In Nigeria, upland rice production, which represents about fifty-eight per-cent of the total area of land down to rice, is affected by erratic rainfall and blast disease. A nitrogenous alcohol and growth regulator, chloro-cholin chloride, was tested on rice variety CO 39 to study its effects on drought tolerance and susceptibility to Pyricularia orizae, the causal agent of blast. In greenhouse and field conditions, it significantly reduced plant height and the effect of blast.

Results indicated first of all that this salt reduced Pyricularia oryzae’s reproductive development by 95%. Secondly, under greenhouse and field conditions, it increased root length, leaf water retention, and stomatal resistance. To achieve these results, seeds from this variety were soaked for eight hours in a concentration of 600 mg/l of solution. As a result, plants were drought tolerant from fourteenth days’ old.

Contact: E.A. Maji, E.D. Imolehin
NCRI, P.M.B. 8, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria
Fax: +234 66 462172

Saint-Louis, in the northern region, remains the major onion production center in Senegal. Farmers in Gandiolais have been producing garlic for some thirty years now. However, over the past nine years, cropped areas, representing about fifty hectares nineteen years ago, have declined considerably with a simultaneous rise in imports to eight hundred tons per year, representing one billion CFA francs. In order to halt this unwelcome trend, the Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles (ISRA’s) Centre pour le développement de l’horticulture (CDH) has just published a technical fact sheet on garlic production in the country.

Researches carried out since 1992, involved selecting new varieties, conducting trials (cropping calendar from 15 October-15 December, organic and mineral fertilization), and preparing inventories of the major crop pests. As a result, smallholders had access to varieties that matured in 120-150 days with yields of 3-9t/ha: Gandiol Garlic, Mali Garlic, Cape Verde Garlic, Jamaica Garlic, and Egypt White 5.

The technical fact sheet and some of these varieties can be obtained from CDH.

Contact: Youga Niang
ISRA, BP 3120, Dakar, Senegal
Fax: +221 835 06 10
E-mail: cdhisra@sonatel.senet.net

For many African countries, South-South cooperation is no meaningless term. Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire have once again proved this to be the case. Since 1999, the Caisse de stabilisation et de péréquation, in Gabon, and the Centre national de recherche agronomique (CNRA), in Côte d’Ivoire, have been building partnerships, in order to regenerate coffee production in Gabon.

A team of Ivorian researchers have already identified favorable coffee-producing areas in Gabon. Two Gabonese technicians spent time at the Divo research station, in Côte d’Ivoire doing a course in coffee production nurseries. There are also plans for the CNRA to provide selected plant material and supervise the establishment of plantations.

This exemplary cooperation in agricultural research and development may set the precedent for other countries wishing to benefit from the expertise of CNRA’s researchers.

Contact: Bourahima Osseni
CNRA, 01 BP 1740 Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire
Fax: +225 23 45 33 05
E-mail: cnra@africaonline.co.ci

In Africa, agricultural research institutions and development agencies need to reach their objectives, that stakeholders work together to solve problems related to production, processing, marketing, and the use of agricultural produce and by-products. Therefore, public awareness is an indispensable tool for making well-understood their target groups of their role and place in target groups’ life. The aim is to get them adhesing to their objectives, and own image which is reflected in their discourse and action. Unfortunately, most structures do not consider this as a priority.

To fill this gap, the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) organized a workshop to prepare a manual on public awareness for agricultural development in Africa, in June 2000, in Nairobi. Participants, who came from French- and English-speaking African countries, Europe, and North America, prepared their own tools adapted to this new mode of communications. They began by defining objectives, audience, messages, communications strategies, and methods of evaluation. Then, there were presentations on public speaking, preparing publications (annual report, bulletin, newsletter, etc.), and audiovisual materials, how orienting media, how using informatic tool, exhibitions, and theatre. Finally, the best ways to manage crises related to public awareness were identified.

