FARMERS CLUBS UBANGI. U-LANDSHJELP FRA FOLK TIL FOLK NORGE Report January-December 2014 Humana People to People Congo (HPP-CONGO)

Transcription

1 FARMERS CLUBS UBANGI U-LANDSHJELP FRA FOLK TIL FOLK NORGE Report January-December 2014 Humana People to People Congo (HPP-CONGO)

2 Contents The project at a glance The project achievements (January December 2014) The Effects of the project activities The Project in Numbers Conclusion Testimonies, recommendations and produced materials 1

3 I. THE PROJECT AT A GLANCE 1 Name of the Project Farmers Clubs Ubangi 2 Operation area Bowanse and Bangakungu Sectors in the Equateur Province TSHILOMBO Evariste, THEULA Precious, NCHE Nangah, 3 Project Leaders NDOZWAU Jean-Philippe, ANGE Djess, CHIPAPU Kephas, MOZEMBO Jean de Dieu and DIKULA Jules 4 Address Mawiya n 7, Gemena 5 Telephone , atemongo@yahoo.fr 6 Partner Ministère de l Agriculture et de Développement rural à travers son Projet d Appui à la Réhabilitation et à la Relance du Secteur Agricole (PARRSA) The idea is to support the farmers in their quest to farm effectively and sufficiently on their land to obtain food security for their families and to earn money by selling their products on the market. The way is to empower the small scale farmers by offering the farmers access to an organized club life including elements as training sessions, model farming, field visits, low cost technical solutions, technical assistance, exchange of collectively gained experiences, personal assistance and much more, which the Farmers Clubs project organizes together with the farmers in the clubs. The result is that the farmers acquire skills to carry out a sustainable and varied agricultural production, thus being able to improve their economy, better their livelihood and 7 gain knowledge to break new ground for themselves and The project idea their families. and who the The project is in cooperation with Ministry of Agriculture project reaches (PARRSA). HPP-Congo is going to train farmers using the Humana People to People concept for training of small scale farmers. The project will operate the Farmers Clubs program in 2 areas. Bowase with 8,161 farmers and Bangakungu with farmers. This project will focus on: 1. Increased crop production through better crop management and improved agricultural methods for food security. 2. Increased value by taking better care of animals. 3. Improved sanitation and potable drinking water. 4. Increased access to improved seeds through a system of seed multiplication Farmers are organized in clubs of 50 farmers. 8 clubs with 2

4 8 9 The people at the project The history in brief 400 farmers constitute a project with a project leader living among the farmers Farmers 1 Chef de Mission Project Coordinator 1 Agronomist 2 Veterinarians 8 Unit leaders each in charge of 2,000 farmers. 55 Project Leaders 1 Cashier 1 Accountant The Project started in July 2013 by establishing one month training of 18 new Project Leaders in South Ubangi. On the 5th of August 2013, the project started with introduction of the Farmers Clubs Ubangi Program to the local authorities. A total of 7,200 farmers enrolled themselves in the program, and clubs and committees were formed. In December 2013, 16 new Project Leaders were trained to start activities in January 2014 in Yakoma and Mobayi Mbongo. The project is reaching a total of 9,738 farmers in North and South Ubangi districts After the training of 16 Project leaders in December 2013 for North Ubangi, the project had 3 more Units and 3 Unit Leaders. In North Ubangi, the project is reaching 5,713 farmers, meaning that we have 115 farmers clubs, 2 Units in Yakoma with 2,975 Farmers and the third unit in Mobayi Mbongo with 1,050 farmers. During the beginning of the second half of the year 2014 the project experienced many changes in terms of organization as per instructions from the partner. The project (HPP-Congo) was advised to handover all its activities in the North Ubangi to ISCO, one of the partners in execution of the program, and take over an area in the south Ubangi which was being managed by World Vision. In that case HPP Congo handed over 5,713 farmers to ISCO and took over 8,912 farmers from World Vision In the second half of 2014, the project has 55 Project Leaders who are based in their operational areas working shoulder to shoulder with the farmers. 3

