CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems - DS

Overview: AS1.1 - Kano-Katsina-Maradi Transect (Nigeria and Niger)

AS1.2 - AS1.2


Leader Augustine Ayantunde, International Livestock Research Institute - ILRI

Team members: 16
Partner organizations: 13

Budget 2026
USD : 0

Activities/Products:  9


  Description
    
Kano-Katsina-Maradi action site covers a vast area of about 80,000 Km2 in Sahelian and Dry Savanna agro-ecological zones of Nigeria and Niger. Kano and Katsina states are in the North-west zone of Nigeria while Maradi region is in the south-central part of Niger. The action site is characterized by a high population of about 17 million inhabitants. CRP Dryland Systems conducts integrated research in 3 field sites namely Kofa, Ishiyawa and Milli communities in Kano, Katsina and Maradi state/region, respectively. Administratively, Kofa and Ishiyawa are located in Bebeji and Zango local government areas of Kano state and Katsina state, respectively. Milli is in a newly created “Department” (local government area) called Gazaoua in Maradi region of Niger. Market access is very good in all the 3 field sites as there is a dense network of markets in Kano-Katsina-Maradi areas. The markets range from local to large size attended by traders from the rural communities and the cities. The immediate scaling zone of the CRP DS outputs from the field sites are the local government areas where the field sites are located with a combined population of about 700,000 inhabitants. The action site has a mono-modal rainfall distribution with long-term average annual total rainfall ranging from 533 mm in the northern part (Milli field site in Maradi region) to 891 mm in the southern part (Kofa field site in Kano state) of the KKM action site. The rainy season starts from June in the southern part of the action site and in July in the northern part and ends in September/October. The severity of drought can be considered as high with all types of drought risk in the action site. However, there is a high potential for intensification in the southern part of the action site particularly in Kano with high rainfall and very good market access. The prevailing farming systems in the action site are intensive mixed crop-livestock especially in Kano and Katsina areas, and agro-pastoral system in Maradi area. Agriculture is largely rainfed in KKM action site though there is significant irrigated farming in Kano and Katsina states in low-lying plains underlay by shallow aquifers, referred to as “fadama” in Hausa language. Fadama is especially suitable for irrigated production and fishing, and traditionally provide feed and water for livestock. Crop farming in the action site is cereal (maize, millet and sorghum) and legume (cowpea and groundnut) based while cattle, sheep and goat are the major livestock species in the area. Livestock production mainly relies on open grazing of pastures and crop residues by the animals and seasonal migration southwards (referred to as transhumance) where there are more forage and water resources. Crop and livestock production are integrated via the provision of fodder (millet and sorghum stovers, cowpea hay, groundnut haulms) and the recycling of animal manure through corralling animals on crop fields and manure collection. Cattle and donkey contribute to crop production by providing farm labour, particularly for field preparation and weeding, and transport. Livestock also play a major role in financing agriculture through the sale of animals to meet household needs including purchase of farm inputs. To achieve the twin objectives of sustainable intensification of farming systems in the action site to improve food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers, and reducing vulnerability to climatic and market shocks, strong partnership has been established among CGIAR centres, NARS, development agencies, farmers’ associations and private sector in the West Africa region.
  Atlas
    
  Activities/Products
    
Code Activity/Product Name Leader Co-leader Total Outputs Output types View
AS1.1.001 Multipurpose trees (nitrogen fixing trees, fodder trees, fruit trees) / Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) Patrice Savadogo 1
AS1.1.002 Dual purpose crop Sapna Jarial 3
AS1.1.003 Efficient feeding systems (including feed conservation and processing) Tunde Amole Augustine Ayantunde 1
AS1.1.004 Tree domestication/ Income Generating Grafted Fruit Trees Patrice Savadogo 1
AS1.1.005 Crop, tree and animal breed diversification and improvement Raymond Vodouhe Sognigbe N'Danikou 1
AS1.1.006 Nutrient rich local food diversity Raymond Vodouhe Sognigbe N'Danikou 1
AS1.1.007 Improving resource use and cycling through tree-crop-livestock interactions Dougbedji Fatondji 1
AS1.1.008 Multi-stakeholder platforms to facilitate co-learning and information exchanges Solomon Gizaw Assefa 1
AS1.1.012153 yyyy Enrica Porcari Enrico Baccioni 0
  Projects
    
Acronym Project Title Year Section Leader Center Budget Start Date End Date View
  Outcomes and Impact
    
Code Outcomes and Impact Type Indicators View
1 Agroforestry practices adopted/incresed development outcome 3
2 Female and male Farmers (inc.youth) maintain and increase indigenous crops/tree species development outcome 3
3 Livestock holder access to inputs and services increased research outcome 2
4 Female and male farmers/shakeholders use/adopt/implement methods/tools/approaches/technologies/NRMpractices/Varieties/framework/concepts research outcome 3
5 Food and Nutrition security status increased (e.g. availability, consumption) research outcome 2
6 Crop yields increased development outcome 3
7 Multi-stakeholder partnerships and interactive learning increased research outcome 0
8 Female and male farmers/stakeholders (inc.youth) awareness, skills and knowledge increased research outcome 2
11 Tools, methods, processes and capacity of stakeholders to create/customize resilience options improved research outcome 2
10 System approach is adopted by stakeholders research outcome 1
9 Livestock productivity increased research outcome 2
  Personnel Involved
    
  Partners