Tropical AgricultureISE Internship Report

University of Ibadan-Ibadan, NigeriaJuly 18th – August 21st

Nicholas GreeneRutgers, The State University of New

Jersey

Table of Contents

I. AbstractII. IntroductionIII. MethodologiesIV. ObservationsV. DiscussionVI. ConclusionVII. 2010 Research Proposal VIII. ReferencesIX. Appendix:

A) ISE Grant SummaryB) NJ Ethnic PopulationC) ImagesD) Map of NigeriaE) Acknowledgements

Nicholas GreeneRutgers, the State University of New Jersey

ISE Internship Final ReportUniversity of Ibadan – Ibadan, Nigeria

July 18-August 21

Abstract: This report is designed to provide a detailed account of the summer 2009 ISE

Internship experience. The ISE Project (International Science and Education) involved

collaboration between Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and the University of

Ibadan in Ibadan, Nigeria, and this summer sent two Rutgers undergrads to study

Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria. The overall project title is “Agricultural

Competitiveness in New Jersey and the United States: New Crop Options,” and our most

pressing objective was to study the many tropical vegetable and grass crops within the

Nigerian agricultural system, as well as select a few for more specific research to be done

the next year. The numerous methodologies and learning techniques experienced will be

examined thoroughly. Also paramount to this report and our first year internship are the

cultural implications involved in the Nigerian agricultural system. The paper relates

people’s culture to their agriculture and explores how the socio-cultural values shape a

nation’s food preferences and their agricultural system overall. Finally, this report

declares and examines the current 2010 research proposal for the second year of the

project.

Introduction: Collaboration between the USDA, Rutgers University, and the University

of Ibadan have allowed for the ISE (International Science and Education) project to take

effect between 2008 and 2012. This summer was the first in which students from

Rutgers, myself included, will travel to the University of Ibadan to learn as much as

possible about tropical agriculture, engage in an international cultural exchange, develop

a research project for next year, and bring back theoretical and practical knowledge that

will help enhance the competiveness of New Jersey agriculture and agriculture in the

United States as a whole. Since New Jersey has one of the largest growing and diverse

ethnic populations, knowledge of production and utilizing of these tropical crops is

paramount to supplying all its inhabitants with the vegetables they want and need. In

2001, New Jersey had the third largest percentage of foreign born residents of all fifty

states (city-data.com 2009). (See page for NJ ethnic population levels). Many local

farmers have experience success by growing and marketing some non-traditional Asian

and Hispanic crops in New Jersey soil, and it is logical to expect similar success with the

integration of several highly marketable and nutritious African traditional vegetables. It

is quite clear that striking differences exist between the climatic conditions of tropical

Southwest Nigeria and temperate New Jersey, but that does not mean some short season

and hardy plant varieties could not be grown during our short window of opportunity. In

order to learn as much as possible during the internship I was sent with guidelines from

Rutgers to narrow my topics of interest, and these were designed to most effectively and

efficiently study the Nigerian Agricultural system. These guidelines included areas of

focus pertaining to the agricultural system and its active players, as well as initiatives to

study all production aspects of the crops we learned about, and the significance of culture

in Nigerian agriculture. Being the first year of a multi-year project, much emphasis was

placed on using this internship as a cultural exchange and really examining the influence

of socio-cultural ideals over what they people eat, and how the food gets to them.

The University of Ibadan is a federal university that was established in 1948. It

was the first major University in Nigeria and today still stands as, “…the flagship of Post-

graduate education in Nigeria.” Although the University still educates undergrads, it is

absolutely shifting towards more professional levels of certification. U.I. is located in the

Southwest of Nigeria in a humid/tropical climate which is juxtaposed against the semi-

arid and dry regions in the North, as well as the selected highlands in the East and central

regions As mentioned previously, one main aspect of this summer’s trip was to establish

important authoritative contacts for future research and collaboration and also to

participate in a cultural exchange with international students. This was challenging

however, due to the University being on strike during our stay, which resulted in an

extremely diminished campus population with almost no undergraduate students to

converse with. The University being on strike also serves as a foreshadowing example of

the major infrastructural and administrative challenges facing this developing nation.