5 II. THE PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS JANUARY DECEMBER farmers are organized in 280 farmers clubs In this year, we have farmers from South Ubangi farmers who benefit directly from the program on improved agricultural and animal production learning new farming technologies conducted by the project leaders with the support from the Unit Leaders and the Veterinary Technician. Note, moreover, that HPP-Congo handed over 5,713 farmers to ISCO and took over farmers from World Vision. During this period, farmers in 340 Clubs have been trained by 55 Project Leaders and 8 Unit Leaders on site selection, soil management, seed selection land preparation and planting, as well as crop management and seed conservation for the first and second planting season in the period of the year farmers in clubs have received lessons and training on new agricultural techniques 12 lessons have been given out so far. The farmers have learnt how to prepare the land and plant with the new farming methods. The farmers have compared the new seeds and methods to their traditional farming and use of local seeds. Farmers have been taught to decide and plan in the clubs as a collective and they have continued learning process in each club. The farmers encourage one and another to practice the knowledge they are getting from the demonstration fields on their individual fields. During this period, the Project Leaders together with the Unit Leaders introduced new methods in the cropping systems and preparation of new seeds and planting materials. 280 demonstration fields operational 340 demonstration fields have been established by each club and are operational. The farmers meet once a week for the theoretical and practical lessons in the demonstration field led by the project leader. The project has introduced improved crops and has already planted cassava, white and yellow maize, groundnuts and rice. Each club prepared the demo plot of 10m x 20m (200m 2 ), meaning that clubs with maize prepared 3 plots, one for white, yellow and local maize while clubs growing groundnuts, cassava and rice have 2 plots. N.B. The plots of maize were isolated from one another to avoid a cross pollination which can in the end affect the quality of the seed as it will be mixed and compromise the purity of the variety. 4

6 The demonstration of agricultural management systems in each club has been done based on conservation farming principles and crop diversification to improve nutrition and variety in the diet. Farmers have also learnt the importance of having the communal and individual seed plots for the multiplication of improved seeds. 50% of the clubs have established their own communal fields (all the clubs in the old area). 20% of the farmers in the old area have established their own individual fields with the improved seeds either from the communal field or buying the seed from the seed multiplier. 280 sales committees are established and in operation Each club has a sales committee which is responsible for marketing of the products of the club members. The committees hence aren t yet operational as the project is making sure together with the farmers to have their clubs registered by the government. So far 340 sales committees have been established. In this year, the project leaders have talked about the importance of animal breeding and animal husbandry. This has been coupled with the construction of improved reproduction centers and kraals for the goats and chickens. The reproduction centers where improved races of He-Goats will be kept and the farmers will be bringing their She-Goats for mating. The project leaders conducted lessons about animal husbandry and the Veterinary Technician has supported with materials and lessons during the meetings in 340 farmers clubs for both Bowase and Bangakungu. Farmers have had lessons on how to construct the kraal for keeping animals and how to deworm the animals at household level. The Project Leaders together with the Veterinary Technician have intensified the monitoring of the health of animals by mobilizing the farmers to make available their animals for vaccinations and report any signs of diseases which they can observe. Much emphasis has also been put on making sure that the animals don t sleep in the same house with the people as this transmits diseases. The operational areas have good water availability, but farmers are not aware of good hygiene practices and water protection. During this period, the Project Leaders also held lessons about health and hygiene to teach the farmers how they can prevent common diseases by treating and conserving drinking water and by carrying cleaning actions in their villages in collaboration with local health dispensary authorities. 5

7 III. THE EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES The farmers have been growing in the traditional way for many years and they have practiced mono- cropping. But the farmers are learning to diversify and include other crops and also to practice crop rotation to prevent loss in soil fertility. There is an increase in crop production as farmers have planted the improved maize varieties which they multiplied in the community gardens. The program has seen an increase in the adoption rate of the new techniques as farmers are copying from what they have learnt in the demonstration fields Decreased malnutrition in the operational areas. Improved socio economic and living conditions Increased involvement of women in decision making and community development IV. THE PROJECT IN NUMBERS Description Plan Achieved Annual Annual Comments Farmers Projects Units 7 7 Clubs (50 farmers) Result 1: farmers in clubs have received lessons and training on new agricultural techniques Number of committees trained Number of lessons per club Each PL gives 1 lesson per Number of lessons each project leader club per month. ( Each PL carries out has 8 clubs ) Number of weekly sessions for all project leaders Number of demonstration fields established Number of lessons per farmer per year Number of meeting per club committee per year Number of sessions per club committees per year Number of training sessions for staffs Number of visits carried out by project leaders Number of agricultural events in the community carried out in the project Each PL carries out 20 visits per week ( So 20 x 50 weeks per year x 55 PLs ) 6

