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)

ICARDA Institutional Knowledge Management Initiative

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

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) - Lebanon

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

2022

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

The 4-Wheels Approach addresses the challenge of slow adoption of agricultural innovations among smallholder farmers by establishing Knowledge Hubs and partnerships with diverse stakeholders. The focus is on income-generating technologies and essential factors behind successful scaling up of innovations, ultimately driving agricultural modernization and sustainability.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The challenge of low and slow adoption of innovations from agricultural research by smallholder farmers is difficult, complex, and is impeding the progress of agricultural modernization in many developing countries. This issue has negative consequences on farm productivity and farmers' livelihoods. Furthermore, it influences the outcomes of investments made by both national and international agricultural research and development initiatives. The problem is exacerbated by evolving climatic and social conditions, which makes more urgent the need for systemic transformation and modernization to enhance food production - while ensuring sustainability.

To confront this challenge of low rates of scaling up and adoption, the International Center of Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) introduced and validated the “4-Wheels Approach” in countries where ICARDA is active, including Algeria and Tunisia. Among other innovations, two types of machinery are being scaled up this way: (a) the pelletizer (which creates feed pellets from by-products) and (b) the seed cleaning machine (for mechanical seed cleaning, substantially reducing workload). Both technologies have been documented in WOCAT’s global database.

The 4-Wheels Approach is built upon Knowledge Hubs and dynamic partnerships. Knowledge Hubs encompass physical structures, such as (informal) training centres, which usually belong to local farmers’ associations and cooperatives. The purpose of these hubs is to refine and disseminate knowledge locally in a self-sustained way, potentially through established partnerships with key local and regional stakeholders and scaling partners. Four categories of stakeholders, also referred to as change-agents and facilitators of technology dissemination, are identified: i) farmers’ groups and various other local associations, ii) civil society (including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector), iii) national public development partners, and iv) lead farmers and extensionists, all of whom play a pivotal role in holding the key knowledge about the technology and spreading it locally. Consequently, these Knowledge Hubs serve to further adapt and mainstream technical knowledge through intermediary beneficiaries (also called proxies or “ambassadors” of the technology), who in turn facilitate dissemination to the ultimate users and beneficiaries, namely the farmers. Viewing the approach’s scaling and Knowledge Hubs through this lens underscores the necessity of investing in continuous and comprehensive networking, which doesn’t overlook any of the possible and relevant scaling partners.
The implementation of the 4-Wheels Approach via Knowledge Hubs and collaborative partnerships has emerged as a compelling strategy for challenges in the uptake of agricultural innovations, fostering a sustainable pathway towards modernization, and thus uplifting the well-being of smallholder farmers in developing areas. The concepts of 4-Wheels Approach and Knowledge Hubs are closely related and interlinked/integrated. The participation of the four types of partners who are engaged through the 4-Wheels Approach within the Knowledge Hub activities allows them to better understand, participate and advocate for relevant local innovations. The 4-Wheels Approach ensures the concentrated involvement of scaling partners of different background within the same landscape, and thus efforts to engage innovation actors become more fruitful by being more accessible and inclusive.

Acknowledgement: This research was funded by the CLCA project (funded by IFAD), PROSOL (funded by GIZ), and OneCGIAR initiative on agroecology. All of the previous projects and initiatives are implemented and coordinated by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). The projects partnered with national partners including the OEP (Office de l’elevage et des pâturages) for the training of the cooperatives, as well as Tunisia’s National Agricultural Research Institute (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique en Tunisi, INRAT) and the National Institute of Field Crops (Institut National des Grands Cultures, INGC) which selected the cooperatives, and the Regional Department for Agricultural Development (Commissariat Regional de Développement Agricole, CRDA) which facilitated the access to farmers communities and creation of knowledge hubs. We would like to thank all partners for their contributions and collaboration.

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 aim of this approach is to achieve sustainable scaling and foster greater adoption of innovations. This is pursued through the establishment of Knowledge Hubs (as spaces of innovation) where, the formation of partnerships (based on the 4-Wheels Approach), and the research into viable business models is carefully and step-wise implemented (in reference list see the protocol for implementation in Frija & Idoudi 2020).

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	none	ICARDA and OEP led discussion with the importer and manufacturer.
planning	none	Discussion between ICARDA, OEP, GIZ, INGC, to identify potential beneficiaries of the machines.
implementation	interactive	ICARDA and OEP discussed with farmer cooperatives their interests in the machines. ICARDA, OEP, and manufacture produced and distributed the machines. Financial contribution of the farmer cooperation was requested to foster ownership.
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	ICARDA and OEP visits the farmer cooperatives every three months to collect business data, see if the machine operates correctly, and to identify constraints.

