MARKETS II & Aflatoxin:

Any meeting point?

Project Background

MARKETS II – Maximizing Agricultural Revenue and Key Enterprises in Targeted Sites II

Follow-on to the erstwhile MARKETS project: 2005 – 2010 & and Bridge to MARKETS II:

December 2010 to April 2011

MARKETS I Legacy and Approach

MARKETS II2012 – 2017

Project Background (2)Designed to strengthen: Agricultural

competitiveness and food security in Nigeria by improving livelihoods in selected areas through

improving productivity, increasing value addition, .increasing commercialization of

selected commodities and processed products, and improving policy environment

CommoditiesRice

CassavaSorghumSesame CocoaMaize

CowpeaAquaculture

Dairy

Objective

Increase private-sector participation and investment, raise incomes, increase

employment, promote food security and reduce poverty

MARKETS Activities• Training farmers to increase productivity and income

through the application of best agronomic practices and increasing farmers' access to quality seeds, fertilizer and CPPs.

• Providing farmers access to credit and other inputs• Brokering partnerships• Linking farmers to guaranteed markets• Promoting value-added processing

Our Approach:

February - May

USAID MARKETS signs agreement with BOA to provide

credit at 8% to farmers

Last season, MARKETS Farmers increased yields from 1 MT per

hectare to an average of 2.1 MT per hectare. Average net income

increased to 46,750 Naira

Malted sorghum replaces imported barley. Aba

Malting Plant Capacity: at least 60,000 MT

MARKETS Partner Da-Allgreen Seeds provides seeds, advice to farmers, transportation and logistics, limited credit and delivery to the Aba Malting Plant

May - July August - September October January

Partners: Rice ProcessingFarmer CooperativesFirst Bank of NigeriaNigerian Agricultural Insurance CorporationADP / Benue State GovernmentOlam Nigeria Limited

Achievements of MARKETS I:

1981-90 1991-00 2001-05 2006 2007 2008 20090.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00Yield / Ha as a Proxy for Production Competitiveness

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age

Yiel

d pe

r Hec

tare

Farmer benefits go beyond increased yields. By growing high-yielding, market-driven varieties, farmers generate greater profit margins due to the increased quantity and improved

prices for high-quality paddy.

Achievements of MARKETS I (cont):1,169,430

205,030

$ 364.2 M$ 260 M

Beneficiaries Reached

People Trained in Agricultural Productivity

Gross Revenue Generated By Clients

People adopting new technologies or management practices545,952 590,000

Credit leveraged$ 76.5 M$ 57 M $ 76.5 M

So, what have all these got to do with Aflatoxin?

Maize and Groundnuts are the most susceptible crops to Aflatoxin

Maize is one of MARKETS mandated commodities to support the fish feed and poultry industry.

Networked farmers are assisted to grow the crop and supply our partner organizations for industrial uses. Nigeria produces about 8 million metric tons of maize annually out of which about ½ is stored

Facts:We have noted that Mycotoxins:a) develop during production and harvesting or storage of agric produceb) occur more frequently under tropical and sub-tropical conditions c) are very stable, resisting high temperatures and several manufacturing processesd) affect agric productivity, human and animal health as well as international tradee) cannot be eliminated BUT controlled

Control measuresTrain farmers to apply the following:1) Dry grains as soon as possible after harvesting2) Reduce breakage of grain to avoid contamination3) Ensure silo conditions are oxygen free4) Use crop rotation to avoid carry-over of moulds5) Use resistant varieties6) Encourage grain handlers to use masks to avoid inhalation

Institutional collaboration

Initiate dialogue on how to incorporate the above listed control measures and more into Extension and farmer training curricula in the

relevant value chains

Let’s dry properly