PICS Project

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

Today I had my first round of shots and orientation for my trip to northern Nigeria this summer with the Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) Project. In case you were wondering- cowpeas are known as black-eyed peas here in the U.S. - I had to look it up because I didn't know what they were at first. Fun fact: They were brought here in the 1600's (roughly) with the slaves and do very well in the southern U.S. climates....which is why it's a popular dish in the south.
Anyways- the PICS project is funded by the Gates Foundation for $11.5 million dollars...over 5 years. The goal of the project is to extend the bagging storage technology for cowpea to 3.7 million cowpea farm families which equals about 47 million people- in ten countries. Nigeria is the first stop for these trainings. They hope to have 50% of the crop stored in the bags by the end of the project. That translates to $225 million dollars added income ANNUALLY to some of the poorest people in the world. And that is why I want to go. We always talk about IMPACT with our Purdue Extension programs. The "so what" for every program we develop and offer and the impact we will have on those who attend. $255 MILLION DOLLARS annually... in an area where people make about $2 per person per day. THAT is IMPACT.
What's the big deal about cowpeas?? Well.. it's the most economically important African legume crop. Not only is it a good source of protein... but it can also be used as forage for animals, and of course, it's a big cash crop because everyone eats them. 75% of the worlds cowpea is produced in Nigeria (Brazil and Niger round out the top 3)- specifically northern Nigeria- and it's still not enough, as Nigeria also imports a large amount of cowpea.
So what's the big deal?? Well, actually, it's a small deal...a small weevil that feeds on the cowpeas. While they may only contain a few insects to begin with, each female can produce about 40 offspring per month so in a short amount of time you have thousands of the weevils, all happily munching on cowpeas. The triple plastic bags reduce the amount of oxygen, thereby halting the growth and development of the weevils (which means they can't reproduce), and the cowpea can be stored indefinitely. It's so SIMPLE. And it's safe- no insecticides needed. The bags are affordable (about $2), and by being able to store the cowpea, they can either 1) extend their supply of cowpea throughout the year for their own consumption or 2) sell cowpea at off-peak season for MUCH larger profit (3 to 4 TIMES the amount they would receive at harvest when everyone and their brother has cowpeas to sell).
A group of field extension educators from Purdue (ME!!) are going to Nigeria this summer to do train the trainer workshops with their ag technicians so they can in turn train the farmers how to use the storage bags.
Oh- and the Gates Foundation is footing the bill for the trip (Thanks, Bill!!). http://www.gatesfoundation.org/
That's the summary of the project. We'll be in Nigeria for 17 days. I can't wait to share my experience! Because it's going to be - WOW!