Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) About Weed Manager Profitability of using RiceAdvice We aim at improving the livelihoods of smallholder rice Another innovative application developed by AfricaRice is A field trial was conducted to examine the difference in farmers and sustainably integrating them into the rice the WeedManager. The application assists EAs or SPs in rice yield and profitability between RiceAdvice farmers and value chain. Implemented by the Gesellschaft für generating farm-specific advice for weed management to non-RiceAdvice farmers to quantify benefit from internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and it´s local smallholder rice farmers. The WeedManager reduces guidelines generated by RiceAdvice in Wushishi, partners, we support increasing the quality and qua ntity of reliance on hand weeding, thereby contributing to and LGA’s in , . smallholders´ rice output as well as strengthening the sustainable and affordable productivity enhancement. The results of the analysis show a significant increase in the capacity and efficiency of local processors. We work in four A pilot for the dissemination of the WeedManager involving yield and profit for RiceAdvice farmers (RA) as compared African countries: Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana and 22 SPs and 220 CARI farmers has been conducted with two to the non-RiceAdvice farmers (Non-RA). From the profit Tanzania partners in Nigeria in 2017. Since then, an additional 61 SPs graph below, it is also evident that RiceAdvice farmers Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed were trained, covering four States and 6 CARI partners in could pay a substantial amount for the guidelines that between Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and CARI, Nigeria. Similarly, a workshop to train 13 SPs from various farmers received from SPs. These results are in line with smallholder farmers have benefitted from the ICT solution locations in Tanzania was conducted. studies conducted and published by AfricaRice. RiceAdvice. With the support of extension agents or service providers (SPs), farmers can receive tailor-made Pilot recommendations on nutrient management for rice production. Project

About RiceAdvice AfricaRice is a pan-African research organization, has > 75 developed an Android-based decision support tool “RiceAdvice” for smallholder rice farmers, facilitating pre- Service season field-specific management guidelines for rice Providers trained PROFIT production. The RiceAdvice application helps farmers More than 80% 474,000 484,817 identify the best combination of fertilizers to buy, based on 424,938 youth 350,600 nutrient requirement and fertilizer prices, and helps farmers copyright: Nyani Quarmyne/GIZ 319,750 make better-informed decisions through specifically trained 179,300 extension agents (EAs) or service providers (SPs). The app is What it takes to provide RiceAdvice downloadable at no cost. There are promising opportunities for stakeholders in the After validation trials in Nigeria, Ghana and Burkina Faso, the Wushishi RA Wushishi Non- Gbako RA Gbako Non- Lavun RA Lavun Non-RA rice value chain to take up RiceAdvice. Youths and women Farmer RA Farmer Farmer RA Farmer Farmer FarmerSource: CARI RiceAdvice was disseminated to farmers in the CARI who are trained as SPs can provide these services for a Scaling up RiceAdvice Service implementation areas with regard to agro-ecology, reasonable fee to rice farmers. precipitation as well as rice/seed varieties used by farmers. RiceAdvice extension and advisory services (EAS) play a Using RiceAdvice is easy and quick to learn: very important role in scaling up Climate Smart Agriculture RiceAdvice has (CSA). Over time, the public budget for extension services 1. Get an Android device, download RiceAdvice and install has decreased in many developing countries including reached over 2. Service providers can learn to use RiceAdvice from the Nigeria, which has led to more involvement of private-led 12,000 CARI website: https://www.riceadvice.info/en/riceadvice/ or get face-to-face training investment in agriculture (contract farming schemes). The farmers question remains, how can RiceAdvice EAS become a 3. Trained service providers can reach at least 100 sustainable solution to support the development of

copyright: Nyani Quarmyne/GIZ farmers per season extension service in the rice sector.

Together with AfricaRice, we have developed 3 proposed Service Price business models to help commercialize the technology considering the traditional mode of process, including a For a 1/4 hectare description of the various business actors farmers can pay between (aggregators/millers, SPs and rice farmers), their roles and cost for the service which will be a source of revenue. The 3 1000 NGN – 2000 NGN models are currently being piloted. per season The objective is to test the different business models based on key factors (payment method and service price) to find out the suitable business model that can ensure commercially viable adoption of RiceAdvice over time. In If you are willing to test RiceAdvice by copyright: Nyani Quarmyne/GIZ these models, SPs will be employed by the yourself or with farmers, please contact COMPETITIVE AFRICAN RICE INITIATIVE (CARI) aggregators/millers leveraging on the existing contract AfricaRice farming relationship with farmers and to building long term relationship for their business. (email to Mr. Kokou Ahouanton, [email protected]) From the test, motivated youth can therefore build a business in which a youth SP will be independent to run ----- RICEADVICE his/her own business. For more information visit: Proposed Business Models https://www.riceadvice.info/en/riceadvice/ MOBILE The framework behind the proposed business models is based on the existing contract farming relationship between millers and farmers. Also considering the facts that farmers are not used to paying for agricultural extension services and face liquidity constraints in the middle of the production season when there is a demand for RiceAdvice APP EAS. Published by: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Advice on field-specific rice Business Business Business management practices: Model Model Model Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) Recommendations on fertilizer 1 2 3 11b, Mousa Traore Crescent, Abuja Nigeria management, general good T: +234 (0) 9096398249 agricultural practices and Contract farming Contract provision of a specific Contract with miller + On behalf of: German Federal Ministry for Economic farming with Cooperation and Development (BMZ) farming with private digitized cropping calendar. miller + private miller + private extension Status: 05/2021 digitized digitized service with the extension extension option to Contact: Florian Winckler service with the service with include cost of (Programme Director – CARI) option of cash [email protected] Interesting Facts every Rice the option to the service in payment the price of the pay at harvest Farmer should know! rice season GIZ is responsible for the content of this publication