Our main host at the University was Dr. Victor O. Adetimirin, a senior lecturer

(U.I. still uses the British academic ranking system) and plant breeder working in the

university’s Department of Agronomy (Image 1). The Dept. of Agronomy is one of the

mostly highly respected departments on campus and was our “home base,” for lectures

and information throughout our stay. The majority of the technical information we

received dealing directly with tropical vegetable and grass crops was attained here. The

Dept. of Agronomy is a fundamental institution in the southwestern Nigerian agricultural

system, and is responsible for educating many of the graduate level agronomists and PHD

level lecturers and researchers. This is extremely in a country like Nigeria as opposed to

a nation like the United States where only around two percent of the population is

actively involved in the agricultural system.

These research institutes are the first leg in the agricultural system. The scientists

and researchers work year round developing new and innovative agricultural strategies as

well as better varieties in order to increase production and decrease poverty. The

information they attain is then brought to the farmers where it is put into action. To the

best of their abilities, farmers use the new strategies and improved seeds in order to both

produce better crops for consumption, and also keep themselves and their families above

the poverty line. The final aspect of the agricultural system is clearly the open markets

and final human consumption either fresh or prepared. This report will analyze all three

major points of the agricultural system as well as dig deeper into the cultural and

economic implications. By learning directly from both established scientists and small,

subsistence level farmers a holistic concept of agricultural in southwest Nigeria was

attained during the internship. By examining the technical information received, as well

as the real world experience gained from our month long stay at the University of Ibadan,

this paper will explore numerous vegetable and grass crops and most importantly their

significance in relating the Yoruba people’s culture to their agriculture along with the

socio-cultural values that influence the nation’s food preferences and agricultural system

as a whole.

Methodologies: One of the most exciting aspects of this internship was the variety of

strategies that were employed to enhance our understanding of the agricultural system.

These were specifically used in order to achieve our expansive objectives of

understanding agriculture and its societal implications within a heavily populated and

diverse region. Comprehending the southwestern Nigerian agricultural system in just

five weeks is undoubtedly a daunting task, but by immersing ourselves directly into

system itself we were able to gain valuable information and insights about its inner

workings and effects on the people. Our host and other supervisors throughout the trip

also made sure to not only focus on the innovations and positives of Nigerian farming,

but also helped point out some of the major difficulties and challenges. This allowed for

a less biased view of the new information being processed. The methods used to enhance

our learning experience designed by both Rutgers and U.I. were instrumental in making

the internship the worthwhile adventure it was.

The first and most prominent academic practice was “one on one” type sit downs

with members of the highly touted U.I. Dept. of Agronomy staff, as well as other

professors and scientists from research institutes throughout the southwest. This was the

most direct and straight forward learning style. The professors in the Agronomy

department all specialize in their own interests and are almost constantly involved in their

own research projects. It was extremely beneficial learning the hard factual information

regarding tropical vegetable and grass crops from the individuals leading their respective

fields on the subject. Often times our teachers were able to present us with extremely

helpful handouts and sometimes even their own published articles documenting their

personal research. For example, the lecture we received an organic production was from

the head of the organic department at U.I., Professor AdeOluwa. Professor AdeOluwa

was also kind enough to take us to his own home and show us his own private organic

vegetable plot where he had over 15 different vegetable crops growing in a small garden.

Here he was able to reinforce the information we discussed in a classroom setting. Our

host Professor Adetimirin was able to similarly bring us to his own research plot. His

work with developing sweet corn varieties in tropical zones is unrivaled throughout

Africa. By bringing us to his breeding plot we were able to witness first hand as well as

participate in cutting edge research and real Nigerian farming. At the many other

institutes we visited, and at times at the University of Ibadan, we also sat down with

multiple scientists from the institute as well as our own supervisors from U.I. in a more

open lecture format. This allowed for direct learning as well as invaluable information

gained through the discussions of the many professors. The lectures and meetings with

the many scientists and professors were our absolute direct line into the theoretical

knowledge available on tropical vegetable production. Theoretical and practical

knowledge must be fused and integrated to truly understand and maximize production

efforts. Often times however, as will be established later, the theoretical information

emerging from universities and research institutes is snot directly applicable to positive

results in production, yield, or farmer’s income. With a solid, theoretical foundation of

agricultural production strategies, it was time to move on to the practical knowledge.

