Collaboration Opportunity

We are pleased to announce the collaboration opportunity to conduct research on Describing and Mapping Existing Irrigation Systems in Nigeria  (IFPRI_NSSP_2010_01).  When submitting an application, please include the following information:

•          Cover letter from applicant expressing interest and summary of qualifications relevant to the ToR

•          CV

•          Example of publication

•          Regions to be covered (choose one region among North East, North West, South East)

•          Proposal of detailed timeframe and workplan for conducting work

•          In the subject line, specify the collaboration number (IFPRI_NSSP_2010_01). 

Submit complete application to ifdcnigeria@ifdc.org with a cc to V.Rhoe@cgiar.org and H.Takeshima@cgiar.org by Thursday Feb 18, 2010.

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Despite considerable potential for development and the emphasis placed on irrigation development in many plans, only four percent of the cultivated area in Nigeria is irrigated. Moreover, even on this small area there is not a clear understanding of where in Nigeria different types of irrigation infrastructure are used and to what effect. Only a fraction of the estimated total irrigated land in Nigeria lies within well-known public schemes; there is less systematic knowledge of exactly where the remaining land area under informal irrigation is or how these schemes are developed and managed.  The purpose of this research is therefore to map and categorize existing irrigation systems in four regions within Nigeria. This is the first phase of a more extensive research project aimed at analyzing the constraints and opportunities to developing irrigated agriculture in Nigeria. 

The study will be conducted in the following regions: North East (Maiduguri), North West (Kano), South East (Nsukka) and South West (Ife). The collaborator conducts literature reviews and primary and secondary data collection and holds key stakeholder interviews in order to:

• Review literature and gather data on types of representative irrigation systems in the region
• Carry out GIS mapping of available data
• Further analysis of benefit-cost structures, operations of each type of irrigation system

The main deliverbles include 2 reports:

1. Report on the type of irrigation and GIS mapping in Nigeria
2. Report on the profitability, cost-structure of each type of irrigation system identified

To request the full ToR, please send an email to A.Ipinlaiye@cgiar.org with a cc to V.Rhoe@cgiar.org or join the LinkedIn Group “Nigeria Agriculture Policy Network” at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1877777&trk=hb_side_g

Announcement: Climate Action Newsletter.

We are pleased to inform you of the January edition of Climate Action Newsletter. Climate Action 2009/10 focuses on the major issues for resolution in Copenhagen and the actors who can help to implement the solutions. For further information on the publication, please click here.

Publication: Modeling Agricultural Trade and Policy Impacts in Less Developed Countries

This OECD Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries Working Paper focuses on the development of a methodological framework for examining the distributional effects of alternative agricultural policies, including price supports and associated border measures, input subsidies of various kinds (e.g. for credit and fertilizer), and direct payments. To view this paper, visit http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/39/39/42122112.pdf

Announcements: July 2010 Capacity BuildingWorkshops.

We are pleased to announce the workshop series scheduled to hold at University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON – July 2010.

Results Based Management, Appreciative Inquiry and Open Space Technology – July 12-16, 2010.  This popular workshop introduces participants to Results-based Management, Appreciative Inquiry and Open Space Technology. For further details and registration, please go to:   Register Online.

Gender Training  -    July 19-23, 2010
The new Gender Training Workshop seeks to provide workshop participants with a solid understanding & skills in core concepts, gender analysis frameworks and gender strategies that can improve the effectiveness of your organization’s programmes and projects in working with women and men, boys and girls.   For more information  and registration, please go to: Register Online.

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation with Community Practicum – July 26-31, 2010
Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PM&E) involves a different approach to project monitoring and evaluation by involving local people, project stakeholders, and development agencies deciding together about how to measure results and what actions should follow once this information has been collected and analyzed. For further details and registration, please click here: Register Online. 

Announcement: NSSP/ APSF Research Seminar

We are pleased to invite you to a NSSP/ APSF Research Seminar presentation on Market and climatic risks and farmers’ investment in productive assets under Second Fadama Development Project in Nigeria By Dr. Hiroyuki Takeshima, International Food Policy Research Institute, Abuja, Nigeria (presenter) and Futoshi YamauchiInternational Food Policy Research Institute, Washington DC, USA, Tuesday 26, January @ 2.00PM, IFDC Conference Room, IFDC/IFPRI Office No.6/ Plot 1413 Ogbagi Street, Off Oro-Ago Crescent, Cadastral Zone 11, Garki, Abuja, (Near Old FERMA)

