1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (CACILM I)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

CAMP - Central Asian Mountain Partnership (CAMP - Central Asian Mountain Partnership) - Kyrgyzstan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

18/02/2013

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Establishing of micro-crediting agencies to support the sustainable production of winter fodder as a system of organizational, economic and technological measures (in the frame of CACILM).

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: Because of a lack of skills, land, access to seeds, funding and incentives, many farmers of Naryn region do not stock sufficient winter fodder to feed their animals during the winter. As a result, in winter cattle is mostly grazed on winter pastures around settlements, leading to severe overgrazing and pasture degradation. In years when snow remains for a long time on the pastures, it is common that high numbers of animals die of starvation in spring because of the lack of fodder stocks. The documented SLM approach aims to improve domestic feeding of animals during the winter period by providing incentives for growing winter fodder, which leads to a decrease in grazing on winter pastures and their degradation. Besides it reduces the mortality of livestock, increases animal productivity and income from the sale of livestock, meat and milk.

Methods: Creation of micro-crediting agencies (MCAs) to provide farmers with the financial means to improve access to seeds. The MCAs collect applications from local farmers to get seeds

Stages of implementation: Implementation of the approach began with an analysis of the training needs of the local community in growing crops to increase stocks of winter fodder. In these areas, trainings were conducted by the Rural Advisory Service (RAS). During the training, participants were trained to select appropriate varieties for the climatic conditions of the region and farming culture. Further, flow charts were developed explaining the cultivationof these varieties. During the training, participants expressed concern that in the region no high quality fodder seeds were available. Therefore, it was decided to create a local micro-crediting agency (MCA). The MCA is engaged in providing the local population with high-quality seeds (mainly sainfoin and barley). At the beginning of the year, the MCA collects from the local community to get seeds. Applications are being reviewed by the MCA taking into account the selection criteria for micro-credit users (availability of arable land, solvency of the applicant, etc.). The seeds are purchased based on the number of requests. Local varieties which are produced in the region are preferred when purchasing seeds, in their absence the seeds are purchased in neighboring regions. Seeds are distributed in springtime to the applicants? as a loan. Borrowers must repay the loan in the autumn in the form of seeds or cash at an interest rate of 12% per annum. Returned money and seeds are accumulated by the MCA and provided primarily to new members of the community. Following this approach, MCAs were established in five villages - a revolving fund of the local community for sustainable cultivation of winter fodder. The chairman of the MCA is selected by the Supervisory Board of the MCA under the statute. Chairman and accountant are paid from interest on the loans issued.

Role of stakeholders: Everyone may use the services of the fund, regardless of gender and social status.

Other important information: This approach has been implemented by PF CAMP Alatoo within the regional program of GIZ «Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Central Asia'.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused mainly on other activities than SLM (growing winter fodder, micro-crediting agency, collection of applications, issuance of credit as seeds)

The main objective of this approach is to prevent the degradation of village/winter pastures by increasing stocks of winter fodder. This can be achieved by a timely provision of quality seeds of perennial forage crops.

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: In Naryn province cattle breeding is almost the only source of income for 85% of the local population. At this, the provision of cattle with winter fodder is weak. The reason was the distribution of arable land to population and creation of small-contoured farms. Following the collapse of the seed farms that provided collective and state farms with high quality seeds, new land owners were not able to purchase them. The centralized management of the economy which ensured compliance with farming culture was collapsed with the reorganization of collective and state farms. All this led to a strong reduction in the yield of forage crops and reduction of the amount of prepared winter fodder. The lack of sufficient winter fodder, in turn, is increasing the load on the winter pastures. Therefore, as of today, according to Kyrgyzgiprozem, about 50% of village pastures are degraded to some degree. Creation of a revolving fund to grow winter fodder for livestock increases the stocks of fodder for the winter and prevents further degradation of winter pastures.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive	Land users participated in the worskhops on winter fodder crop production techologies. As a result of these workshops they initiated establishment of local revolving funds - microcredit agencies.
planning	passive	Planning and creating of micro-crediting agencies was implemented mainly by the project.
implementation	passive	In the implementation of the approach land users acted as beneficiaries of micro-crediting agencies’ services.
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	Land users participated in the report meetings of the chairman of the micro-crediting agency.
Research	none

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

Explain:

Farmers proposed the creation of a revolving fund to increase the production of winter fodder.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by SLM specialists with consultation of land users. Approach was proposed by specialists of the project.

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

If relevant, specify gender, age, status, ethnicity, etc.

This approach can be also used in adjacent agricultural sectors.

Form of training:

• farmer-to-farmer
• demonstration areas

Form of training:

• Workshops

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Name of method used for advisory service: Workshops on growing crops for winter feeding of cattle.; Key elements: Training, Demonstration field , Providing consultations on the site; Rural Advisory Service has been involved in all phases of trainings.

Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; RAS staff trained to this approach, and they are able to disseminate experiences.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training

Give further details:

MCAs were trained in financial management. Training was funded by the project.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Bio-physical aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through measurements; indicators: Area of lands planted with perennial forage crops.
Technical aspects were regular monitored by project staff through observations; indicators: % of borrowers adherent to farming culture.
Economic / production aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through measurements; indicators: Yield of forage crops in relation to the last years.
No. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored by project staff through measurements; indicators: Number of borrowers.
There were no changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation
There were no changes in the Technology as a result of monitoring and evaluation

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 10,000-100,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: international (The approach is implemented by means of GIZ.): 100.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

No

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• agricultural

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• rewarded with other material support

Comments:

MCAs have the right to determine the interest rate of credit to 12% of the total amount for the year. This amount is the remuneration of the MCA’s chairman and the accountant.

The project purchased seeds - sainfoin, barley and fodder beet, totaling approximately 1000 000 KGS. These seeds were distributed to the MCA as a grant, and the MCA gave farmers as a loan, which later served as the loan portfolio for the MCA.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

The created micro-crediting agencies were provided with quality seeds of perennial forage crops, which was the start-up capital for them. Seeds were given to land users as a loan with a 12% rate. This money will be used as remuneration for MCA’s chairman and its accountant for their services, which ensures their stable operation.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Providing quality seeds
Achieving a stable income from livestock

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The local community has a revolving fund for growing winter fodder (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: 1) Increase the capacity of the members of the MCA 2) Providing advisory services to farmers on growing perennial forage crops)
Helps to reduce and prevent degradation of winter pastures

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Required start-up capital for the creation of a revolving fund	1) Make sure the local community to create a revolving fund with their own means through seminars; 2) Find the donor funds.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Annual reports of САМР Alatoo for 2009, 2010, 2011

Available from where? Costs?

САМР Alatoo PF