A manual on public awareness for agricultural development in Africa is due to be published in December 2000.

Contact: Armand Faye
WECARD, BP 8237, Dakar-Yoff, Senegal
Fax: +221 825 55 69
E-mail: c.action@coraf.org
Internet: www.coraf.org

The National Research Institute (NCRI) in Great Britain is offering courses in grain storage management and post-harvest technology for horticultural products (see fourteenth issue of Coraf Action). Final year university students attend lectures at the Institute, while students preparing their masters’ thesis generally carry out research in their home countries.

For final year students, intensive lectures (16 weeks) begin on 12 March and end on 29 June 2001. Students doing the masters course begin before 2 July 2001. Computer-mediated distance learning is also available for professionals.

In addition, a new 45-week program on food security will begin. It is aimed at professionals in the field of nutrition and agriculture.

Contact: Gesa Reiss
NRI, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, United Kingdom
Tel: +44-0-1634 883448
Fax: +44-0-1634 883386
E-mail: nri-training@gre.ac.uk
Internet: www.nri.org/training

In Gabon, forest exploitation has devastated certain areas. However, the situation has not yet reached crisis point. The Programme de recherche sur le reboisement des essences locales has provided access to precious knowledge on the sylviculture of local species. The project is about to be launched with the aim of developing forestry techniques that should improve afforestation as well as the dissemination of information. Technical briefs on the regeneration of the main forestry species are planned.

This new project will be implemented by the Institut de recherches agronomiques et forestières (IRAF) and the Direction des inventaires, des amènagements et de la régénération des forêts (DIARF), and will be allocated 15,400 billion CFA francs.

Contact: David Ngueza
IRAF, BP 2246, Libreville, Gabon
Fax: +241 73 08 59
E-mail: unitèsylvicole@itnetgabon.com

After the presentation and evaluation of the past four years of activities (see fifteenth issue of Coraf Action) at the Pôle régional de recherche sur les systèmes irrigués en zone soudano-sahélienne (PSI), the time has come to disseminate results. To this end, a seminar for national officials and donors in the agricultural sector was organized by the Centre national de recherche agronomique et de développement agricole (CNRADA), at the beginning of May 2000, in Mauritania.

Several papers were presented on intensified irrigated rice production, diversification of animal and crop productions, soils degradation, technical management, and the organization of social and land systems for irrigation. It is hardly surprising that participants recommended that: all irrigation development projects should include and support research that draws on expertise at the PSI, and that this CNRADA initiative, which is supported by the French Embassy, should be replicated in other countries that are members of the Pôle.

Technical briefs on the major findings may be obtained from the Coordination régionale, in Dakar.

Contact: Jean-Claude Legoupil
PSI, BP 8320, Dakar, Senegal
Fax: +221 825 39 63
E-mail: legoupil@sonatel.senet.net

The West African Rice Development Association (WARDA) is looking for a scientific (or research) director and a cropping systems agronomist to be based at Bouaké, in Côte d’Ivoire.

The scientific director coordinates all research and development programs. S/He also be a member of the Institution’s Executive Committee. The candidate should hold a doctorate degree, with ten years’ experience in the management and implementation of agricultural research in sub-Saharan Africa. He should have published articles in several scientific journals and have excellent inter-personal, writing and communications skills in both English and French.

The cropping systems agronomist will work with a team responsible for improving rice yields and production systems. He will encourage all stakeholders concerned to get involved in these activities through collaborative ventures networks, assistance, and training. He should hold a doctorate in earth sciences and weed control, with at least ten years’ experience, five of which should have been spent working on African rice production systems. Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English and French are required, in addition to the ability to communicate with farmers and extension workers.

Each candidate shall be offered a 2-year renewable contract, with salary and benefits commensurate with that of international centers’ personal of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

Applications should be sent with a detailed curriculum vitae, two publications (for the scientific director only), and the details of two referees. The closing date for submissions for the research director post is 30 September 2000. There is no deadline for the cropping systems agronomist.