 Please confirm your participation by emailing Theodora Adene, (A.T.Adene@cgiar.org)

Abstract: Majority of African farmers face various types of risks including rainfall and commodity prices, but often lack the means to mitigate their impact. If farmer’s capital constraints are relieve with financial assistance, they may be willing to invest in productive assets that help mitigate these impacts. We test this hypothesis using panel data collected during the Second National Fadama Development Program (Fadama II) , historical data on rainfall, and white gari price in Nigeria. The preliminary results support the hypothesis. Under Fadama II, farmers facing higher rainfall risk  were more likely to invest in irrigation pumps that mitigated the impact of rainfall risk than those who did not receive external financial assistance. Also, farmers who faced higher risks on white gari price were more likely to invest in milling machines which enable them to process cassava into flour instead of gari.

Keyword: rainfall risk, price risk, irrigation pump, milling machine, investment, risk-aversion

Louis MALASSIS International Scientific Prize for Agriculture and Food

The Agropolis Foundation has announced the Louis MALASSIS International Scientific Prize for Agriculture and Food, which aims to recognize individuals, or a group of individuals, for their exemplary and promising contribution in promoting innovation through research, development and capacity building in the North, South or in the Mediterranean in order to improve food and agricultural systems sustainability as well as contribute to addressing food security and poverty reduction. The prize consists of two categories:

Louis Malassis Distinguished Scientist Prize is conferred to an outstanding scientist, or a group of scientists, with a PhD degree, with at least 15 years of professional experience and who has made significant contribution in the field covered by the Prize through his/her (or their collective) work. The recipient of the award will receive € 20,000 and a trophy.

Louis Malassis Young Promising Scientist Prize is given to an individual, or a group of young scientists, who has carried out original and promising work in the field covered by the Prize. The awardee should be no more than 40 years old by January 1, 2010, have a PhD degree and should have at least five years of professional experience in the field covered by the Prize. The recipient of the award will receive € 20,000 and a trophy.

Candidates should be nominated by an academic or research organization (private or public), a civil society organization (e.g., NGO, farmers organizations), or a private sector (e.g., small/medium enterprises). The winner will be selected by an international jury constituted by the president of the Foundation. The deadline for receiving nominations is on January 20, 2010. More information and the nomination form are available at http://www.agropolis-fondation.fr/uk/our-actions/Malassis-Prize.html.

Announcement: Publication on Nigerian Agriculture

Ensuring Food and Nutrition Security in Rural Nigeria

This publication is an assessment of the challenges, information needs, and analytical capacity of  Nigeria being characterized by high reliance on food imports. Malnutrition is widespread in the entire country and rural areas are especially vulnerable to chronic food shortages, malnutrition, unbalanced nutrition, erratic food supply, poor quality foods, high food costs, and even total lack of food. For detailed information, please visit the link: Ensuring food and nutrition security in rural Nigeria

Institutional capacity for designing and implementing agricultural and rural development policies and strategies in Nigeria

This publication takes a look at the capacity for designing and implementing agricultural and rural development policies, strategies, and programs in Nigeria. For further information, please go to the link below:
Institutional capacity for designing and implementing agricultural and rural development policies and strategies in Nigeria

Announcement: E-Discussion on Women and Poverty

We are pleased to announce the upcoming E-discussion on Women and Poverty organized by the United Nations Development Program, scheduled for January 11-12, 2010. The purpose of the e-discussion is to bring together experts, practitioners and policy-makers, from within and outside of the UN system, to formulate critical policy messages to the 15-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action; the ECOSOC Annual Ministerial Review on gender equality (AMR); and the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly, focused on the Millennium Development Goals. If you are interested and would like to participate, please go to this link to register by: clicking here

Announcement: IFPRI Publication on Nigerian Agriculture

Decentralization, Agricultural Services and Determinants of Input Use in Nigeria

This study examines the impact of government involvement in agricultural service provision on the use of modern inputs by farmers in Nigeria. The empirical findings suggest that government involvement in agricultural service provision positively influences the farmers’ input use. However, wealthier farmers are more likely than poor farmers to benefit from such services. Please, visit the link for more information: http://www.ifpri.org/publication/decentralization-agricultural-services-and-determinants-input-use-nigeria

Announcement: Publication on Who should be interviewed in surveys of household income?

Results from this study show that using a husband’s estimate of his wife’s income does not produce statistically reliable results for poverty analysis. Estimates of the wife’s income provided by the husband and wife are in agreement in only 6% of households. Please for details, go to the link: View article…