Building the Capacity of Smallholder Rice Farmers Under a Changing Climate in Nigeria

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1 Building the Capacity of Smallholder Rice Farmers Under a Changing Climate in Nigeria Catherine V. Nnamani, Happiness O. Oselebe, Okporie, E. O., Okonkwo, C.I. and Eze, S.E. Research Group for Climate Change Adaptation in Nigeria (RG-CCA-Nig) Africa l Agriculture, Food Security Introduction The Research Group on Climate Change Adaptation, Nigeria (RG- CCA-Nig) was formed in 2009 at Ebonyi State University (EBSU) to address issues of land management and the impacts of climate variability on poor rural farming communities throughout Ebonyi State and Nigeria. Food and agricultural systems in Nigeria are under tremendous pressure and are further limited by the occurrence of natural disasters, which plague the region on almost a yearly basis. RG-CCA-Nig was established to combat these challenges, build capacity among rural populations, and enable communities to cope with environmental and food security challenges. RG-CCA- Nig has contributed to capacity building among smallholder farmers by providing them with innovative technologies and climate data that enhance their resilience to climate shocks and support them in adapting to climate change and variability. Since its establishment, RG-CCA-Nig has worked on several projects, as exemplified by the following: 1. Sustainable Land Management: RG-CCA-Nig encourages the use of sustainable land management (SLM) technologies (i.e. alley cropping) to enhance soil fertility, increase productivity, and reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. 2. Alliance for a Green Revolution for Africa (AGRA) Initiative: From , a three-year Bill & Melinda Gates/ Rockfeller Foundation-funded research project was initiated under AGRA at Ebonyi State University. The project focused on the development of high yielding, stable, drought tolerant crops and the provision of quality seeds for poor-resource rice farmers in Nigeria. RG-CCA-Nig worked closely with the AGRA team on the project, which resulted in the identification of eleven rice varieties suitable for lowland ecologies and thirteen varieties for upland ecologies within Ebonyi State and throughout other parts of Nigeria. Crops were assessed directly in the rice farmers fields, where farmers took the lead in project development. Some new long grain varieties introduced by the project s lead scientists have yet to be officially released by the appropriate federal agencies. However, the rice breeding program has continued beyond the AGRA initiative. Today, the program includes studies focused on biodiversity, conservation, and the identification of specific genes/traits for use in the development of drought tolerant crop varieties (Fig. 1). Figure 1: Some of the rice varieties screened for drought-tolerance by RG-CCA-Nig 3. Rice Foundation Seed Project: Following the success recorded in the AGRA project, the university went a step further to establish the Rice Foundation Seed Project in This initiative ensured that pure and quality seeds of particular rice varieties were provided to farmers to increase rice production and household income. After four years of production, this project has transformed into a limited liability, agro-based company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as EBSU Agribusiness Enterprises Ltd. The company has been the source of improved rice seeds for a variety of users including local farmers, the Ebonyi State Ministry of Agriculture & Natural Resources, the National Agricultural Seed Council of Nigeria, and other seed companies in Nigeria. 4. Smallholder rice farmers in southeast Nigeria: constraints, impact, mitigation and adaptation to climate change : In Cairo, Egypt from November, 2010, the African Technology & Policy Studies (ATPS) Network held a proposal tournament during its annual conference, workshop, and general meeting. These activities were focused on identifying grant applicants whose work supported the implementation of ATPS Climate Sense Program under the African Women Forum for Science & Technology (AWFST) Climate Change Innovation Program. 1

2 RG-CCA-Nig participated in the tournament and won several grants, each worth 11,550 USD. The project presented for the tournament was titled Smallholder rice farmers in southeastern Nigeria: constraints, impact, mitigation and adaptation to climate change (ATPS-CSP/0501/10-01). For two years, RG-CCA-Nig used focus group discussions (Fig. 2) and questionnaires for data collection and worked in collaboration with smallholder rice farmers, particularly women. Results highlighted the climate service-related constraints hampering crop production in the area. 5. Capacity Building Workshops for Rural Farmers: On 26 July, 2012 at the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria Law Auditorium, RG-CCA-Nig conducted a dissemination workshop/ policy dialogue for rice farmers, agricultural stakeholders, and policy makers from both Enugu and Ebonyi