Extension Initiatives /
InterCRSP
World Vision International (WVI), a private voluntary organization (PVO) that maintains programs in nine countries of West Africa, is primarily a humanitarian technology transfer organization. In 1997, the Bean/Cowpea CRSP together with the International Sorghum & Millet Program (INTSORMIL) entered on a collaborative project with WVI under the USAID-funded Natural Resource Management InterCRSP project in West Africa. Among the first technologies to be transferred were the triple-bagging and solar disinfestation methods developed by the Purdue/IRAD CRSP project. The InterCRSP approach involves training of a cadre of NARS and NES scientists, technicians, and extension people in the storage technologies. In 1997, cowpea storage technologies were demonstrated at three 'hands-on' technology transfer workshops for more than 200 farmers and project collaborators in Ghana and Chad. During 1998, thirteen WVI staff members from nine Area Development Programs (ADP) in Mali, two representatives (a researcher and a technician) from IER, and several technicians from WVI-Niger were trained in the use and demonstration of the cowpea storage technologies. In Chad, in 1998, cowpea storage technology trainer training sessions were conducted at twelve different locations for 1020 farmers, 370 of whom were women. 147 of the farmers received storage materials, including black polyethylene plastic, clear plastic, storage pots, and sieves, with which they could further disseminate the technologies. In Niger, INRAN and WVI staff conducted training workshops for twenty-five lead farmers from eleven villages. In Mali, a cowpea storage technology workshop was held at Parana, near San, in mid-January, 1999. Participants included thirty-one lead farmers, thirteen WVI staff members from nine ADPs in Mali, and two representatives (a researcher and a technician) from IER. The workshop was co-facilitated by Dr. Georges Ntoukam, Storage Entomologist from Cameroon, and Dr. Gamby Toure, IER Entomologist. Some of the farmers received storage materials with which they further disseminated the technologies
• PEDUNE
• FAO
• InterCRSP
