USAID AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SUPPORT ACTIVITY

Transcription

1 USAID AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SUPPORT ACTIVITY ANNUAL REPORT November 2015

2 USAID AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SUPPORT ACTIVITY Annual Report October September 2015 Submitted to United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dhaka, Bangladesh Submitted by Dhaka Ahsania Mission CARE-Bangladesh & mpower November 2015

3 USAID AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SUPPORT ACTIVITY Annual Report October September 2015 Prepared by Ag Extension Project Team Published by Ag Extension Project Management Dhaka, Bangladesh Prepared in November 2015 Design and Printed by Real Printing, Dhaka, Bangladesh USAID Disclaimer: This report is made possible through support provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The content and opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

4 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 1. INTRODUCTION Background Project Goal, Objectives and Approach Project Area Project M&E System 5 2. SUMMARY OF FtF INDICATOR REPORT 7 3. RESULTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Agricultural Extension Service Provision Enhanced (IR 1) Capacity of Agricultural Extension Agents Enhanced Capacity development of public extension agents Capacity development of private extension agents Increased Outreach to Farmers by Agriculture Extension Agents Establishment of agricultural extension service centers Support to the extension agents for improved services Smallholder Farmers in Agriculture Empowered (IR 2) Community Mobilized and Farmer Producer Groups Formed Enhanced Farmers' Knowledge and Capacity in Agriculture Needs assessment and producer group action plans Capacity building for farmer leaders Capacity building of farmer producer groups Learning through demonstration plots and ponds Access to formal financial services Farmers' awareness creation on health and nutrition Producer (Farmer) Groups Strengthened Link producer groups to extension agents 22 iii

5 Access to inputs and output markets Strengthened Application of ICT in Agriculture (IR 3) Improved National Agriculture Information System Collaboration with AIS Development of agriculture knowledge portal Development of ICT applications Development of Audio Visual products Increased Use of ICT by Agricultural Extension Agents Training on use of ICT applications Increased Use of ICT by Farmers ToT of ICT champions on the use of basic ICT tools Cross-cutting Issues Gender Awareness Environmental Compliance PROJECT MANAGEMENT Administration and Coordination Project Management Meeting Management and Coordination in regions and districts Project Staffing Partnerships and Coordination Visits Monitoring and Evaluation Communications LESSONS LEARNED 45 ANNEXES 46 Annex 1: Case Studies 46 Annex 2: Training and Capacity Building 56 iv

6 List of Tables and Figures List of Tables Table 1.1: Project working are with supported beneficiaries 5 Table 2.1: Area (ha) under improved technology or management practices 7 Table 2.2: USG supported farmers applying new technologies or managementpractices 8 Table 2.3: Beneficiaries who received USG supported short-term training 8 Table 3.1: Training provided to the government extension agents 11 Table 3.2: Training to government extension agents in four demo upazilas 12 Table 3.3: Retailers and service providers identified within AESA project area 12 Table 3.4: Distribution of FPGs by districts and value chains 17 Table 3.5: ToT course for farmer leaders 19 Table 3.6: Summary of courtyard sessions on improved practices for FPGs 19 Table 3.7: Distribution of demonstration plots and ponds in project area 20 Table 4.1: Summary breakdown of the project staff 37 Table 4.2: Summary of MoU and agreements signed with other organizations 39 List of Figures Figure 1.1: Map showing project work area 4 Figure 1.2: Project results framework 6 Figure 3.1: Launching of AESC at Chowgachha upazila, Jessore 13 Figure 3.2: DAE Additional Director's visit at Chowgachha, Jessore 14 Figure 3.3: DAE extension agents receive motorcycle from the project 14 Figure 3.4: Beneficiary farmer distribution by landholding size 15 v

7 Figure 3.5: Distribution of group members by selected value chains 16 Figure 3.6: Farmer groups' participatory need assessment in Terokhada 17 Figure 3.7: Farmer leaders' ToT on fish culture in Pirojpur 18 Figure 3.8: Farmer groups' learning session on mung bean cultivation 19 Figure 3.9: Demonstration plot of jute in Magura sadar upazila 20 Figure 3.10: Farmers' field day on Jute cultivation in Magura 21 Figure 3.11: Project staff trained on access to loan 22 Figure 3.12: SAAO conducting a learning session for farmer 23 Figure 3.13: Match making workshop in Amtali, Barguna 24 Figure 3.14: Vaccination camp in Rupsha Upazila, Khulna 26 Figure 3.15: MoU signing ceremony with AIS, MoA 27 Figure 3.16: e-ag conference in December Figure 3.17: SAAO training on use of ICT applications 31 Figure 3.18 : ICT champion training in Keshabpur, Jessore 32 Figure 3.19: Project staff conducting gender training on daily time use 33 Figure 3.20: Farmers' cross visit on fodder cultivation plot in Magura 34 Figure 4.1: Staff are in group work for AIP workshop 38 Figure 4.2: USAID visitor with the Baniali dairy producer group at Jessore 40 Figure 4.3: DQA team checking documentation process at Jessore office 42 Figure 4.4: A TANGO consultant conducting FGD with SAAOs 42 Figure 4.5: Project brochure 43 Figure 4.6: Beef fattening flip chart 44 Figure 4.7: One pager project brief (Bangla & English) 44 vi

8 Acronyms Ag Extension Project USAID Agriculture Extension Support Activity AESC Agricultural Extension Service Center AICC Agricultural Information and Communication Center AIP Annual Implementation Plan AIRN Agriculture Inputs Retailers Network AIS Agriculture Information Service AVC USAID Agricultural Value Chains project CBO Community-Based Organization DAE Department of Agriculture Extension DoF Department of Fisheries DLS Department of Livestock Services DAM Dhaka Ahsania Mission DAM Department of Ag Marketing DoF Department of Fisheries DLS Department of Livestock FA Fisheries Assistant FF Field Facilitator FPG Farmer Producer Group FtF Feed the Future ICT Information Communication Technology IVR Interactive Voice Response IEE Initial Environmental Examination LOP Life of Project M&E Monitoring and Evaluation vii

9 MFI MoA NGOAB PNGOS PRA PNA PMEP PAC PCO PIRS PSC PSMT SAC SAAO SRDI TNA UACC VFA WBA Microfinance Institution Ministry of Agriculture NGO Affairs Bureau Partner NGOs Participatory Rural Appraisal Participatory Needs Assessment Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Project Advisory Committee Project Central Office Performance Indicator Reference Sheet Project Steering Committee Project Senior Management Team Special Award Conditions Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Soil Resources Development Institute Training Needs Assessment Upazila Agricultural Extension Coordination Committee Veterinary Field Assistant Well-being analysis viii

10 Acknowledgements This report is prepared to describe briefly the major achievements and key activities of the USAID Agricultural Extension Support Activity. The period of reporting is from October 2014 to September The Chief of Party would like to acknowledge the work done by the project staff through a year period and the excellent contribution they have made to the preparation of this report. I hope that the Annual Report 2015 will enable the reader to have an overview of the project, its achievements and the challenges ahead. I take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the Dhaka Ahsania Mission, CARE- Bangladesh and mpower for their continuing support in implementing the project activities for the betterment of the smallholder farming families in the central and southwest areas of Bangladesh. Bidyuth K. Mahalder Chief of Party Dhaka 30 November 2015 ix

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12 Executive Summary The USAID Agricultural Extension Support Activity (AESA) is a five years US$ 19 million project funded by USAID under Cooperative Agreement No. AID-388-A between USAID and Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM). The project is being implemented by Dhaka Ahsania Mission through partnerships with CARE-Bangladesh and mpower from October 2012 to October The Project works in the central and southwest areas of Bangladesh (Barisal, Dhaka, and Khulna divisions) to implement capacity building and support creation of a farmer demand-driven agricultural extension system, synergized by use of information and communication technology (ICT). The goal of the project is to strengthen the existing agricultural extension system in 12 districts within USAID's Feed the Future zone in Bangladesh in order to sustainably improve food security and nutrition for 110,000 smallholder farmers. The present progress report describes in greater detail the various intervention strategies and activities implemented during Year 3 (from 01 October 2014 to 30 September 2015), as well as the major results achieved during this period.the project has expanded its activities with a focus on intensively increasing the quality of support to beneficiaries (farmers and extension agents) in the reporting period. This was done in several ways: working in fewer districts than planned initially, improving the quality of support to the beneficiaries and establishing model extension centers in four selected upazilas. The project has developed a database of 687 government extension agents from three government departments namely the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Department of Fisheries (DoF) and Department of Livestock Services (DLS) in order to establish a linkage with the project deployed field staff working in the same areas. As a result, these government extension workers, through joint efforts with project staff, are providing better extension services to the project beneficiaries for adopting modern agricultural technologies and improved crop management practices for increased household income. During the reporting period, the project supported 108,223 beneficiaries, of whom 48% are women, which are organized into 3,854 Farmer Producer Groups (FPGs) insix selected value chains (jute, mung bean, aquaculture, chili, dairy and beef fattening). The FPGs have been supported to take advantage of the benefits of group membership and collective action. The project staff, together with the government extension agents during the project's third year provided training to 71,536 farmers (representing 2,557 FPGs) on improved technologies and management practices related to the six value chains. The project also provided Training of Trainer (ToT) courses to the 6,989 FPG farmer leaders on improved production technologies, with the intent that they would disseminate the skills and knowledge that they acquired to farmers in their own communities through informal courtyard sessions. A total of 435 government extension agents were trained on improved value chain production technologies; and 231 of them received training on basic leadership skills and gender sensitivity. 1

13 Demonstration plots continued to play an important role as an extension tool to disseminate knowledge on five key crop management practices among a wider number of farmers through 151 Farmers' Field Daysheld throughout the project area. In the reporting period, the project oriented 275 farmer leaders on use of ICT for better extension service delivery. Of these, 227 (dubbed "ICT Champions") were given smartphones and received training on project developed ICT applications (apps). Training on basic use tools and apps was provided to 185 government extension agents. ICT applications developed by the project include a reporting schedule for Sub Assistant Agriculture officers (SAAO), crop problem diagnosis, Farmer Query System and livestock disease diagnosis and solutions. The aim of these ICT apps and approaches is to enrich the national agricultural information system and demonstrate new and more efficient ways to share agricultural information. A total of 285 national and international ICT professionals, development practitioners, academicians and government officials working in the field of e-agriculture participated in the project organized 'e-ag Conference 2014' held December 3 and 4, 2014 in Dhaka. The conference served to create a forum to help facilitate partnerships among participating organizations and provided participants the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences on use of good ICT practices in the agriculture sector. In Year 3, the project signed an MoU with the department of Agricultural Information Services (AIS) under the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) aimed at developing the capacity of AIS to support project farmers, government and private extension agents in disseminating agricultural production knowledge and technologies. The project also signed an MoU with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) on March 8,2015. The objectives of the MoU are to strengthen the existing capacities of DAE to deliver effective extension services to all farmers, including smallholder farmers - both men and women. Under the MoU, 97 block level Agricultural Extension Service Centers (AESCs) were established in four selected upazilas to provide farmers a one stop source of information and advice related to their field crops and horticulture production, as well as their livestock, poultry and aquaculture activities.the project provided training to the respective SAAOs in the four demo upazilas. As a means of increasing the mobility and outreach of government extension agents, the project procured and distributed motorcycles and smartphones among the SAAOs working with the project established AESCs. A mid-term review was conducted in September 2015 by an international consulting firm to assess the validity of the development hypothesis and the performance of the project to meet objectives and achieve the results as targeted. The mid-term evaluation tasks was also included in identifying emerging opportunities for enhancing the impact of the project's interventions aimed at strengthening extension service provision in Bangladesh. The project also conducted an annual outcome survey using a third party national survey firm. At the conclusion of Year 3, the selected firm had begun preliminary survey activities. The survey reports will be available for further review and feedback by mid-december