States. The overall purpose of the workshop was to disseminate information regarding available climate services (including the climate data analysed from the state and national meteorological stations), innovative technologies in rice production, and other adaptive measures related to climate change and climate-tolerant seeds. The workshop taught participants about the patterns and effects of climate variability/change on agriculture, and presented best practices for adaptation. In doing so, the workshop prepared participants and armed farmers with knowledge and tools to withstand climate variability for the 2012 planting season and beyond. It also highlighted the constraints to the uptake of adaptation strategies, and sensitized policy makers on the need for policy interventions, which will further enhance farmers use of climate change adaptation strategies in the future. Figure 3: Capacity building and information dissemination workshop for rural smallholder rice farmers Figure 2A & B: Focal Group Discussion Uzo-uwani, Enugu South Senatorial zone Figure 2C: Seed Certification Officer National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) Nigeria working with RG-CCA-Nig Socioeconomic background Rice is a staple crop throughout most of Africa, especially in Nigeria. However, it is not being produced fast enough to match the country s demand. In 2007, for example, the estimated annual rice demand in Nigeria was 5 million metric tonnes, though only about 2.21 million tonnes were produced annually; the remaining deficit of 2.79 million tonnes had to be imported (National Bureau of Statistics Report, 2007; National Rice Development Strategy, 2009). Yield per hectare is low, and production is increasing at a very slow rate. This is attributed to a combination of factors: an aging agricultural population, poor production systems, climate variability and change, and, most importantly, unsuitable seed varieties. These circumstances, which limit the potential for growth in the Nigerian agricultural sector, make it practically impossible to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by the year In 2007, the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) stated that poor and unpredictable agricultural yields resulting from extreme events in Africa play a role in affecting the vulnerability of farmers throughout the continent. This is apparent in Nigeria, where the decrease in crop production has generally been attributed to erratic rainfall. Flooding (Figure 4) and prolonged drought culminate in a net reduction of rice yield, and farmers, who constitute the bulk of the rural poor, face tragic crop failures, reduced agricultural productivity, increased hunger, malnutrition, disease, and poverty (Zoellick 2009). Further decline in rice output will mean that more people will slip into abject poverty and hunger. 2

3 TARGET AUDIENCE RG-CCA-Nig climate services are available to any individual, organization, institution, or body with an interest in agricultural production as it relates to climate services, impacts, mitigation, research, capacity building, and education. RG-CCA-Nig serves all of Nigeria, though its current focus is on the rural poor and smallholder rice farmers from Ebonyi and Enugu States, farmer associations, the staff of the Climate Change Unit, the Ministries of Environment in Ebonyi and Enugu States, the state and national Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), state-level ministries of the Environment, Agriculture & Natural Resources Management, the Ministry of Agriculture, the staff and students of the Faculty of Agriculture at Ebonyi State Univeristy, and students from neighbouring secondary schools. These groups were identified by RG-CCA-Nig experts in rice production, social economists working in climate change, and experts in biodiversity conservation and natural resources management. Climate and contextual information For years, smallholder rice farmers in Nigeria have used their local knowledge and experience to interpret climatic conditions as they relate to cropping seasons and practices. However, as a result of variability and erratic change in climatic conditions, which push the limits of local knowledge, farmers have turned to the research centres and universities for climate information. Since 2009, RG-CCA-Nig has worked to provide farmers, communitybased organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and state and local decision-makers with climate data and innovative adaptation technologies. This has helped them cope with climate shocks, improve planting practices with innovative technologies, and ensure better yields. This needs to be scaled up for increased benefit to farmers. As climate change continues as a growing concern, the availability of drought-tolerant rice varieties will become a prerequisite for sustainable agricultural production, especially in the rain-fed upland ecology of Nigeria. Several types of rice were identified as droughttolerant. Others, which have the potential to be drought-tolerant, iron