Facilitating market access
Seed producers get market-savvy
In Niger the major producers and processors of groundnut are women. Now they are also major marketers, thanks to the facilitators who motivated seed companies to sign contracts with women’s associations.
Women groundnut seed producers in Niger. Photos: Dr Jupiter Ndjeunga, ICRISAT
Challenge
More than 27 farmer association seed producers, totaling 870 members (640 women and 230 men) in the Dosso region of Niger have been working with ICRISAT through the Tropical Legumes II project, since 2007, to evolve and development.
- Access to modern varieties
- Training in seed production technologies
- Access to inputs (such as varieties, good quality seed and fertilizers) and production market for groundnut seed by linking women seed producers to the market.
Interventions
Access to new varieties
A seed company agent of MANOMA weighing a groundnut bag to ensure that it met the norm of 40 kg.
2007-2009
Participatory variety selection trials for 5 groundnut varieties
- 4 modern varieties: RRB, J11, ICG9346 and Fleur 11
- One local check: 55-437
Building capacity
2009-2010
2,500 women trained in seed production technologies in 5 years
2011-2012
100 women seed producers trained in small-scale business management
Women oriented market development
2012-2013
Stakeholder meeting: Women associations signed formal contracts with seed companies MANOMA, AINOMA, Alheri and FUSA’A at the beginning of the cropping season.
Credit: ICRISAT provided inputs for seed production to women on credit at the beginning of cropping season, which would be reimbursed in kind at harvest time.
Guaranteed price: Women received a guaranteed price of 30% above ongoing market price at the time of purchase.
Timely purchase: Seed companies purchased seed in a time-bound manner.
Contracts work: Contracted amount of 50 tons was honored by seed companies
2013-2014
Seed companies signed 10 contracts on 80 ha of groundnut in 2013/14 with women seed association producers.
Impacts
Marketing strategies
Sale of seed in small packs: 64% of groundnut stock was sold in packs starting from 5 kg onwards.
Treated seed: 69% of the treated seed was sold.
Tapping the local market: Farmers who accessed local markets sold about 79% of their seed stock while those who sought far-off markets sold 40% of their stock.
Contracts: Interlinked contracts with 4 seed companies were set up.
Women produced
72% of the total groundnut seed in Niger
The Future
Seed production Increases over 3 fold in 5 years
$45 Gross profit
Each farmer produced 5.31 bags (40 kg each) per ha and earned 21,240 FCFA ($45).
Three small goats can be purchased with this amount.
Building on the achievements and the strong gender perspective of the Tropical Legumes (TL) II project, the TL III project has a component on Gender Learning, Mainstreaming and Analysis that includes establishment of a gender monitoring system module capable of reporting on gender empowerment and female participation in decision-making as per the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes gender monitoring system.