14 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background During the past few decades, modern agricultural technologies based on high-yielding seeds, improved fertilizer and water management and improved pest and disease control measures helped to increase crop production an average of two to three times. But central and southwest Bangladesh has not enjoyed the same increased productivity mostly due to increasing soil and water salinity, increased flooding, poor agricultural practices and limited access to equitable market systems for smallholder farmers and inadequate agriculture extension services to effectively reach these farmers with the up-to-date information and services required. Therefore, in order to improve food security and increase household incomes for farmers, especially women, in the central and southwest regions of Bangladesh an effective and wide-reaching extension service can play a central role. To address these challenges a multi-year Agricultural Extension Support Activity (AESA), herein after referred to as the 'Ag Extension Project', is being implemented under USAID Bangladesh's Development Objective 2 (DO2): Food Security Improved. The Feed the Future (FTF) initiative in in Bangladesh falls under the Do2. Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) is implementing AESA under Cooperative Agreement No. AID-388-A in partnership with CARE Bangladesh and mpower and is guided by the USAID Forward reform agenda. The project timeframe is October 2012 to October The original total project value was USD 23,415,619. This was revised downward to USD 19,102,418 in May 2015 during a process of strategic realignment of project strategy and targets, in consultation with the Mission. AESA works in 12 districts in the central and southwest areas of Bangladeshin three divisions: Dhaka, Khulna and Barisal. The project's aim is to strengthen the existing agriculture extension system in southwest and central Bangladesh to sustainably improve food security and nutrition for smallholder farmers. The present progress report describes the intervention strategies and activities planned for the third year, October 2014 through September 2015, as well as the main results achieved during this period. 1.2 Project Goal, Objectives and Approach The project's goal is to "strengthen the existing agriculture extension system in southwest and central Bangladesh to sustainably improve food security and nutrition for smallholder farmers with an emphasis on women". The major objective of the project is to enhance access to and utilization of agricultural extension services by smallholder farmers - both men and women. It is working for building capacities and creating support to a farmer demand-driven agricultural extension system, synergized by the use of information communication technology (ICT). The project goal and objectives are to be realized through the implementation of activities organized under the following three project components: I. Enhance access to and utilization of agricultural extension services by smallholder farmers; II. Expand and strengthen Information and Communication Technology (ICT) mechanisms to increase access to agricultural market information, knowledge and technologies; 3

15 III. Strengthen capacity of agricultural extension service agents (public and private) to proactively respond to the needs of small holder farmers (including women farmers). Project implementation approaches have been incorporated into the overall project implementation strategy that include: Farmer Producer Group (FPG) formation as an approach to give small holder farmers (and women) a voice and to enable agricultural extension agents to work with small holder farmer groups; Focus on Public and Private Extension Agents realizing that many small holder farmers informally use input providers as extension agents, the project will build capacities of input providers and other informal extension agents in addition to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) extension agents; Information Communication Technologies (ICT) is a key focus of the project in expandingand strengthening channels through which farmers and extension agents access technical agricultural information; FtF Collaboration is an underlying assumption whereby FtF project managers will seek toidentify and collaborate on areas of mutual interest and benefits across projects. Key project beneficiary targets 1 include: 110,000 small holder farmers including 30% women; 3,850 Farmer Producer Groups (FPGs); Each FPG focused on one of six selected value chains; 1,000 Agricultural Extension Agents (Approximately 65% government extension agents and 35% private / informal extension agents). 1.3 Project Area Figure 1.1 shows the project geographic coverage, i.e. 26 upazilas within the 12 targeted FtF program districts in southwest and central Bangladesh. For project administration purpose, these 12 districts have been divided into 3 regions: Barisal (comprises 5 districts of Barisal division: Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur and Bhola), Jessore (comprises 2 districts of Dhaka division: Faridpur, Rajbari and nearest 2 districts of Khulna division: Jessore, Magura), Khulna (comprises 3 districts of Khulna division: Khulna, Satkhira and Narail). Project is working in total 231 unions and 2 Pourashava in these 26 upazilas. Table 1.1 shows the district wise distribution of the project's direct beneficiary households who received training through formation of FPGs. A total of 108,223 farmers including 48% female members are registered as direct beneficiaries in 231 unions of 26 upazilas in 12 districts. The project intervention area includes two upazilas in each district except Khulna and Jessore, which have three each. Fig. 1.1: Project working area 1. Project management has revised geographic coverage and project beneficiaries at USAID's request to narrow project focus, while hopefully increasing impact. 4

16 Table 1.1: Project working area with supported beneficiaries District Name Upazila Name Total Union (No.) Supported Households (No.) Barguna Barguna Sadar andamtali 17 7,795 Barisal Barisal Sadar andhizla 16 6,960 Bhola Bhola Sadar and Char Fasson 20 8,512 Patuakhali Patuakhali Sadar andmirzaganj 18 8,029 Pirojpur Pirojpur Sadar andbhandaria 14 6,659 Faridpur Faridpur Sadar and Char Bhadrasan 14 7,506 Rajbari Rajbari Sadar and Goalanda 18 9,522 Jessore Jessore Sadar, Keshabpur and Chowgachha 30 16,280 Magura Magura Sadar and Mohammadpur 20 10,160 Khulna Dacope, Rupsha and Terokhada 20 10,116 Narail Narail Sadar and Kalia 24 8,226 Satkhira Satkhira Sadar and Kaliganj 20 8,458 TOTAL , Project M&E System The Agricultural Extension Support Activity development hypothesis is that if the vulnerable smallholder farmers can be linked with access to high-quality extension services and information, farmers will apply improved agricultural practices. The project results framework has four levels. The USAID Agricultural Extension Support Activity is aligned with Development Objective 2 (DO2) of USAID/Bangladesh's Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS). The objective 'Food Security Improved' seeks to address food-insecurity in Bangladesh. The United States Government's (USG's) Feed the Future (FtF) initiative fall under the DO2 and its objective in Bangladesh, 'Availability, Access, and Utilization of Domestically Produced and Nutritious Foods Increased. 'The three intermediate results (IR) of the project are: IR.1: Agricultural Extension Service Provision Enhanced IR.2: Smallholder Farmers (men & women) in Agriculture Empowered IR.3: Strengthened Application of ICT in Agriculture 5

17 The results framework for the project is shown below: Objective: Increased Farmer Access to Improved Agricultural Extension Service IR-1: Agricultural Extension Service provision enhanced IR-2: Smallholder farmers (men &women) in agriculture empowered IR-3: Strengthened application of ICT in agriculture Sub IR 1.1: Capacity of agriculture extension agents enhanced Sub IR 1.2: Increased outreach to farmers by more equipped agriculture extension agents Sub IR 2.1: Farmers knowledge and capacity in agriculture enhanced Sub IR 2.2: Producer (farmer) groups strengthened Sub IR 3.1: Improved national agriculture info system Sub IR 3.2: Increased use of ICT by Ag Extension Agents Sub IR 3.3: Increased use of ICT by farmers Assumptions That political Instability will not affect project activities significantly No major disasters such as cyclones or drought strike Bangladesh The project receives continued support from the GOB The project receives support from the local population Fig. 1.2: Project results framework 6

18 2. SUMMARY OF FTF INDICATOR REPORT This section discusses the project achievements in year 3 on FTF indicators and important custom indicators Number of hectares under improved technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance In the reporting period,results for total area (estimated) under improved technologies were achieved through two types of activities: farmer trainings and demonstrations (Table 2.1). Farmers are trained on improved production technologies for a specific value chain. Demonstration plots are also established to make the farmer aware of the benefits of new technology and to show the farmers how to practically use the new technology. As a result, a portion of the trained farmers adopted the new technologies in their farming land area. The cropped area estimated here in hectare considers only the land based beneficiaries of the project, i.e. jute, mung bean and chili farmers, as per indicator definition. Table 2.1: Area (ha) under improved technology or management practices Disaggregation of indicator Achieved (ha) Crop genetics 19,415 Cultural practices 8,386 Pest management - Disease management 21,379 Soil-related 22,543 Other 12,789 Total applying one or more improved technology 25,581 Male 19,898 Female 5, Number of farmers and others who have applied new technologies or management practices as a result of USG assistance Participants under this indicator included farmers who have applied project promoted technologies and agricultural management practices in their farms under the six value chains (i.e. jute, mung bean, chili, fish, dairy and beef fattening). The beneficiary farmers were trained on improved technology and management practices. They were also motivated to use the new technologies through demonstration plots, cross-visits, increased communication with government extension agents and enhanced linkages to private extension agents such as input retailers and service providers. Table 2.2 shows the estimated number of farmers who adopted the different project promoted technologies or practices in year 3. 7

19 Table 2.2: USG supported farmers applying new technologies or management practices Disaggregation of indicator Achieved (No.) Crop genetics 62,270 Cultural practices 30,284 Livestock management 26,752 Aquaculture management 10,267 Pest management - Disease management 63,170 Soil-related 63,001 Other 57,000 Total applying one or more improved technology 103,718 Male 53,997 Female 49,721 New 103,718 Continuing Number of individuals who have received USG supported short-term agricultural sector productivity or food security training In year 3, the project has provided direct training support to 71,536 farmers, with around 58 percent of them being females (Table 2.3). These farmers received improved production technology and management training under the respective six value chains they produced. A total of 234 government extension agents including Sub Assistant Agriculture Officers (SAAOs), Veterinary Field Assistants (VFAs) and Fisheries Assistants (FAs) who are designated to directly support the farmers were also provided training on improved production technology and management training under the respective value chains. Eighteen (18%) percent of these trained extension agents were female. In the reporting period, the project did not provide any training to the private sector's extension agents. Table 2.3: Beneficiaries who received USG supported short-term training Disaggregation of indicator Achieved (No.) Male 30,095 Female 41,675 Producers 71,536 People in government 234 People in private sector firms 0 Total 71, Number of food security private enterprises (for profit), producers organizations, water users associations, women's groups, trade and business associations, and community-based organizations (CBOs) receiving USG assistance A total of 2,557 new producers groups have received USG assistance in year 3. The farmers under these groups have received assistance in the form of trainings on production and non-agricultural skills, demonstration plots, cross-visits, linkage meetings and workshops etc. Total 3,854 producers groups are receiving assistance from the project at the end of year 3. 8

20 Number of rural households benefitting directly from USG interventions In year three, 96,331 households (estimated) benefitted from project interventions. Of these, 6,367 households are headed by women, 89,872 households are headed by men and the rest 92 households are headed by minor the age of Number of members of producer organizations and community based organizations receiving USG assistance Under this indicator, the reported figure shows that 71,536 members of producer organizations (i.e. members of producer groups), of whom 58 percent are women, have received USG assistance in the form of training on improved production technology or management practices or other non-ag trainings like facilitation, leadership, gender or nutrition issues Number of MSMEs, including farmers, receiving USG assistance to access loans Six female farmers have received loans as a result of USG assistance in year 3. The project conducted several activities like match making or linkage workshops, linkage meetings and discussion on loan procedures in group level meetings. As a result of these activities, five dairy farmers and one beef fattening farmers from Jessore district received loan amounting to BDT 172,000 in year 3. They are using the money for their production. CUSTOM Indicator 1 Number of extension agents (public and private) providing increased extension services to farmers and producer groups During year 3, 368 public extension agents were estimated to have increased extension services they provided to farmers and producer groups (13% of these extension agents were female). This means 57 percent of the project assisted pubic extension agents have started providing increased extension services to the farmers. Increased extension services were measured by parameters like the extension agent is known by the farmer groups, the extension agent can be contacted by the farmer groups if needed and the extension agent has provided either advisory services or training to the farmer groups atleast three times in the last production season in year 3. Before the project intervention, only 40 percent of these farmers knew the extension agent and average number of farm visits made by the public extension agent to these beneficiary farmers was less than one. CUSTOM Indicator 2:Number of producer (farmer) groups accessing extension services A total of 2,159 producer groups (56 percent of total beneficiary) were found to have accessed extension services from public extension agents in year 3. Per the indicator definition extension service access is determined by measuring parameters such as whether the farmer producer groups are aware of who their assigned public extension agent is, ability to contact the extension agent if needed and whether they have received either advisory services or training atleast three times in the last production season. The farmer producer groups were linked to the respective extension agent through an introductory meeting. Later the extension agents provided training to the farmer groups. In some cases, the project provides facilitation support. In this way, an enhanced extension service relation has been developed. 9