8 Result 2: 6250 farmers learn to read and write Number of illiterate farmers enrolled into literacy classes Number of centers established 56 0 Number of literacy teachers trained Result 3: Increased food production (20%) Number of farmers trained on how to register their results and how to follow up their own production progress and results Number of farmers trained on conservation and processing of the crops Number of farmers in garden production 875 Number of training sessions per sales committee in a year 125 The project hasn t yet started The project hasn t yet started The project hasn t yet started Goals in Farmers' Clubs Ubangi North and South as promised the partners Planed 2014 Acheived up to date 2014 Difference Farmers linked to market* 2% 0% See comments below Farmers practing crop rotation as a system* 5% 0% Farmers received information on how to avoid HIV transmission 5% 5% Farmers having year round access to clean drinking water 10% 0% Farmers organized in clubs Farmers benefiting from common buying and selling 0% 0% Club committee members women (minimum) 20% 20% Rate of adoptions of any new method in crop and animal production 80% 60% Average increase in production* 10% 0% See comments below Average increase in farm income* 5% 0% Field Survey 1 0 Market Survey 1 0 7

9 * Comments to the figures. The increase in production can be estimated at 10% in average as activities have been move from north Ubangi to South Ubangi. The farmers have just planted the improved seeds and have just started harvesting. The data will be collected early next year. V. CONCLUSION The project has carried out the program according to the project objective with the considerable number of activities that have had an impact on the lives and production of the farmers. The project leaders, unit leaders and the farmers at the project have been in the forefront on the implementation of the activities. In this year it has become clear that good results have been achieved because of the commitment and the collectiveness among the farmers, and because the project leaders have worked shoulder to shoulder with the farmers. The good partnership with other projects has enabled farmers and the entire community to benefit from having knowledge on new farming techniques and use of improved seeds. In addition, the seed multiplication access to improved seeds will be a breakthrough for the farmers so they can have more quality and quantity of seeds. 8

10 Farmers Clubs Ubangi / Jan - Dec 2014 Report Recommendations & Testimonies I, Mr. Head of villages Group Kalanda, am very happy to appreciate changing activities conducted by HPP-Congo, especially in the area of agriculture. Hence we still ask that HPP-Congo supports us in these areas: 1. Literacy 2. Potable Water 3. Small scale farming 4. Sanitation NB: Our concern is that the project lasts more than 5 years for the change to be truly effective. 12

11 Bongbayo, 26/11/2014 Recommendation We, members of HPP-Congo in the village Bongbayo, all, considering the formation exerted among us and different initiatives that we benefited in each farmers club; We recommend to you our partners and community to send HPP-Congo to us so as to continue with him in HPP has made for us good initiatives on agriculture, health and literacy. He has endowed us with the work tools. So there is now a change in the village. Thank you, Thank you, 13

12 Object : Testimony Bogbaga, 27/11/2014 I, Moderator of community based organization Mbotema, I am joyful to see that agricultural activities are being implemented in our village by HPP-Congo. Before it was IDRC, PARRSA, World Vision, for example, but things were not too clear, as there were no monitoring. They give once the lesson; they give seeds and leave alone the working community. HPP has brought agricultural instructors who provide lessons, working together with the community, learning how to raise different animals and this coaching allows that the community now masters. I ask you the authorities, not to get tired in encouraging us so that our village goes ahead. Moderator Paulin NAKWADO 14

13 The farmers benefit from the supervision and advice from the Farmers Instructor. In the harvest season, farmers have seen that their production has gone up.

14 External facilitators reinforce the farmers capacity, sot hey can increase production.

15 Farmers learn how to plant in rows, and they replicate the new learning in their own fields. Farmers have weekly actions in their demonstration plot of the club

16 Farmer instructors meet to to discuuss and make the weekly report to the Unitleader and make new plans PARRSA on visit for the halfway meeting in the office in Gemena