The second learning strategy implemented was direct visitation to economically

viable farmer’s plots. Over the course of our stay, we not only were able to experience

farming through the eye’s of the scientists and research institutes, but also through the

eyes and efforts of those men and women who rely on their farming for their and their

families livelihoods. No amount of theoretical knowledge or studying could ever equate

to the necessary experiences of seeing farming practices executed first hand. Although

we were able to observe numerous plots owned and operated by professors and

researchers, these are not a true representation of the true Nigerian farm. Furthermore, a

professor will only be able to explain his or her plot in terms of their own research or in a

botanical or scientific manner. A true subsistence farmer can explain his applied

strategies in terms of economic value and each successful farmer thoroughly understands

the agriculture system from production to marketing. Many of the farmers we observed

actually employed practices either contradictory to or not exactly following the

theoretical advice of the research being done in the country. This was either due to the

farmer’s inability to afford the recommended inputs or that they had found strategies

more beneficial to their needs and efforts. While the professors and lecturers from

University clearly understood the aspects of production and growth dealing with high

yields, etc., the farmers were much more helpful in understanding what crops sell and for

what reasons. These farmers also displayed an unbelievable ability to integrate ancient

practices with their more modern techniques. This method of learning was most

beneficial when after learning specific technical and botanical information about certain

vegetable crops in the university setting, going out to private farms to observe how the

actual Nigerian farmer practices production and marketing of his or her crops.

The final academic strategy was actually going out into the open air markets and

also practicing the cooking and preparing of the many crops we spent time learning

about. Our hosts and advisors made sure to take us to several markets where we could

see the vegetable crops we had learned about from the institutes and seen being grown in

the field, actually for sale at market. This enabled us to see what these crops looked like

displayed out in the open, and also with the help of a few host graduate students were

able to learn how to cook several Nigerian dishes. Being able to shop for and cook our

own Nigerian dishes was a very rewarding experience, and this methodology was by far

the most culturally relevant. A real understanding of the agricultural system cannot be

achieved without seeing the final resting places of the significant vegetable crops. It

should also be noted that no one of these three methodologies would have been nearly as

beneficial on their own, but the integration of learning directly from major scientists and

leading researchers, learning production practices from farmers, and also shopping for

and cooking ourselves the vegetable crops we were actively learning about.

Observations: Over the course of five weeks, a serious depth of knowledge regarding

tropical vegetable and grass crops was amassed. By utilizing the three methodologies

mentioned previously as well as interpersonal relationships throughout the trip, we were

also able to observe critical societal and cultural implications of agriculture in southwest

Nigeria.

The first observation to mention relates directly to our location in the southwest as

well as in Ibadan. In Nigeria three main tribes make up the population: the Yoruba, the

Igbo, and the Hausa. “Yorubaland” extends out of Nigeria and into parts of Ghana and

other West African nations, and primarily makes up the southwestern portion of the

nation. Needless to say, the University of Ibadan is located in the heart of Yorubaland

and the heaviest cultural influences are certainly that of the Yoruba people. The Igbo

tribe generally hails from the southeast, and the Hausa from the North. All three tribes

are located in different climatic zones with the Yoruba in the humid zone, Igbo in the

semi-humid, and the Hausa in the dry and semi-arid regions. The Hausa (located in the

North) also make up the majority of the Muslim population in the country. The other

major religion is Christianity. The fact that all three tribes originated in three quasi

distinct climatic environments is the reason for variations in their diet and food

preferences, being that one can only eat what they can grow near them (especially in a

developing nation). These food preferences and cultural implications will be discussed

further in this and other sections. This cultural dynamic being noted, it is time to discuss

other more technical information.

Agriculture is an everyday part of life for almost ever Nigerian and discussions

with professors at U.I. have noted that over 75% of Africa’s workforce is employed

someway within the agricultural system. As mentioned previously a Dr. AdeOluwa

heads organic developments at the University of Ibadan, and he describes organic

production as the best solution for Nigeria’s agricultural future. Most farmers in Nigeria

practice inorganic agriculture and this practice is widely unsuccessful. Within his own

small plot of organically grown vegetables he had over fifteen different species, both

native and exotic, growing side by side in a beautiful depiction of how organic farming

facilitates beneficial biodiversity. African cultures have always been tied to their

environments and nature, and many of the ancient production methods that sustained

people for thousands of years are organic and most likely could be implemented with

great success in larger scale operations.