Additional information is available from the following address.

Contact: The Human Resources Officer
ADRAO, 01 BP 2551 Bouaké 01, Côte d’Ivoire
Fax: +225 36 63 47 14
+225 31 63 09 72
Tel: +225 32 63 45 14
E-mail: g.dao@cgiar.org
Internet: www.cgiar.org/warda

Two years ago, in Accra, West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (WECARD) embarked on the path towards institutional "change". A year ago, in Bangui, the institution was "reformed" through the adoption of the Strategic Plan for Agricultural Cooperation, Research and Development in West and Central Africa (1999-2014). Barely two months ago, in Dakar (17-21 July 2000), the thirteenth annual General Assembly of the sub-regional organization laid the first milestone in this process by adopting the Action Plan to launch this Strategic Plan. Mr Papa Diouf, Senegalese Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, opened the meeting which was attended by WECARD’s President, Directors of research institutions representing National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), Coordinators of operational units, development partners (the private sector, nonGovernmental Organizations), representatives of international cooperation agencies, and scientific and financial partners.

At the sub-regional level, sharing the same vision in terms of problems, possible solutions and responsibilities is a prerequisite for developing competitive and sustainable agriculture. WECARD is in a position to plan and program sub-regional cooperation for agricultural research and development, with a view to reducing inequality to put an end to underdevelopment and to cut integrated development costs. To achieve this, participants examined annual crops such as cotton, seed-producing legumes (groundnut and cowpea), cereals, roots and tubers. They concluded that emphasis should be put on varietal creation, diseases and pests control, and dissemination of plant material. High value-added products should be developed, using biotechnology, for example. Emphasis should also be placed on the development of integrated management techniques, the dissemination of food-processing techniques and the evaluation of their adoption. However, the effectiveness of the process depends on the degree of users involvement. In addition, the current legislation should be examined to facilitate the exchanges of plant material and intellectual property rights.

Accompanying Measures in the Pipeline

Of the discussions concerning perennials (oilpalm, coffee, cocoa, rubber, and fruit) led to decisions to encourage increased competitivity on international markets, environmental preservation, and to draw up an inventory of all species. It was agreed that of the association of genetic resources of plant and animal origin makes it possible to use varieties and species with short- and long-term cycles, of different lengths to forsee irregular rainfall, to use underground water sources, and develop participatory management methods. Surveys on endangered species, management of phytogenetic resources, and public information also contributes to better conservation. To this end, WECARD and International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) is to edit a publication on agroforestry this year.

In order to make these decisions effective, accompanying measures were taken to develop institutional capacities: limiting WECARD’s role to that of facilitating and coordinating cooperation, increasing fundraising efforts (particularly by speeding up the establishment of a competitive regional fund), improving contacts between NARS and donors, strengthening their capacities to manage research (motivating researchers is essential) and disseminating results. In this regard, the incorporation of a communications and information policy within the Strategic Plan should encourage the establishment of a human resource database. This should also ensure mobility for researchers, exchanges, and training. In addition, it was agreed that farmer organizations, NGOs, and the private sector would be members of the General Assembly and WECARD’s Executive Committee. The mechanism of this participation should be examined.

New Blood

Finally, membership of the Executive Committee, which decides on the direction WECARD is to take, and WECARD representation at the General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) were changed with the appointment of new members (see inserts).