21 3. RESULTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS This section describes the results and achievements of the project for year 3 under its three intermediate result (IR) areas.a series of project activities described in the project's Year 3 AIP (Annual Implementation Plan) have contributed to these results and achievements. During Year 3, the project has expanded activities with a focus on intensively increasing the quality of support to beneficiaries (farmers and extension agents). This is being done in several ways: working in fewer districts than planned initially, improving the quality of support to the beneficiaries, increasing the number of front level staff like Field Facilitators, who interact directly with the beneficiary farmers and extension agents, and by adding a number of Field Supervisors, who can provide close supervision to a team of 10 to 15 Field Facilitators within an upazila. In the reporting period, the project has focused on establishing model extension centers in four selected upazilas in order to demonstrate a proposed model for improved efficient extension service delivery, which may be later replicated by the DAE. 3.1 Agricultural Extension Service Provision Enhanced (IR 1) Capacity of Agricultural Extension Agents Enhanced The project works with extension service providers at the union and upazila level to increase their capacity to respond to the needs of targeted poor smallholder farmers, especially women, in order to empower them to request information and gain access to skills and technologies around specific agricultural products. In this regard, the project has targeted the pool of public extension agents at Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and Department of Fisheries (DoF) identified that are responsible for providing extension services to the project FPGs. The project coordinated with line managers and training heads from the three government extension agencies to identify soft skills and technical training needs of their field level extension agents. Identified topics included refresher training on improved agricultural practices for six supply chains that project is working on; how to reach and interact with target farmer groups (facilitation skills); communications skills appropriate for women and the less educated; incorporation of gender and diversity aspects into extension activities; and formation, governance and leadership of smallholder producer groups. As a means to develop a private avenue for increasing farmer access to extension, the Ag Extension Project will develop capacity of input retailers and Local Service Providers (LSPs) who conduct business with project beneficiaries in order to strengthen or increase their capacity to provide extension services. Assistance could include business skills training, use of ICT tools to access information, or training on application of an improved agricultural practice that is in demand by their clients Capacity Development of Public Extension Agents Agricultural Extension Support Activity beneficiaries included approximately 1,000 agricultural extension workers (from public and private sectors) who received training and participated in 10

22 capacity-building activities aimed at strengthening their ability to effectively deliver extension services. Training of public extension agents on production technologies and soft skills In year 3, the project continued to identify Sub Assistant Agriculture Officers (SAAOs), and other public extension agents from respective departments of DAE, DLS and DoF who are located in the blocks or unions or upazila where the project has active FPGs. The project, in collaboration with district and upazila field offices of DAE, DLS and DoF, organized a series of one or two-day ToTs for public extension agents. Project provided trainings courses on: Training and information-sharing on the "five recommended improved management practices" identified by the project for each of the six value chains; How to reach and interact with target farmer groups (facilitation skills); Basic ICT orientation; Five day ToT course for SAAO's in four demo upazilas. Extension agent participants were purposively selected from different upazilas to allow for "crossfertilization" and sharing of best practices and experiences. The non-technical trainings gave the extension agents an opportunity to explore topics outside of their "comfort zones". Facilitators found that the female extension agents oftentimes require additional and extensive support to ensure their involvement in the soft skill training sessions. Agents identified that additional training and practice using facilitation skills while working with producer groups is a need shared by most. Table 3.1 shows the information on these trainings conducted in year 3. Table 3.1: Training provided to the government extension agents Region Type of Training Production Technology / Practices Soft Skills (Facilitation, leadership, gender) Sessions Participants (No.) Sessions Participants (No.) (No.) Male Female Total (No.) Male Female Total Barisal Jessore Khulna Total Total 435 public extension agents including 14% female have received training on production technologies in year 3. On soft skills like facilitation, leadership skills and gender awareness issues, 231 public extension agents have received training, 13 percent of them were female. Intensive training of public extension agents in demo upazilas Currently SAAOs do not have many opportunities for in-service training or continuing education on improved technologies due to limited facilitation and resources mobilization capacity of the DAE. To address this issue and as part of the project's activity titled "demonstration of improved ag extension service delivery through block-level ag extension service centers in four selected upazilas",a set of ToT modules for a five day residential training course on improved technologies and good management practices for field crops were designed and implemented to train the SAAOs. 11

23 The developed training modules consist of the following topics: Module - I : Producer Group Development and Management Module - II : Climate Change Adaptation Module - III : Agri-Business and Market Development Module - IV : Maximizing Crop Production Module - V : Value Chain Based Extension Table 3.2 shows a summary of the 5 day residential training that the project provided to 83 SAAOs including 12 women (those participating in Ag Extension Service Centers) based on the developed modules in the 4 demonstration upazilas i.e. Barisal Sadar, Faridpur Sadar, Kalia and Chowgachha. The training sessions included practical exercises in the field where SAAOs were able to try out what they were learning with farmers and other colleagues. Participants in general valued the session on climate change adaptation in particular as it was a new topic for most of them. Table 3.2: Training to government extension agents in four demo upazilas Training period Name of Upazila Participants (No.) Male Female Total Aug , 2015 Kalia and Chowgacha Sep , 2015 Barisal Sadar and Faridpur Sadar Sep , 2015 Kalia and Chowgacha Total Capacity Development of Private Extension Agents As a means to develop another avenue for increasing farmer access to extension services, the Ag Extension Project during year 3 identified nine categories of retailers and service providers who could potentially be given assistance to strengthen or increase their capacity to provide extension services as part of doing business. These individuals were identified as part of a survey of more than 5,000 retailers and service providers that was conducted across all 12 project districts. Table 3.3 shows the summarized information collected through field survey in identifying different categories of private extension service providers in the project areas. Table 3.3: Retailers and service providers identifiedwithin AESA project area Inputs retailer Nurseries Fingerling seller (patilwala) Artificial Insemination (AI) worker Paravet Pesticide Sprayer Irrigation Pumper Powertiller Service Provider Total (No.) The project then conducted an in-depth assessment of capacity building needs using a questionnaire administered to a subset of 155 private retailers and service providers from the pool of 785. Participants were chosen from among the nine retailer/service provider categories. By the end of 12

24 year 3, project staff had completed data collection and is in process of analyzing results. The results will be used to formulate and design specific types of assistance and interventions that can be given to help selected retailers and service providers to either initiate or improve the provision of quality extension and advisory services to their clients. Anticipated types of assistance include targeted technical training to increase working knowledge on specialized topics related to their area of expertise (formulating fertilizer dosages, or determining fingerling stocking densities, for example), and use of ICT tools to access up-to-date, accurate information that can be formulated into useful recommendations for their clients Increased Outreach to Farmers by Agriculture Extension Agents Establishment of Agricultural Extension Service Centers Currently, DAE field extension agents (i.e. SAAOs) are assigned to serve farmers in an assigned block, which typical consists of 3 wards. SAAOs do not have office space. They do not receive office supplies or equipment to support their work. They do not have ready access to technical resources, research findings and materials disseminated by various Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) units such as the Agricultural Information Services (AIS) and Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI). They do not receive support to meet transportation or communications needs. They receive very infrequent technical training. As a new activity under the proposed modification to the project Cooperative Agreement, the Ag Extension Project aims to demonstrate improved agricultural extension service delivery in four upazilas at Barisal Sadar, Faridpur Sadar, Chowgachha (Jessore) and Kalia (Narail) by addressing the list of short comings cited above. After a series of discussions with DAE, a MoU was signed between the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and USAID Agricultural Extension Support Activity (AESA) project on 8 March As per the MoU, the project has established block-level extension centers each containing a modest level of technical resource materials and devices. The project has provided training materials to the established agricultural extension centers and provided improved technical training to SAAOs in the four demo upazilas. The project has provided a backpack to each SAAO that contains a variety of stationery, technical materials and equipment (such as a soil sample kit), and a smart phone to enable participating SAAOs to access and share a wider range of technical information. The project, in consultation with DAE, procured 20 soil ph meters and 8 grain moisture meters which are stored and available for use by SAAOs at the corresponding DAE upazila office. To prepare them to participate in the demonstration activity, SAAOs were given a thorough orientation on use and responsibilities associated with operation of the centers, and are provided with training on selected topics considered critical for effective extension delivery. The extension centers provide a centralized, known location from which each SAAO can plan his/her service delivery to farmers and to which farmers and other stakeholders can come to seek information and advice. The extension centers consist of a single room located within Fig. 3.1: Launching of AESC at Chowgachha upazila, Jessore 13

25 the Union Parishad complex, existing FIACs, another government building, or in a rented space near a central market or other convenient location. It is important to note that the project is working with FPGs involved in aquaculture, dairy and beef fattening, which are outside the DAE mandate. Extension centers may serve non-dae extension needs in addition to DAE needs. For example, paravets who provide services to dairy and beef cattle owners and fingerling sellers that supply inputs to fish farmers may be linked to the extension center. The project will continue to encourage these types of local service providers to benefit from and reach farmers through the extension centers. The project kicked off the extension demonstration activity by launching the first center in each of the 4 demo upazilas during the third quarter of year 3. Senior project officials and representatives from DAE and farmer groups were present at all the events. Fig. 3.2: DAE Additional Director visits AESC at Chowgachha upazila, Jessore At the end of September 2015, spaces for 100 extension centers had been secured with a total of 97 of them opened and functional, that is offices set up and the assigned SAAO provided with training, transportation (motorcycle and fuel), smartphone, office supplies and field equipment Support to the Extension Agents for Improved Services The project has procured and provided motor cycles to the DAE extension workers i.e. SAAOs with communication equipment and appropriate means of transportation (motorcycles) to farmers in remote areas. A needs assessment has been carried out to determine what equipment and means of travel extension workers need to increase their outreach to women/smallholder farmers in remote communities. In the process of distributing motorbikes and communications equipment, priority was given to extension agents in the four improved agricultural extension services demo upazilas. Fig. 3.3: DAE Extension agents (SAAOs) receive motorcycles from the project in Kalia upazila or Narail In the reporting period, 110 SAAOs in the four demo upazilas have been provided with smartphones (loaded with ICT applications for extension) and 97 have been provided with motorcycles, as part of the opening of the agricultural extension service centers, under the MoU with the Department of Ag Extension (DAE). In addition, 67 SAAOs working in the project's other 22 (non demo) upazilas have been provided with smartphones loaded with project assisted ICT applications in year 3.In addition, 9 paravets in Faridpur Sadar upazila have been provided with smartphones to test an ICT based application called Livestock Management Service. 14

26 3.2 Smallholder Farmers in Agriculture Empowered (IR 2) Community Mobilized and Farmer Producer Groups Formed The project has organized 108,223 beneficiary farmers into 3,854 producer groups by the end of September These groups have served as primary platforms for receiving extension services and training while also enabling producers to aggregate demand to purchase inputs at cheaper, bulk prices and aggregate supply to negotiate better prices for their products. Training and capacity building has focused on empowering producers to request information, skills and technologies around specific value-chain products. The project has also worked with producer groups to expand opportunities for women to gain access and serve in leadership positions. The project has facilitated formation of village-level producer groups of 20 to 30 farmers around production and marketing of one of six prioritized value chains of their choice. In all cases, priority was given to products with which the community already had some experience. The focus was to help these newly-formed producer groups: Understand the benefits of collective action through demand of and access to extension services,group purchase of inputs, aggregation and marketing of production; Create platforms that are more efficient and more attractive to extension agents to provide them with advisory services; Share and transfer knowledge around improved agricultural practices. Groups were formed using participatory rapid assessments, focus group discussions, well-being analyses, social and resource mapping and house-to-house surveys. Community and local government institutions (LGI) were mobilized to help with the group formation process. The FPG formation was completed with 2,288 groups established during year 3, bringing the cumulative total to 3,854, slightly exceeding the established target of 3,850. Total number of farmer beneficiaries stands at 108,223. Currently 52% of the group members are male and 48% of them are female. Once formed, the groups selected leaders consisting of extension leader, market leader and ICT leader. Figure 3.4 shows beneficiary farmers' distribution by landholding size. Farmers' data illustrates that 18% of the beneficiary farmers are landless (productive land less than 50 decimals) followed by 68% small landholders (productive land between 50 and 250 decimals) and 14% are considered large holders (productive land greater than 250 decimals). Small, 73,336, 68% Large, 15,008, 14% Landless, 19,879, 18% Fig. 3.4: Beneficiary farmer distribution by landholding size 15

27 Figure 3.5 shows the distribution of value chains selected by 3,754. The figure shows that Jute is the largest value chain (32%) by number of groups, followed by mung bean (26%) and dairy production (19%). Lowest number of farmers groups are practicing beef fattening (6.7%) and chili (7.0%) value chains respectively. The project has started its awareness raising activities for the FPG members in increasing the number of dairy and beef fattening value chains in the low coverage areas. The public and private sector agents will play an important role in promoting these activities to the rural farmers. Beef Cattle 6.7% Chili 7.0% Aquaculture 9.6% Dairy 18.5% Mung Bean 26.3% Jute 31.9% 0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0% 35.0% Fig. 3.5: Distribution of group members by selected value chains Approximately, 15 percent (593) of FPGs are located in the district of Jessore and are involved with all the project's prioritized value chains except for mung bean (Table 3.4). Khulna district contains 9 percent (354) of total FPGs. The project supports them to improve their production in two areas: dairy and fish value chains. Out of 3,854 FPGs members 26 percent (1,014) cultivate mung bean in the five districts of the Barisal region. None of the groups in the Barisal region are involved in beef fattening and dairy value chains. Satkhira has a high potential for aquaculture production. As a result, 35 percent (129) out of 369 groups produce fish using pond aquaculture and 'gher' fish farming system. 16

