A Concept Paper: Establish a Centre for Improved Rice Production (Centru Haburas Natar) in Timor- Leste to Improve Extension Services to Farmers

Transcription

1 A Concept Paper: Establish a Centre for Improved Rice Production (Centru Haburas Natar) in Timor- Leste to Improve Extension Services to Farmers Introduction The current system of rice production in East Timor is in a severely degraded state. When the Indonesian s left in 1999, the supply of farm inputs and the marketing of rice ceased to be effective. Private, government, and donor initiatives have started to address the problem, with the result that: 1. Irrigations schemes have been rehabilitated, 2. Farmers now cultivate most of the irrigated land, 3. Private rice mills buy and process paddy rice and sell small quantities of milled rice on the domestic market, 4. There are several programs which aim to increase the area of irrigable land cultivated. Despite all the work, low yields for rice (average 1.5 to 2.5 t/ha across districts) do not compete with other rice producing countries in Asia. This disadvantages local farmers, undermines market-oriented initiatives, minimizes the impact of expanding the area of rice cultivated, and makes Timor-Leste dependent on imported rice. The main problem is the low yield per hectare; this undermines all other efforts to develop the rice industry. Farmers simply do not want to spend time or money on their rice fields. An earlier Initiative by the University of Hawaii, with assistance from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, demonstrated that improved practices can dramatically increase productivity using existing resources. The system implemented is known as Integrated Crop Management (ICM) for commercial rice production. In 2005, MAF crops officers tried ICM effectively with six farmers in six districts. A total of 36 farmers used the improved practices to increase rice yields. Farmers were positive about the methods used and the results. In 2006, the MAF Agribusiness Directorate, with support from GTZ, the University of Hawaii, and Dr. Balasubramanian (a freelance consultant), helped over twenty farmers improve production using ICM in Maliana. The GTZ-Farming Systems Programme also achieved similar good results in Baucau, Viqueque, and Manatuto. Yields increased by thirty to fifty percent without a substantial increase in farm inputs 1. Integrated Crop Management has been developed from the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) which originated in Madagascar and has been used effectively in a number of other 1 University of Hawaii: Two on farm trials in Seical and Venilale showed more than 30% improvements over farmer-styled practices. GTZ-FSP: one trial with student farmers produced over four tons per hectare next to farmer yields of less than three. MAF crops officer in Manatuto directed a private farmer who obtained 3.9 tons per hectare. Private farmers in Manatuto: one trial obtained four tons per hectare applying the minimum of ICM practices. 1

2 developing countries. Through this program, farmers improve the cultivation of their rice fields and share a vision of what can be achieved, by their own efforts, to increase rice yields for home consumption and to meet their income needs. This improves their attitude towards other development efforts, ranging from the use of improved seed to major irrigation scheme development. Rationale The Centre for Improved Rice Production is needed to expand the introduction of improved rice growing technologies in Timor-Leste. The Centre will train extension officers and farmers, develop extension networks, and trial and adapt rice production systems. By creating a knowledge centre for technology and extension, it is more likely that rice production will increase and more and more farmers successfully adopt already proven systems. The Centre will help to coordinate activities currently implemented by a number of agencies. The Centre will also link farmers with suppliers of farm inputs, service providers, and rice traders so that the production-to-market chain is better integrated. Other benefits will be the exchange of ideas, improved dissemination of technical information, and better market information (market price information, quality and grading requirements, and storage methods). Graduates from agriculture school will be able to take their skills to a higher level; this will give them better employment opportunities. They will gain confidence by growing their own plots of rice, as part of learning activities, and will be able to more effectively work with farmers. Farmers will improve their skills, benefiting from a more effective extension service. Selected lead farmers, who will work as extension and sales agents, will work with other farmers to increase the number of farmers that can be contacted with extension messages. Farmers will more readily adopt new and improved rice growing systems because they will be learning from other farmers who have already successfully demonstrated that they can increase their rice yields and income. There will be greater volumes of rice for the agribusiness sector to process and trade, thereby improving the viability of businesses. Goal, Purpose, and Objectives The project Goal is: To improve the system of rice production in Timor-Leste. The purpose is: To increase the supply of locally grown rice, and to improve farmers incomes. The project will be implemented as an independent organization which will develop, adapt, and disseminate improved rice production technology. This will be done by working with teams of extension officers and a network of farmer extensionists (Lead Farmers). 2

