Maximizing Crop Residues with 3 the Stover Crusher How Homestead Farming is 4/5 Helping to Change Lives Proving Gender Matters 6/7 IAA Entrepreneurship Trainings: 8 The Before and After Story of a Small Business Owner About The Activity/Contact 9 To assist smallholder mixed-crop and livestock farmers in processing crop residues, USAID through its Feed the Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity being implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and partner, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is helping to train these agriculture producers in the use of the Crop Residue Utilization Machine also known as Stover Crusher. In November 2021 alone, a total of 1,470 farmers and herders (including 544 females) in Adamawa and Borno states have undergone the Crop Residue Utilization and feed formulation Training. The purpose of the training is to expose these farmers to the potentials as well as the possibilities of the stover crusher. Since the commencement of the training, beneficiaries continue to commend the efforts of Feed the Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity for the intervention. They acknowledge the Stover Crusher’s ability to crush a large quantity of The practice has always been to tie-down goats crop residues within a short period. Also, after roaming for food. Tying these animals down the farmers attest to how well they are able predisposes them to theft. With a machine like to utilize left-overs on their farms for this, goats are left to roam freely and fed within income generation and maximum profit. the perimeter of the residence. For these agriculture producers, the use of the machine automatically translates to a “The trainees in the four local government areas “zero-wastage” situation wherein no appreciated the Stover Crusher so much, some residue is left to be burned and the asked if they could rent the machine. Others plan environment is better protected. on contributing money to buy the machine for their personal and communal use”, said Senior For trainees in these local communities, the Research Supervisor, Joseph Abikoye. self-powered, locally-fabricated engine will encourage greatly goat-rearing within the localities. I A A N E W S L E T T E R , 6 T H E D I T I O N N O V . 2 0 2 1 I A A N E W S L E T T E R , 6 T H E D I T I O N , N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1 Before Lise Gabriel, 39, got trained by Feed the Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity on the economic possibilities of homestead farming, she was an unemployed resident of Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State with no hope of earning an income on her own. “My polygamous husband was the sole-provider. I had to manage carefully the little he was giving me and my children. When he didn’t have, I had to take it like that. My story changed when I got the training. I don’t even buy vegetables anymore. Apart from vegetables, I planted banana, Moringa, bitter leaf, spinach, and sorrel. Happily, my chickens are doing well too”, narrated Lise, mother of three. I A A N E W S L E T T E R , 6 T H E D I T I O N , N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1 One year after the Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity provided the training to beneficiaries in her local government area, Lise can now boast of a flourishing home garden and a commercially-viable poultry. “I bought chicks and raised them to adulthood at the rate of N1,270 each. I currently sell at N1,800 per chicken but I am sure I will sell at a higher price during the festive season.” Lise said. Homestead farming or home gardening allows individuals regardless of their socio-economic status to plant a number of crops including trees, along with rearing of livestock, poultry or fish, mainly for the purpose of meeting their basic needs. This type of farming could be accessibly done on vacant home income, nutrition, gender and labour, spaces or backyards. Homestead and integrating different homestead farming may date back to ages but components for rural farm household. the advantages remain the same in With earnings from Lise’s home garden, terms of productivity and profitability she can afford to contribute her quota to her family up-keep. She doesn’t have to depend on her husband all the time. More importantly, Lise now has easy access to improved family nutrition courtesy of her backyard farm and poultry. One other advantage of homestead farming for Lise is a bragging right in her community. “Neighbours come to me for vegetables. I simply tell them: “Here are seeds, go plant yours!” Everyone is gradually turning to a homestead farmer in my environment and I am so happy about that. Thanks to Feed the Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity for the encouragement and support for people like me”. I A A N E W S L E T T E R , 6 T H E D I T I O N , N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1 Since July 2019 when USAID commenced the ·· Organizing gender sensitization staff implementation of the Feed the Future Nigeria seminar and community gender equality Integrated Agriculture Activity in northeast advocacy (including at the palace of the Nigeria, the Activity has recorded astounding Emir of Biu, paramount ruler of the Biu achievements in the areas of facilitating emirate, Borno State, Nigeria) in improved agro-input and extension advisory commemoration of the International services to serve vulnerable populations; Women’s Day (IWD) 2020 and 2021 strengthening the institutions that form the #EachforEqual and #ChooseToChallenge market system and the networks that serves respectively. small holder farmers disenfranchised by conflict In furtherance of promoting gender equality as well as facilitating the engagement of youth and equity through its interventions in Northeast and women in economic and entrepreneurial