28 Table 3.4: Distribution of FPGs by districts and value chains District Aqua culture Beef Fattening No. of FPGs Chili Dairy Jute Mung Bean Total Barguna Barisal Bhola Patuakhali Pirojpur Faridpur Jessore Magura Rajbari Khulna Narail Satkhira Total ,230 1,014 3, Enhanced Farmers' Knowledge and Capacity in Agriculture Needs Assessment and Producer Group Action Plans Based on consultations with farmer producer group members and other relevant stakeholders, the project has identified a priority set of 5 improved agricultural practices for each value chain that the farmer groups are focusing on during Year 3. As a result of the five improved practices the farmers have got higher productions and value of their products, thereby potentially increasing household income and food security (project M&E data). During Year 3, farmer groups focused on improving their working knowledge and capacity to implement these improved practices. To facilitate this process, project field staff worked with each group to assess particular needs and develop a plan for increasing understanding and adoption of key practices relevant to them. Opportunities for building capacity related in other nonagricultural areas such as strengthening group leadership, use of ICT, gender and access to finance, were also identified and discussed in the planning sessions. The sessions culminate Fig. 3.6: Farmer groups participatory need assessment in Terokhada upazila, Khulna 17

29 with preparation of a 12-month "Action Plan". The target for this activity was fully met as all 3,854 FPGs were able to complete preparation of their Action Plan for Year 3. An average of 80% of group members were present during planning sessions Capacity Building of Farmer Leaders In consultation with beneficiaries, respective government line departments and research institutions, the project developed a set of training modules with materials, including flipcharts and handouts, covering the 5 key improved practices mentioned previously. These modules are used as the basis for training of FPGs in one of two ways: I. Farmer Producer Group leader ToTs; II. Farmer Producer Group member training and learning sessions. Farmer leader ToTs are facilitated by selected resource persons - typically either an extension agent or project staff. Resource persons, including SAAOs, receive a project-facilitated TOT/value chain refresher prior to conducting trainings with farmer leaders. In year 3, 6,989 farmer leaders (35% women) were trained in how to apply improved practices for their group's respective value chains. Mung bean, jute, dairy, beef fattening and aquaculture farmers from all three project regions participated in these ToTs facilitated by project staff and government extension officers (UAO, SAAOs and FAs. Topics covered in ToT trainings include seed variety selection criteria, seed sowing techniques, fertilizer management, weeding, irrigation, pest and disease management and postharvest technology and preservation. Practical sessions were conducted on recognizing good quality seeds, germination testing, differentiating pure and adulterated fertilizer, identifying diseases etc. Pretests and post-tests were conducted to measure the quality and effectiveness of the trainings. Other stakeholders attended the training, including local service providers (LSPs), input retailers, fish nursery owners and representatives from agribusiness companies. During the Fig. 3.7: Farmer leaders TOT on fish culture in Pirojpur training sessions, they discussed their services and product offerings with recommendations on proper usage. The results analyzed revealed that 6,989 farmer leaders including 35% female leaders attended the ToT course (Table 3.5). The course covered 93% (3,591) FPGs in 260 training sessions, where 34% (1,459) leaders from Jute value chain, 27% (964) from mung bean and 20% (702) from dairy FPGs participated in the training. The farmer leaders have started facilitating the learning sessions for the FPG members of their communities on the topics they have learnt through ToT course. 18

30 Table 3.5: ToT course for farmer leaders Value Chain No. of Session No. of FPGs covered No. of Participants Male Female Total Aquaculture Beef Fattening Chili , ,392 Dairy Jute 87 1,214 1, ,837 Mung Bean ,043 1,383 Total 260 3,591 4,543 2,446 6, Capacity Building of Farmer Producer Groups Over the course of year 3, farmer leaders, who attended ToT course on improved agricultural practices were supported by the project staff and government extension agents to conduct 2- hour courtyard learning sessions on improved agricultural management practices for other Farmer Producer Group (FPG) members of their communities. In year 3, a total of 100,538 FPG members participated courtyard sessions covering improved practices related to one of the six prioritized value chains. Approximately, 50 percent, which is proportionate to the average gender composition across the project producer groups. The "farmer to farmer" extension method can be very effective because farmers tend to place a high level of trust in advice they get from other farmers that they know - particularly a farmer who is perceived as a leader. Fig. 3.8: Farmers group learning session on mung bean cultivation in Barisal Sadar upazila, Barisal A summary of the courtyard sessions conducted in year 3 is shows in Table 3.6. Ninety Six (96) percent (3,691) of project FPGs participated in a total of 15,720 sessions. Of these, 33 percent (1.230) were conducted with jute farmers, 27 percent (1,014) of participating FPGs were mung bean groups and 19 percent (713) from dairy FPGs. Initial indications are that the farmers are applying the improved crop management practices to a large extent in their own fields using some of the knowledge and skills they learnt in the courtyard learning sessions. A summary of the project provided trainings is shown in Annex-2. Table 3.6: Summary of courtyard sessions on improved practices for FPGS Value Chain No. of Session FPGs covered No. of Participants (No.) Male Female Total Aquaculture 1, ,809 4,105 9,914 Beef Fattening ,598 6,919 Chili , ,874 Dairy 3, ,481 19,861 Jute 4,818 1,230 23,594 10,298 33,892 Mung Bean 3,942 1,014 15,596 11,482 27,078 Total 15,720 3,691 50,669 49, ,538 19

31 Project training staff and M&E team members conducted periodic assessments and follow-up of training activities to evaluate quality of the farmers' learning sessions.feedback received from a number of the FPG trainees indicates that in general they have found the training sessions informative and useful. They were enthusiastic to see their group's farmer leaders conducting the training Learning through Demonstration Plots and Ponds As practical means of reinforcing recommended agricultural improved practices and building capacity of the FPGs, the project has organized agriculture demonstration plots and aquaculture demo ponds across 12 working districts. The plots are a joint effort between the project, the FPG, and typically an additional stakeholder such as an inputs company and/or another FtF implementer. Inputs are provided by the FPGs, or inputs supplier, and remaining costs for demo plot establishment, plot maintenance and holding Farmers' Field Days are Fig. 3.9: Demonstration plot of jute in Magura shared among the participating stakeholders. Extension agents or project technical staff periodically hold demonstration sessions for participating farmers (usually from several FPGs) who visit the demo plots in order to see, experience and learn how the prescribed practices progressively and positively affect production (increased yield, reduced labor cost, improved product quality, etc.). Demo plots typically culminate with a "Farmer Field Day" (FFD) event. In year-3, 137 demo plots were selected for implementation covering jute, mung bean, chili, aquaculture and fodder for beef and dairy cattle. Examples of plots that involved collaboration with stakeholders in addition to the project and farmers include: The project established 35 jute plots in collaboration with Lal Teer Seed Company in Jessore Sadar and Keshobpur upazilas. These particular plots, in addition to demonstrating selected improved practices for jute, were used to showcase the local BJRI jute variety O-9897; The USAID Ag Inputs Project (AIP) was a collaborator on 18 mung bean plots in Barisal region and 3 chili plots in the Jessore region; The Ag Extension Project and Spectra Hexa Feeds Ltd jointly established 7 aquaculture demonstrations in four upazilas on use of quality feed and fingerlings. The company provided field based technical support for better pond management as part of the demo activity. Table 3.7 shows the distribution of project established demonstration plots and ponds across 12 working districts in year 3. Total 49 demo plots on jute were established in the five districts. In the reporting period, 151 farmer field days were organized to demonstrate key agricultural practices Table 3.7: Distribution of demonstration plots and ponds in project area Sl. Value chain type District Total (No.) 1 Jute Faridpur, Rajbari, Jessore, Narail, Satkhira 49 2 Chili Narail, Jessore 06 3 Mungbean Barisal, Patuakhali 26 4 Fodder cultivation Khulna 30 5 Aquaculture Khulna, Satkhira & Jessore 28 Total

32 and the results of using improved technologies for farming in the demo plots. Government extension agents frequently served as the main facilitator/ resource person for the farmer field days. A total of 6,529 farmers from 685 FPGs (18% of total) have participated in the farmer field days in year 3. Encouragingly, project staff observed farmers who not direct project beneficiaries were showing interest in demo plot activities and attending farmer field days. In Barisal region's mung bean FFDs, government extension agents (SAAOs) and agri-dealers discussed the characteristics and relative advantage of high yielding BARI Mungbean-6, variety over the local variety. DAE personnel and representative from Lal Teer Seed Company shared results from the demo plots demonstrating that farmers are getting higher production when using the newly introduced BARI mug-6 variety. The demo farmers also mentioned that they have achieved more production than that of last year when they used local variety. Fig. 3.10: Farmers field day on jute cultivation in Magura Several FFDs were held at demo pond sites to demonstrate proper culture method for fish. Experts from the Department of Fisheries were on hand to show farmers how to identify good quality fingerlings, proper feed management, stocking density and pond preparation Access to Formal Financial Services The right financing at the right time can mean greater efficiency, improved product quality and increased incomes along the entire supply chain. The project facilitates links for farmers to affordable and beneficial options for accessing finance needed for their selected crop, livestock or aquaculture activity. In the beginning of year 3, the project completed a 'Financial Services Needs Assessment' survey of 16,443 FPG members. The assessment was conducted in order to provide insights into the current situation of the project's farmer beneficiaries with respect to access to finance; local constraints to microfinance or credit; and demand for crop/seasonal loans. One of the principal findings from the survey was that only about 15% of respondents had ever taken an agricultural or seasonal loan, but approximately 49% are interested in receiving one. The results indicate that there is a relatively large demand for agricultural loans that is not being met. Agricultural loans do not require weekly repayments but instead are repaid in full once the crop has been sold. In the Jan-Mar quarter, the project completed a comprehensive mapping survey of MFI facilities and branch locations within the five districts of the Barisal region that are accessible to the project's farmer producer groups - and that can potentially offer agricultural loans in some form. Results of the survey data showed that there are 62 MFIs providing microfinance services in the Barisal region with a total of 211 branch locations. The MF services are dominated mainly by the 3 national MFIs: ASA, BRAC and Grameen Bank. However, while distribution at the district level is widespread, the survey identified 11 unions where there are AESA FPGs, but no MFIs present. 21

33 After completing the survey in Barisal, the project then administered it in the remaining regions of Jessore and Khulna using a customized digital data collection applications. The combined survey result of the three regions showed that 499 out of 822 branches of MFIs provide agricultural loans to farmers in our work area. Targeted number of borrowers per branch on average is 380 whereas the number of people who have taken out agricultural loans is only 39 per branch. This indicates that there may be an opportunity to promote agricultural loans. Fig. 3.11: Project staff trained on access to loan The project began efforts to provide training on financial literacy and access to loans to beneficiary farmers. Project microfinance staff assembled a set of three training modules covering concepts of agricultural microfinance, potential risks and liabilities of loans, and selecting financial products. After receiving a ToT, project Field Facilitators will conduct three courtyard learning sessions with each FPG Farmers' Awareness Creation on Health and Nutrition In the reporting period, the project conducted producer group meetings, activities and extension service sessions as mediums for introducing health and nutrition messaging related to dietary diversity and consumption of nutrition-rich foods. Nutrition messaging is centered five topics: Nutrition issues for pregnant and lactating mothers; Nutrition issues for children; Vitamins and iodine; Health and hygiene issues / use of tippy taps; and Gardening and cooking of nutritious vegetables. 182 project staff and 36 SAAOs were trained on these five modules of nutrition. In year 3, nutrition messaging was given to 440 FPGs Producer (Farmer) Groups Strengthened Link Producer Groups to Extension Agents As described in the aforementioned section, there are three main advantages to encouraging farmers to work in groups: Extension agents can more easily and efficiently attend to groups as opposed to individual farmers; groups can collectively demand access to extension services; Groups can collectively purchase inputs, as well as aggregate their production for collective marketing and sale; Groups can share and transfer knowledge with each around improved agricultural practices, local market information and other topics of interest. 22

