N2Africa in northern Ghana

In May and June 2019 we visited four villages in northern Ghana where N2Africa has been active and which have been included in N2Africa’s Impact Study. With the aim of adding qualitative context to the quantitative Impact Study, we discussed the experiences with N2Africa in an open way in individual interviews and focus group discussions with villagers.

Genetic diversity and symbiotic efficiency of indigenous and naturalised soyabean root nodule from Zimbabwe

I carried out glasshouse and laboratory work at Murdoch University, with Zimbabwean isolates of soyabean root nodule bacteria that I collected from soils with a history of inoculation in Zimbabwe. I worked with a total of 137 soyabean root nodule bacteria isolates that were revealed by molecular methods to be drawn from the four species, Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, B. elkanii, B. japonicum and B. ottawaense. Although sites had been inoculated with B. diazoefficiens, they were dominated by the indigenous B. elkanii.

Legume Technologies’ adoption among smallholders: Role of ICT market interventions and impact

African farmers are increasingly presented with innovative technologies to maximise their agricultural production potential and remain food secure. One of the innovations has been through the biological nitrogen fixation project N2Africa promoting proven legume technology packages (Improved seed varieties, phosphorus fertilisers, inoculants for improved productivity. Whereas considerable efforts have been made, adoption remains low due to limited knowledge and information on available technologies, inputs, credit and other services.

The Role of the Integrated Maize-Soyabean-Chicken Value Chains in Sustaining Diverse Diets: the case of Southern Highlands of Tanzania

Six months after his MSc Animal Sciences, Wilson Charles returned to Wageningen University in April 2018 for a PhD program while registered at Plant Production Systems group. Primarily, he joined N2Africa and The Missing Middle project where his research focuses on exploring the role of the current soyabean-chicken-maize value chains in sustaining diverse diets in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.

Enhancing biological nitrogen fixation and yield of soyabean and common bean in smallholder farming systems of Rwanda

Climbing bean is a very important crop in Rwanda especially in the highlands of the Northern Province. However, yields achieved by farmers in the area remain low. This is due to overexploitation of the tiny lands with little or no fertilizer use. A field experiment was established in Kinoni and Muko villages of the Northern Province to identify which nutrients are limiting in climbing, using the Compositional Nutrient Diagnosis (CND) and the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS). Climbing bean leaf samples were collected in 56 plots from experimental fields.