3 The target groups will be: a. Extension Officers, who will be trained in participatory extension methods. b. Agriculture school graduates, who will learn from the extension staff. c. Farmers, already practicing improved rice production, and who are interested in helping other farmers; these are the Lead Farmers. The beneficiaries will be: a. Other progressive farmers, interested in increasing rice production for the market. b. Traders in rice and sellers of farm inputs who want to learn more about rice production, and who will benefit form the additional volumes for trade. Objectives: There are four objectives: 1. Establish a Centre for Improved Rice Production, and satellite training centres in rice producing districts. 2. Train Extension Officers in ICM rice production practices and how to work with farmers. 3. Using the Farmer Field School approach, spread improved practices to other farmers, through the network of lead farmers. 4. Improve other services, which support rice production (e.g. irrigation, post harvest management, new rice varieties). Major Activities for each Objective: 1. Establish a Centre for Improved Rice Production: Renovate / build training facilities in Baucau, and in districts. Recruit Timorese trainers to staff the Centre for Improved Rice Production. Provide training and mentoring of trainers using already identified technical experts (University of Hawaii, Dr. Balasubramanian, IRRI). Refine the already developed training curriculum for extension officers and lead farmers. Refine the already developed certification system for trainees. Produce training materials and other training resources, for use by extension workers, with farmers. Establish demonstration plots and trials to test, and adapt, appropriate rice growing systems. 2. Train Extension Officers in ICM rice production practices and how to work with farmers: Select agriculture school graduates for training as extension officers. Train the trainee extension officers in ICM practices and participatory extension techniques. Trainees grow their own plot of rice under the guidance of technical advisers and trainers. Test trainees in theory and practice using the developed certification system. 3

4 Mentor trainees to apply participatory extension methodologies with farmers. Extension officers use demonstration and trial plots to test and validate adaptations to rice growing methods. 3. Using the Farmer Field School approach, spread improved practices to other farmers, through the network of lead farmers: Identify progressive farmers interested in using recommended practices to improve rice production. Extension officers train the progressive farmers to implement ICM through learning by doing. From interested and successful ICM implementing farmers, recruit Lead Farmers to train other farmers in ICM practices. Using the Farmer Field School approach, extension officers mentor Lead Farmers to assist other farmers implement recommended practices. Try and adapt improved rice cultivation practices on-farm. Through the Lead Farmers as sales agents, provide farm inputs to participating farmers. Assist extension officers develop farmer-to-farmer extension networks. 4. Improve other services which support rice production: Develop a register of traders and service providers in rice producing districts. Link farmers to service providers (e.g. land cultivation, threshing, milling) and rice traders. Organise field days for service providers to demonstrate improved rice production practices. Provide an extension broadsheet newsletter for rice sector agribusiness which covers rice production practices, developments, and issues. Support service providers with technical and managerial advice. Implementation Methodology Baucau is the most suitable location for the Centre for Improved Rice Production. It is a major rice growing district, is mid-way between two other major rice producing areas, Manatutu and Viqueque, and is easily accessible from Dili. Baucau also has relatively good supporting services: electricity, farm equipment sellers and service agents, rice traders, farm input suppliers. There is an established group of cooperating farmers in Baucau, who have successfully adopted ICM. The larger urban area offers accommodation opportunities for trainees. Close to Baucau are irrigated rice fields with a reliable supply of water which can be used by trainees to grow a second rice crop. This second, out-of-season, crop is a key part of the training in which trainees themselves implement all of the farming practices they will later demonstrate to farmers. 4