34 To help beneficiary farmers capitalize on the benefits of group membership and collective action, the project engaged them in a number of targeted activities including strengthening linkages to extension agents, introducing the groups to inputs sellers and local service providers, and organizing forums (such as match making workshops) to introduce the groups to alternative market actors and sources of finance. Introductory meeting with public extension agents The project facilitates introductory meetings with public extension agents, to initiate relationships among extension agents and farmer groups, to share activities and approaches, to inform the farmers' demand for extension services to the extension agents and finally, to chart out future collaboration between the two. The meetings allow farmer groups to lay the foundation for establishing (or re-establishing) a client relationship with local extension agents. In these meetings, farmers acquaint agents with their activities, share problems they are having with their crops, fish or livestock and agree on a next meeting or exchange (i.e. how they can work together). During year 3, a total of 995 introductory meetings were organized in Jessore, Khulna and Barisal regions where about 24,000 beneficiary farmers (49 percent women) from 2,265 FPGs attended and were introduced to the respective government extension agents. A total of 323 government extension agents including 45 female agents, who have been working with the project were present in these introductory meetings. One of the goals of the meetings is for the public extension agents to commit to providing extension support on a regular basis. FPG farmer leaders are encouraged to exchange phone numbers with the attending extension agent and to begin periodically communicating directly by mobile on behalf of the group in order to seek out solutions to problems that the group encounters. To encourage functional relationships among private stakeholders / extension agents and farmers, the project also invited value chain stakeholders like input sellers and output buyers to attend the introductory meetings. The meetings provide opportunities for farmers to forge initial relationships with value chain actors for improved access to inputs and production related services. In one noteworthy introductory meeting held in the second quarter of year 3, the Satkhira district team facilitated an introduction between jute farmer leaders, several input dealers from the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and one AIRN-member shop near Satkhira. Farmers from project FPGs in the area had traditionally selected Indian jute seed varieties for cultivation due to their wide availability. However, the performance of a local variety designated O-9897 produced and marketed by the Fig. 3.12: SAAO conducting a learning session for farmer group in Rajbari Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) is generally higher than the Indian one. As a result of the meeting, 590 jute farmers, including 78 women, from 81 FPGs acquired 450 kilograms of the local jute seed O-9897 variety for planting in this year's production season. 23

35 Identification of private service providers and link to farmer groups In order to more effectively identify potential linkages between the Farmer Producer Groups (FPGs) and value chain stakeholders in the inputs and outputs markets, the project has conducted an extensive census survey of 5,000 ag retailers and service providers in all 12 project districts. Stakeholders included inputs retailers and output market actors (buyers, traders, collectors, etc.), as well as paravets, fish fingerling sellers, professional pesticide sprayers, tractor rental agents, and other local service providers (LSPs) Access to Inputs and Output Markets The project worked with the producer groups to analyze the skills, technologies and inputs needed in order to improve production and other aspects of the supply chain of selected products (e.g. meeting private sector quality standards). Match-making workshops In order to further enhanced access to inputs and increase sales of producer group outputs, the project organized match-making workshops at the union level, based on lessons learned from DAM's Food Facility Project, bringing together resource farmers, private sector suppliers of inputs, output buyers, local service provides, agricultural extension workers and other supply chain actors. The main objectives of the workshops were to facilitate the creation of long-term mutuallybeneficial business linkages. These events provided a forum where farmers can present problems they Fig. 3.13: Match making workshop in Amtali, Barguna have identified related to their chosen crop and have an opportunity to develop solutions with other participants. A total of 48 match making workshops have been conducted during year 3 where 1,726 farmer groups have attended to link with different stakeholders. The objective was to enhance FPG access to quality and affordable input, services, service sources and right output buyers for their produces. In all, 222 public extension agents including 35 female and 679 other stakeholders such as input retailers, company representatives, product buyers and MFIs have joined the events and interacted with the 2,157 beneficiary farmers (610 female) on specific linkage building issues. Deputy Director, DEA; District Livestock officer, DLO; Upazila agriculture officer, Upazila Jute development officer, Upazila livestock officer, Upazila fisheries officer, Upazila livestock officer, SAAOs and VFAs were present in these workshop as resources persons. Issues discussed in these workshops included quality agro input, adulteration-free fertilizer, affordable price, MFI opportunity, collective action, vaccination, high yielding variety seeds etc. Service providers described their services and products to the farmers and in turn, farmers communicated their requirement to the service providers. 24

36 Highlight of Year 3: Mung bean Fair in Barisal and Patuakhali The Ag Extension Project organized the first ever Mung Bean Fair in Barisal on 29 April 2015 and then in Patuakhali on 6 May Local traders, mung bean farmers and other stakeholders attended the event. Honorable guests from Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), representatives from different private sectors and local farmers were present and spoke on the occasions. The mung bean farmers shared their experiences and what they learnt from demonstration plots. Demonstration at the Mung Bean Fair, Patuakhali Different organizations like USAID AIRN, Syngenta Bangladesh Ltd., Amrit Consumer Food Products Ltd., Lal Teer Seed Ltd., Proofs Project, etc. exhibited different products at the fair booths. These fairs created positive reactions and immense interest among the local people. Appreciating the initiative and potential of the mung bean fair, the guests in their speeches expressed an interest in scaling up this type of extension approach/ event in future. Soil testing services pilot Program One notable example of the project developing capacity of private sector extension agents was through an initiative in year 3 initiated by the project with an enterprise called Environmental Research & Analytical Services (ERAS), a private firm specializing in soil testing services. Under an agreement with AESA, the ERAS selected two soil test operators in Chowgachha (Jessore) and Faridpur Sadar upazilas to participate in a pilot program to offer soil testing services to farmers in these two upazilas. Under the pilot, ERAS established two testing centers and equipped them with a soil testing machine. Agents from centers visit farmers and collect soil samples from their farm plots. Samples are analyzed using the equipment and results are used to formulate a customized fertilizer recommendation. ERAS provided initial training to the two selected individuals on soil sample collection methods, as well as instruction on how to use the soil testing machine. With support from AESA, ERAS also conducted 13 batches of training on "Soil Sample Collection" for 416 Farmer Leaders (FLs) at Chowgachha, Jessore and Faridpur Sadar. As a part of promotional activities, ERAS organized nine village-level screenings of a video showing the importance and usefulness of soil testing for farmers. Vaccination campaigns conducted In the beginning of year 3, the producer group of Mohammadpur upazila of Magura district jointly organized a vaccination campaign with the local DLS Veterinary Field Assistant (VFA) and vaccinated 162 cattle for Anthrax disease. 25

37 A total of 12 village level vaccination campaigns were organized by the farmer leaders and the upazila government livestock department in the Faridpur region to increase awareness among farmers of the need to vaccinate cattle for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Anthrax, as well as PPR (Peptides Petites Ruminant) for goats. Khulna district organized 19 deworming and 24 vaccination campaigns during the April to June period in Fig. 3.14: Vaccination camp in Rupsha, Khulna year 3. A total of 1,600 livestock animals from 40 FPGs were provided deworming treatment. In addition, 24 vaccination (FMD, Badla, anthrax) campaigns were organized where 2,327 cattle were vaccinated from 42 FPGs and surrounding communities. Access to improved shrimp PL As a noteworthy example, the Satkhira district team facilitated a linkage with the WorldFish AIN (Aquaculture for Income and Nutrition) project to provide Polymerize Chain Reaction (PCR) tested post larvae (PL) for a number of shrimp FPGs in January-March quarter in year 3. As a result, 75 shrimp farmers from 16 FPGs received 406,000 PLs along with related technical training from WorldFish-supported PL traders. FPG members reported that the quality of PL was good and their shrimp ponds remained virus and disease free whereas the neighboring farmers', who did not stocked the tested PL in their ponds were negatively affected. It should be noted that demand for the PCR-tested PL was initially higher than the available supply. After being introduced to the virusfree PL product, project farmers, despite the relatively high cost, have already begun collectively purchasing the quality shrimp larvae on their own. 3.3 Strengthened Application of ICT in Agriculture (IR 3) Improved National Agriculture Information System The project contributes to the improvement of the national agriculture information system extending support to the Agriculture Information Service (AIS) under the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as through the development of ICT applications and multimedia content Collaboration with AIS On January 7, 2015, a much-anticipated and long-awaited signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Agriculture Information Service (AIS) was completed. Although, the project had been collaborating and consulting with AIS since the first year of the project, the signed 26

38 MoU has allowed the project in year 3 to begin to channelize formal assistance to AIS in a number of areas. Principal activities for collaboration described in the MoU include: training for AICC agents working out of AICCs located within the project's working districts; assistance in developing content for AISsponsored community radio stations; support to AIS' Krishi Call Center, including development of content and training of call center staff; enhancement of the Agro Knowledge Portal developed by the project so that it may be transferred over to AIS at the conclusion of the project. Fig. 3.15: MoU signing ceremony with AIS, MoA Professor Mark Bell, a Modernizing Extension and Advisory service (MEAS) representative visited the project in May The project brought in Dr. Bell to take a fresh look at how the project's ICTbased tools might better be developed and utilized by and with government partners - particularly AIS. Specific objectives of this trip were to: Understand government information goals (especially those of AIS), and their current approaches and needs with a particular focus on the use of ICT to improve farmer access to helpful information; and See how, in light of the above analysis, AESA might better work with AIS, DAE and other players on ICT tools and initiatives. Dr. Bell met with representatives from different stakeholders including AIS, BARC, BIID, IRRI, Sher-e- Bangla Agriculture University, and DAE. His trip culminated with a day-long workshop with AIS and AESA. The workshop and discussions identified five major elements in a successful information delivery system, namely: a. Needs assessment; b. Information generation; c. Collation and packaging; d. Information distribution and use; and e. A feedback system to guide improvements in content, package and delivery channels. Based on these five elements, four areas in particular emerged where the project could provide significant support in terms of AIS interests. These were a. An AIS knowledge platform; b. Quality assurance (QA); c. Feedback system; d. ICT based tools. 27

39 Regional e-ag-conference to expose stakeholders to ICT-enhanced extension systems As a means to promote and strengthen the use of ICT in agriculture and to encourage the Government of Bangladesh to incorporate ICT approaches into its own strategies, the Ag Extension Project organized and held the two-day international 'eag Conference 2014' in Dhaka on December 3 and 4, 2014.The primary objectives ofthe conference were To share knowledge and good practices based on both local and international experiences on use of ICT in agricultural development and in extension service delivery; To advocate the role of ICT as a game changing tool in agriculture to corresponding private, NGO and government stakeholders; To facilitate partnerships among organizations working in the field of agricultural development and ICT4D; To explore innovative models of ICT4D using public private partnership (PPP); Fig. 3.16: e-ag conference in December 2014 To showcase of initiatives by Bangladeshi Ministry of Agriculture, its divisions, research agencies, the private sector and development partners. A total of 285 participants from government, NGOs, research organizations and universities attended the various sessions over the two days of the event. Sessions covered a variety of topics related to ICT in agriculture. Session presentations included Digital Green's farmer-produced video approach, the Ag Extension Project's Farmer Query System, CRS' Farmbook Suite, and ICT tools from AIS.The second day of the conference consisted of 12 panel discussions with panelists from private sector, academia, development professionals and government officials. Panels were focused on particular topics related to enabling an ICT-driven extension system in developing countries. Sessions included: Challenges in e-agriculture: Way Forward; Innovative Partnerships in e- Agriculture; Modernizing Extension through ICT; GIS-enhanced Agriculture Decision Making; and ICT Solutions for value chain management Development of Agriculture Knowledge Portal AESA implementing partner, mpower, in collaboration with AIS, developed a web-based Agro Knowledge Bank Portal for managing agricultural content. The portal contains seed-to-seed information related to the project's six prioritized value chains plus rice. Information is categorized under 12 headings including seed, pest control, soil management, and harvesting. The portal is designed to be accessed by web or mobile and, in addition to being a source of information on agriculture, can be used as a searchable tool by extension agents in the field. The initial version of the knowledge portal was field tested with 10 AICC operators who are using the content from the knowledge bank to support their clients. Feedback from the operators received over the course of year 3 was used to make several improvements to the user interface and information retrieval speed. 28