Contact: Ndiaga Mbaye
CORAF, BP 8237, Dakar-Yoff, Senegal
Fax: +221 825 55 69
E-mail: ndiaga.mbaye@coraf.org
Internet: www.coraf.org

Adama Traoré, President, Mali
José-Gabriel Levy, Vice-president, Cape-Verde
Paco Sérèmé, Burkina Faso
Théodore Mianzé, Central African Republic
Olatunde Ademeyi Oloko, Nigeria
Sié Koffi, Côte d’Ivoire
Jean-Daniel Mbéga, Gabon
Pape Abdoulaye Seck, Senegal
Adam Fousseyni, Togo

Adama Traoré
Emmanuel Owosu-Bennoah
Paco Sérémé
José-Gabriel Levy
Rogers A.D. Jones
Samuel Bruce-Oliver

In Africa, agricultural development and research institutions are still not used to assessing whether their researches have the desired impact on producers. Out of one hundred and twenty-two countries, only six in Africa participated in agricultural research impact assessments carried out by the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR). Yet, more than just being useful, they are justified because they bring in profits. Alongside the WECARD General Assembly (17-21 July 2000 in Dakar), this burning issue was the subject of a workshop run by Samba Ly from the Institut du Sahel (INSAH), by William Masters of Purdue University in United States, and Francis Idachaba of ISNAR.

Just as all stakeholders have a different perspective on impact evaluation, there are numerous ways to conduct assessments. Since 1994, INSAH and Purdue University have organized training workshops, awarded research fellowships, published results, and organized validation sessions. They have also analyzed the aspects of agricultural policies lined to: law, justice, good governance, fiscal, monetary, financial, trade and customs requirements transport, communications, as well as policies changes. Finally, they analyzed resources and comparative advantages. From 1992-2005, Africa will see a 1% growth in income and with almost a 3% population growth rate per year, South Asia will see a 5,5% growth in income with a 2% population increase per year, and East Asia will see a 9,5% increase in income and with a 1% population growth. However, although spiraling increase of labor, and death of land and capital paint a grim picture, the study shows that Africa will see an increase in self-sufficiency in non-cereal agricultural produce from 1,25-1,45%, and in cereals from 0,94 to nearly 1%.

Conditions for Making a Profit

ISNAR’s approach is to study economic surpluses (costs, benefits, production, and consumption), to evaluate research and extension work contribution to production, participatory involvement of stakeholders in evaluation, etc. The results speak for themselves: cowpea production has increased by 65% in Senegal, sugar cane production has risen 50% in South Africa, potato seed production is up 40% in Rwanda, and agricultural research has increased by 25% in Mali.

The conclusion drawn by INSAH and Purdue University is that research is viable when it is relevant (major crops), diversified (several varieties), original, and affordable (source of inputs and outlets for the products).

Extend these Studies to Other Countries

The discussions following the presentations recommended that: this types of studies should be adopted by research institutions for a better understanding of social demand, and that the initial hypotheses should be formulated more carefully so that the links between research and extension work can be identified. To persuade decision-makers to increase their support for research and make them aware of the medium- and long-term effects of environmental studies, participants suggested encouraging forecasting studies so that other stakeholders in the agricultural sector can adopt the results. In addition, WECARD should study the possibility of extending these studies to other countries.

Contact: Samba Ly, William Masters
INSAH, BP 1530, Bamako, Mali
Fax: +223 22 23 37

Contact: Francis Idachaba
ISNAR, P.O. Box 93375,
2509 AJ The Hague,
The Netherlands
Fax: +31 70 38 19677
E-mail: f.idachaba@cgiar.org

In West and Central Africa, the impact of government funding on agricultural research is hardly being felt. Research institutes are still slow to transfer findings to farmers. Such were the conclusions drawn by WECARD’s financial partners who met during the thirteenth General Assembly held in Dakar from 17-21 July 2000. Recognizing that there is a solution to every problem, they are counting on WECARD—transformed into a truly sub-regional organization—to lay solid foundations for collaboration amongst all its partners.

In order to achieve this and to "help us help you", the partners called for the strategic vision adopted by the organization to be translated into effective regional research projects and programs, by reinforcing WECARD’s role as facilitator between National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), and by defining how partnerships could operate. Having set the agenda, partners are offering institutional and capacity-building support.

