 120 102
Bayelsa Nil Nil Nil Nil 95,100 9 14
Kano Nil Nil Nil Nil 840,895 725 705
FNTs/MTs and MTRMs/QTRMs Forth Nightly Training (FNT) of farmers was
not conducted by 41% of the ADPs due to financial and other logistics problems.
Anambra, Ekiti , Benue, Kogi and Benue states conducted a few FNTs in 2012.
65% of the ADPs conducted MTRM
Situation
About 65% of the state ADPs did not conduct SPAT.
Also about 54% of them did not establish MTPs due to inadequate and untimely release of fund by government
Under ATA improved seeds and fertilizer were distributed to farmers in 26 states of the federation and the FCT through the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme and e-wallet ICT application concept.
What ATA Achieved-1
11- 19 % increase of area and outputs of most of the commodities of target under ATA in 2012 over figures of 2011
What ATA Achieved-2
What ATA Achieved-3
Eliminated anomalous schemes in which subsidies on production inputs such as fertilizer and improved seeds are creamed off before they get to the farmers.
Number of Village Extension Agents (VEAs EA: Farm family ratio in Bayelsa- 1:10,568 Anambra-1:9409 Cross Rivers-1:4721 Benue States-1:4000 respectively.
Impact of the Flood 22.4 % depression on rice output, 14.6% depression on maize output; 11.2% decrease on soybean output; 9.3% reduction in cassava output and 6.3% reduction in cowpea output. Losses of about 1.178 million tons of rice, 1.416 million tons of maize, 69,060 tons of soybean, 4.87 million and 118,944 tons of cassava
and cowpea outputs respectively
This maize crop was not damaged by the 2012 Historic flood
Recommendations- 1 Serious investments in irrigation infrastructure and
broad-based skill improvement to optimize the use irrigation 2. Ensuring effective after sales services for tractors,
comprehensive inventory of tractors and other farm machines, and skill development for tractor repairs are desirable to keep existing tractors functional while acquiring new ones.
3. Improved funding should be provided for research to mitigating the effects of climate change- and to increase productivity
4. Problem of staffing and funding in ADPs require Innovative federal intervention to avert total collapse of the agriculture extension service in the country.
Recommendation
Conduct of a national census of extension personnel and unemployed graduates with a view to factoring their integration into agricultural value chain incubation schemes upon which the transformation agenda would be leveraged.
Recommendation
5. To enhance effectiveness of strategic grain reserve, state governments and the private sector need to take a more active responsibility in ownership, stocking and distribution and linked to commodity market evolution pathway
6. Initiate the conduct of livestock population census and nationwide fisheries production survey in order to enhance the reliability of livestock and fisheries data for development planning.
Recommendation
The process of fine-tuning GES scheme should be continued without off season holidays in order to address the anomalies detected in 2012
10.The FDAE should be supported and strengthened for effective take-off to quickly deal with yet to be attended issue of lack of extension policy for the country.
Recommendation
7. There is the urgent need to train livestock and fisheries technical staff on diseases prevention, diagnosis and treatment to forestall losses encountered when farmers are faced with these challenges.
Fish farmers especially should be trained on how to produce their feeds using locally available feed resources since over 70% of production cost is expended on feed purchases
8.The current policy of cassava inclusion in bread and the establishment of Cassava Bread development Fund are steps in the right direction but some clarity on the mode and structure for the enforcement of the policy is necessary.
Key Feedbacks
Device early disaster response Enhance the usefulness of Strategic Grain Reserve
Tech for raising milk yields/livestock productivity Low cost fish feeds Pests pressure is mounting in both crops and livestock Productivity of crops and livestock remained low Tech. for coping with climate change Pesticide residue situation and mechanisms for minimizing impacts Challenge of funding and staffing Extension Sustain registration of farmers/update and validate Census of fish farmers, extension personnel and livestock Capacity building for irrigation agronomy and facility
Summary and conclusion
Floods came and caught us un prepared Lets build and optimize capacity for irrigation and strategic food
reserves Other field problems are similar to those of previous years
differing only in scope Adequate funding seems certain to remain elusive for
extension service, Research and mechanization. Innovative Federal intervention should be explored.
Marketing the transformation agenda and building capacities for compliance with public policies are new roles for extension in the emerging dispensation