Fertilizer micro-dosing for the prosperity of small-scale farmers in the Sahel : final report, June 2002-December 2004

The goal of the project was to increase crop production and farmer incomes through the uptake of fertilizer micro-dosing technology and better farmer-based cooperative organizations. The project activities were implemented using a participatory approach through a network of partners from the national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES), non-governmental orgnizations (NGOs), farmers and farmers groups, and other international agricultural research centers. These activities consisted of demonstration and on-farm trials of the fertilizer micro-dosing technology, farmers field schools (FFS), training of farmers and technicians, training workshops, strengthening of farmers associations in "warrantage" or inventory credit system, and exchange visits between farmers from the three project member countries. This report highlights the major achievements of the project. In all the three participating countries, over the two years of the study, yields of sorghum and millet increased by 44 to 120% while income of farmers increased by 52 to 134% when using the fertilizer micro-dosing and the "warrantage" (inventory credit system) than with the earlier recommended and farmer traditional practices. Farmer access to credit and inputs was improved substantially through the "warrantage" system. The technology has reached up to 12,650 farm households in the three countries and efforts are in progress to further scale-up and out the technology to wider areas. (Author abstract, modified)