Sovereignty: empowering farmers by strengthening capacities for organic production and commercialization of unique native potatoes Report

Transcription

1 Sovereignty: empowering farmers by strengthening capacities for organic production and commercialization of unique native potatoes Report Call For Report Call for final report LAC-Brazil Projects funded in the 2012/13 Report Status Submitted Title Sovereignty: empowering farmers by strengthening capacities for organic production and commercialization of unique native potatoes ID 1083 Thematic Area Smallholder and Poverty-Alleviation Targeted Technologies Reporting period 20 Nov May 2016 Co-leader Institutions Secretariat for International Affairs & Fundación PROINPA Project Co-leaders Mr. Paulo de Melo & Mr. Almanza Juan Leonardo Type of LAC Co-leader Institution NGO (Foundation for Agricultural Research) Summary In Bolivian Andes, native potatoes are grown by smallholders in farming systems currently threatened by climatic changes and urbanization. We aimed to contribute to the sustainable production of native potatoes in Bolivia, and therefore to farmers food sovereignty, by strengthening farmers' capacities to manage risks and improving the technological level, but without disfiguring ethnic and cultural practices. We aimed also to empower farmers with market skills and to add value to native potatoes. The work was based on the implementation of Farmer Field Schools (FFS). Among the main results, we list: (1) a substantial and sustainable strengthening of farmers' capacity to produce higher quality and more productive native potatoes, resulting in significant raise on incomes (25%) (added value, off-season production); (2) the efficiency of FFS to aggregate farmers and promote technology appropriation, as well as self-esteem, change of attitude, and a spark of entrepreneurship; (3) the full appropriation of best practices; (4) food, farmers and environmental safety (less chemicals); and (5) conservation of genetic resources. Market was accessed through the company Rica Papa (run by a family who has grown potatoes for generations), in a relation that points to last. Concluding, the project overcame expectancies and significantly contributed to improve the Candelaria potato smallholders wealthy, including a sustainable social organization founded in empowerment and independence. Country(ies) of Implementation Bolivia Project Results 1. Knowledge systematization: a baseline information on the potato production system in the Candelaria district was produced (first draft under preparation) 2. Capacity Strengthening 2.1. Three Farmers' Field Schools (FFS), involving 45 families, were implemented in the communities of Kanco (exclusive for women), P'Alta Loma and II Sora-Sora. Capacity strengthening participatory programs were carried out in 2014 and 2015 seasons. Programs consisted on 12 learning sessions, documented in a pedagogical plan. Nine videos were shot recording in situ the participation of farmers. These videos were presented later to larger audiences in community movie sessions, as a means for knowledge strengthening and broadening and technology appropriation. The FFS program at P Alta Loma was slightly changed to stress tuber seed production aspects, due to the zone outstanding natural suitability to this activity. We are preparing a paper to report the experience with the FFS s 2.2. One student and two representatives of the municipality took part in the FFS and therefore got acquainted with the methodology 3. Technologies: four technologies aimed at sustainable potato production were validated and appropriated: 3.1. High quality seed tubers: importance of using; 3.2. Preparation and use of low-cost bioinputs (lime-sulphur mixture and liquid biological fertilizer), prepared in homemade plants installed in each community. By the end of the project, all plants were already financially sustained by surplus sales; 3.3. identification of pest insects, their life cycle and use of pheromone traps, and; 3.4. Combination of chemical and natural products for late blight management 4. Progresses 4.1. The project bridged the communities and a family-managed company (Rica Papa) that processes and commercializes tubers of native cultivars. First batches of tubers from Kanko were already delivered to Rica Papa, while Sora-Sora will deliver its first batches upon start harvesting the 2016 fields. Both communities are delivering for an added-value product line named Papas Gourmet 4.2. The community P'Alta Loma has planted its first fields aimed at producing seed tuber. Such production, although not meant to seed certification, will be sold as non-official seed, therefore with a significant price bonus 4.3. Farmers realized that straightforward solutions can be at their fingertips, such as the liquid biological fertilizer that has considerable impact over plant vigor and production and yet is very simple to prepare and uses ingredients available at the backyard. This changed farmers attitude towards facing challenges 4.4. Extension of the cropping season beyond the original dates, aiming at supplying the market with native potatoes for longer periods. Originally, native potatoes were planted in October, while currently the planting season is getting back to August or even earlier. Early planting is carried out by the very same