Nigeria, the Activity organized a gender activities. sensitization workshop in both its Yola and Biu On gender issues, the Activity can boast of: offices from the 9th -11th of November, 2021. · Engaging 5,501 participants in Gender The workshop themed “Gender Stereotypes and equality and Gender Based Violence (GBV) the Burden of Unpaid Care Work among Women awareness training featuring; Gender roles folks” was aimed at promoting gender and responsibilities, gender equity, and integration under IAA interventions through stereotypes. Gender based violence (GBV) - gender sensitization and mainstreaming among types, causes, consequences, and options staff and partners. for mitigation. · Conducting Gender mainstreaming In his opening remarks, the Deputy Chief of Training of Trainers (ToT) and stepdown Party (DCoP) of the Activity, Mr. Olukayode trainings to 2,816 participants and Faleti encouraged participants to benefit from stakeholders in 12 LGAS of intervention in the workshop by helping to debunk gender Adamawa and Borno States. misconceptions and promoting gender issues. I A A N E W S L E T T E R , 6 T H E D I T I O N , N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1 He reminded the group of IAA’s continued commitment to empower women and youths in Northeast Nigeria. Speaking at the occasion, the Market Systems and Livelihood Specialist, Mr. Bassey Archibong, explained that through the workshop, participants will appreciate the issue of gender and social inclusion in every situation. According to him, this will help transform the society into a more habitable environment for every citizen. For the breakout sessions which were handled by the Youth and Gender Facilitator, Mr. Shakiru Quadri, participants collaborated on a Gender Master Plan and IAA Integration Matrix which includes 5 Domains of Empowerment: Access to Production, Knowledge and Technologies; Access to Production Resources; Control over Income and Expenditure; Group Participation & Leadership; and Time Allocation. During the workshop, the Lead Facilitator, Ms. Mercy Filli, focused on Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI), Gender Stereotypes and the Burden of Unpaid Care Work among Women Folks. Ms. Filli, a renowned development specialist, clarified some key GSI concepts and mainstreaming principles which will empower members of the three components of the Activity to employ a clear gender lens in the discharge of their duties. Objectively, she said the sessions will encourage the infusion of equal treatment to every citizen regardless of their sex, status or disability. I A A N E W S L E T T E R , 6 T H E D I T I O N , N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1 Against the background of popular beliefs, Nigerian women are regarded as very enterprising beings. Most of these women are not only accountable, they are also said to be capable of multiplying resources. The bottom line is whether man or woman, the possibility of meticulously managing resources becomes a mirage when these resources are nonexistent. For most Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SME), necessary entrepreneurship trainings and access to finance pose herculean tasks. While it is difficult to simply comprehend the workings of a profitable business; financial Institutions, on their part, reject loan requests from this set of businesses owing to increased regulations, less profit on smaller loans, lack of collateral, and bad credit or lack of credit history. Even when loans are available, a large number of businesses are vying for these few opportunities. The story changed for a small business owner, Hauwa, when a rare opportunity came knocking on her door courtesy USAID funded Feed the Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity. As a Kulikuli-maker, Hauwa, mother of eight, was privileged to attend a women and youth poultry production and entrepreneurship training organized by Feed the Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity in Biu, Borno state. Subsequently, Hauwa was able to access an interest- free loan of 30,000 naira with a three-month repayment plan through a private partnership. Before the disbursement, Hauwa was producing once a week. Her production has now increased to three times a week. In addition, she makes extra N5,000 from the production of oil extracted from the groundnut used for the Kulikuli. The success recorded by Hauwa does not terminate with her Kulikuli business, the proceeds from this business is being diverted to her backyard poultry business which is yielding profits. Until now, Hauwa lacked capital for sustained production. Presently, she produces four mudus (bowls) of fried groundnut with an average margin of N2,000 profit. Automatically, this translates to more customers and more money to support her large family. With a constant Return on Investment (ROI), Hauwa looks forward to expanding her small business. 8 I A A N E W S L E T T E R , 6 T H E D I T I O N , N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1 A B O U T T H E A C T I V I T Y The Feed the Future Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity-IAA issued under the US Government's Global Food Security Act was awarded by USAID Nigeria to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture-IITA and its partners in July 2019 towards economic recovery in North- East Nigeria. It supports vulnerable populations in 12 Local Government Areas of Adamawa and Borno states by engaging in basic farming activities to improve food security, increase agricultural incomes and improve resilience among smallholder farmers through strengthening institutions and market networks, youth, and women in agribusiness activities. C O N T A C T P R A K A S H K A N T S I L W A L www.iita.org www.feedthefuture.gov I A A N E W S L E T T E R , 6 T H E D I T I O N , N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1