Sustainable Agriculture May 2009
Science and farming: sustaining the partnership
Adesiyan Bashir: Farmer and leader of a cassava growers association, Oyo State, southern Nigeria
Summary:
As leader of a cassava growers association, Adesiyan Bashir always encourages his fellow members to work closely with researchers. But what are the benefits of doing this? Access to new varieties of cassava has been the most important. As a result of their high yields, Bashir and other farmers are now able to afford the herbicides they need to control weeds in their fields, boosting their yields even further.
Suggested introduction:
What does it take to make a farmer happy, to sustain their enthusiasm and commitment to farming? Good yields? Good profits? Or the feeling of making progress?
For Adesiyan Bashir, a farmer and leader of a cassava growers association in Oyo state, southern Nigeria, a key part of the progress his community has made is not just down to a new variety or improved incomes. Their rising standard of living has also come about thanks to the close relationship the community has developed with plant breeders from the nearby International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
As Mr Bashir explained to Sadiq Abdullateef, the proof of the partnership is the highly productive cassava crop, and this is why he encourages other farmers to co-operate with agricultural researchers.
Tape in:
We have always told our...
Tape out:
...getting back to the farm.
Closing Announcement:
Adesiyan Bashir, who is encouraging his branch of the Nigerian Cassava Growers Association to work with scientists, in order to benefit from new varieties of cassava.
Making the most of it:
By phone-in or interview ask farmers and researchers about the disadvantages of community participation in science. For example, is it time-consuming and inconvenient? Does it require sharing information and knowledge, for which there is no reward? Find examples of positive results of farmers working with scientists.
Transcript
Bashir
We have always told our people at the meeting that, if you see any scientists or researchers in your area try to attend them, welcome them, give them what they need from you.
Abdullateef
So if I understand you really well you are saying you are always ready to work with scientists to get more from them?
Bashir
We know that what scientists need from us is the information, how we are getting our cassava. So every meeting we are trying to educate farmers that scientist people will come to their village. If you get any scientists on this particular cassava try to attend to them.
Abdullateef
You have been working with these scientists at IITA. How has that raised the standard of living of a farmer, what you have managed to gain from the scientists?
Bashir
Well we are receiving advice and some information from them. We are using our money to buy these particular varieties. Cassava production is a good business for the farmers if they know what they are doing. Because as these particular varieties, you can see our farm now, there is no weed. We are controlling by the chemical, we are spraying the chemical. That is why you cannot see any weed on the farm now. So that is what we are trying to do so that we will be planting these things for a long time.
Abdullateef
As a farmer now how does it feel to have all this? Why do you love this work?
Bashir
Why I love this work is that I was born at the village here. Since my childhood I have loved the farming business. So in fact some years ago I have left the farm to go for other work but still I see that instead of going and beg from somebody, Please I need a contract from you or I need so and so from you, so it is better for me to come back to my father's work. Over 15 years now I come back to our village and start the farming business. I do not regret it getting back to the farm. End of track.
