Boosting Coffee Yields Through Activity Based Learning Carole Hemmings EAFCA C Hemmings, TNS 17 th February 2012
CONTENTS Introduction Results from the field Training methodology Lessons learned 2
3 IN THE 2009/10 SEASON MARY WANJIKU DID NOT HARVEST ANY COFFEE FROM HER 150 TREES Before TechnoServe came I used to get firewood from my coffee bushes, I also decided to plant bananas because I did not believe in coffee farming anymore. August 2010 before agronomy support
LAST YEAR MARY HARVESTED 106KG FROM HER WELL MANAGED FARM. SHE EXPECTS TO HARVEST 600KG IN 2012. Mary has reduced shade levels, mulched, fertilized and rejuvenated 20% of her trees Mary plans to spend her coffee income on school fees for her 3 children She will also invest in inputs for her coffee February 2012 4
5 MARY IS PARTICIPATING IN THE COFFEE INITIATIVE, LAUNCHED IN 2008 BY TECHNOSERVE WITH FUNDING FROM THE BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION Overall goal to increase 180,000 smallholder farmer incomes through improvements in coffee quality and production Ethiopia 36,000 farmers trained in a two year agronomy best practices program, verses a target of 20,000 farmers (2008-2011) Rwanda Tanzania Kenya Phase 2 target 90,000 farmers trained in agronomy best practices (2012-2015)
6 CONTENTS Introduction Results from the field Training methodology Lessons learned
ON COMPLETION OF TWO YEARS OF TRAINING ON AVERAGE FARM YIELDS HAVE INCREASED UP TO 51% Average Yield for Target and Control Farmers 2011. Kg cherry/ Tree 3.0 +51% 2.5 Control Target 2.0 1.5 +31% +40% 2.74 1.0 1.81 0.5 0.98 1.28 0.86 1.2 0.0 Kenya Tanzania Rwanda Source: TNS Data. Kenya 2010/11, Tanzania & Rwanda 2011 season 7
IN RWANDA THE COMBINED IMPACT OF AGRONOMY AND WET MILL SUPPORT SAW FARMERS EARNING 74% HIGHER INCOMES IN 2010 Average Coffee Income for Farmer Receiving Agronomy and Wet Mill Support from TNS, Rwanda (2010) US$ per household per year $147 $37 Increase due to agronomy +74% $26 Increase due to wet mill $84 $84 Income Without TNS Support* Income With TNS Support** * Baseline **Cohort 1 representing 3,524 farmers, of which 31 percent are women; average coffee plot size is 225 trees, farmers delivered 381kg cherry to wet-mills, representing 70% of their production Source: TNS social impact survey and client wet-mill records 8
FARMERS ARE USING SOME OF THEIR INCREASED INCOME TO REINVEST IN THEIR COFFEE FARMS BY PURCHASING INPUTS Percentage of farmers purchasing and using inputs in Rwanda 2011. 70 60 50 66 Control Target 40 35 30 20 10 0 0 16 Lime NPK Worm Tea Zinc/Boron 0 17 0 10 Source TNS analysis 2011: Control = 2012 cohort, 220 farmers, conducted 2011. Target 2010 Cohort, Best Practices adoption survey 1,052 farmers, conducted 2011 9
IN RWANDA HIGH RATES OF ADOPTION OF WEEDING, SHADE AND IMPROVED NUTRITION HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO YIELD INCREASES Best practices adoption, control vs. target. Rwanda Percentage of farmers surveyed Control Target 97 50 39 83 66 71 91 18 16 15 Weeding Shade Nutrition Compost. Mulching Source: TNS analysis, 2011. Control = 2012 cohort, 220 farmers conducted 2011. Target = 2010 cohort Best Practices adoption survey 1052 farmers conducted 2011 10
IN KENYA ADOTPTION OF REJUVENATION, INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AND TIMELY WEEDING HAVE BEEN KEY TO IMPROVING YIELDS Insecticide use control vs. target. Kenya Percentage of farmers surveyed Control Target 59 38 38 16 18 18 8 5 No insecticides < 2 Sprays/Year 2-4 Sprays/Year > 4 Sprays/Year Source: TNS analysis, 2011: Control = 2012 cohort, 124 farmers, conducted 2011, Target = 2009 & 2010 cohorts Best Practices adoption survey 1127 farmers, conducted 2011 11
12 CONTENTS Introduction Results from the field Training methodology Lessons learned
13 TRAINING MODULES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BASED ON FARMER NEEDS ASSESSMENTS Agronomy training modules include: Farm Record keeping Pruning and Rejuvenation Integrated Pest Management Coffee Nutrition Composting Weeding Mulching Erosion Control and Environmental Protection Shade Harvesting Safe Use of Pesticides
14 EXTENSIVE SOIL AND LEAF SURVEYS HAVE ALLOWED THE DEVELOPMENT OF AREA SPECIFIC NUTRITION PROGRAMS Analysis and recommendation maps are available for Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. Training focuses on low cost solutions to improving soil health, such as mulching, composting and liming Agricultural lime map Central Kenya
15 TRAINING SESSIONS TAKE PLACE MONTHLY ON A PLOT OF COFFEE PROVIDED BY A FARMER IN THE GROUP Groups are small with a maximum of 30 farmers The local training venue means farmers train near to their homes. Training times are set by the farmers C Hemmings, TNS
16 FARMERS LEARN THROUGH ACTIVITY BASED TRAINING WHERE THEY PRACTICE THE TECHNIQUES TAUGHT Farmers build their own demonstration plot during training and soon see the impact of their activities. Participation of women is high, on average 40% of participants are women Trainers visit individual farms to give specific guidance C Hemmings, TNS Building a compost heap in Tanzania
17 TRAINERS ARE YOUNG ADULTS WITH HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION FROM THE FARMING COMMUNITIES Trainers are competitively selected after courses on adult learning and agronomy. Skills are enhanced through continual feedback and monthly training sessions. C Hemmings, TNS
18 CONTENTS Introduction Results from the field Training methodology Lessons learned
19 KEY LESSONS LEARNED Seeing the improvement of the coffee tree health and increased yield in the demonstration plot is critical to adoption. By building the demonstration plots themselves farmers appreciate that they can achieve the same impact on their own farms. Farmers prefer monthly trainings and appreciate being able to practice the techniques during training. Trainers from the local community are better accepted by farmers, know the area and speak the local language.
C Hemmings, TNS