The main contribution made to our experience from the University of Ibadan must

be the invaluable information gained regarding all aspects of vegetable production

including the major players and crops in the system. Most farming is done on a very

small scale with many farmers operating on less than a hectare of land. This is mostly

due to the fact many farmers operate below the poverty line and cannot afford to either

purchase or maintain large operations. Different crops can be grown throughout the

varying climatic zones in the country with the greatest diversity in the humid zone which

has the longest rainy season.

The majority of the leafy vegetables consumed in Nigeria are grown in the

southern, wetter regions which include Ibadan. In the southwest there are numerous

native leafy vegetables produced that where originally produced be and are cherished by

the Yoruba people. Within the southwestern agricultural system farming is generally

practiced by men and the produce is sold by women in markets. The most widely

accepted and eaten vegetable in Nigerian and many tropical zones throughout the world

is what is simply called green vegetable. Green vegetable is a reference to Amaranthus

caudatus/A. dubious and is known by the Yoruba as “tete.” Green is a small, short

season annual that is present in almost any dish including vegetables (Image 2). The

seeds are generally broadcast onto raised seedbeds, and are harvested twice before

replanting (Image 3). Another leafy vegetable partial to the southwest is known as

“soko,” or “sokoyokoto” (Celosia argentea) (Image 4). This is also a short season annual

and the leaves are harvested and consumed cooked. This is a native vegetable and is

most prominent in the southwest and with the Yoruba people. “Ewedu,” is the Yoruba

name for Cochorus olitorius (Image 5). This is another small, short season annual grown

in the southwest. It is a very popular ingredient in many Yoruba soups, but may not be

seen as widely eaten in other parts of the country. The last major leafy crop specifically

prominent in the southwest is known as waterleaf (Talinum triangulare) (Image 6). It is

not widely cultivated because it has a very small seed set, and grows so abundantly in the

wild. This crop has very interesting cultural implications. People freely can pick and use

the waterleaf they find on their own property, but it is considered a serious offense to take

it from somewhere else. The Yoruba greatly value this plant as do other tribes. It is

known as waterleaf due to the high moisture content it maintains, and can be added to

soups with very little extra water needed. Clearly, the majority of leafy vegetable crops

are consumed cooked and are usually put into soups or stews. All of these native, leafy

vegetables would be extremely prominent in a southwestern dish.

Two native leafy vegetables with origins more in the southeast are fluted pumpkin

(Telfairia occidentalis) (Image 7) and “Ukazi”, and Igbo word for Gnetum africanum.

Although the fluted pumpkin was originally a southeastern crop due to intercrossing of

cultures and its high nutritional value, it has risen to national prominence. It is one of the

most widely grown and studied plants in the country. It is known as a women’s crop

because it is usually cultivated by women and also because its leaves have very high iron

content and are very good for pregnant and nursing women. The leaves are used

similarly to the previously mentioned leafy vegetables, being that they are generally

steamed and used in a soup-like dish. Almost any vegetable soup will contain fluted

pumpkin leaves. The main problems with the crop deal with the fact that it is dioecious,

meaning it has separate male and female plants. Only around ten percent males are

needed for proper fertilization in the field and it is impossible to differentiate sex before

flowering which usually is not until around four months after planting. “Ukazi,” is not

one of the more popular crops, but it is widely cherished in Igbo dishes, due to its

prevalence in the southeast. Sadly many of these native leafy vegetables are no longer in

the forefront of the diets of Nigerians. According to professors from the University of

Agriculture at Abeokuta in Abeokuta Nigeria (UNAAB), most vegetables grown for

economic profit are adapted exotics because they have received more research attention.

The native vegetables of the Yoruba and Igbo ancestors are now even looked at as

inferior by some. The younger generations of Nigerians are not being exposed to their

“heirloom” crops.

In Nigeria, the majority of the fruit and tuber vegetables are grown in the northern

and middle parts of the country. Pepper is the most common fruit vegetable throughout

Nigeria. There are two cultivated varieties (Capsicum annum, Capsicum fructesens), and

both are grown as dwarf species as to avoid pruning. Pepper is virtually in every

Nigerian dish, and is one of the most truly cherished aspects of their diet. The C. annum

varieties are small, round, sweet peppers and the C. fructesens variety is the hot pepper

(Image 8). The second most common fruit crop is the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum).