40 Development of ICT Applications A major objective of the project's ICT strategy is to strengthen extension agents' role as knowledge brokers to support smallholder farmers and to empower farmers to seek direct access to key information that they can use in solving their production and product marketing problems. Project partner mpower has been developing a series of ICT tools and applications designed to help increase access and utilization of extension services by farmers, as well as improving and expanding extension services offered by both public and private sector agents. For developing applications, mpower employs a rapid prototyping approach, whereby initial versions of tools and applications are developed and then field tested at pilot scale through extension agents and selected farmers to evaluate usability and feasibility. To this end, the project distributed 243 smartphones (114 to the four demo upazilas) that have been used for field-testing and evaluation. Reporting and learning tools for DAE extension agents mpower has developed four e-administrative smartphone applications especially for use by DAE extension agents and their supervisors to enable a transition from pen-and-paper (analog) to digital work tools. During year 3, they have been deployed for use by all SAAOs in the 4 demonstration upazilas as a means to improve work planning, scheduling, data collection, monitoring, management - and ultimately decision making at the upazila and district levels. SAAO scheduling application The app allows SAAOs to prepare their 15-day workplans in digital format. The workplan is then made available to SAAO supervisors (UAOs and AEOs) in a dashboard format for use as a management tool. The application also allows SAAOs to distribute their schedule to farmers and others via SMS. Crop statistics gathering DAE collects data on crop statistics throughout Bangladesh. Data is collected manually which is extremely time consuming as each SAAO is assigned to monitor 20 to 30 crops per week. This app allows SAAOs to collect crop statistics digitally and then automatically compiles the data at district and upazila level, significantly reducing time burden. Digital diary (recording keeping of SAAO field activities) The app allows SAAOs to log and digitally document the advice that they provide both in the field and from Ag Extension Service Centers. Data is uploaded to a dashboard for use as a management tool. Catchment area information SAAOs develop significant knowledge of their assigned working area, but it is often lost when the agent is transferred to another post. This application is designed to capture basic information on the SAAO's assigned catchment area and store it on a central server where it can be retrieved by multiple users when and as needed. Farmer query system Farmer Query System enables a local agriculture extension agent to capture a farmer's problem using a mobile application and directly send it to a remote expert for immediate feedback. The expert looks at the problem on a dashboard and responds through either a phone call, SMS or voice message. Specifically, Farmer Query System enables: 29

41 On demand ICT based linkage between farmers and domain expert to provide rural agro advisory service; Democratizing the agriculture consultation service by involving community people; One specialist can support a big community without physical movement; Systematic digitization of problem through mobile device for future knowledge reference point. Based on positive results from initial field testing, the intermediary user base of 20 field testers was expanded in year 3 to include the pool of 227 ICT leaders. A total of 3,262 queries were submitted in the final quarter of year 3 from this expanded group using the applications. Most of the queries (2,161) were on pest and disease management and second highest queries on fertilizer recommendation (370). Problem diagnostics applications for selected crops This imaged-based mobile application assists the user in troubleshooting crop, pest and disease. During year 3, the app's database was expanded to include additional content on pest and disease for jute, chili and mung bean diagnostics. The current user base for the app totals 408; it was expanded in year 3 to include the 227 ICT leaders and 114 SAAOs in the 4 demo upazilas. To date, extension agents have logged a total of 2,582 uses of the app for providing agro advisory services. Problem diagnostics applications for beef and dairy cows Smartphones were provided to 10 selected paravets from the district of Faridpur for field testing of an ICT-based livestock management system. The system allows the paravet to access remote support from a professional veterinarian as needed. The system was recently enhanced to incorporate use of a beneficiary card with a specific code (QR code). The card can be used by the paravet to track specific information that allows him or her to better ensure regular monitoring and cattle health management for the farmer. Seed selection applications This application helps extension agents to provide informed site-specific recommendations on seed varieties and fertilizers to their farmer clients. The seed selection application is being implemented with 227 ICT leaders and 67 SAAOs in all three regions. To date, 1,624 recommendations have been provided through the app. In feedback obtained from users, 100 percent indicated that the app is easy to use and saves time. Application to capture basic information on SAAO block A total of 56 SAAOs are trained to capture area information using this app. Information is uploaded onto a central database that can be archived and shared with new extension agents and other DAE staff who are unfamiliar with the specific characteristics of the particular block. Monitoring and evaluation of ICT interventions In the reporting period, As a joint effort with MEAS, the project began working with a team of information and communications researchers from the Institute for Computing in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (ICHASS) at the University of Illinois for conducting a study on the usability, utility and effects of the agriculture extension information and communication tools developed by mpower for the project. As part of the study, the ICHASS research and evaluation team will investigate the scalability of current pilot efforts and the potential for integration with systems and procedures of other key agencies and parties in Bangladesh that are working to address similar issues. 30

42 In March 2015, three members of the ICHASS team came to Bangladesh for an initial visit aimed primarily at planning and design, including specification of the research questions and hypotheses, definition of types of data required, sampling design, operationalization and measurement, and projected analysis. ICHASS will use a local research organization or consultant to administer a survey targeting multiple stakeholders, including (1) farmers (2) Ag Extension Project staff; (3) extension agents (public and private) using the software and (4) government officials. Recruitment of a third party firm for the survey was completed by September Development of Audio Visual Products In year 3, two videos covering two value chain crops (jute and mung bean) were completed. Scripts for another video was developed for carp poly culture. Content for all videos is produced and developed based on the projects "five key practices" for each of its six prioritized value chains. The produced videos will be placed on chips and distributed to extension agents (public, private, ICT leaders, AICC agents, etc.) for use as an extension aid by displaying the video to farmers Increased Use of ICT by Agricultural Extension Agents Training on use of ICT Applications Building on the basic ICT training provided to 400 extension agents and 200 resource farmers in year 2, the project facilitated additional specialized training in year 3 for extension agents on use of the various mobile apps developed by the project, such as the Farmer Query System, Livestock Management System, and crop diagnostics. In the four demo upazilas, DAE extension officers were given intensive training on the suite of apps developed specifically for use by SAAOs and their supervisors, such as the SAAO scheduling app and digital diary Increased Use of ICT by Farmers Fig. 3.17: SAAOs training on use of ICT apps Due to the scarcity of public extension agents in the field, the project has worked to identify different delivery channels so that demand driven information on agriculture can reach the last mile i.e. to the farmers who need it. As of January 2015, all 3,854 project FPGs had selected an ICT leader who serves as a "hub" of digital agriculture information for his or her group. Based on the specific criteria such as experience in using smart phone, literacy etc. as well as consultation with other group leaders, during year 3, project field staff identified 227 of these ICT leaders who were then promoted to serve as "ICT Champions" for their unions TOT of ICT Champions on the use of Basic ICT Tools In exchange for agreeing to serve as ICT Champions, these leaders were given in-depth ToT training on the use of various ICT tools, such as computers and smartphones, as well as a thorough orientation on the ICT apps being developed by the project. Each designated ICT Champion was then assigned to a group of approximately 20 FPG ICT leaders to replicate the training received and serve 31

43 as a mentor to help their assigned team of ICT leaders more effectively use ICT to disseminate agricultural information to their respective groups. In completing the questionnaire, the ICT leaders were asked if they owned a smartphone. Approximately 9% indicated that they did, an encouraging indicator of the increasing adoption of smartphones in rural southwest Bangladesh. Project ICT specialists continued to introduce farmers to the project's ICT initiatives during the current reporting period. In March 2015, for example, the Farmers Query Systems (FQS) application, crop diagnostics application and agriculture knowledge bank were shown to farmers from Barisal Sadar as part of a day-long ICT demonstration and training. As part of the activities, farmers were able to submit queries and receive solutions to problems related to mung bean production. These ICT Champions facilitate meetings called "ICT Adda" with the group of ICT leaders in their union. In these meetings he /she discusses ICT related issues and apps for use in increasing access to agricultural information for fellow farmers. Project FFs provide support to organize the ICT Addas. The ICT champions who have been provided smartphones by the project coordinate and guide ICT leaders, to help farmers in accessing agriculture related solutions using farmer query and others mobile apps. Apart from coordinating "ICT Adda", ICT champions are tasked with maintaining a close relation with the nearest Agricultural Information and Communication Center (AICC) and Union Digital Center to support/encourage other farmers to use the ICT services offered there. In the July to September 2015 quarter, a two day ToT course on use of mobile apps was organized by the project for 227 ICT champions in all the regions. The ToT course covered the following topics- ICT for agriculture; ICT champion's responsibility; Hands on training on; Smart phone using and troubleshooting; Farmer query system; Crop diagnostic; Seed variety recommendation; Fish diagnostic; Gmail & Facebook ID create & used; How to post in face book page of ICT champions; Presenting livestock system. Fig. 3.18: ICT Champion training in Keshabpur, Jessore Apart from ICT Champions, AESA project staffs were involved in this training so that they get the knowledge and initially coordinate field level services with farmers. 32

44 3.4 Cross-Cutting Issues Gender Awareness The project gender strategy contains the following major aims: Emphasis on increasing women's participation as group members and leaders; Increased gender awareness among FPG members; Empower women farmers to access extension services; Help extension agents provide improved advisory services to women. Major activities in Year 3 included: To help better facilitate and encourage women to take on leadership roles in the FPGs, a TOT was provided to a total of 112 field level staff on "Gender and Women Leadership" to introduce participants to concept of leadership, negotiation, collaboration, dialogue, service and others. These TOTs were also used to introduce staff to the "Daily time use" tool. A total of 231 SAAOs (31 female) received gender training supported by the project. The training covered gender awareness issues in socialization process, role of men and women Fig. 3.19: Project staff conducting gender training on daily in the society, project time use tool at the FPG level in Bhola interventions for women empowerment etc. In addition, 5,208 farmer leaders (30% women) were provided training on gender issues. The training covered gender awareness issues in socialization process, role of men and women in value chain production and marketing, "Daily time use" tool, project interventions for women empowerment etc. The project has achieved good gender balance and women's participation among beneficiaries: 48 percent of the project's farmer group members are women, and, nearly a third (31 percent) of the farmer group leaders are currently women. On March 8, 2015, International Women's Day was observed at the union, upazila and district levels of the three project regions through rallies, discussions and human chains. To identify some of the barriers that prevent female extension agents from providing support to women and men farmers at the community level, nine (9) FGDs were conducted with public extension agents in the final quarter of year 3. 33

45 3.4.2 Environmental Compliance The project hired an environmental specialist who joined the project in October As one of his initial tasks, he updated the project Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP). The EMMP identifies project activities that have the potential to generate negative environmental impacts and includes mitigation measures designed to minimize or avoid them. Two principal project activities identified as potentially having environmental consequences are: i. Training and dissemination of information on pest management and safer use of pesticides; ii. Demonstration plots. Fig. 3.20: Farmers cross-visit fodder cultivation plot in Dariarpur, Magura A total of 120 SAAOs and 250 project staff were provided a one day orientation session on USAID Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Uses Action Plan (PERSUAP). Environmental screening was conducted to assess environmental compliance for 157 preliminarily selected demo plots for jute, chili, mung bean, aquaculture and fodder. Twenty (20) plot sites were rejected due to close proximity with water bodies or household (closer than 30 meters). The remaining 137 demo plots were certified for continuation. As part of environmental monitoring efforts, the project reviewed pesticide management practices of 18 mung bean farmers participating in demo plot activities in Barisal and Patuakhali Sadar upazilas. It was found that these farmers use a total of eight different pesticides to control pests and disease such as thrives, yellow mosaic virus, pod borer and aphids. Two farmers use cypermethrin and one uses carbondazim, both of which are not on the list of pesticides approved for use under the USAIDapproved PERSUAP that applies to the project 2. It was also revealed that 14 of the 18 farmers read the labels before using the products. Only three farmers used adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and only three washed their sprayer machines a safe distance from nearby water bodies. All the farmers observed safe storage practices and all had abstained from spraying at least 30 days before harvesting. The project continued to conduct educational sessions on safer use of pesticides and judicious application of chemical fertilizers at the farmers' field days (FFDs) associated with the demo plots; and also at selected FPG learning sessions covering improved agronomic practices. The FFD sessions focus on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) concept and tools. Demonstrations on use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were conducted at 151 FFDs. 2. Note that these farmers acted independently in choosing to apply these particular pesticides - which are legally available for sale in Bangladesh. Though the project can recommend that farmers avoid these particular pesticides, the project has no direct control over use in these cases. 34

46 The project developed a concept note for promoting and supporting the development of professional pesticide sprayers/ applicators that can be hired by farmers. Approximately 800 existing pesticide sprayers (i.e. farmers providing the service to others at some level) were identified in the project zone of influence as part of the recently concluded value chain stakeholders' survey. In March of 2015, Project staff reviewed and gave feedback on a draft Mission-wide Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan (PERSUAP) prepared by USAID. The PERSUAP authorizes and provides detailed guidance and requirements on pesticide use and support provided by implementing partners under USAID/Bangladesh DO2, DO3 and DO4 program activities. Once approved, the Ag Extension Project will be subject to all applicable compliance requirements contained within the document, including abiding by the Safer Use Action Plan and preparation of detailed Pesticide Management Plans (PMPs) for each pesticide that is recommended for use in project trainings and demonstrations. The USAID/Bangladesh Mission Environmental Officer and the Regional Environmental Advisor (REA) for Central and South Asia conducted a field visit to the Jessore region in July 2015 to review the implementation status of environmental compliance measures for several Feed the Future projects, including Ag Extension. The itinerary included a visit to the Isapur Mazerpara Jute producer group where the two visitors asked group members about their current pest management practices. 35

