The Business Incubation platform (BIP) of IITA has exceeded the production record for maize in Nigeria. This was achieved through its Youth Out-growers team in an out-growers program with Nestle Nigeria.
Maize is one of Africa’s dominant food crops, rich in vitamins A, C and E, carbohydrates, essential minerals, and contains 9% protein. Africa harvests 29 million hectares, and Nigeria being the largest producer produced 1.69 tons per hectare in 2019, as its highest production rate. However, the Out-growers team have achieved an average of 6 tons/ha, a massive development compared to the achievable value across Nigeria.
Despite the huge number of maize farmers in Nigeria, the amount harvested is little due to low yield. The Out-growers program, with the help of IITA, was initiated to see how there can be an increase in maize yield and maize farmers’ income in Nigeria and Africa. To help achieve this, the BIP team carried out a trail with some varieties under certain conditions before the launch of the scheme in 2020. At harvest, the team got far beyond the usual production rate, a result that seemed to be an achievement of its goal of increasing maize yield in Nigeria and Africa.
Victor Saleh, BIP Communication Executive, after an interview with the out-growers team, highlighted key measures in achieving this huge harvest. These include the selection of quality seed, proper land preparation, planting under good weather and soil condition, continuous field maintenance, pest scouting and quick eradication, and site-specific fertilizer application recommended by Agriserve, a unit of IITA BIP. Farmers are advised to take note of the key measures and implement them for better yield.
This achievement will indeed help the team to work with farmers under this scheme for better maize yield. Also, youths with little resources thinking of agriculture can have a soft landing in maize cultivation, because it requires minimum capital, low risk of exposure, and has a great propensity for relatively higher return on investment compared to other crops. The scheme also ensures a guaranteed market with farmers making more money, as they will sell directly to the Nestle.
IITA GoSeed, an early generation seed production company that produces breeder and foundation seeds for seed producers can link farmers up with seed producers to enable them access improved varieties of seeds, which is necessary to better yield.
In managing the weed effectively for better yield, we got the support of IITA Weed Science Management department and Dr. Friday Ekeleme (weed scientist) to help achieve this. Large scale mechanized farming specialist Marcos Dellavedova, Japanese scientist Dr. Haruki and Dr. Matsumoto supported the project with their small scale weeding equipment from Honda.
The Business Incubation Platform of IITA has been providing a platform that links research, development, commercialization, and capacity development. IITA BIP aims to create jobs and boost the income, nutrition, and health of poor rural women and men by providing better access to improved agricultural technologies, products and services that will enhance their agricultural productivity while sustaining natural resources. IITA BIP is open for possible collaboration and partnership that will create jobs, reduce hunger, and increase farmers’ income.