This is an example of an adapted exotic, although there is an indigenous, bitter variety

that grows in the southwest. The tomatoes are usually sold fresh at market. Another

paramount fruit vegetable is okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) (Image 9). Okra is one of the

most widely grown crops throughout the nation and is sold dry and fresh. One of the

staple Nigerian dishes is known as egusi soup. This soup contains the crushed seeds of

the egusi melon (Citrulus lanatus, Colocynthis vulgaris), and is eaten in all regions of the

country, as well as other West African nations. These melons have shown success in

weed suppression as intercrops in several new research findings. This is particularly

significant in that many vegetables are intercropped with either staple crops (yam,

cassava, maize) or with other vegetables.

There are certain crops however which can be grown across the entire nation

including okra and amaranthus. These are obviously widely eaten and cherished by all

Nigerians, but most of the cultural food preferences stem from which crops are grown in

what regions. At the University of Ibadan we dealt mostly with corn and okra. Since

Nigeria mainly still relies on the grazing system of feeding their cattle, most of the corn

produced in the country, even though it is usually dent corn, is produced for fresh

consumption. Maize can be seen growing throughout people’s backyards as well as on

larger farms. It is a true staple crop that is usually consumed roasted, boiled, or is made

into a custard like dish called “oogi.” This process is very labor intensive, as are many

food preparation procedures in Nigeria. Conventional breeding practices are still being

widely executed at U.I. with Dr. Adetimirin’s sweet corn varieties and also with okra

plants. At U.I. some of the major challenges facing farmers such as administrative and

infrastructure problems were discussed. Many farmers in Nigeria face high post-harvest

losses due to poor transportation and an inability to refrigerate their produce.

U.I. is also where we learned the most about the tropical grass crops. A senior

professor, Dr. Aken’Ova, was responsible for many of these lessons. The two main grass

crops he stressed are known as Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) (Image 10) and

elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) (Image 11). Both grasses grow very well in the

region and have serious possibilities as bio-fuel sources. They can both usually be seen

in great quantities throughout region growing wildly. Their rapid, regenerative growth

make them better candidates for bio-fuels than corn and also appealing is their ability to

be grown year round. The main setback for these crops is simply the mindset of the

average Nigerian farmer. Many farmers are set in their ways and are unwilling to take a

chance growing grass crops on their land, especially before and genuine market is

established. These are important crops for the future and development of Nigeria. Also,

since most animal farmers still use the grazing method, grasses are not generally

cultivated at all even for cattle fodder. This represents a major problem in Nigerian

agricultural. Because many farmers are uneducated and rely on generations of

knowledge for their production strategies, they lack the innovative insight and ability to

see the need for a major revamping of their practices. Cultivating these grass crops will

not only increase farmers income, but it will also help balance out the nation’s energy

situation in which crude oil currently dominates. The jatropha plant is also considered

valuable for its ability to efficiently produce ethanol. Since the cultivation of these crops

is not an established practice there is little work being done (even within research

institutes) to develop new strategies for them.

Much of our information came through the lenses of numerous research institutes

throughout the southwest. The first one visited was the International Institute of Tropical

Agriculture (IITA) (Image 12). This truly was a piece of the modern world placed

directly into a developing nation. IITA is a non-governmental organization that is free

from the shackles of poor federal funding that plague other universities and institutes.

They employ researchers and take on graduate students year round in an attempt to

constantly improve tropical varieties and increase the profits for impoverished farmers.

They utilize conventional production methods including complex irrigation and

mechanization. Along with large scale breeding research being conducted on crops such

as maize and rice, they also include several small experimental crops for academic

purposes. IITA also stands along in West Africa with its corn gene bank. The ability to

run generators non stop affords IITA electricity to control conditions and can store corn

grain for up to twenty five years. This feat is rivaled by none throughout Nigeria.

IITA represents an institute researching tropical agriculture, but the Nigerian

Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), is strictly focused on improving the

agricultural system and food quality of Nigerian vegetable, fruit, and horticultural crops

(Image 13). They are the only institute currently devoting time and money toward the

improvement and research of the many native leafy vegetables discussed before. They

take this very seriously as to not allow the loss of this genetic material. Similarly to

IITA, NIHORT also utilizing conventional practices to farm their exotic research plots.