47 4. PROJECT MANAGEMENT 4.1 Administration and Coordination In mid-may USAID released modification #4 for the Ag Extension Project, which served to make the following adjustments: Decrease the estimated amount of the Cooperative Agreement by USD 4,313,200 to USD 19,102,418; Revise the program description to narrow project focus while aiming to increase impact on all project beneficiaries; Realign the budget according to the revised program description. Provide an additional funding obligation of USD 1 million; Modify previous cost share obligation to a resource leverage target amount; Adjust the status of special award conditions to reflect conditions met to date. Per the modified program description, the project is revising the project M&E Plan which will be submitted by the end December Project Management Meetings Project Senior Management Team (PSMT) Meetings: PSMTs are used as a forum for planning, coordination and problem solving among Dhaka and regional management team members, in year 3, a total of five PSMT meetings were held. Project Steering Committee Meeting: Four Project Steering Committee Meetings were held during year 3 (one in each quarter). The Steering Committee is comprised of senior representatives of each of the three partner organizations who meet to discuss project progress and higher level issues among organizations as they arise. Year 3 steering committee meetings mainly focused on Modification 4 and proposed changes to the project scope, along with budget revisions, and planning for e-ag conference 2014 and Management and Coordination in Regions and Districts An "Annual Planning Workshop" was held on October 21, 2014 in which all Regional and District Managers, Regional Training Coordinators, CARE and mpower teams, COP and DCOP- Program participated. The objective was to develop regional work plans based on the Year-3 Annual Implementation Plan. Given project modification 4, which served to reduce the scope of the project from 20 to 12 districts and from 200,000 to 110,000 farmers - project management elected to close the Faridpur regional office, thereby consolidating the number of regional offices down from four to three. A total of 32 Field Supervisors was added to the structure in mid-year three - to provide additional supervisory support to the project's field facilitators that are so crucial to project implementation on the ground. 36

48 In addition to weekly and ad-hoc meetings with team members as needed, the three regions and twelve districts hold monthly coordination meetings with their respective staff to discuss progress and issues and to discuss next month's plans and needs Project Staffing During the reporting period, there were 490full time staff members working with the project; 119 were female (24%) and 371 (76%) of the staff were male (Table 4.1). Of the 490 total, DAM employed 462 (94.3%), CARE 19 (3.8%), and mpower 9 (1.9%). Of these 490 staff members, 440 (90%) were deployed in the fields and the other 50 (10%) were stationed in the Dhaka offices. Of the 437 total DAM employed field staff, 174 (39.8%) are stationed in Jessore, 112 (25.6%) in Khulna and 151 (34.6%) were in Barisal. Of the 462 DAM employed project staff, 400 (86.6%) are assigned to program implementation and 62 (13.4%) for operations (administrative, logistics and financial) support. Among the DAM staff, 321 are Field Facilitators who work directly with beneficiary farmers and extension agents at the village and block levels. These FFs are supervised by 32 upazila-based Field Supervisors. The field management team is rounded out by 12 District Managers and 3 Regional Managers. The 19-person CARE technical team continues to provide technical support related to farmer and extension agent capacity building efforts, access to inputs and markets, development of materials on improved agricultural practices, and implementation of the "Demonstration of Improved Extension in 4 Demo Upazilas" activity. The nine person mpower team continues to provide technical support in the form of development and staff orientation to ICT apps and approaches, along with direct technical support to AIS. During the reporting period, a total of 165 new staff members joined the project, of which 154 individuals (93%) are deployed in the field offices and 11 individuals (7%) are stationed in Dhaka. Of the 165 total, 143 (86.7%) male staff joined and 22 (13.3%) female, of which 20 are deployed in the different field offices. Table 4.1. Summary breakdown of the project staff Organization Location Males Females Total Percent DAM Dhaka Field DAM Sub-total CARE Dhaka & Field mpower Dhaka & Field Totals Nationalizing Project Management: The overall strategy in awarding the Ag Extension Project to a local NGO - Dhaka Ahsania Mission - was to demonstrate that a national organization, with national management staff, can manage and implement the project with a deeper understanding of the local situation and its constraints and opportunities. By the end of year three, the top three senior management positions had been fully nationalized as follows: A national COP, Mr. Bidyuth K. Mahalder has been approved by USAID and will join the project on October 1, 2015 (1st day of Year 4); 37

49 Mr. Md. Gias Uddin Talukder, current National Technical Coordinator, CARE-Bangladesh, was assigned as the acting DCOP - program in June of year 3 to oversee program implementation. The position will be filled on a permanent basis in year 4. Mr. Talukder took over the DCOP Position from Mr. Jeremy Davis, an expatriate who will continue to serve the project as a Senior Program Advisor; A national DCOP - Operations has been in place since year 2 to oversee all project support functions; The current expatriate COP, Mr. Daniel O Coster, stepped down at the end of year 3 after completing a two year tenure leading the project. Other key staffing changes include: Ms. Tania Sharmin, Acting National Technical Coordinator, CARE- Bangladesh joined on August 12, 2015; A new IT Officer, M&E Specialist, Microfinance Coordinator, ICT Coordinator and Training Manager all joined the project over the course of year 3. Fig. 4.1: Staff are in group work for AIP workshop In the reporting period, a total of 55 staff left the project of which 41 (75%) were male and 14 (25%) female. In year 3, the project took initiative for capacity building of 30 staff members including 3 women. Staff from both Dhaka and field offices were trained based on the needs assessment for advanced database management, financial operation, auditing, compliance and quality control and skills in report writing courses. Two separate foundation training workshops were held on January 24-29, 2015 and February 21-26, 2015 for a total of 141 newly-recruited project staff. The participants, mostly FFs, were given a complete orientation on the project activities, their roles and responsibilities as team members, as well as focused sessions where they received information on critical-concepts such as working with project producer groups, value chains, key agricultural practices, and use of ICT applications. The UNOPS (United Nations Office for the Project Services) consultants comprised of human resources, finance and procurement experts have been working with the project team for organizational capacity development in the area of human resources, financial management and procurement. In the reporting period, UNOPS worked with DAM staff on an organizational work flow analysis for the above mentioned areas. Results were used to develop process maps outlining the working relationship and hierarchy as a means to accelerate the decision making process. A number of guidelines on financial operations, procurement management and human resources operations have been developed and are pending approval of DAM senior management. 38

50 4.2 Partnerships and Coordination To achieve its objectives, the project must reach out to, and actively collaborate with, a number of key players in agricultural extension in Bangladesh from the government, private and NGO sectors. A summary of existing MoUs, agreements, and other collaborations with these entities are provided below: Table 4.2. Summary of MoU and agreements signed with other organizations Organizations DAE AIS DLS (pending) Win Miaki Ltd. Lal Teer Ltd. Spectra Hexa Feeds Ltd. (Mega Feed) ERAS Major Objectives / Scope Strengthening existing capacities of DAE to deliver effective extension services to the farmers; Support AIS for capacity development and improvement of Krishi call center, agro knowledge portal and Agricultural Information and Communication centers (AICCs); To facilitate and enhancing project fisheries and livestock activities with a focus on collaborative efforts at field level; Collaboration for ICT activities related to the farmers query systems and other initiatives; Establishment of joint demonstration plots with beneficiary farmers as an extension tools through a shared and collaborative action To strengthen private aquaculture extension services, disseminate improved farming technologies and supplying of improved quality feeds to the farmers; Create awareness among farmers of the benefits of soil testing; support private sector s engagement to provide soil testing services to the project farmers through establishment of temporary soil testing labs in demo upazilas. Other Coordination The project representatives met with the World Bank-funded NATP (National Agricultural Technology Program) project to discuss potential areas of collaboration between the two projects. Both projects have undertaken initiatives with DAE to open local extension centers in their respective working areas (NATP has established union level Farmers Information and Advisory Centers (FIACs) and AESA is opening block-level Agricultural Extension Service Centers (AESCs). It was agreed that AESA will not open an independent AESC where there is already a FIAC. Rather, resources allocated for the AESC will be used to strengthen the existing FIAC as needed, for example, procuring additional furniture or providing the SAAOs with a smartphone. Coordination with FtF projects: Senior managers and program staff from three FtF projects - Ag Extension, Ag Inputs and Ag Value Chains - met regularly over the course of year 3 to explore areas of collaboration, share updates on project activities of interest, and to discuss coordination needs related to joint initiatives (e.g. demo plots). 39

51 4.3 Visits USAID Assistant Administrator for Asia visit. On October 28, 2014, Ag Extension Project staff participated in a field visit by USAID Assistant Administrator for Asia, Ms. Anne Aarnes and USAID Bangladesh Mission Director, Janina Jaruzelski. The project Senior Program Advisor and the mpower CEO gave a lunch time presentation to Ms. Aarnes and other participants entitled, "ICT Applications for Enhancing Ag Extension Access and Delivery". Technical experts from the USAID Washington Bureau of Food Security paid visits to two farmer producer groups on November 13, The first visit was to the Boladanga Jute Producer group to see project ICT initiatives. During this visit: An ICT leader demonstrated how he uses technology to enable group access to agriculture related information; Members explained how ICT has helped them in producing their crops; Visitors interacted with the group members to discuss ICT's role at the FPG level; Fig. 4.2: USAID Visitor with the Baniali Dairy Producer Group at Hoibatpur, Jessore. The group also visited the Baniali Dokhinpara Dairy Producer Group in Hoibotpur (near Jessore) to talk with the producers about their activities and their perceptions on the benefits of being part of a group. Of the 30 members, 26 are women, so much of the discussion focused around the challenges faced by the women members in obtaining required inputs and accessing markets. USAID Bureau of Food Security (BFS) M&E Advisor Visit: Washington based BFS M&E Advisor, Dr. Salik Farooqi visited with Ag Extension project staff and beneficiaries in Jessore during the last week of May He was accompanied by USAID M&E Coordinator, Ms. Farzana Yasmin. The objective of the visit was to observe ongoing project activities and expected impact through an M&E lenses. Dr. Farooqi also conducted an M&E workshop for USAID's implementing partners on May 27, 2015 where participants discussed their results frameworks and analyzed different theories of change. 4.4 Monitoring and Evaluation The project has incorporated a number of revisions to the year 3 M&E plan, mostly related to the list of indicators, in order to reflect the modifications made in the program description and to more precisely measure progress against objectives. The revised plan was submitted to the USAID on Jun 15, After receiving initial feedback, the indicator list was finalized and the Performance Indicator Reference Sheet (PIRS) adjusted accordingly. The revisions consisted of primarily of adding four new indicators and removing five old indicators: Under IR 1, two new indicators on newly established agricultural extension services centers and the outcome thereof have been added. The old indicator on the number of field visits by extension agents increased has been removed as it would be covered by the extension agents' increased services to the farmers; 40

52 Under IR 2, one new indicator has been added (FTF standard: number of rural households benefiting directly from USG interventions) and one old indicator on loan recipients (number of farmers that have received MFI loans) has been removed; Under IR 3, two old indicators have been removed and those were included into a new and more comprehensive indicator (capacity of Bangladesh Ministry of Agriculture to produce and disseminate agricultural knowledge enhanced); On project level, the one indicator existing (number of farmer producer groups accessing improved extension services) has been proposed to be removed as it is actually, a composite of other existing indicators, and thus, cannot be measured independently. The revised M&E plan for year 4 will be submitted to the USAID for their review and feedback by December Establishing Baseline. A sample survey was conducted as per the revised M&E Plan, for establishing the baseline for the Farmer Producer Groups (FPGs), newly formed in year-3 of the project. The sample survey was conducted simultaneously in all three regions from December 2014 to February Field data were collected hiring temporary enumerators and orienting them by the project M&E Team. Simultaneously, a public extension agent baseline was conducted as a census in all project areas. Development of Data Collection Tools. At the beginning of year 3, project M&E staff reviewed the existing data collection tools and made adjustments where necessary to the following forms: Farmer producer group training report and registration form; Farmer leader training report and registration form; Gov't extension agent training report and registration form; Farmer producer group roster; Farmer producer group baseline form; Govt. extension agent roster and baseline form; Event report form; Monthly activity tracking form. Training of Staff on M&E. The M&E team has provided training to the field staff on data collection method and quality measures in gathering information using the project introduced revised templates. The M&E head oriented project staff on the revised M&E Plan and its implementation at field level. Activity Tracking. The group formation process, followed by participatory needs assessments (PNAs) of FPGs were observed and validated by regional M&E staff and feedback was provided to the respective regional managers. Regional M&E staff attended trainings and FPG learning sessions to observe and verify that the sessions were taking place as scheduled and that they were being conducted in accordance with the project's annual implementation plan. Other activities observed by the M&E team included extension agent training, linkage meetings and project introduced demonstration plots and ponds. Data Verification. The project M&E team verified 10 percent of the FPG and extension agent baseline as well as value chain stakeholder's survey data at field level to ensure data quality on spot. Data Management. In the reporting period, the project has developed and implemented MS Access based relational data management systems for further improvement of the project M&E system incorporating the revised indicators, data collection tools and templates. 41

