AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

COUNCIL

Grain Crops Institute

Mr. W SnijmanMr. P du Toit / Me A de Beer

snijmanw@arc.agric.za

ARC – Grain Crops Institute

• Mandated to serve the entire summer grain and oil- and protein seed crop sectors

• Conducts research and

technology transfer

training

• To achieve international and national productivity and

competitiveness

• Dry bean

• Groundnut

• Soybean

• Sunflower

• Bambara

• Canola

• Cowpea

Mandatory oil seeds development

Where do you find us?

Potchefstroom

Chris Hani Avenue 114

General inquiries:

018-299 6100

Objectives of ARC-GCI’s programmes

• To identify specific varieties, selected by farmers, to establish a strong foundation for a successful seed provision system

• To increase the on-farm yield level of the crop in order to improve household food security

• To establish more sustainable and economic viable cropping systems in the targeted farming areas

• To contribute significantly to the establishment of an effective seed

provision system.

• To establish a strong knowledge and information support system

within the ranks of local extension services and the farming

communities

• To provide resources (basic seed) and technical support to help

establish an effective seed provision system

• To provide a continuous flow of relevant information to extension

services and farmers of the targeted farming communities

• Unlocking the potential of small scale “PULSES Crops” production

PULSES and Food Security Discussion

Forum

Advantages of cultivating PULSES and

available research and technologies.

• enhancing soil quality,

• human and animal nutrition

Capacitating emerging farmers to play an

effective role in the food production chain.

Introduction

• Rural households rely on PULSES crops as their food source.

• Mono-cropping resulted in soil nutrient depletion and poor crop

performance so evident in many farming areas in the provinces.

• A historical over-emphasis on the production of maize neglected legume

crops.

• Grain legumes such as cowpea, groundnut and dry beans are seen as

alternative crops

• The challenge is to revitalise legume production and to increase agricultural

production and income at farm level.

• This is done by practical interventions such as on-farm trials, participatory

technology development activities and interactive training sessions.

Three sub-divisions to introduce ARC-GCI’s involvement:

A. Research

B. Technology transfer

C. Training

Limpopo

Mpumalanga

Free State

Other

A.Research

• The objective of the Tafelkop study was to evaluate what contribution grain

legumes cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea

L.), in rotation with maize, can make to improve the cropping system at the

Tafelkop farming community.

• The trial started in the 2010/11 when maize, cowpea and groundnut were

planted.

• In the second season (2011/12) all blocks were planted with maize.

• Significant differences were observed in yield and yield components

• Maize in a rotation clearly demonstrated higher yield levels compared to

maize in monoculture.

• It is highly probable that the N03- and NH4

+ content contributed to the

superior performance of the maize in rotation.

• A rotational effect also contributed to the higher yield in maize

The effect of two legume crops on yield at Tafelkop - 2011/12.

Sequence* Grain yield of maize

(kg ha -1)

Maize in rotation with Cowpea 2 404

Maize in mono-culture 993

Maize in rotation with groundnut 2 946

Crop rotation trial at Tafelkop The project’s outdoor classrooms.

B. Technology transfer

• Information and farmers days

• Radio and Television Broadcasts

• Congress presentations

• Publications

• On-farm training

Scholars introduced to crop production

NAMPO

C. Training

Limpopo

• Six farmer workshops held reaching a total of 178 participating farmers.

• Five feed-back and planning sessions were conducted and 83 farmers were

actively involved.

• Training events created excellent opportunities for purposeful interaction,

technology transfer and effective communication among all role players

• The project has made a significant contribution to increase interest and

knowledge on legume crops.

• The project serves to be instrumental in legume production in the target

communities.

Project localities selected

Locality District Municipality Crop investigated

Ratanang Mopani Maruleng Cowpea

Tshiombo Vhembe Thulamela Dry beans (Irrigated)

Eenzaam Sekhukhuni Makhudu Thamaga Cowpea

Leeukraal Sekhukhuni Makhudu Thamaga Cowpea and Dry beans

Tafelkop Sekhukhuni Elias Motsoaledi Cowpea

Farmer participation during a field

school at Tafelkop.

Stacking the groundnut crop at harvest

time – a training session at Puleng.

Locality Date Number of farmers reached

Ratanang 23 February 42

Leeukraal 08 March 45

Tafelkop 09 March 52

Eenzaam 10 March 35

Total: 174

Number of farmers attending information days

On-farm trial : farmer Mr.