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:

• SLM specialists alone

Explain:

ICARDA and partners investigated relevant and suitable technologies. Essential was that the business model is self-sustaining.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
• research findings
• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

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

Farmers of the cooperation were trained

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• demonstration areas
• public meetings
• courses

Subjects covered:

The use of the machinery, their maintenance and recipes for pellets

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

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

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

Farmer cooperation and knowledge hubs were established. The rationale is that because the machines are economically viable on their own, the cooperation will keep on sharing the knowledge using the hubs.

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training
• equipment

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

By monitoring certain indicators, such as the number of beneficiaries, pellets produced, seed cleaned, etc. In addition, ICARDA is frequently visiting the hubs to see progress and solve problems that occurred.

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Yes

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• sociology
• economics / marketing
• ecology
• technology

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):

This includes the machines and trainings.

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

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

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

The land users, organized in farmer cooperation, were supported with machinery

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

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 machines on their self are economically viable.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Seed Cleaning Unit: better seeds, improves yield, higher income, less workload
Feed Pelletizer: use of agricultural by-products, cheap compound feed, less workload

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Major strength of the 4-Wheels approach is the aspect of the collaboration, between private actor (machine manufacturer or importer), farmer organization, lead farmer of the organization, OEP (extension), INRAT (research for composition). This multi-actor collaboration is key of the 4-wheel approach and key of the success of the scaling of the two technologies
Seed Cleaning Unit: better seeds, improves yield, higher income, less workload
Feed Pelletizer: use of agricultural by-products, cheap compound feed, less workload
The 4-Wheels Approach ensures ownership over the machinery while building capacity

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Feed Pelletizer: Farmers still don’t know the optimum mixture of ingredients to produce pellets for each region and categories of animals (sheep / cow / camel).	Intense collaboration with agricultural research

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
A risk of the approach is the sustainability. It is not sure (yet) if and how the knowledge hub will continue once there is no more support from ICARDA and (national) partners.	The theoretical idea is that through the income generation with these machines they (farmer organization) will continue training others and sharing their knowledge. But this theory needs to be validated and proven.
Seed Cleaning Unit: quite expensive for a small scale farmer (7,000 US$ nowadays)	To buy the unit as a farmer organization (cooperation) and use it by many farmers
The Feed Pelletizer can be expensive for individual small scale farmer, availability of spare parts of pelletizing machine only in Tunis (access problem), needs available by-products (they are only seasonable), need access to subsidized barley and wheat bran to produce at competitive prices. Farmer organizations have no quota for subsidized barley and wheat bran, only individual farmers to a limited amount and feed enterprises	To use the feed pelletizer as a group to reduce costs per farmer; transform cooperative into a feed processing enterprise as they have access to subsidized barley and wheat bran

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Aymen Frija, Zied Idoudi. (18/12/2020). Self-Sustained “Scaling Hubs” for Agricultural Technologies: Definition of Concepts, Protocols, and Implementation. Lebanon: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/12248

Title/ description:

Mourad Rekik, Aymen Frija, Zied Idoudi, Santiago López Ridaura, Nasreddine Louahdi, Boubaker Dhehibi, Dina Najjar, Udo Rudiger, Enrico Bonaiuti, Laura Becker, Zohra Djender Ghallem, Hatem Cheikh M'hamed, Mina Devkota Wasti, Barbara Rischkowsky. (11/3/2021). Use of Conservation Agriculture in Crop-Livestock Systems (CLCA) in the Drylands for Enhanced Water Use Efficiency, Soil Fertility and Productivity in NEN and LAC Countries – Progress Highlights: Year (3) - April 2020 to March 2021. Lebanon: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/12703

Title/ description:

Aymen Frija, Zied Idoudi, Udo Rudiger, Jebali Oussama, Hatem Cheikh M'hamed, Haithem Bahri, Boubaker Dhehibi, Mourad Rekik, Imen Hemissi, Salah Ben Youssef, Khouloud Chetoui, Mounir Louhaichi, Mouldi Gamoun, Asma Souissi. (6/12/2022). Soil Protection and Rehabilitation of Degraded Soil for Food Security – ProSol: Towards the Effective Scaling of Soil and Water Conservation Technologies under Different Agroecosystems in North and Central West Tunisia – SWC@Scale/ProSol: Technical Progress Report/ January – August 2022. Beirut, Lebanon: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/67835