53 Introduced ICT Tools in M&E System. The M&E team continued working with mpower to finalize the software specifications and requirements for the project's planned edmis system (electronic Data Management and Information System) that will allow for the use of digital data collection methods. The edmis specifications was altered to account for the changes to the program description and Annual Implementation Plan (AIP). In the present plan, there will be only two forms through edmis for data collection from FPG level, to be used by the front line staff - Field Supervisor or Field Facilitator. If digital data collection for these two forms can be enabled through edmis, it will significantly reduce the project staff time in collecting data through analog system and data entry on the computer. As a result, the project can generate M&E report very fast with improved quality. USAID Data Quality Assessments (DQA). During year 3, USAID Bangladesh and the USAID ACME project jointly conducted a Data Quality Assessment (DQA) of project's M&E data. A 3-day desk review of Dhaka office data was completed in April-June period of year 3. The USAID M&E and ACME representatives then visited the project field office in Jessore on June 7-9, The objective was to visit the field to follow the entire data collection system from source to the project central office in order to verify the quality of data collected in year 2. The project M&E team presented the database that is being used for storing data and producing project reports. The DQA team also conducted verification on the spot. The DQA team provided positive verbal feedback in observing the field level data organization and quality. The project M&E team also assured their committed efforts to manage the project data with the donor's instruction to meet the compliance and quality. Fig. 4.3: DQA team checking documentation process at Jessore regional office Mid-term Evaluation A Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the project was conducted in September 2015 by an international consulting firm named TANGO International, Arizona, USA. The objective of the mid-term evaluation, which covered the period from October 2012 to June 2015, was to evaluate whether the Ag Extension project's development hypothesis is still valid and whether the project is on track to meet objectives and achieve the results as targeted. The field work was planned to be completed by October 2015 in six of the twelve districts of the project area. The mid-term Fig. 4.4: A TANGO consultant conducting FGD with SAAOs 42

54 evaluation tasks also included identifying emerging opportunities for enhancing the impact of the project's interventions aimed at strengthening extension service provision in Bangladesh. Mix of qualitative and quantitative methods were used in conducting the survey. The study methods, tools and field survey plan were designed and developed together with the project M&E team before commencing the field work in September Qualitative methods included Focus Groups Discussions (FGDs) of farmer leaders, extension agents etc. and Key Informant Interview (KII) of farmer leaders, extension agents, project staff and other stakeholders. The survey sample size was 500 farmers from 50 FPGs, leaders of these 50 FPGs, in six districts representing all six value chains and 50 extension agents from the same areas. The MTR team has shared their initial findings on field observations with the project management and USAID, after completion first round of the field work. The final report will be submitted by mid December The MTR recommended for a continuation of the project, emphasizing the scaling out of capacity building of extension agents and farmers, farmer group activities and greater integration of use of ICT for extension information. Annual Outcome Survey In the reporting period, the project was required to conduct an annual outcome survey through a third party firm as stated in the approved M&E plan. By end of August 2015 a national survey firm was selected through a competitive bidding process following the standard procurement procedure of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM). The selected firm has started preliminary activities including review of project documents, design of survey methods, tools and sample size together with the project M&E team and planned the field work for data collection in early October Communications During the reporting year the project developed several communication and visibility materials including: Fig. 4.5: Project brochure 43

55 i. One page Project flyers (in both Bangla and English) providing a brief description of the project's overall focus and approaches; ii. Project Brochure (in English) highlighting the overall project objectives along with its three components; iii. Beef Fattening Flip Chart (in Bangla) Fig. 4.6: Beef fattening flip chart Fig. 4.7: One pager project brief (Bangla & English) 44

56 5. LESSONS LEARNED From the project field activities in the regions, the following lessons have been gathered for future implementation: Farmer leaders represent a key pathway to results with the farmer groups. The project relies heavily on them to transfer knowledge to their groups both through learning sessions and through informal interactions. Good leadership is required for the groups to be able to function, thrive and do things collectively. However, to provide good leadership, farmer leaders need a solid understanding of their roles and responsibilities (i.e. what is expected of them), as well as basic skills in group facilitation. It is also necessary that they develop an idea, or vision, in their own minds of the benefits and limitations of being an informal group and how the group might look and function in the future. Related to the above, ICT leaders have not been given sufficient training and tools to engage with the groups as intended and to effectively serve as a bridge for introducing use of ICT to other group members. This will be partially addressed by linking them with ICT champions, but additional measures directed specifically at the ICT leaders themselves will be necessary. Demo plot implementation, up to now, has been a useful means for demonstrating key agricultural and aquaculture practices to farmers and introducing them to improve varieties. However, effectiveness could potentially be improved through better use of control plots, paying more attention to recordkeeping and providing additional training to the demo plot farmers. Though seemingly counterintuitive, match making workshops could be more effective by making them somewhat less structured - and allowing the participants to interact more freely. Followup mechanisms for gauging usefulness and results of the matchmaking activities needs to be improved and better standardized. For aquaculture, beef fattening and dairy value chains, there are only a few public extension agents in each upazila from DoF and DLS. This makes bringing them to the groups for introductory meetings a challenge. A better strategy is bringing together farmer leaders representing a number of groups and introducing them to DLS and DoF extension workers at the upazila level extension offices and then encouraging them to remain in contact through mobile. For field testing of ICT apps, employing a larger base of field testers for some apps would have given the project a clearer picture in regards to usability, potential to scale, and overall utility of the tools. Mechanisms to solicit and receive direct feedback (built into the apps themselves) would have also helped in this regard. The vision for the Agricultural Extension Service Centers (AESC) associated with the project's "Improved Ag Extension Service Delivery in 4 Upazilas" activity, is that they serve as extension "hubs" for use by extension agents and other stakeholders involved in production of crops, fisheries and livestock. However, as the AESCs are a joint initiative with DAE (and not DLS and DoF directly), there is some resistance on the part of SAAOs to embrace the notion that the AESCs be a shared resource. 45

57 ANNEXES Annex 1: Case Studies Story 1: ICT Leader Helps Village Community in Ramnagar, Jessore In Boladanga Purbopara, 30 jute farmers have formed a farmer producer group facilitated by Ag Extension project to support their jute production - by establishing access to extension and market as a group. The group's ICT leader is a very young and enthusiastic farmer named Wahidul Islam who has immense interest for social development. Wahidul received ICT training from the project - he was given the Farmer Query System (FQS) app developed for the project and was trained to use it. Receiving the training, Wahidul informed the farmers in his group about the importance of ICT in agriculture and showed the FPG members that ICT can solve their cultivation related problems by using the FQS app. The FPG members were amazed to see the usage of ICT in agriculture. They felt encouraged to use the assistance of the ICT Leader for extension information. ICT leader Wahidul Islam (2nd from left) with the local young ICT club partners After a while, Wahidul came up with an idea to help the villagers solve agriculture based problems with ICT tools and applications. He approached the young people to initiate an ICT club where the ICT users will meet and help others with their problems. The young group members selected a plot and planned for the club facilities. They raised funds from the elites of the village. The club will have different facilities of gathering agro based and other related information, students' query, internet browsing facilities, etc. The FQS app will also be available in the club. This youth-led initiative has taken the Ramnagar area one step ahead. The youth in the area are now enthusiastically involved in establishing and growing their fledgling ICT club, which will also be used to help local farmers solve their problems through ICT. Story 2: Proactive SAAO Demonstrates the Full Potential of Ag Extension Service Centers Together with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the Ag Extension Project has helped to establish and support over 100 blocklevel Agricultural Extension Service Centers (AESCs) in order to demonstrate an improved agricultural extension service delivery model in four (4) selected demonstration upazilas (Barisal Sadar, Faridpur Sadar, Chougacha (Jessore) and Kalia (Narail). The idea behind the AESCs is to offer farmers a "one-stop shop" for receiving extension and advisory services and obtaining agriculture information at their convenience. Md. Kabir Hossain is a proactive and enthusiastic Sub 46

58 practices, information on improved varieties of crops, quality seeds, fertilizers, and disease and pest management. He keeps things like a disease herbarium, insect museum, seed samples and fertilizer on hand to demonstrate and reinforce the advice he dispenses. He can also refer visiting farmers to sources of inputs and farm services (retailers, sprayers, pumpers, etc.). Md. Kabir Hossain advising local farmers from an AESC Assistant Agricultural Officer (SAAO) assigned to Karnakathi Block, Talukder Hat, Charkawa Union in Barisal Sadar. As his block is located in the demonstration upazila of Barisal Sadar, an AESC has been setup there. Mr. Hossain now has a properly equipped physical space from where he can help local farmers access information that they need to solve problems that are affecting their production. He is quite happy to have the center in his block as before he had no place to sit and meet with his farmer clients. He is taking the initiative to inform as many as local farmers as he can about the AESCs. He takes the opportunity to spread the word while conducting farm visits, visiting local markets and at tea stalls on his tea breaks. Md. Kabir Hossain decorated his center to help the local farmers He has personalized the center with posters and other materials. Currently, he holds office hours at the center for 4 days during the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) from 09:00 am to 01:00 pm. He attends, on average, three farmers per day (often women) who visit his center for advice on different crop production He believes with proper and necessary publicity, more farmers will visit his center in the near future, and that he will eventually be able to serve many more of them than he could before. Though Mr. Hossain knows that farm visits will always be a necessary part of his job, and that is what he routinely engages in outside office hours at the AESC. There is no substitution for the field when it comes to demonstrating, observing and learning agricultural practices first hand. By setting such a positive example, Kabir is in a position to convince other SAAOs and DAE officers of the potential benefits of the AESCs in increasing farmer access to extension services Story 3:Mung Bean Producer Group Demonstrates Successful Collective Action through Group-based Marketing The Poshchim Auliapur Shingrabunia-1 Mung Bean group consists of 30 mung bean farmers from Auliapur Union in Patuakhali Sadar Upazila in the District of Patuakhali. The group came together in September of 2013 and has been working with the USAID Ag Extension Project for over 2 years. In that time, group members have learned about improved agricultural practices for mung bean such as seed/variety selection, correct fertilizer application, common pest and disease management and proper harvesting techniques. The project also helped facilitate new linkages with local extension agents, as well as input sellers and other market actors. After giving the improved practices a try, group members noticed better results and higher yields than they had experienced in previous years. 47

59 However, in addition to learning about, and making improvements on the production side of things, project field facilitators have been encouraging producers to begin taking advantage of the benefits of being part of a group - by collectively selling their product. As a result, prior to last season's harvest, the group leader, Md. Abdul Khalek Haowlader, called a meeting where he proposed doing just that - aggregating their mung beans and selling them in bulk. After some discussion, thirteen of the group's members agreed to the idea. The committee discussed the prices with the other group members. It was an easy decision to sell their mung bean to the trader offering the highest price. An additional benefit was that the trader agreed to collect the aggregated product from a collection point to be setup at the home of one of the group members. On the day of the sale, the trader showed up as promised. He weighed the mung beans using an electric scale. Total sale weight was 3,440 kgs from 13 FPG members for which they received BDT 240,800. Weighing and collection of mung bean In order to begin planning and organizing for their collective selling initiative, they formed a 3-member market committee comprised of the group leader, ICT leader and a woman group member. The committee communicated with three local mung bean traders (known as paikers,forias or arotdersin Bengali) and received offers of BDT 2,650 per 40 kg, BDT 2,750 per 40 kg and BDT 2,800 per 40 kg. Spot price at the local market at the time was BDT 2,650 per 40 kg. The committee then divided the money among the group based on the prorated contribution from each member. Not only had they received a good price, but they had saved all of the transportation costs that they would have had to pay to transport their harvests to the market. After seeing the success of this group of 13, other mung bean farmers are now interested in the collective selling approach and indicated that they will attempt it next year. 48