This makes much of the data found from these experiments not directly applicable to the

average Nigerian farmer who does not have access to or funds to either purchase supplies

or run machinery. The two most important departments at NIHORT are the extension

and crop utilization departments. Since the research done with fertilizers and pesticides

cannot be reproduced exactly by the farmer himself, the extension service takes the newly

developed, better seed varieties and grow them using standard practices. They also

experiment with intercropping strategies to maximize yield. This information is than

taken out and shown to the farmers, who can then choose whether or not to change their

methods. This is one of the most significant aspects of the Nigerian agricultural system,

in that as new technology is being found and used, the information has to be transmittable

to the actual farmers, or it will be for naught. The crop utilization department focuses on

post harvest handling of the crop, and deals with the numerous reasons for high post

harvest losses throughout nation. Since the losses are so high, this will be a key factor in

the overall improvement of the agricultural system.

Some of the most important observations were made during our visitations with

private farmers on their plots. At the Mokola Farm Barracks we observed many young

men operating a successful green and ewedu cooperative farm (Image 14). Each farmer

owns and farms his own plot, but they rotate harvesting evenly. They did not intercrop,

and operated with a unique sale strategy. They sold their produce by directly allowing

market women onto their fields and buy directly after harvest. This is contradictory to

the style most farmers use, because they cannot dictate the final price of the vegetables.

It should be noted here that the visit to Moloka was one of the most inspirational

throughout the trip. Many of the young men were working hard to either support their

schooling of their family. They were proud of their occupation, and the fact that they did

not succumb to the criminal life that plaques many Nigerian youths. At the Akufo Farm

Settlement we saw another side of the story (Image 15). This was a group of farmers

working and living on a settlement, but it was not a cooperative. They all privately

harvested and took their produce to market. Many of these men and women utilized

intercropping strategies, and they all sold their own produce directly at market. This cut

out the middle man in their business and allowed for optimal profits. When they could

afford chemical pesticides they were utilized, but even so the farming remained very

close to an organic model.

The visiting of markets and learning to actually cook some Nigerian dishes was a

great window into the culture of the southwest. The marketplace is the heartbeat of the

community and takes the place of the supermarket in our own culture. Certain markets

like the Ojo market operate only once a week with a huge sale, and others like the Bodija

market are everyday aspects of Ibadan culture. Here you can find all of the vegetable and

grain crops utilized in the region. What is present in these markets is up to regional

preferences, and obviously the markets in Ibadan are most heavily influenced by

southwestern leafy vegetables and Yoruba culture.

The final paramount observations made dealt with the many struggles and

challenges facing the everyday Nigerian farmer. There is a “culture of corruption” in

Nigeria that can be seen up into the highest ranking government officials, that prevents

federal funding to the many agricultural and societal needs of the nation. Since the end

of British colonization the road and electrical systems have been steadily falling apart.

Poor roads means that transportation is extremely difficult and without a rail system,

produce cannot be transported outside of a ten mile radius without spoiling. The

electrical grids also are not able to provide adequate electricity not only for scientific

research and tissue culture, but also to provide power in the homes and businesses of the

nation. This requires most Nigerians to own and operate generators for personal

electricity which in turn causes pollution. Clearly, these administrative and societal

challenges will need to be dealt with primarily, before any improvement can be made on

the agricultural system.

Discussion: After five weeks of intensive lectures and hands-on learning, the many

observations we made allowed for a solid overview of the southwestern Nigerian

agricultural system. Agriculture and culture cannot truly be separated in Nigeria and

from the scientists at IITA to the market women in Bodija; every Nigerians life is

touched by agriculture and the environment. The major research institutes stand atop of

the agricultural system. Federally funded institutes and Universities like the University

of Ibadan, NIHORT, and UNAAB are constantly researching and training researchers

whose main goal is to improve the lives of farmers and ultimately improve the

availability and quality of food throughout the country. One of the most prominent

problems with the current system is a major schism between the theoretical knowledge

practiced at these institutes and the actual farming methods practiced for subsistence. It

is up to the educated men and women at the research institutes to understand this concept,

and to conduct research experiments that will directly benefit Nigerian famers, and not

just gain attention in the scientific community. With the advent of newer technologies

like tissue culture and molecular breeding, however, many young students in Nigeria are

reluctant to practice conventional methods. In time this technology will be commonplace

and widely beneficial, but given the current state of the farming in Nigeria it is more

beneficial to research native crops through traditional methods. Research institutes must

always keep in mind the fact that all farming strategies must be low input. Inputs like

chemical fertilizers and pesticides are too costly and rare for the Nigerian farmer, so new

varieties need to be designed with this in mind.