Contact: Marcel Nwalozie
CORAF, BP 8237, Dakar-Yoff, Senegal
Fax: +221 825 55 69
E-mail: marcel.nwalozie@coraf.org
Internet: www.coraf.org

In sub-Sahara, African public authorities, agricultural stakeholders, and all their development partners should give priority to training men, role of women, acquired human immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS), soil fertility, sustainable funding, and strengthening the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). In this region alone, eleven million AIDS sufferers have already died out of a total of twenty million people who are seropositive. Worse still, eleven million children have lost their parents, and each newborn baby has a fifty per-cent chance of dying from this terrible disease. In Guinea, nearly all of the four hundred and forty-two thousand and seventy hundred agricultural farms are run by men, whereas the women do ninety per-cent of the work on the eight hundred and ninety-two thousand and sixty hundred and twenty hectares of cropped land.

However, the African economy has been withstanding the effects of the recent Asian crisis and regained a favorable place on the world scene, because of economic growth and scientific progresses throughout 1999. This was recorded at the twenteenth Plenary session of the Special Program for African Agricultural Research (SPAAR), held in April 2000 in Conakry. The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr Jean-Paul Sarr, the Guinean Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Mr El Hadj Thierno Mamadou Cellou Diallo, the Guinean Minister of Planning and Cooperation, in the presence of Mr Jean-Louis Sarbib, Vice-President of the World Bank, Mr Moctar Touré, Secretary-General of SPAAR, executive secretaries of the three sub-regional agricultural research organizations, representatives of farmer organizations, of nonGovernmental Organizations, of private sector, and of regional and international agricultural research agencies.

Other conclusions were drawn at the meeting. Progress was observed with the establishment of the African Soils Fertility Initiative (IFS). In ten year’s time, the rapid spread of the AIDS epidemic in the region may completely change the environment in which the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) operate, particularly since developing countries do not always have access to current treatment methods. Although women are seriously affected by this terrible disease and are unable to meet their basic needs from agricultural programs, they continue to play a dominant role in rural economies. It was observed that in spite of the NARS' sustainable financing initiative, launched in December 1999 in Nairobi, financial difficulties persist.

End of the Transition Period

As a result of the situation described above, participants called for the creation of status reports on completed projects concerning fertilization, soils rehabilitation and management in different countries, and an assessment of funding from the international community for the IFS. It was also noted that prevention should be the primary focus in the fight against AIDS. Studies should also be carried out on the gender division of labor at household levels, as well as inequalities in terms of access to and control of productive resources. In addition, new agricultural strategies that will involve women should be promoted. Efforts to increase funding should include: priorities action to develop alternative mechanisms and strategies, institutional capacities building to generate and transfer technologies and for resource management, as well as dialogue with the end-users of research findings.

Finally, since SPAAR will soon be phased out and taken over by FARA, there was a discussion on the appointment of an interim manager for the transition period. It was announced during the WECARD General Assembly (see preceding article) that the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) was nominated by FARA to oversee this "ehanding over" period which should be completed by January 2001.

Contact: Senkoun Wagué
IRAG, BP 1523, Conakry, Guinea
Fax: +224 41 57 58
E-mail: irag@mirinet.net.com

In Cameroon, the restructuring of agricultural research permits to create the Institut de recherche agricole pour le développement (IRAD) in 1996, and to define twenty research programs. A management workshop for the scientists, administrators, and financiers responsible for these programs was held, in June-July 2000, to launch the research activities.

At the end of the workshop, participants requested a directory of current research projects and a manual on administrative, financial, and accounting procedures. A directory of human and physical resources, a code of conduct for professional services, and a documentation center should also be established.

Finally, participants recommended that such meetings should be held biannually.

Contact: Nsangou Mama
IRAD, BP 2123, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Fax: +237 22 33 62
E-mail: iradpnva@iconet.cm 

From time immemorial, African women have ceaselessly used mortars and pestles to pound and pulverize agricultural products. There is nothing more tiresome than pounding and breaking up cassava or yam into chippings (see twelveth issue of Coraf Action). On average, a woman spends six hours processing one hundred kilos. Under the auspices of the Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), the sub-regional project for technology transfer introduced mechanical and electrical grinding machines made in Benin to Togo, a year ago.

