Tropical Agriculture ISE Internship Report University of Ibadan-Ibadan, Nigeria July 18th August 21st

Nicholas Greene Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Table of Contents
I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII.

VIII. IX.

Abstract Introduction Methodologies Observations Discussion Conclusion 2010 Research Proposal References Appendix: A) ISE Grant Summary B) NJ Ethnic Population C) Images D) Map of Nigeria E) Acknowledgements

Nicholas Greene Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey ISE Internship Final Report University 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 peoples culture to their agriculture and explores how the socio-cultural values shape a nations 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 Postgraduate 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 semiarid 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 summers 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 universitys 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 peoples culture to their agriculture along with the socio-cultural values that influence the nations 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 farmers 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 farmers plots. Over the course of our stay, we not only were able to experience farming through the eyes 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 farmers 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 Africas 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 Nigerias 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 womens 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 peoples 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. Adetimirins 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. AkenOva, 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 nations 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 years 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 Igbos and Yorubas 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 worlds 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 nations 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 shortseason 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 multidisciplinary 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

Appendix C

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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.