Agricultural Input Intervention Profile
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The document summarizes the MADE Agricultural Input Intervention program in Nigeria. The program aims to address market failures and improve smallholder farmer productivity and incomes through increased access to quality agricultural inputs and good agricultural practices. It works with private sector partners to develop distribution systems of appropriately sized inputs through agro-dealers and retailers. It also facilitates farmers' access to finance, training on good practices through demonstration plots, and use of mobile technology to disseminate information. As of June 2017, over 74,000 smallholder farmers have participated in on-farm training and over 70,000 have adopted improved practices, leading to increased productivity and incomes.
Agricultural Input Intervention Profile
- 1. Access to quality inputs (improved varie es, fer lizers, crop protec on products) enables smallholder farmers op mize produc vity and income – especially when coupled with good agricultural prac ce. Annually, Nigerian smallholders lose up to 40% of produce to disease and pests, while poor access to fer lizer impedes produc vity, household food security and farmers' incomes. In the Niger Delta, farmers record low yields due to limited availability and use of quality agricultural inputs and poor agricultural prac ce. Prior to MADE, the Federal government made efforts to develop the agricultural sector through interven ons such as the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS), providing subsidies for fer lizer. However, there have been unintended consequences, such as a weakened link between Constraints MADE Agricultural Input Interven on Market Development in the Niger Delta (MADE), a DFID funded programme being implemented by Development Alterna ves Incorporated (DAI). MADE is a rural and agricultural market systems development programme using the Making Markets Work for the Poor approach (M4P) to design systemic and sustainable interven ons that generate pro-poor and inclusive growth in nine Niger Delta states: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers. The goal is to facilitate increases in incomes for at least 150,000 poor people, of whom 50% must be women. The programme design is based on the recogni on that poverty is the result of the structure of market systems in which the poor par cipate and that when markets work efficiently and produce equitable outcomes for the poor, such markets become powerful vehicles for delivering growth and poverty reduc on. MADE is currently implemen ng interven ons in agricultural inputs, finished leather goods, cassava, fisheries, palm oil and small-scale poultry value chains. Overview
- 2. agricultural prac ce. Prior to MADE, the Federal government made efforts to develop the agricultural sector through interven ons such as the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS), providing subsidies for fer lizer. However, there have been unintended consequences, such as a weakened link between agricultural input suppliers and farmers – leading to market failures in the agricultural inputs supply chain. For years, most fer lizer suppliers had the government as client and had not sold directly to smallholder farmers. Consequently, they hold limited informa on of the market requirements (i.e. demand for small stock keeping units) and uncertainty regarding the appropriate distribu on model to reach them. To increase farmers' yield and produc vity, MADE is addressing market failures by working with interested agricultural input companies to facilitate an increase in commercial access to quality agricultural inputs. Through three ini a ves described below, programme partners are developing distribu on systems through a network of agro-dealers who sell appropriately- sized input units and provide agronomic advice through training and prac cal sessions on demonstra on plots. The programme is also facilita ng access to finance for farmers and retailers and the use of mobile technology to scale adop on of good agricultural prac ces. As at end of June 2017, Saro Agrosciences, Syngenta, CANDEL, Contec Global Agro Limited and Sproxil were inves ng in MADE piloted interven ons in the agricultural input sector. Improving agricultural produc vity through access to inputs and good agronomic prac ces This access to skills ini a ve facilitates prac cal training of farmers on technical applica on of improved seeds, crop protec on products and fer lizers for op mum crop yield. MADE supported the development of crop specific GAP training manuals and improved the capability of input retailers who in turn train farmers. Each of the Agricultural Input companies in partnership with MADE adapt the interven on approach to fit their opera onal model. Partners have engaged “knowledge retailers” who establish mul -crop demonstra on plots to provide technical advice on specific value chains and demonstrate to farmers the value proposi on of purchasing their inputs. While one of the partners recruits agricultural extension workers who supervise knowledge retailers in Intervention Strategy MADEAgricultural Input Interven on
- 3. Product price and availability: In the 2016-17 fiscal year, the revised Foreign Exchange Policy triggered severe naira devalua on and represented a challenge for input companies and farmers. Limited access to subsidized foreign exchange made importa on of products challenging and resulted in reduced import volumes, product shortages and doubled costs, making inputs cost prohibi ve for many farmers and impac ng interven on results. New farm pest and diseases: The incidence of the Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), a pest that eats through maize cobs and can destroy a whole farm, has affected the scope of the interven on with private sector partners - training curriculum and treatment protocols have been reviewed to include preven on and mi ga ng strategies for trea ng maize and vegetable farms. each crop As at June 2017, the MADE Agricultural inputs interven on had reached over 74,000 smallholder farmers who have par cipated in on-farm demonstra on of good agronomic prac ces and access to spraying services. At least 70,000 of the farmers have adopted a wide range of prac ces exposed to them, including a range of prac ces related to produc on planning and land prepara on, and environmentally sound use of crop protec on products throughout the farming cycle for each crop Adop on of good agronomic prac ces is leading to increased produc vity and income for smallholder farmers. MADE has a partnership with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and input companies to loan funds to farmers and in Ondo state, about 150 cocoa farmers benefited from the MADE supported BOA, Syngenta arrangement. Loans were disbursed as part input and part cash to farmers for purchase of simple farming implements like machetes. A high point was that 95% of the farmers who got the loans repaid and recorded increased yield because of the interven on. establishing demo plots in areas where there were no trained retailers, other partners engage directly with farmers groups providing training and inputs. Catalyzing the establishment of commercially viable distribu on channels for agricultural inputs aimed at increasing uptake among farmers This access to markets ini a ve facilitates the establishment of commercially viable and reliable distribu on channels through which smaller stock keeping units of agricultural inputs are sold directly to farmers. The programme is working with lead firms willing to break bulk and provide commercial quan es of appropriately sized packs of herbicides and pes cides and other agrochemicals, which increases product affordability. The ini a ve also focuses on training groups of farm support service providers (i.e. sprayers) to provide fee based spraying services to farmers. Promo ng the applica on of ICT to disseminate agricultural informa on to smallholder farmers MADE is working with agricultural input suppliers and ICT service firms to develop an App4Gap - a mobile applica on to provide farmers with agricultural extension services aimed at improving their knowledge and prac ce of good agricultural methods. This access to informa on ini a ve will increase farmer engagement, input use, prac ce adop on and product authen ca on. To date, partners that have expressed interest and commitment to this ini a ve are Saro Agrochemicals and Sproxil. Risks Results MADE Office Address: No 6 T A Phase II,ombia Street, GR Port Har ourc t, Rivers State Published by Implemented By Facebook.com/MADENigeria , @MADENigerDeltaTwitter: /MADENigerDelta, @MADENigerDeltaYoutube.com Instagram www.soundcloud.com/madenigerdelta, MADENigerDeltaPodcast: LinkedIn: Medium: MADENigerDelta, Issu: MADENigerDelta Slideshare.net/MADENigerDelta