These models, made by artisans, consist of fixed and mobile hammers. In the electrical model, they run on energy produced by a dynamo. Identical quantities of cassava or yam chippings (each 25 cm long) are crushed in one minute using less than 1 kw/hr. Crushers have already been made by Togolese artisans and sold for 350 000-400 000 CFA francs each.

Contact: Pissang Tchangaï
ITRA, BP 1163, Lomé, Togo
Fax: +228 25 15 59
E-mail: itra@cafe.tg

Question

Christine M. Soro-Giordanie, a rural extension technician, a regular reader of Coraf Action, has a farm that is overrun by giant red ants. Her husband feeds them dead toads to get rid of them. However, it is not easy to catch toads, particularly at night. It is just as difficult to find ant-eaters, a natural enemy of the ants.

She would be grateful to any suggestions from readers about this, as well as two earlier questions (see fifteenth and sixteenth issues of (Coraf Action).

Contact: Christine M. Soro-Giordanie
BP 71, Ferkéssédougou, Côte d’Ivoire

Cocoa by-products are almost always thrown away or under used. In Cameroon, out of nine hundred and sixty three thousands and two hundred tons per year of fresh pods, eight hundred thousands tons of cortex (bark) and forty-three thpusands and two hundred tons of juice remain unused. The cortex represents nearly seventy per-cent of the pod. Yet the juice, the shell, and the residues (black and flat beans) can be put to various uses.

Fermented and distilled juice produces an alcoholic drink with medicinal properties. Butter can be made from the flat black beans. A mixture of crushed shells, pods and other nutritional elements can be made into cattle feed. Dried and burnt shells make an excellent fertilizer for tubers. This fertilizer (or the water from its ash) provides potash (potassium carbonate), from which an antiseptic soap and palm oil can be made. There is no doubt that the development of these products can help reduce dependency on imports of certain essential products, and reduce poverty, as well as the rural exodus by increasing farmer incomes. Finally, these products can be preserved for long periods.

Contact: Justin Fallo
IRAD, BP 2067, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Fax: +237 23 35 28

Since 1964, consumption of indian hemp, cocaine, heroin, opiates, and psychotropic substances has been on the increase in Congo, probably as a result of the civil war. In Brazzaville, this phenomenon has reached such proportions that the authorities had no choice but to obtain the necessary informations for taking drastic measures. This involved dealing with the source of the problem by stopping growers and dealers. As a result, the drug control project (see thirteenth issue of Coraf Action) carried out a survey amongst inmates of the capital's prison.

Out of 9 800 prisoners, 315 (3%) were incarcerated for drug trafficking and consumption. The drug addicts are mostly young and poor.

Contact: F. D. Siannard
CERVE,
BP 129,
Brazzaville, Congo

In Benin, more and more families are raising small ruminants, pigs, and poultry in the Ouidah sub-prefecture (South-West region). However, there are serious constraints: high morbidity and mortality caused by small size of animals, straying, and poor monitoring of the herds. For several years now, the Centre régional pour le développement et la santé (CREDESA) has been trying to help producers obtain a real source of proteins and incomes from small livestock.

The creation of producer associations has helped extension workers promote some twenty fodder species, a new type of pen (with an upended roof), and a prophylactic technique to make veterinary care and medicine more accessible to producers. As a result, morbidity and mortality rates have been reduced considerably and incomes from the sale of animals have increased. The incomes generated are used for buying medicines and paying school fees. The operation’s success is unfortunately being affected by the poor quality of some of the prophylactics on the market and the lack of collaboration amongst technicians in the sector.

As a result, CREDESA has set up a veterinary clinic with a view to establishing a cattle market.