2 farmers, but in sites with lower altitudes. Scalability and replicability We list here only the most representative among several opportunities: 1. Farmer Field Schools can be scaled up or replicated to other sites with the inclusion of other issues related to production and marketing of native potatoes, as well as for other crops, while respecting the principle that contents, frequency and duration of learning sessions should always be defined by and on agreement with participants. The shooting of videos with participants must be constantly considered, due to its efficiency in promoting empowering and technology appropriation, in addition to its scaling up potential 2. Bio-inputs (lime-sulphur mixture and liquid biological fertilizer): their use was already expanded during the project. Their effectiveness in potato, led farmers to experiment them, also with success, in other key crops for food security (faba-beans, for example), which turned their use into a voluntary and ordinary practice. They are easy to prepare, do not demand strength, nor rare or expensive ingredients, and their impact on plants is evident. In addition, neighbor farmers (non-project participants) started buying the bioinput surpluses, ensuring the plants financial sustainability. The model is fully replicable, given that bio-inputs are produced in very simple and cheap small-scale family-run plants. It depends only on a small starting up amount to buy nets, gallons, sulfur and calcium. 3. Pheromone traps: employed to catch potato pests: its use can be extended to other crop pests and replicated to other sites, provided that farmers are trained to (1) differentiate pests from other insects and (2) to get acquainted with risk levels 4. Connection to markets: the model used in potato (connection between smallholders and family-run processing industries, and markets) can be extended to other traditional crops (ocas, for example) and replicated in other regions in Bolivia and other countries where traditional products are also becoming less accessible with urbanization Impacts of project results Current impacts: (1) increases in yield, commercial and sanitary quality and safety of tubers of native varieties; (2) 25% increase in incomes: higher yields and prices (access to market through Rica Papa, a family-run processing company - see dpictures) and reduction in production costs (average 10%) due to the replacement of chemicals by bio-inputs; (3) conservation by use of potato genetic resources, and of the native herbs relevant for preparing bio-inputs; (4) smallholder empowering in relation to other actors (authorities and market) due to farmers associations; (5) improvement in self-esteem, belonging, leadership, and entrepreneurship; (6) reduction on environmental pollution (reduction in the use of chemicals) Potential Impacts: (1) conversion of P'Alta Loma into a seed tuber production zone; (2) spread of bio-inputs throughout the region, resulting in an area with reduced chemical use; (3) Improvement in potato growers standard of living and wealthy; (4) an own tuber processing unit and trademark, and; (5) inclusion of other native potato cultivars in the set of cultivars delivered to the market, broadening the coverage of genetic resource conservation of by use. Sustainability of project Municipal authorities have been carrying out field days to foster the use of sustainable practices for potato production, such as the preparation and use of the project-developed bio-inputs and pheromone traps. In these events, everyone who brings an adequate recipient (plastic bottle) and takes part in the workshop (building of pheromone trap, pest insects identification and control levels), goes back home with a trap charged with a tablet. The identification between the company Rica Papa (family-run business, with a family who comes from the rural zone and for generations have been native potato growers) and Colomi smallholders created intangible bounds of respect and confidence in both sides, lifting their commercial bounds to a second stage and pointing to a long lasting relation. Leaders stepped ahead in the three communities and already started formalizing (legal personality) the farmers associations, clearly indicating that they outlast the project: farmers state that, while acting as a group, they have voice with the municipal authorities and succeed in mobilizing attention to their real needs. Last, Proinpa just started a major project involving rural markets. Issues in project implementation 1. At the beginning, the municipality gave little support to the project. But, by means of letters and formal communications, in addition to frequent invitations to sessions of the Farmer Field Schools, municipal authorities gradually started attending the activities and ended up fully integrated, promoting campaigns and field days to spread the technologies used on the field schools; 2. There is some difficulty in motivating and attracting farmers to take part in such projects, since it demands their active participation, but above all some of their time. To avoid it, first we included skilled communication people in the team, with experience with farmers; and second, in agreement with farmers, we scheduled some sessions and other activities of the field school to late afternoon or evening, after farmers have finished their ordinary work; 3. Delays in the disbursement of funds: the active participation of the co-leaders seeking to understand the causes of delays and solving them, each in his own institution, was decisive; 4. It was spent on the project more than its financial budget, especially in personal and stipends. Many of these payments came as leverage from other projects. Lessons Learned 1. The participatory methods were very robust in promoting pro-activeness, empowering and fostering the sense of belonging, leading to a natural and intuitive appropriation of results. Nevertheless, these methods required dedication from the team and coexistence and sharing with farmers, to build and bring in confidence; 2. Women were more open-minded, less conservative and, during implementation, showed much more curiosity, pro-activeness and interaction than men. In general, women were also more prone to learn; 3. The exchange of experiences and visits among farmers were crucial. It was very important to the three different communities to meet and discuss their problems, which very often were similar, and solutions. Horizontal knowledge sharing was one of the main assets that allowed us to achieve our goals; 4. Co-leaders must be fully committed to the project and closely monitoring its implementation, including financial aspects, foreseeing obstacles and looking for timely solutions; 5. Face to face contact between co-leaders once a year, combined to visits to the implementing institution, was key. It was very important to the Brazilian coleader to get acquainted with the implementing institution management and technical teams, not working exclusively on the project. It was as important to know the project site and surroundings, farmers (final users) and municipal authorities involved, as well as getting contact in loco with the activities being carried out and the results achieved, giving the Brazilian co-leader benchmarks to estimate the project potential and limits. The presence of the Brazilian co-leader in the field was also taken (and indeed it was) a demonstration of prestige to farmers, which reverberated in their proud and strengthened their responsibility and commitment towards the project. Finally, the presence of the Brazilian co-leader gave relevance and substance to the project and to the Bolivian co-leader within the implementing institution. Suggestions for improvement 1. The Brazilian co-leader must visit the implementing institution in the first two months of the project implementation. Host co-leader must arrange for the Brazilian co-leader to meet key staff at the implementing institution, both at management and technical-scientific duties. Co-leaders must have a face-to-face meeting at least once a year, better if combined to the project activities; 2. Budget items for paying personal and stipends should be less restrictive; 3. The duration of the project should be three years; 4. All projects, except when not feasible, nor applicable, should carry out a preliminary impact study; 5. If there is a delay in the project starting date due to bureaucratic issues (contract signing, for example), a new starting date should be set in agreement between co-leaders and the MKTPlace coordination, observing the crop annual season, in the best interest of the project.