5 Development of Improved Practices: The Centre will be the main institution to identify, demonstrate and trial improved practices. As part of the training, the Centre s staff, extension officers and lead farmers will evaluate and adapt the practices to Timor-Leste conditions. Over time, this will result in Timor-Leste developing its own indigenous but improved rice production system. The Centre will work with the University Nasional Timor LoroSa'e to develop the institutional capacity to contribute to the work of the Centre; thereby contribution to research and development efforts and offering a training resource to students. So that training can be accessible in the main rice producing districts, senior extension officers will establish Satellite Training Centres in the other four major rice-growing districts (Viqueque, Manatuto, Covalima, and Bobonaro). Extension officers will replicate the Centre s relevant activities at each of these locations. Cross-visits between regions will ensure that there is an exchange of ideas. The best long-term strategy to increase the coverage of farmers by extension agents is to cultivate a network of progressive lead farmers who will become the agents to extend new practices to other farmers. Whilst this may not substitute entirely for well-trained extension agents, it dramatically increases the number of farmers that can be targeted through a limited number of qualified extension staff. The Farmer Field School (FFS) approach enables one extension officer to work with five to ten Farmer Field Schools of up to twenty members; this allows coverage of up to 200 farmers for each extension officer. The approach allows extension officers to present material to farmers in workshops, but leaves the timeconsuming follow-up work, with other farmers, to the lead farmers. The lead farmers must be trained in the theory of rice-growing practices and to monitor and follow-up the FFS training. Lead farmers form self-help groups in which the group helps each other with the labour intensive activities: nursery bed preparation, planting, and harvesting; the other activities they complete individually. Also recognised is the fact that a number of different agencies work to help farmers. This includes, MAF, NGOs, rural development projects, and private sector traders. Trained and certified extension officers will work with all these organisations to disseminate improved rice-growing practices to farmers, and at the same time maintain their links to the Centre for Improved Rice Production to ensure they receive adequate mentoring and technical support. Training and Extension: With limited technical resources available, and an attitude of dependency amongst farmers, an intensive, hands-on approach, is necessary. Phase 1 (refer figure 1): During the off-season (August to December), technical advisors train extension officers in ICM practices. A combination of theory and practice is used so that the trainees understand the agronomic principles and have the right attitude to work with farmers. A significant and important component is for the trainees to grow their own plot of rice; this gives them the confidence to work with farmers using the skills they have learned and practiced themselves. Phase 2: The extension team works with farmers, using the Farmer Fields Schools (FFS) approach, to show farmers how to implement ICM as a response to problem they themselves have identified in an analyse workshop. The FFS is organised as a one-season training, but may be extended to form a partnerships with more progressive farmers in subsequent years; thus increasing the extension network covered by the extension officers. 5

