Hub Activities
Rice growing season: Wet season (June-November)
Rainfed Lowland yield (t/ha): 2.1
Rice Area per Farmer (ha): ≥1.0 et <1.5
General farmer’s support and assets
Presence of farmer’s association: Yes
Access to credit: No or limited
Land ownership (does farmer rent land?): No
Popular Varieties Grown
Rainfed Lowland: FARO44, FARO57
Selected Crop Management
Land preparation: Manual
Crop establishment: Direct seeding
Herbicide use: Yes
Chemical fertilizer application: Not common
Harvesting: Manual
Threshing: Manual
Women activities: Sowing, weeding, bird control, harvesting, threshing, winnowing, drying, transporting, storage.
Major Challenges: Fertilizer access, iron toxicity, flooding, mechanization
ACTORS
Farmers,Reserchers
2013 SARD-SC Agronomy Activities in Lafia Hub
Yield gap survey was executed which was selected hub for rainfed lowland rice growing ecology in Nigeria.The yield carid out 36 farmers field indicated that in lafia hub ,broadcast sowing rice on ridges and or furrow was the practise by the farmers. in addition,it was observed that no water control system in place in the rice field;farmers use limited fertilizer and improper herbicide appilication method;land preparation was manuallly carried out as well as harvesting.
The findings led to introduction of selected good agricultural practices(GAP)in the hub as part of SARD-SC activity in the hub for 2013.
The table below simplified the activities per village in 2013 SARD-SC project in the hub
| Activivity | village | No of Farmers | Remarks |
| Yield Gap survey | Igibi | 20 | The flood that prevented the activity in 2012 was not a hindrance in 2013 |
| Nutrient Omission Trial | Ashangwa | 6 | This was first year of this activity |
| BukanSidi | 5 |
DO |
|
| Igibi | 8 |
DO |
|
| Barkin Abdullahi | 1 | DO | |
| GAP Introduction | Bukansidi | 6 | Nursery seeding/transplanting;field bunding and application of supper granule urea were the component of GAP Introduction |
| Barkin Abdullahi | 2 | DO | |
| Ashngwa | 5 | DO | |
| GidanBuba | 3 | DO | |
The Nigeria rice sector Agricultulral Transformation Agenda also contributed technically during the 2013 activities in the hub .
Activities are usually preceeded by training on protocol by Africa rice Staff.Mr Kokou trained the team members from 26-29 May,2013 at Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme(NADP) Office,Lafia.
GENERAL RESPONSE OF FARMERS TO GAP INTRODUCTION
| Component | General response from farmers |
| Nursery/Transplanting | Good but very tedious process |
| Bunding | Water pressure washed away most part of the bund |
| Supper granule urea | Good but applicator needed |
The following are the Programme for 2014 SARD-SC in the Hub
| ACTIVITIES | COMPONENT | NO OF FARMERS |
| GAP introduction | Leveling/bunding;transplanting;on-time herbicide application | 30 |
| Nutrient Omision Trial | Omision of N,P and K | 20 |
| Weeder Testing | Different weeder type |
60 |
| Rice Advice | Nutrient management options | 20 |
| Rice marketing system | Branding gradding,marketting channels |