An Analysis of Groundnut Innovation Platform Achievements in Brokering Improved Varieties to Communities in TL III Project in Burkina Faso

AbstractAccess to seeds of improved groundnut varieties is the most critical problem of farmers in Burkina Faso. Firstly, majority do not know the existence of improved varieties and secondly the price is not affordable to them. Based on the above, the INERA groundnut breeders’ team established four innovation platforms on groundnut in the Region of Centre-East, Region of Centre-North, Region of Centre-West and Region de la Boucle of Mouhoun. Through these platforms, Quality Declared Seeds (QDS) were produced for the first time in Burkina Faso in 2016 with support from the Tropical Legumes phase III (TL III) project. Since then, QDS and certified seeds are produced and sold to the local communities at affordable small packs in order to make improved seeds accessible to the poor farmers. So far about 10,000 persons have been reached with small packs. Farmers, agricultural extension and NGO staff have been trained in groundnut seed production, demonstrations, field days and Farmer Participatory Variety Selection (FPVS) to promote the improved varieties and the best agronomic practices. Farmers’ yields increased from 500–700 kg/ha to 1200–1500 kg/ha increasing women and youth incomes from 200 USD to 800 USD/year only for those who grow groundnut during the rainy season. Those who grow during rainy and off-seasons their incomes can reach 1200–1500 USD. Links with financial institutions have facilitated access to credit for these farmers. In the future, the Platform sustainability will be assured through members’ annual financial contributions and strong production contracts among traders, processors and farmers.