6 Integrated Crop Management (ICM) was developed at the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines, by adapting best-practices to conditions faced by farmers with small landholdings in resource-poor areas. A core of seven practices (refer figure 1) are involved, with steps 3, 4, and 5, plus good timing of the steps, being the bare-minimum required for the implementation ICM. Timor-Leste s farmers have come to accept common practices as best practices. They do not know what good practices are; a yield of 2.5 tons is considered quite high, when in fact much better yields can be achieved. Extension agents have to do much more than make recommendations. They first have to teach an improved method of farming. The FFS is the most effective way to do this. Phase I: Training: Knowledge is built by presenting reasons for the individual components of ICM. A willingness to work at the farmers level is developed by each trainee managing their own plot of rice, carrying out every step themselves, from seed selection to harvest. This practical experience builds skill and proficiency. The training also builds the confidence of the trainees to run the farmer field schools to explain ICM to farmers. Also important is knowledge of the tools that are used to help farmers analyse their own situation and recognise potential solutions (figure 1). These are covered in an up-side-down workshop which, together with the ICM practices, forms the basis of the Farmer Field Schools. Certification of the trainees takes place twice: at the end the formal training, and again at the end of the first season s work with farmers. The first certifies that the trainee has attended and passed the theoretical and practical training. In the second, the trainee has to pass a final written and oral exam, and present the results of his work in the field with farmers; this demonstrates the trainee s technical understanding as well as his ability to implement the improved practices with farmers. For those who cannot master the written test, there is the option of attaining certification as Assistant Extension Officers; this means that they know the practical application, but still rely on others to perform calculations (such as herbicide application rates, area measurements) and to make specific recommendations to farmers. Phase II Farmer Field School: With the completed technical and methodological training, extension officers are ready to organize and carry out the training of farmers. The first requirement is to select suitable farmers to participate in the FFS. Workshops follow the progression of the rice-growing season, with each step presented just before the farmers apply the techniques themselves. All components are carried out with as much hands-on learning as possible. Farmers offer themselves for selection only after they clearly understand what is required of them by the project (refer box); this involves community analysis and planning focused on rice production (figure 1). Community mapping, transect walks, SWOT analysis, and Choice Matrixes are all used to analyse existing rice production practices. The team then presents the Field School and ICM practices as one solution to the problems identified. The team identifies what problems cannot be solved using this approach and suggests other possible solutions to these problems. Typically, 25 to 50% of farmers who participate in the planning session sign up for the FFS. 6

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8 Using Criteria to Develop Cooperation So that the FFS starts off well, with farmer expectations matching what will be provided, clear criteria are communicated to farmers. These included what farmers agree to do and what will be provided by the development partner. Contribution from the Farmers: 1. Participate in community planning sessions 2. Signed agreement, between the extension agent and individual farmers, agreeing to follow the recommended implementation steps 3. No free handouts 4. Clear ownership status for land 5. Relatively dependable water for irrigation 6. A commitment to try at least the following four ICM practices a) Making a matt nursery b) Planting young, healthy seedlings in lines at proper distance c) Weeding d) Undertaking these important practices at the appropriate time 7. Try at least these four practices on at least 1/5th of a hectare. Contribution from the Development Partner: 1. Organize planning sessions and workshops 2. Provide sound technical guidance 3. Accompany farmers in the implementation of technical steps 4. Provide, on loan, a mechanical weeder for use by groups of five farmers Workshops begin as soon farmers are ready to begin land preparation. At each of the six workshops (refer Figure 1), the first activity is to analyse existing practices in a focus-group discussion. These practices are compared to the ICM recommended practices, with the Extension Officer explaining the reasons for any differences. A review session allows farmers to meet at harvest to compare yields and other results. The team leads this session, helping farmers judge their own cost-to-benefit for each step. Modifications to the recommended practices can be suggested by farmers; this allows practices to be adapted to local conditions. For example, substituting rice husk or palmira palm fronds for banana leaves in the seedling nursery, or how better to time the harvest. Using this process, farmers have demonstrated better management of community resources, solved their own problems, improved the maintenance of irrigation schemes, and organized fertilizer distribution outlets. Extension Teams: It is proposed that there be at least five extension teams, one in each of the main rice producing districts. With at least five trained extension officer in each team, and each extension officer working with up to 10 Farmer Field Schools (coordinated by the Lead Farmers) of 20 members each, means that up to 1,000 farmers may be involved in the extension network in each district (5 x 10 x 20). This may be an ambitious target at the start, but may be achieved over time. The Centre for Improved Rice Production will continue to support the extension teams with technical knowledge, training materials and mentoring, regardless of who they work for (MAF, NGOs, RDPs, or private sector traders). A key requirement will be a regular performance review and the need for extension officers to maintain their certification through the Centre as part of this annual review. 8