Low inputs are a main benefit of organic farming. By utilizing crop residues and

increasing biodiversity, organic farming promotes good sustainable soil fertility and

reduces the risk of disease or pest attack. Strategies like intercropping melon or

cucumber with a fruit like pepper or tomato may also be a way to suppress weeds.

Furthermore, many countries throughout the world, Nigeria being one of them, do not

wholeheartedly accept chemical sprays and other conventional practices. These are not a

part of their cultural traditions. Especially with a fresh vegetable crop, many Nigerians

are weary of inorganic and conventional practices. For these reasons and others organic

farming is a very viable option for the future of agriculture in Nigeria. Clearly, organic

farming would not only create a low input system, but it would also be catering to the

wants and desires of the public, which would therefore increase farmer profits.

As mentioned previously, over seventy five percent of Africa is employed

somehow in agriculture. Even those who do not farm for economic gain, generally have

home vegetable gardens where fresh vegetables are grown for personal consumption

only. For the average farmer in Nigeria, farming is their life. There are no days off or

vacations. Each day is a struggle against the challenges of poverty and physical

limitations. One farmer whom we met at the Akufo farm settlement actually introduced

himself as “fresh vegetable grower.” Here it is clear to see how the culture of agriculture

is tied to the human spirit of many Nigerians.

The farmers choose their crops based on the season, and of course what crops are

preferred in the markets. This will vary from state to state and region to region. The

cultural influence of the region will depict the taste preferences and therefore will depict

what crops the farmers choose. Since the main population is Yoruba, many farmers in

the southwest grow native staples like ewedu, soko, and tete.

Although distinct regional barriers separate the majorities of the main three tribes,

in recent year’s people have moved throughout the country, and many of them flocking

towards cities and urban areas. This has lead to a blurring of the food preferences

regionally, and now many dishes and vegetables from all over the country can be found

anywhere. This being said, there are even differences between how Igbo’s and Yoruba’s

prepare some of the same dishes. For example the Igbo version of egusi soup features

much less water than the Yoruba version. Getting the opportunity to cook both of these

dishes facilitated this realization of how cultural traditions influence taste preference and

therefore the entire agricultural system from what the farmers grow, to what the institutes

are studying.

Conclusion: There are many conclusions that can be reached after my five week

internship at the University of Ibadan. This being my first visit to Nigeria and Africa I

was most definitely a little weary about what to expect. I found my host Dr. Adetimirin,

his family, and all of my professors and supervisors to not only be knowledgeable but

truly warm, compassionate, and friendly people. They made my stay extremely

beneficial as well as enjoyable and their friendship will not soon be forgotten.

Regarding the agricultural system, I truly believe that the challenges currently

facing Nigerian farmers are directly correlated to ineffective leadership at many levels

and government neglect, greed, and corruption. Nigeria is one of the world’s richest

countries in terms of both natural and human resources. Lack of federal funding in

infrastructure, education, and agriculture are the main reasons for the lack of

development and also high post harvest losses. Without proper refrigeration and

transportation systems, vegetables that perish in four to five days will most likely spoil

after they are harvested. This government neglect as also made ways to create a culture

of poverty and even one of crime. Major cultural change must come from the top down,

and successful and honest politicians are needed to revamp the nation and get it in gear

for development. The people of Nigeria are hardworking and intelligent. Once

computers are placed in schools, and the government effectively and fairly distributes the

nation’s wealth, the other pieces of the puzzle will fall into place. Once the people of

Nigeria are given eth opportunity, development and major improvements within the

agricultural system will only be a matter of time.

By integrative efforts to combine traditional, sustainable farming practices with

new innovations and modern technology, the Nigerian agricultural system will improve

in many areas. Another major realization was that there are also many positives to the

Nigerian agricultural system. In terms of environmental impact and pollution it is much

less destructive than conventional American farming. Also many of the native African

vegetables are much more nutritious than the leafy vegetables generally consumed in the

Unites States. This leads back to the original objective of the collaboration of increasing

the agricultural competitiveness of New Jersey through the addition of new crops to meet

the needs of rising ethnic diversity. I have selected two leafy vegetable crops to continue

research on in 2010.

