The document outlines a study that aimed to screen and assess the effectiveness of commercial agricultural products from private companies in sub-Saharan Africa. It describes the objectives, approaches, materials and methods used which involved greenhouse and field evaluations of products in categories such as rhizobial inoculants, other microbiological products, and non-microbial products across countries and crop types. Preliminary results found some rhizobial inoculants and microbiological products increased yields for some crops but effects varied by location. Economic analyses of promising products are ongoing.

1. Do commercial biological and chemical products increase crop yields and economic returns under smallholder farmer conditions? Challenges for opportunities for Agricultural Intensification of the humid highland systems of Sub-Saharan Africa International Conference. Kigali Rwanda Oct 24 -27

12. MATERIALS AND METHODS

13. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collection of commercial products Green house evaluation Field evaluation Demonstration trials Farmer participatory trials (Adaptation trials) Approach Category 1: products Category 2: products Category 3: products Screening Category 1: 1-2 products Category 2: 1-2 products Category 3: 1-2 products Field assessment in three countries: Kenya Niger Nigeria In each country, different sites in different Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ) Assessment and Validation Scaling up Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

15. GREENHOUSE ACTIVITIES RESULTS

16. Greenhouse activities Evaluation of new Rhizobium inoculants in soybean (TGx1740-2F variety) Moses Thuita (PhD student) Control Mineral N Legumefix Biofix Rhizoliq

18. Greenhouse activities Evaluation of Rhizobium inoculants in other legumes Samuel Mathu (MSc student) Rizoliq Mineral N Biofix 899 Biofix 2667 Control Biofix 422 Nodulator Legume- fix Control Mineral N Biofix GN peat Rizoliq

19. Greenhouse activities Evaluation of Rhizobium inoculants in other legumes Samuel Mathu (MSc student)

20. Greenhouse activities Evaluation of Rhizobium inoculants in other legumes Samuel Mathu (MSc student)

21. FIELD ACTIVITIES Bondo: Demonstration trial block I Edwin Mutegi

22. Table 1. Performance of CAT- I products on soybean at Jimma (Averaged over all the locations) RR= Recommended Rate EIAR Treatments Grain Yield (t/ha) % yield increase over +ve control % yield increase over – ve control Control (0 kg N + RR P) 1.31 D -28 0 1/2 RD N + Full RR P 1.61 CD -12 23 RR N/P 1.83 BC 0 40 Legumefix + Full RR P 2.28 AB 25 74 TSBF 531 + Full RD P 1.54 CD -16 18 MAR 1495 + Full RR P 2.43 A 33 86 F -test ** CV (%) 26.2

23. Field activities Field work on Cat. I products in soybean

24. On-going field activities MA sol. Maxx New farmer-managed trials: Histick or Legumefix with/without MA sol. Maxx Control Legumefix + MA sol. Maxx

25. Grain yield of legumes crops as affected with CAT-II products in different locations of Nigeria Field Trial Nigeria Product Soybean (Kaya) Cowpea (Mokwa) Groundnut (Shanono) [ Kg ha -1 ] 0P 1961.6 ab 1072.6 b 1774.3 b 20P 2174.7 ab 1601.4 a 1452.6 c 40P 2340.4 a 1512.4 a 1823.3 ab MYCO-TEA 1907.4 ab 1537.4 a 1767.2 b PHC BIOPAK 2342.1 a 1329.3 ab 2146.5 a RHIZATECH 1694.1 b 1445.4 ab 2243.9 a

26. Tissue Culture Bananas under Field Conditions Tissue culture banana field work Coast Nyanza Apparent volume Agnes Kavoo PhD Student

27. No Bunch weight response in Meru South Effect of Products on Yield of TC Banana in Central Kenya Agnes Kavoo PhD Student

28. Category III Products

30. Effect of P-based products on maize grain yield in Kenya None of the products increased grain yield but significantly higher biomass yield was found with seed P treatment

31. CAT- III products on Wheat at Kulumsa (Averaged over all the locations) EIAR Treatments Biological Yield of 100 plants Yield (Kg/ha) No Input 302.0 3.2 D RD N 309.0 3.3 CD RD N + 1/2 RD P 369.9 3.7 BC RD N/P 375.5 4.1 AB Agroleaf HIgh P + RD N + 1/2 RD P 350.87 4.2 A Turbotop + RD N + 1/2 RD P 382.87 4.0 AB F test * ** CV (%) 12.6

32. On-going field activities Agroblen slow-release fertilizer Cat. III in maize: Confirmation of SR2010 results in DEMO-trials + new products Regular fertilizer (DAP + urea)

33. Economic Valuation

34. Progress with field activities Progress with farmer-managed trials on Rhizatech and Legumefix (2 nd season)

35. Progress with field activities Progress with farmer-managed trials on Rhizatech and Legumefix (2 nd season)

36. Progress with field activities Progress with farmer-managed trials on Rhizatech and Legumefix (2 nd season) >30% increase <30% increase 36% 64%

37. Progress with field activities Progress with farmer-managed trials on Rhizatech and Legumefix (2 nd season) Legumefix cost = 13 USD ha -1 , soybean grain price = 0.53 USD kg -1 .

38. Progress with field activities Progress with farmer-managed trials on Rhizatech and Legumefix (2 nd season) B/C > 2 B/C < 2 48% 52% Legumefix cost = 13 USD ha -1 , soybean grain price = 0.53 USD kg -1 .

39. Progress with field activities Progress with farmer-managed trials on Rhizatech and Legumefix (2 nd season) B/C > 2 B/C < 2 Rhizatech cost = 220 USD ha -1 , soybean grain price = 0.53 USD kg -1 .