9 Extension staff will report to their employer for all administrative needs but the Centre (CIRP) will manage their technical performance as part of a partnership with employers. If necessary, the could be a financial contribution to the salary and other costs of extension staff by the Centre in recognition of the public benefits of extension activities, should they work with private sector employers (rice traders). The program will assist farmers, through the farmer sales agents or private sector traders, access fertilizer and other inputs at competitive prices. There will be regular opportunities for Extension staff, and farmers, to participate in cross-visits to other districts and to the CIRP. Training and technical assistance will continue to be supported by Dr. Richard Ogoshi and Dr. Balasubramanian during the first few years/ Links will be maintained with centres of excellence (e.g. IRRI, UoTL) to develop longer-term capability and support mechanisms. Services Mechanization: By providing technical services, the CIRP will support for-profit service providers: land preparation, threshing, and milling. These businesses will work in partnership with farmers and extension officers to improve the cultivation, harvesting and processing of rice, thereby achieving a higher production of quality milled rice. The partnership with farmers should benefit these private sector businesses because it will increase the demand for their services and improve linkages to an ever-increasing number of farmers with surplus rice for sale. Mechanical rice weeders are already made in Timor-Leste. The CIRP will continue to support the development and training of fabricators to produce locally made weeders, as well as other machinery that can be manufactured competitively in the country. Seed: ICM practices produce more and better seed. Selected farmers will grow seed for distribution to other farmers. The Centre will provide the best rice varieties to these farmers for multiplication as seed. Seed will be exchanged for twice the quantity paid in-kind at harvest, or sold for cash. Input Supply: The Centre will establish an efficient supply chains for farm inputs, especially fertilizer and chemicals. This may involve importation from countries other than Indonesia, in order to ensure the security of supply. A range of options will be considered, including cooperative buying in bulk, setting up small distributors linked to a central agricultural supplier such as Loja Agricultura, or selling through farmer sales agents. There will be no free farm inputs provided. Credit: The Centre will facilitate seasonal credit with an in-kind repayment scheme to cover the cost of inputs, for farmers practicing improved rice cultivation practices. Risk Management Irrigation Water: A major obstacle to the productive use of irrigated rice-land is ineffective control and sharing of irrigation water. The program will improve institutional knowledge on traditional community water-control mechanisms, and develop strategies to ameliorate water shortage/supply problems. This may be done by strategically improving water supply and distribution systems, by developing appropriate or improved water sharing mechanisms, or by developing crop management practices that conserve or reduce the amount of water needed (e.g. use of green crops). 9

10 Other Stakeholders MAF Agribusiness Directorate: Provides expertise and training for economic analyses, and market information. Disseminates agribusiness news, including information on improved rice production practices, via the newsletter Agribusiness Timor-Leste. MAF-Natarbora Agriculture School: Assists in promoting the CIRP as an opportunity for graduates. Assists in the selection of candidates. Provides training materials in rice production techniques. Provides experienced teachers in specialised topics. Works with Costa Motors to develop and implement mechanization training and certification. University of Hawaii, CTAHR: Develops training materials for courses. Backstopping CIRP to apply technologies on-farm. Advises the Centre on the training of extension workers and farmers. Assist in setting up demonstrations and trials. Dr. Balasubramanian: Develops extension courses. Regular backstopping to CIRP in applying extension methods. Advises on the overall direction and concept of the CIRP. GTZ-RDP: Provides long-term advisors to CIRP to develop organizational and human resources. Identifies market linkages and other activities needed to enhance them. Coordinates centre activities with other agencies and donors. UNTL, Agronomy and UNTL, FUP Agronomy: Identify and recruit extension staff for training. Partner for testing and adapting better practices. Assist with curriculum development and training courses. Other organizations that may become involved: CIAS, Uatulari. Hadomi Producto Local, Uatukarabau. USAID: Now develops agri-business related teaching materials. Supports private sector development. Establish improved marketing networks. 10