3 Publications Almanza JL; Rivero JA; Melo PE de Sovereignty: fostering in situ conservation of unique traditional potato varieties by empowering farmers for organic production and commercialization. Available in: (search for Juan Leonardo Almanza, resanexo pdf) The following publications are under preparation: 1. Bolivian native traditional potato varieties: a comprehensive view of the production system at the Central Altiplane 2. Field farmer schools: a case study for traditional potato farmers in Bolivia Quantitative Project Results Key Project Outputs Knowledge Generated A relevant discovery or new information made by the project 1. The market for native potato varieties in La Paz, Cochabamba and Sta Cruz de la Sierra is rather significant, provided that the product is offered under adequate sanitary and commercial standards 2. When it comes to native potato varieties, Bolivian urban consumers show strong preference, which significantly impacts prices, for small tubers (15-20g), used as "papitas gourmet" Technologies Innovation developed through the application of information in the design, production, utilization of goods and services 1. The lime-sulfur mixture, used as a natural contact fungicide, was efficient as part of late blight integrated management in the conditions of the Candelaria communities Quantitative - Project Results Products Usage of technology, goods, method or information transformed into an object or tool 1. Systemic approach: targeted farmers strenghtened their observation, perception and analysis capacities with the field school, considerably broadening their vision to address potato production challenges 2. Production system: smallholder farmers voluntarily applying good agricultural practices 3. Access to markets: tubers from native potato varieties from one of the communities already delivered to a familybased processsing plant and already available for purchase in markets and supermarkets of Cochabamba. A second community was about to delver their first batch of tubers 4. Tuber seed production: community of P'Alta Loma is aware of its natural advantages to produce and multiply high quality potato tubers. The program of the Field School in the second year focused on tuber seed production. There are no intention of getting into the official seed certification system, but of producing "traditional seed tubers" Services Use of a specific technology or a product to favor a community 1. Certified potato seedtubers: smallholder farmers received two 50-kg bags of certified seeds from their traditional varieties to start their fields 2. Bioinputs:one homely facility for bioinput production was installed and placed in operation in each of the three communities. The starting material to build the facility (wood and nets) and to produce the bioinputs (gallons, sulphur, calcium) were provided by the project 3. Pest identification: laboratory analysis for initial pest identification were also provided by the project 4. Formal knowledge: formal knwoledge on potato sustainable production, including the use of high quality seed (as well as how to multiply it without loosing quality) and crop wise management (identification of pests and diseases including risk levels) was made available for building capacities in potato production

4 5. Welfare: Increases in incomes, selfsteem and ownership, as well as confidence in future perspectives (seed production, increase in deliveries for the supermarket, development of a own trademark). 5. Access to processing plants and market: contacts with processing plants and retail market were facilitated and promoted Individual Training and Technical Visits 6. Farmer organization: one FFS (P'Alta Loma) already started moving towards its formalization as a legal person (farmer association), with clearly established objectives and production standards, and coordinated and representative operation with local authorities. A second FFS (Kanko) already following the steps Name Country/City Number of Days Gender Technical visit to Paulo Eduardo de Melo Cochabamba and 5 (May 3 to 7, 2015) Male Candelaria district Technical visit to Paulo Eduardo de Melo Cochabamba and 7 (April 25 to May 1st, 2016) Male Candelaria district Events Organized Event Name Country/City Event Type (workshop, forum, symposium, etc.) Number of participants/people trainned How Farmer Field Schools work? Soil analysis Production and use of bio-fertilizer (foundation and foliar) with also insect repelent properties (Biol) Production and use of bio-fungicide (Limesulphur mixture) Production and use of insecticide (based on garlic, onion and soap) High quality tuber seed Late blight integrated management Agroecological analysis Differentiation between beneficial and harmless insects and pests The use of bioinsecticides in postharvest Preparation and use of

5 Germplasm Exchange (Living genetic resources: seeds, tissue, etc, that is maintained for the purpose of animal and plant breeding, preservation, and other research uses) Number of Participating Professionals Project team as a whole - Foreign instuition and Embrapa center pheromone traps Market survey and approach Species Number of Accessions Recipient Country Female Male 1 5 Attachments (photos and other documents)

6

7