Grain legumes are an important component of smallholder farming in SSA, but yields are still below potential. Drought and poor soil fertility are the major causes of low productivity in the region. Farmers are also resource constrained and cannot afford to buy enough fertilizers to improve productivity. N2Africa, a project that aims to improve soil fertility and increase grain legume cultivation and productivity in SSA, supplied farmers with P-fertilizer, improved varieties, inoculant and agronomic practices recommendations.

Harsh climate conditions and poor soils pose challenges for agricultural production by smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana. N2Africa promotes interventions such as increased grain legume cultivation and application of mineral fertilizers and/or rhizobium inoculants, with the aim of improving soil fertility and increase yields. Little is known about the actual benefits and costs associated with the implementation of the promoted technologies for smallholder farmers. In this study, groundnut and soybean yields have proven to increase significantly when the new technologies are implemented.

Report written for IITA

Report written for IITA

This report provides an overview of the different training and extension materials that have been developed in the N2Africa project about legumes (from production to marketing) and biological nitrogen fixation. First, an overview of all materials is given, followed by sub-sections with the available materials on Biological nitrogen fixation and grain legume enterprise, Technical trainings and protocols, Rhizobium inoculation, Agricultural management practices for legumes and Post-harvest handling, processing and marketing of legumes.

Cowpea general agronomy