Realizing Sorghum and Millet Agricultural Productivity Gains in the Sahel/Nigeria (SMS)

IFDC monthly report – March 2016

Monthly Progress Review Skype Call with Context

The first monthly Skype discussion with Context Global Development was held at 4.00pm on 8 March, 2016 between Mr. Will Rogers of Context, Raphael Vogelsperger of IFDC and Abidina Yakasai of IFDC. The discussion centered on activity report, M&E indicators, learning agenda, work plan update and timing for the first quarterly site visit. Due to poor internet connectivity a follow up Skype call was conducted between Mr. Will Rogers and Abidina Yakasai on 14 March; during the call the upcoming Diagnostic and Design workshop was discussed in addition to the upcoming quarterly site visit.

Visit by Will Rogers (SR. Program Manager - Context Global Development)

Will Rogers of Context Global Development visited IFDC Ghana office on 17 and 30 March, 2016 to see M&E specialist Mr. Ernest Acheampong. The key issues discussed were around the SMART Monitoring & Evaluation Framework, where all indicators were reviewed. Discussion around baseline was also on the agenda and a briefing was provided to him as to the steps taken towards getting the baseline values.

Activity Domain 1: Building inclusive partnerships

Activity 1.1: Identify and liaise with potential lead firm and discuss inclusive business interest

A meeting was held at Nestle office in Lagos on March 3, 2016; in attendance were Miss Oluyomi Akinnigabbe (Strategic Buyer, Raw Agricultural Materials, Nestlé Nigeria), Mr. Samuel Adenaken (Corporate Relations Manager, Nestlé Nigeria), Mr. Abidina Yakasai (SMS Team Leader) and Mr. Maxwell Olitsa (SMS Training Specialist). During the meeting the SMS team updated the Nestle team on the activities carried out so far. The proposed next steps of the project were discussed and the Nestle team proposed that the D&D workshop slated for last week of March be brought forward to March 15 and 16 to enable them participate, which was agreed to. Nestle good agricultural practices training pamphlet was also reviewed and a copy obtained by the Training Specialist for improvement before final production for use in the upcoming farmer trainings.

IFDC North and West Africa Division, PMB CT 284, Accra, GhanaTel: +233 (0)560 027 917 / 18 • E-mail: ifdcghana@ifdc.org • ifdc.org • facebook.com/IFDCnews • @IFDCnews

The SMS team also drafted a partnership agreement proposal that has been shared with Nestlé on 30 March. It does not yet include the M&E framework (under finalization) and the budget (that will be developed once the other sections are agreed upon).

Activity Domain 2: Support to sorghum agribusiness cluster formation

The project team met with about 50 Small Holder Farmers (SHF) on 7 of March 2016, at Ruwan Kanya Farms located at Kuki village in Bebeji Local Government of Kano State. The meeting had in attendance Mr. Abidina Yakasai, Mr. Maxwell Olitsa and Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman of Miraj Nigeria Limited, one of Nestle’s aggregator. During the meeting Abidina gave an overview of the project to the farmers and also discussed the need for farmer cooperatives. He encouraged farmers to select amongst them and send representatives to the D&D workshop.

A similar meeting was also held on 9 and 10 March 2016 at Soba and Funtua respectively. At Soba the farmers were assembled at Alhaji Saleh Soba (a Nestle aggregator) and at Funtua the meeting with farmers took place at Yara community. Mr Abidina Yakasai facilitated the meetings. The SHFs invited gave information about the existence of groups with a few being active while majorities were not. Abidina gave an overview of the project objectives, gender integration, inclusive business and the importance of the attendance of a selected representative from their groups at the D&D workshop. The aggregators Dan Malam and and Alhaji Saleh were in attendance at the meetings in Funtua and Soba as well as a village head from Giwa community in Soba.

Activity Domain 3: Value chain Development

Activity 3.1: Facilitate access to seeds (local or improved varieties responding to the need of the buyers)

Premier Seeds mentioned as a major source of quality seeds during aggregator meetings was visited by the project team on 10 March 2016 and a meeting was held with the National Marketing Manager of the company Mr. Michael K. Oyegbile. After introductions and an introduction of the project by Abidina. Mr. Michael briefly explained the activities of the company and also identified adulteration of seeds as one of the major challenges facing the company. The Marketing Manager also stated that Premier Seeds is ready to collaborate with SMS and will be attending the upcoming D& D workshop as a chain actor.

Activity 3.2: Organize Diagnostic & Design workshop among (potential) value chain actors and chain supporters

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A diagnostic and design workshop was held at Bafra Hotel in Kaduna on 15 and 16 of March, 2016 and had in attendance 10 SHFs (out of which 3 were female), 8 representatives of aggregators, representative of Premier Seeds, a representative of the Kaduna State ADP, 2 bankers from Sterling Bank Nigeria Plc., representative of the proposed BSS and Mr. Peter Okomoh of the IFDC-led Feed-the-Future Agro-Input Nigeria Project. Unfortunately Nestlé representatives did not participate, despite their confirmation. Facilitated by Mr. Lazarus Yerima Rueben and Mr. Maxwell Olitsa the interactive workshop had the following objectives:

Develop a joint vision that key into the ambition of the lead firm that are linked to commodity value chains to be developed

Improve existing value chain map by getting input from value chain actors to ascertain authenticity of the currently existing commodity specific value chain map.

Identify central constraints and agree upon sustainable solutions and upgrading actions.

Make propositions on effective upgrading strategy of up scaling that is driven by lead firm and clarify the role of government in doing so.

Identify expertise and resources needed by value chain actors and how to access these. Develop a 2016/2017 cluster action plan with emphasis on contribution from value

chain actors/private sector

Activity Domain 5: Learning AgendaActivity 5.1: Develop a performance M&E plan in collaboration with context

In the course of the reporting period, details of fields in the SMART Monitoring & Evaluation Framework were populated and a number of initial reviews were undertaken. The IFDC specific indicators for fields like definition, target value, data source, frequency, who is responsible for data collection as well as where will it be reported have been populated. Reviews by other team members have been carried out for inputs. It is anticipated that the document will be finalized and shared with Context Global Development by the first week of April, 2016.

A term of reference has been developed for the Baseline Survey and it will be used to select consultant and also to conduct the survey.

Next Steps :April-May 2016

Month Activities Time FrameApril2016 Meeting with Nestle to review D& D Report and

validate the annual value chain development planApril 4-8

Development of SMS training modules in line with the value chain development plan.

April 10-30

Networking and registration of farmers, including gender mainstreaming

April 10-30

Prepare, conduct and report on Baseline Survey April 18-May20Finalization of the partnership agreement By the End of April

May 2016 Selection of BSS and training of BSS team May 1-5Pre-season GAP training for SHFs May 15-June10Learning plot site selection May 15-June 10Pre-season GAP step down training May 25-June 30

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Meeting at Nestle Nigeria Oluyomi Akinnigbabe and Abidina Yakasai Meeting with Premier seed Marketing manager Mr Micheal (L)

A cross section of participants at the farmer meeting in Ruwan Kanya Farms Kano State

A Cross Section of Participants at the Meeting held at Soba (L)in Kaduna State and (R) Yan Kara in Funtua

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A Cross Section of Participants during the D&D Workshop Held at Bafra Hotel in Kaduna

Participants Drawing a Cluster Map during the D&D Workshop

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