This document summarizes the TL II project, which aims to enhance grain legume productivity and incomes for poor farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia over 10 years. It outlines the project's objectives, management structure with partners from 100 institutions, outputs so far including identified varieties and seed production models, lessons learned, and remaining work to be done such as emphasizing post-harvest activities and scaling up technologies. The TL II project seeks to lift productivity, production, and incomes through crop breeding, seed delivery, and developing sustainable seed systems.

1. INTRODUCING TL II
Presented at the TL II Second Annual
Review & Planning Mee;ng
16‐20 November 2009, Bamako, Mali
T. Abate, C. L. L. Gowda, S. Silim

2. OUTLINE
• AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
• MANAGEMENT
• PARTNERSHIPS
• CURRENT ENVIRONMENT
• PROGRESS (OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES)
• LESSONS
• CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES

3. AIM: 10‐YEAR PLAN
• Full Title: “Enhancing grain legumes’ produc;vity
and produc;on, and the incomes of poor farmers in
drought‐prone areas of sub‐Saharan Africa and
South Asia”
– 15% increase in produc;on and produc;vity
– 30% of total area to be covered with improved
varie;es
– Some 57 million poor farmers
– Annual aggregate value of >US$ 300 million

4. OBJECTIVES
Obj. Purpose
1 Targeting crop breeding & seed delivery efforts to enhance
impact
2 Enhancing groundnut production & productivity
3 Enhancing cowpea production & productivity
4 Enhancing bean production & productivity
5 Enhancing chickpea production & productivity
6 Enhancing pigeonpea production & productivity
7 Enhancing soybean production & productivity
8 Developing sustainable seed production & delivery systems
for reaching the poor in drought‐prone areas of SSA & South
Asia

6. PROJECT MANAGEMENT
• Managed by ICRISAT, on behalf of the three IARCs.
• The Project Management Team
– Objec;ve Coordinators & Project Manager
• Principal Inves;gators & NARS partners
• Overseen by Advisory Board
– Four independent members
– DDG‐R of the IARCs
– Sr. Program Officer (BMGF)
– Project Manager (TL I)
– Project Manager (TL II – secretary)

7. PARTNERSHIPS
• Nearly 100 Ins;tu;ons & 300 Individuals
• NARS, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, Private Sector
• NARS
– Agric research ins;tu;ons
– Ins;tu;ons of higher learning
– Extension departments of MOA
• One Donor (BMGF)

8. PROJECT LIFE
• 10 Years of 3 Phases
– hase I: Sept 2007 – Dec 2010
P
– hase II: Jan 2011 – Dec 2014
P
– hase III: Jan 2015 – Dec 2017
P

9. CURRENT ENVIRONMENT (2005‐07)
2500
2000
1500
Yield (Kg/Ha)
1000
500
0
Bean Chickpea Cowpea Groundnut Pigeonpea Soybean
SSA SA World

10. # OF RESEARCHERS (FTE: EARLY 2000)
13,089
1,352
833 742 542
Tanzania 300 146 120 109
Kenya
Ethiopia
India
Mozamb
Nigeria
Mali
Malawi
Niger

11. Agricultural Pop (1000)
Mali
19
Kenya
Nigeria
28 31
India
Tanzania
Pop/Researcher
44 49
Malawi
62
Niger
Ethiopia
73 77
Mozamb
122
Expenditure ($/Ha)
Kenya
28.73
India
Mali
8.40 7.38
Malawi
6.45
RESOURCES/INVESTMENTS
Nigeria
Ethiopia
US$/Ha cul;vated land
Tanzania
4.78 4.57 4.07
Niger
0.35

12. OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES (1)
• Situa;on and Outlook Analyses Conducted
– Highlighted
• Produc;on
• Trade
• Consump;on
• U;liza;on
– Provided projec;ons under different scenarios
– One report available online
– Others being completed

13. OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES (2)
• PVS Trials Conducted Across Countries
• Helped Raise Awareness about Available
Improved Varie;es & Prac;ces
• < 130 Varie;es/Advanced Lines with Farmer‐
& Market‐Preferred Traits Iden;fied
– Advanced for tes;ng under state or na;onal level
– Recommended for release

14. OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES (3)
• Diverse Seed Produc;on Models Iden;fied
• Different Models for the Produc;on of
Different Categories of Seed Iden;fied
• Catalyzed Produc;on of Seed
– 861.9 tons (2007‐08)
– 3502 tons (2008‐09)
• Demonstrated that the Use of Small Packet
Seed (100 g to 5 kg) is Effec;ve Way for Quick
Dissemina;on of Improved Seed

15. CAPACITY BUILDING
• Training Sessions Las;ng 2‐30 Days
– Scien;sts, technicians, extension,
regulatory bodies, agro‐dealers
• 25+ Students Registered for MSc and
PhD
• Infrastructure Installed/Upgraded
• Lab Equipment Purchased and Provided

16. DEGREE TRAINING
COUNTRY MSc PhD Total
Mali 1 0 1
Niger 2 0 2
Nigeria 2 0 2
Ethiopia 3 1 4
Kenya 2 1 3
Malawi 2 0 2
Mozambique 4 0 4
Tanzania 3 1 4
Zimbabwe 0 1 1
India 0 2 2
TOTAL 19 6 25

17. LESSONS LEARNT
• Ins;tu;onal Issues
– NARS partners have variable capacity
• Inadequate human/material resources
• Average age 50+ years
– Big seed companies not yet ready
• Small‐ and medium‐scale important
• Technical Issues
– Grain yield not only criterion for variety selec;on
– African farming is system‐based
– Importance of management and post‐harvest

18. CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
• Linkages with other • Strong partnerships
projects • Available/pipeline
• Slow variety release techs
process • Raised awareness of
• Market uncertainty for farmers
small seed producers • Farmers demanding
• Low level of women techs & willing risks
professionals • Examples of “good
• Need for increased prac;ce”
funding • Governments’ will

19. REMAINING WORK TO BE DONE
• Introduce More Marke;ng & Business Skills
• Emphasis on Post‐Harvest (processing, value
addi;on, branding)
• Catalyze Scaling up/out Improved Technologies
• Training & Mentoring
• Establish Strategic Partnerships
– Technical
– Advocacy

21. AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION
1986 2006

22. OUR WEBSITE
• www.tropicallegumes.org