Contact: Maboudou M. Baba
CREDESA, 01 BP 1822, Cotonou, Benin
Fax: +229 34 70 20

Nigeria is the third largest rice-producing country in Africa after Madagascar and Egypt. However, the country is unable to produce enough rice for local demand. The National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) has developed a rice processing technique capable of producing high quality rice, that is comparable with any imports. In the Middle Belt region, a study carried out in 1999 measured the extent to which women had adopted the technology. Women do ninety per-cent of the work involved in processing rice. In four out of eight states in the zone, two hundred and thirty women were interviewed.

The objective was to find a rice soaker made up of a boiler and a steamer. The boiler is placed on a wood or gas-fired furnace. The rice is soaked in water heated to 75°C and covered with jute bag. Soaking lasts for six hours. The water is then drained off, the boiled rice is poured into the steamer and left for twenty minutes. It is then spread out to dry before milling.

This parboiling plant did not prove very popular in the region. Only 49% of the respondents knew about it, 2% of whom had used most of the techniques taught. The reasons for this are known: the major sources of information on the technology are the women’s husbands and (or) brothers; women have little access to extension services; most extension workers did not even know about the technique. In some of the states, the male supervisors of the extension services attended training sessions instead of the women. Coupled with this is the fact that there are very few female extension agents compared to the number of women farmers.

NCRI has decided to organize trainings for female extension agents, people close to the women who prepare the rice, religious leaders, and professional organizations. It also intends to distribute the rice parboiling equipment throughout Nigeria.

Contact: Ike Nwachukwu
NCRI, P.M.B. 8, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria
Fax: +234 46 46234

In the Northern region of Cameroon, plastic bags, known as "ledda", are ubiquitous. Animals delight on them. However, they are neither biodegradable, easily digested, nor oxydizable. They are the cause of death by blocking the intestines in animals, especially in urban areas. They are also detrimental to plants which consequently do not germinate or grow correctly.

Cattle, sheep and goats are the most affected by eating plastic bags. Causes of death are due to poor feeding during the lean period (March-May), mineral deficiencies, and straying cattle.

Contact: Simon Killanga
IRAD, BP 33, Maroua, Cameroon
Fax: +237 29 29 11
E-mail: coton.maroua@camnet.cm

In periurban and urban areas of Chad, food shortages are increasingly forcing vulnerable groups to raise poultry. There are currentlytwenty-four million heads mainly composed of hens, ducks, guinea* fowl, pigeons and geese. In N’Djamena, if current annual growth rates (seven per-cent per year) persist, the population will increase from eight hundred thousand to one million and sixty thousand inhabitants (1999-2003). This may lead to serious shortages in food of animal origin. As a preventive measure, new farming practices must be adopted, especially for the development of duck farming in the capital, where there are ten thousands ducks.

Therefore, the Farcha laboratory of the Institut tchadien de recherche agricole pour le développement (ITRAD) carried out household studies on breeding Barbary ducks (Carina moschata). Farmers, who come from the south of the country, also grow crops and breed other poultry, small ruminants, rabbits, and pigs. Each farmyard has nine ducks housed in wattle huts. They are fed mainly cereals and agricultural by-products. Each year, within every farm nine ducks are sold, six others are eaten (about 2 kg of meat per person). This consumption represents a total household consumption of 1 330 kg.

A Promising Future for the Sector

Each household earns 30 000 CFA fr/yr (17 000 CFA francs from sales), amounting to a little over one third of the average national per capita income (98 000 CFA francs). Total household income amounted to 20 million CFA francs. Butchers earned 5 million CFA francs from meat sales. Since demand always exceeds supply between February and July, this sector has a promising future.

However, there are still problems which limit production: disease, theft, accidents, predators, lack of training, lack of money, poor quality feed. An immediate improvement in duck health and monitoring could increase their numbers. Better still, a development program integrating collaboration with research and development institutions could be envisaged.