Research Proposal: New Jersey has one of the highest ethnic diversities in the United

States. In an attempt to meet the demands of these new cultures as well as increase the

economical aspects of vegetable production in New Jersey, this collaboration calls for

new crops to be introduced into the agricultural system of New Jersey. Obviously, there

are serious climatic differences between tropical Ibadan and temperate New Jersey, and

therefore I choose two plants that are small, short season annuals and can be grown

within the summer months. The crops were also selected based on their ability to be

marketed and also the ease of research.

The two crops I selected were green (Amaranthus caudatus, A. dubious) and

waterleaf (Talinum triangulare). I first chose green because it is an extremely short-

season crops that can actually provide two full harvests in only six weeks. This may

allow for up to three or four harvests in the summer. Also the market for green already

exists. Green is eaten by hundreds of cultures throughout the world, and providing a

quality fresh version for American consumers would surely be successful. Waterleaf is

another very small, and fast growing plant. It is by far one of the most cherished leafy

vegetables in all of Nigeria (and especially the southwest), and therefore I believe would

be widely eaten in New Jersey, at first by the West African population and then slowly by

the entire state. Another intriguing aspect of research on waterleaf is that since it grows

so abundantly in the wild, it is not generally cultivated and as not been researched

extensively.

Since our next stay in Nigeria is a six week initiative, the study will deal mainly

with weed populations during seedling emergence, and may include some aspects of

harvesting. Green is traditionally broadcast onto a small seedbed and weeded manually.

A seedbed like this one would serve as my control. I would also prepare a seedbed where

the seeds are planted in rows and manually weeded. This will test the traditional model

of African production with the row concept of American production. Weed populations

will be measured weekly. I will also have two more seedbeds designed similarly in

which weed populations will be controlled with a chemical pesticide. This will aid in

understanding how these plants can be most efficiently grown once brought to New

Jersey.

The testing with waterleaf will be less extensive. Since it is not a traditionally

cultivated crop, I will test two plots one with broadcast seeding and one with row

seeding. I will monitor weed presence at seedling emergence and overall health and

biomass of the plants. This will aid in deciding whether broadcast or row seeding is the

best for waterleaf production.

References: The main references that were used in this report were the numerous

handouts and personal meetings with professors and farmers I received throughout my

stay. I also used city-data.com for some information of New Jersey ethnic population

levels.

Appendix A

Agricultural Competitiveness in New Jersey and the United States: New Crop Options

Project Summary: This project addresses the ISE program goal of ‘Strengthening the Global Competence of Students, Faculty and Staff in Agriculture and Related Areas’. It seeks to develop students’ international perspectives, knowledge and skills through instructional and experiential learning; and increase international collaborations among faculty. Students are introduced to real-world collaborative projects between Rutgers and international partners in Asia, Africa and the Americas focusing on (i) food crop diversification in the US to respond to changing demographics and (ii) research on new crops for biofuels to advance alternate energy source development for the US economy. The international content of Rutgers’ curriculum is enhanced through a new multi-disciplinary course, entitled ‘International Agriculture: New Crops and New Uses’. Experiential learning takes place through student internships and distance learning blended into existing and new global partnerships. Rutgers’ faculty capabilities to conduct international collaborative research are enhanced through the establishment of new joint research programs. Rutgers’ students and faculty visit partner countries, conduct research, and acquire new knowledge in agriculture and biofuels. The expertise and infrastructure of international partners assist in efforts to adapt new crops for the US market and develop a US biofuel-based economy. The development of this program will provide students with the context and practical experience to develop career paths in these disciplines. Project deliverables, especially new crops and biofuel technologies, are introduced to growers and industry partners through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension network. In the long term, program sustenance will enhance US competitiveness in agriculture and biofuels.

Appendix B

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Appendix D

(Source: CIA World Factbook 1999)

Appendix E

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank many people for making this report possible. First, I would like to thank, of course, Professor Albert Ayeni who has spent countless hours working towards this ISE project and without whom, none of this would be possible.

I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Victor. O. Adetimirin whose intelligence, kindness and compassion were truly inspirational. Unraveled by illness or fatigue, Dr. Adetimirin was our foundation in Ibadan and was a true friend. I would similarly like to thank all professors and staff at U.I. for making my stay as enjoyable and informative as possible.

I would also like to thank my friend Syed Zain ul Abbas, who embarked on this amazing, adventure with me.