In Nigeria, there is high contamination of maize with unacceptably high levels of aflatoxin. This contamination has harmful health effects for the consumers and negative economic consequences for the growers. Bio control product Aflasafe, which reduces aflatoxin contamination of maize by 80% to 90% was developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and other partners in Nigeria. The AgResults Aflasafe Project is providing incentives to smallholder farmers for adopting this biological control innovation. AgResult focus on consumption and production impact of aflatoxin reduced maize. Also creating innovation platform for off-taking of aflatoxin reduced maize in Nigeria.

1. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
AgResults Aflasafe Project
One
Debo Akande
On behalf of AgResults Aflasafe Team
Ibadan March 2016

2. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
Outline
• Introduction to AgResults Program
• Background to AgResults Aflasafe Project
• Goal, Rationale and Scope
• Strategic Objective
• AgResults Operational Model
• Project Element: Action for Adoption
• Project Expected Results
• Conclusion

3. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
Introduction to AgResults Program
AgResults is a new multilateral initiative addressing the need for
increased investment in global food security and agriculture, in
particular from the private sector achieved through Pull Mechanism.
Increase incentives for private sector investment in agriculture.
Incentive after measurable results not before i.e Aflatoxin reduced
maize through smallholder/contracting farmers.
In areas where private sector investment is virtually absent due to
market uncertainties.
Leaving production, marketing and distribution strategies to the
private sector.

4. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
Background of AgResults Aflasafe Project
In Nigeria, there is high contamination of maize with unacceptably high
levels of aflatoxin.
This contamination has harmful health effects for the consumers and
negative economic consequences for the growers.
 Bio control product Aflasafe, which reduces aflatoxin contamination of
maize by 80% to 90% was developed by the International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and other partners in Nigeria.
The AgResults Aflasafe Project is providing incentives to smallholder
farmers for adopting this biological control innovation.
AgResult focus on consumption and production impact of aflatoxin
reduced maize.
 Also creating innovation platform for off-taking of aflatoxin reduced
maize in Nigeria.

5. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
AgResult Aflasafe Project
Goal: goal of the Aflasafe pilot is to demonstrate a pull mechanism model
for significantly reducing aflatoxin contamination.
Rationale: Few maize-producing organizations and farmers in Nigeria are
aware of the aflatoxin problem or unwilling to invest without confidence
that there will be a market for aflatoxin-free crops.
At the same time, regulators are highly constrained in their ability to
enforce limits on aflatoxin contamination.
Approach: through pull mechanism, incentivizes organizations with
contract farming arrangements, to work with smallholder maize farmers to
adopt Aflasafe, while also increasing productivity.

6. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
Strategic objectives of the Project
 Development Impacts: Health of the consumers and
economic development of smallholder farmers.
 Build a sustained market: Aflasafe maize as commercial
viable product- with premium payment .
 Lesson Learn about pull mechanism: AgResults Aflasafe
pilot project will provide a model for a larger roll-out in Africa.

7. Goal To improve the health and livelihood of smallholder farmers in Nigeria
Long-term
outcome
(5 year)
Increase consumption of quality
maize
Improve smallholder incomes
Medium-term
outcome
(3 year)
Short-term
outcome
(1 year)
Outputs
Activities and
initiatives
Increase availability of quality
maize
Increase smallholder sale of maize
in downstream markets
Increase treatment of crops with
AflasafeTM Increase smallholder maize yields
Administration of the pull mechanism including marketing,
promotion, verification and disbursement of funds
Program
Evaluation of
output
harvested and
collected
Participant
Support to
farmers to
increase
yields
Participant
Distribution of
AflasafeTM to
smallholders
Program
Evaluation of
AflasafeTM
prevalence
AgResults Operational Models

8. Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Implementer Selection
Planting
Season
Harvest
Sampling & Verification
Awards
South
North
South
North
• Field officers inspect
AflasafeTM treated fields for
visible signs of sporulation
5-15 days after application
• Farmers harvest, thresh maize
and sell a portion to
Implementers
• IITA samples 1 out of every 3,
100-kg-bags of aggregated
• IITA creates 1 homogeneous sample
per truck
• 100% of samples are tested for Aflatoxin and
AflasafeTM
• Premiums are paid if the sample has >70%
• AflasafeTM applied to the
soil by farmers 1 to 1.5
months after planting
(Apr‘13 – Mar‘14)
Year 2 Year 3 Year 4Year 1Year 0
Design and
Pre-launch
(Apr‘14 – Mar‘15) (Apr‘15 – Mar‘16) (Apr‘16 – Mar‘17) (Apr‘17 – Mar‘18)
Closeout
(May‘18– Jul‘18 )
67%
33%
• 14 implementers in 8 Northern states
• 7 implementers in 4 Southern Sates
Kaduna
Kano
Jigawa
Zamfara
Kogi
Kwara
Oyo
Federal Capitol
Territory
Ogun
Ekiti
Page 2
Where is the Pilot operating in Nigeria?
What is the timeline and schedule of the Pilot?
How is sampling and verification conducted?
Planting &
AflasafeTM
Application
Sporulation
Verification
Harvest,
Aggregation &
Sampling
Verification
What is the Pilot cycle?

9. General challenges/Action for Adoption
 Subsistence Farming vrs Agribusiness : Agribusiness
through Implementers. Training and capacity support.
 Limited awareness on aflatoxin issues : Awareness
through NAFDAC/IITA Workshop.
 Limited Access to Finance and Market: Innovation
platform for market /finance, Linkages between
buyers/Implementers, verification of aflatoxin for market
access, Incentive for good performance.
 Agricultural Practices and Management i.e quality and
quantity of inputs use; post harvest mgt etc : Linkage to
right sources of inputs and advisory services.
 Sustainability Issue : In country multi-stakeholders
partnership (Advisory Council)/Profit oriented and
market driven business .
www.iita.orgDATEA member of CGIAR consortium

10. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
Integrated approach to manage aflatoxin
Aggregation
Aflasafe
Inputs & training to
improve productivity
Farmer groups/
value chain
Training for
pre/postharvest
afla management
Awareness and
sensitizations
Policy and advocacy
Market linkages
Aflatoxin testing

11. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium
Project Plan 2014-2017
32 Implementers will work with 18,000+ maize farmers with an
average 1.5ha of farm land in 2016/17 and 42 Implementers will work
with 32,000+ maize farmers with an average of 2ha in 2017/18.
Expect that 270MTS of Aflasafe will be applied to an average of
27,000 ha of farmland in 2016; and 640MTS of Aflasafe to an average
of 64,000 ha of land in 2016.
490,000 tons of low-aflatoxin maize can be produced over a 4-year
period by nearly 36,000 smallholder farmers and deliver health benefit to
70,000 smallholders family members not including downstream maize
consumers.

12. www.iita.orgA member of CGIAR consortium