toxicity-tolerant, and high-yielding genotypes are being field-evaluated for further selection both in upland and lowland ecologies. Previous projects also identified eleven varieties for lowland ecologies and thirteen varieties for upland ecologies, respectively. Figure 4: Flood disaster Izzi/Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Sept Rural, poor, smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable to climate variability and change because of their geographic location, low income, and the lack of institutional capacity to address climatic impacts (USAID, 2007). Smallholder farmers also contend with inaccessible and lacking knowledge in the area of climate information services. Increased access to climate information long with effective institutional research and innovative technologies that support breeding climate-tolerant rice genotypes could enhance the capacity of these smallholder rice farmers (particularly women) in the face of low agricultural productivity, increased food insecurity, hidden hunger, and chronic poverty. RG-CCA-Nig encourages a variety of other adaptation strategies including: changing planting dates, improving water and soil management, using a zero tillage farming methodology, and finding alternative sources of income. The success of these methods has been dependent on stakeholder engagement, and building reliable networks between researchers and rural communities. Currently in Ebonyi State, the base of RG-CCA-Nig, there are no meteorological and hydrological stations for climate information monitoring and forecasting. RG-CCA-Nig therefore goes to the neighbouring state to collect data for analyses. On its own, this is not the best source for climate information, as data are not always readily accessible when needed. 3

4 Implementation Processes and mechanisms Stakeholder and issue identification RG-CCA-Nig is very important for rice farmers from Ebonyi and Enugu States, farmer associations, staff of the Climate Change Unit, the Ministry of Environment (Ebonyi State), staff of state and national-level ADP, the State Ministries of the Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, and state project coordinators of Ministry of Agriculture. The group was formed at Ebonyi State University in 2009 in response to university research and the needs of poor rural farmers in Ebonyi State. The Nigerian government is also working to build capacity among rural communities and support them in coping with environmental issues and food security challenges. Funding mechanisms RG-CCA-Nig does not have a dedicated budget or any funds specifically allocated to its activities, research, or data collection initiatives. The university provides minimal funding for some of the activities (e.g. the Rice Foundation Seed Project, which has since evolved into EBSU Agribusiness Enterprises Ltd.) and individual group members contribute time and personal funds from their salaries to the RG-CCA-Nig activities as part of their normal operational duties. All seek to help humanity, particularly women who are more vulnerable to climate variability and change. Additional funding comes from research grants awarded in the past (e.g. ATPS grant on climate change [ATPS-CSP/0501/10-01] for USD $11,550). Continuous funding is required to scale up the activities of RG-CCA- Nig and allow them to further develop their work in providing climate services, developing drought-tolerant rice lines in collaboration with farmers, and building capacity among smallholder rice farmers and policy makers to confront climate change and adaptation issues. RG-CCA-Nig shares offices with the Biotechnology Research & Development Centre of Ebonyi University and relies on the staff of the same office to oversee its operations. Moving forward, RG-CCA-Nig hopes to continuously access all available sources of funding, including grants that are oftentimes difficult to come by. RG-CCA-Nig projects could be scaled up in terms of infrastructure, coverage, and activities. For example, research teams could adopt a participatory plant breeding method (PPB), involving farmers to ensure adoption and ownership of new technologies. Management and decision making Currently, Ebonyi University provides the facilities and administrative personnel for RG-CCA-Nig operations. University management also advanced the seed money for the Rice Foundation Seed Project. In many cases, the university is also responsible for the monitoring, supervisory, and evaluation capacity. However, university authority does not manage all aspects of RG- CCA-Nig, and a number of activities are approached as a collaborative effort. In the case of the Smallholder rice farmers in southeastern Nigeria: constraints, impact, mitigation and adaptation to climate change project, for example, ATPS holds monitoring and evaluation workshops, as well as annual meetings pertaining to the project. Quarterly reports cover activities and finances. EBSU receives reports biannually on work progress from project teams. Above all, RG-CCA-Nig