Moagi

Total cost of production:

Mpembe farmers R 9878 x 25 ha =R 246 950

Uthembekile farmers R 7064 X 23 ha = R 162 472

Harambe farmers R 7189 x 20 ha = R 143 780

Total cost of the 68 ha unit = R 553 202

To empower a group of three pilot farmers in Dipaleseng to successfully

produce 68 ha of sugar beans. Utilise three production blocks as demonstration

and training platforms to reach out to a target group of 20 potential sugar bean

producers.

Seed treatment at Mpembe

Determining plant densityJohannes Simelane

Proud farmer

Farmer Gogo and part of

her bagged harvest

Mpumalanga

Project outcomes

Producer income

Farming unit Ha allocated Yield in

(ton/ha)

Yield in bags

(50 kg)

Total yield

(Ton)

Price per ton

(R)

Income

(R)

Mpembe 25 0.86* 430 21.5 12 500** 268750

Uthembekile 23 1.55 713 35.65 14 000*** 499 100

Harambe 20 0.875* 350 17.5 12 500** 218 750

Total 68 - 1 493 74.65 - 986 600

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Gra

in y

ield

kg/

ha

1999/2000 '2000/01 '2001/02

Cropping season

Yield performance of three dry bean varieties (combined) at Mlondozi in

Mpumalanga

Free State

Mr Tsotetsi

• A project between DRDLR and ARC was

launched in August 2013 to capacitate

farmers in the Mokgolokoeng and Diyatalawa

districts.

• Five beneficiaries from Diyatalawa.

• Thirty beneficiaries from Mokgolokoeng

• Three additional beneficiaries were added during 2014/2015:

Mr Motsoeneng, DTB Coop, Mr Tsotetsi

• During 2013/2014 dry beans was planted at Diyatalawa (200 ha)

and Mokgolokoeng (30 ha)

• During 2013/2014 sunflower was planted at Mokgolokoeng (160 ha)

• VKB was co-opted as farmers support entity

FARMER TONS

HARVESTED

HA YIELD SOLD (NETT PRICE)

Potato Group 35.790

Start harvesting:

27/5/15

30 1.193 R5 093/t = R182 278.47 + R5 355 (VAT) and the

R38 250 insurance = R225 883.47

Chief group 52.916

Start harvesting:

28/5/15

50 1.058 R5 093/t = R269 501.19 + R12 778.50 (VAT) and

R91 275 insurance = R373 554.69

Motsoeneng 44.679

Start harvesting:

21/5/15

40 1.117 R5 093/t = R227 550.15

Tsotetsi 27.520

Start harvesting:

25/5/15

40 0.688 R5 092/t = R140 131.84

TOTAL 160.905 160 1.014 R819 461.65 (Excl. Insurance)

R948 986.65 (Incl. Insurance but Excl. VAT)

Yields and Income

Dry beans at Diyatalawa

• The inclusion of VKB was a key factor to the success

• The rational was to involve local agri-businesses to start building a

working relationship to supply on-farm assistance, support and

building up a credit history after the project has ended

• This project provides a gateway to the farmers towards

commercialisation

• A profit of R948 986.65 was achieved with the Free State project

Outcomes in the Free State

Milestones achieved in projects:

• Practical on-farm experience in various aspects of sugar bean

production by the three pilot farmers

• Fifty farmers exposed to and gaining in-field experience on the

production of sugar beans

• The project inspired farmers to become sugar bean producers in the

future

• Pilot farmers were directly exposed to the marketing environment of

sugar beans

• The project management team gained valuable experience in the

implementation of inter-institutional projects of this nature

• All farmer groups actively involved in the planning of the project.

• Farmers participated well in the planting of the various trials.

• Farmers were also tasked to participate in the maintenance of the

on-farm trial plots

However

Constraints hampering farmers to make a significant

contribution

• Poor seed/input supply systems

• Low soil fertility

• Poor mechanization support systems

• Low levels of knowledge

• High production risks

Eenzaam farmers share

cowpea info with our Foskor

visitors.

Farmer’s day at Ratanang

Future

Farmers – to capitalize on the technological advances

Industry – to create effective input-output market opportunities

Research – Provide information and develop technology in participation

with farmers

Advisory services

Technology dissemination

Emerging farming Systems and Training

Farmers

- On-farm trials

- Farmer’s participation,

- Demonstrations

Extension

- Higher level

- Monitoring and evaluation

Formal and informal training

REMEMBER!!

Acknowledgements:Information supplied by

- Dr J du Toit Saayman

- Mr P du Toit

- Me A de Beer

- Me E Nemadodzi

Thank you