Contact: Mopaté Logtène Youssouf
ITRAD, BP 433, N’Djamena, Chad
Fax: +235 52 74 76
E-mail: zoonoses.farcha@intnet.td

Many readers of Coraf Action were kind enough to respond to my request for information on cooking and eating millet and sorghum (see eleventh, twelveth, thirteenth, fourteenth and sixteenth issues). As a result, we have been able to organize training for local farmers, with the support of a local nutrition project. These courses have proved so successful that they are now being continued in new areas by the Association nationale d’actions environnementales (ANAE).

This is a new experiment which has improved underdeveloped millet and sorghum cropping practices in Madagascar. They are used as cover crops and sown directly.

I would like to encourage all my colleagues, in Madagascar and elsewhere, to read Coraf Action which gave me an opportunity to see how much communications and solidarity there is out there.

Contact: Andriantahina Rakotondralambo
ANAE, BP 592, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
E-mail: anae@bow.dts.mg

Hunting puts considerable pressure on the ecosystem because it eliminates natural resources in large quantities. In Ouidah, in the South-West region of Benin, there is concern over the future of grass cutters, partridges, and hares which are shot regularly. The Centre régional pour le développement et la santé (CREDESA) has recently carried out a study to determine the scale of damage caused to fauna in the sub-prefecture of Atlantique, and to identify ways of controlling the problem.

Every year, ten hunters kill 900 grass cutters, 1 500 partridges, and 300 hares. Thirty per-cent of this catch is eaten by their own families. The rest is sold and brings in 234 150 CFA fr/yr to each hunter, whose initial investment is estimated at 22 470 CFA francs. Farmers eat 10% of the meat and income from sales ranges from 15 000-84 000 CFA fr/yr for each producer. This incomes are used to buy essential items for the lean period and pay school fees, and is put towards savings with micro-credit groups ("tontines").

CREDESA intends to raise hunters’ awareness, so that they are more interested in breeding small game. Accompanying measures are required for this, as well as collaborative work on grass cutter breeding.

Contact: Goukou Gérard
CREDESA, 01 BP 1822, Cotonou, Benin
Fax: +229 34 70 20

Guinea, a major banana producer and exporter, is pinning great hopes on importing improved plant material from Cameroon, in order to increase production for local markets. This explains why the Centre régional de Foulaya (Kindia region) of the Institut de recherche agronomique de Guinée (IRAG) has obtained varieties from the Centre régional de recherches sur bananiers et plantains (CRBP) in Cameroon (see thirteenth and sixteenth issues of Coraf Action). These varieties were evaluated by smallholders.

The Popoulou variety emerged above the others, and was highly appreciated by farmers. The first bunches distributed were warmly received by most consumers. Everybody is looking forward to when this variety is disseminated.

Contact: Mahmoud Camara
IRAG, BP 156, Kindia, Guinea
Fax: +224 61 01 08
E-mail: irag@mirinet.net.com

Célestin Lemba, Coordinator for Gabon

Célestin Lemba, Documentalist, is in Charge of Publishing and Documentation at the Institut de recherches agronomiques et forestières (IRAF), and is coordinator of the Gabonese national communication network and the WECARD regional newsletter, Coraf Action. He is responsible for collecting, writing and editing articles. In each network member institution, a correspondent is designated to help the coordinator by providing articles.

Since the coordinator edits all articles for Coraf Action, authors based in Gabon are requested to send articles to his address, wherever possible.

Contact: Célestin Lemba
IRAF, BP 2246, Libreville, Gabon
Fax: +241 73 08 59
+241 73 25 78
Tel: +241 73 25 65
+241 73 25 75
+241 73 25 32

He is responsible for collecting, writing and editing articles. In each network member institution, a correspondent is designated to help the coordinator by providing articles.

Since the coordinator edits all articles for Coraf Action, authors based in Gabon are requested to send articles to his address, wherever possible.