is a participatory, partnership-managed venture. Decisions are made collectively by the RG-CCA-Nig group members and the farmers who are major stakeholders in the project at hand. Many projects take a collaborative, bottom-up approach: local farmers give feedback and the organization reacts to the best of its ability, depending on the availability of resources. Agricultural experts, social economists, and experts in biodiversity conservation and natural resources management independently contribute advice. Capacities Existing capacities RG-CCA-Nig uses climate data analyzed from the State and National Meteorological Stations collected from the ADP. These institutions consist of experts employed by the state and federal government of Nigeria. The services of RG-CCA-Nig have influenced stakeholder activity in a variety of ways. Farmers have changed planting dates, shifted to using improved rice seeds (e.g. drought-tolerant varieties), improved water and soil management, adopted zero tillage farming methodologies, and sought out alternative sources of income. CAPACITY GAPS RG-CCA-Nig is in great need for external support and capacity building that would close gaps and aid in the interpretation of climate information. Throughout the entire state of Ebonyi, there are no meteorological or hydrological stations. Meanwhile, meteorological and hydrological stations in Enugu state have very limited personnel available to help farmers within the southeast region of the country. Available information has been gathered in bits and pieces from conferences or the media. Furthermore, most available staff members are not computer-literate, which affects their ability to interpret climate data. Capacity building and training on climate change and adaptation for staff has not yet been carried out. Looking toward the future Goals Future goals of RG-CCA-Nig include: 1. The establishment of meteorological and hydrological stations in Ebonyi State (especially within the university): This would provide farmers with climatic information, which is essential for the development of mitigation and adaptation strategies. 2. Increased access to relevant advances and technologies: Lacking access to agro-inputs is still a problem for smallholder farmers. The e-wallet system introduced by the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Ministry of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Federal Republic of Nigeria has been problematic, 4

5 as most farmers do not have or use cellular phones. Fine-tuning the program to ensure that subsidies reach the smallholder farmers is still very important. RG-CCA-Nig hopes to build the capacity of farmers to be able to use these services. 3. Increased extension services for the uptake of climate change adaptation strategies and technologies: Because there are few extension workers at the ADPs, RG-CCA-Nig called upon universities (via the University-Community Linkage Office), NGOs, and extension service providers. RG-CCA-Nig will collaborate with University-Community Linkage Office of EBSU to leverage these connections for the benefit of smallholder farmers. 4. Integration of indigenous knowledge: Farmers identified their interest in engaging in the research processes and applying their indigenous knowledge. They offered to bring up flood-tolerant and high-yielding local varieties for inclusion in breeding programs. When funds become available, the RG-CCA-Nig will use this knowledge to adopt participatory plant breeding (PPB) methodology with the farmers. 5. Inter-organizational synergies: The need for synergy between universities, ADP, the Ministry of Agriculture and other governmental institutions, and farmers is critical to ensuring progress in the agricultural sector. Access to loans for farmers should be facilitated, and farmers should be educated to avoid total loss in cases of crop failure. Again RG-CCA-Nig will be deeply involved in brokering this through information dissemination and lobbying efforts. Lessons Learned The availability and accessibility of information for smallholder farmers is critical to building local capacity to take informed actions that mitigate climate change and facilitate adaptation to variability. To this end, RG- CCA-Nig will adopt various methods and tools: text messages, town criers, announcements in places of worship, and fliers developed in local languages ensure that information is disseminated to the local at-risk populations. The project on climate-tolerant rice grains worked very well and has helped to satisfy farmers needs and interests. Throughout the development of the project, however, logistics, infrastructure, and finance posed major obstacles to success. Similar issues continue to challenge RG-CCA-Nig and its other projects, which have been stalled because of lacking funds. However, the technology developed thus far by RG-CCA-Nig can certainly be transferred. For example, the improved rice lines, especially when released officially as new varieties are suitable for use in many other parts of the country. 5