This initiative, backed by the IAEA and FAO, provides training to farmers on how to inoculate legume crops such as soybeans, cowpeas, and groundnuts with rhizobia bacteria. These bacteria facilitate the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form, decreasing the necessity for costly synthetic fertilisers and enhancing soil fertility. The program focuses on educating farmers in the production and application of biofertilisers, supplying quality-controlled inoculants, and demonstrating the advantages of inoculation through field trials. The outcomes include increased legume yields, improved soil fertility, a decreased dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, and higher incomes for farmers. This successful project illustrates how nuclear and related techniques can enable farmers to implement sustainable agricultural practices, resulting in improved food security and environmental benefits.
