| dc.description.abstract | In collaboration with partners, several training events were conducted to improve the skills and knowledge of farmers and extension agents in improved crop production practices and symbiotic nitrogen fixation technologies. During the 2015/2016 growing season, 1,312 (808 males; 504 females) farmers were trained on general crop production and management: varieties selection, seed production techniques, best planting window, row spacing, plant population, field scouting, disease diagnosis, and fertilizer and inoculant use through in-house training sessions in the form of workshops and hands-on field training using demonstration plots. At least 182 soybean farmer-managed demonstration plots (123 males; 59 females) were established on farmers’ field and technologies demonstrated included varieties, early planting, inoculant use, P application and row spacing. In addition, more than 289 cowpea farmer-managed demonstration plots (146 males; 143 females) were established to demonstrate the potential of improved varieties. Farmers learned about new soybean and cowpea varieties, options that enable them to match varieties to the length of the growing season in addition to other basic agronomic practices that are critical to closing the yield gap. For example, Fig. 1 shows the yields of 21 farmer-managed demonstration plots which clearly indicated that application of either P fertilizer or inoculant increased soybean yield and a positive interaction of the two inputs on soybean yield. Farmer field days were also organized to show case, popularize and create awareness about legume technologies. In total, 1,293 farmers and stakeholders participated in the field days. | en_US |
