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)

Book project: where the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide (where the land is greener)

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

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique Morocco (INRA-Morocco) - Morocco

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

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

Innovative, cross-disciplinary community-based approach for development and transfer of no-till technology at the farm level.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: After 15 years of on-station research at the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), testing and evaluation of no-till technology (NTT) at farm level started in 1997 with three pilot farmers. Recently two new projects were established to promote the introduction and adoption of NTT, in collaboration with the regional council and extension service of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). Fourteen pilot farmers are now involved in NTT. The overall purpose is to promote no-till technology to restore soils, improve production, mitigate drought, increase wealth and strengthen farmers??? organisations. NTT has been shown to be socially, economically and ecologically adapted to the local conditions. The approach has three stages: (1) Initiation: this includes basic research, strategic research and applied research; (2) Consolidation: planning is followed by detailed evaluation of technology adoption on farmers' fields; (3) Maturity: this involves the acceptance/spread of NTT with an increased number of farmers in the future.

Methods: INRA carries out research, information dissemination, gives training to technicians and farmers, and provides both technical assistance and monitoring. The regional council was convinced by the technology and now financially supports research activities, drill manufacture and extension of NTT. It also facilitates contacts with decision makers and farmers, and carries out evaluations. MoA development and extension services provide financial support, advice, technical assistance, and logistical support to farmers: they help to make the drills available. NGOs are engaged in the development of local/regional networks and farmers associations, as well as in funding and providing incentives. Farmers themselves are involved in the implementation, evaluation and dissemination of NTT. Participation, cross-discipline and bottom-up planning are key elements of the approach. Methods for implementation include long-term community on-farm trials, on-site training and information exchange, participation of stakeholders, information dissemination tools, and multi-directional knowledge flow. These are supplemented by intensive measurement/monitoring schemes, establishment of local/regional networks and farmers' association creation. On-the-job training is also provided.

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 SLM with other activities

- spread the no-till technology: thereby enhancing soil productivity and reducing susceptibility to land degradation. - develop the production of no-till drill machinery. - generally: to ameliorate the living conditions of rural people through enhancing expertise, capacities and knowledge of farmers in managing their soils and crops

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: - previous absence of an integrated research and extension programme. - lack of technical options in a harsh and risky environment. - underlying problems of land degradation and drought periods

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	passive	Mainly:public meetings; partly: workshops/seminars; open days
planning	external support	Mainly: workshops/seminars; partly: public meetings
implementation	external support	Mainly: responsibility for minor steps; partly: casual labour
monitoring/ evaluation	external support	Mainly: interviews/questionnaires; partly: measurements/observations; field observations
Research	interactive	on-farm; demonstration plots

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 SLM specialists, following consultation with land users

Explain:

Recognition of no-tillage as a pertinent technology by decision-makers at local, regional or national level (specialists and politicians / leaders) is due to important station results as well as to international call for promoting this technology

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by SLM specialists with consultation of land users. No-tillage technology was under research and on farm trials (3 farmers) and showed very marked benefits, particularly during droughty years

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

• extensionists/trainers, politicians/decision makers, planners

Form of training:

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

Subjects covered:

no-tillage system, weed control, machinery, cropping systems, crop variety

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:

Key elements: Participation of extension agents and farmers / observations (on the crop, weeds, disease, seeding condition, yield components), On-job training / open days (field days to make farmers and extension discuss questions / remarks regarding no till technology, Monitoring/Participatory; 1) Advisory service was carried out through: government's existing extension system 2) Advisory service was carried out through: government's existing extension system; Extension staff: mainly government employees 3) Target groups for extension: land users; Activities: demonstration, field days, traveling workshops

Advisory service is inadequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; Extension Agents need training

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:

• financial
• capacity building/ training

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Bio-physical aspects were regular monitored by 0 through measurements
Technical aspects were regular monitored by 0 through measurements
Socio-cultural aspects were ad hoc monitored by 0 through observations
Economic / production aspects were regular monitored by 0 through measurements;
Area treated aspects were ad hoc monitored by 0 through observations
No. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored by 0 through measurements
Management of Approach aspects were ad hoc monitored by 0 through observations;
There were no changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: The evaluation is still in process: thus too early to state what changes are likely.

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• sociology
• technology

• agronomy

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

crop performance, soil analysis, no-till drill design and evaluation, socio-economic indexes of NTT.

Research was carried out both on station and on-farm

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 100,000-1,000,000

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

Approach costs were met by the following donors: government (national - INRA/Ministry): 80.0%; local community / land user(s) (Regional Council): 20.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

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

Yes

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

• agricultural

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

• voluntary

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

Yes

Specify conditions (interest rate, payback, etc.):

repayment conditions: To promote the acceptance of the technology, farmers receive a 50% subsidy on the purchase price of the no-till drill (as is the general case for all types of drills)..

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

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:

Progress can continue to be made, assuming that training, subsidised drills, and the creation of farmers' organisations all persist.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Adaptability to farmers needs/constraints (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Include integration of livestock and crops. This should be helpful to pursue in the approach)
Farmer's decisions, opinions, critics (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Bottom-up maintained (gradually))
Incentives make it possible for land users to experiment with a new cultivation system (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Diversification of incentives: eg reduction in seed prices and herbicides for NTT farmers; award - NTT best producers; reduction in interest rates for NTT farmers (for credits or loans); special NTT training courses.)

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The NTT project has integrated several institutions -which is unique in Morocco. Now research, extension, community and farmers are working together towards the same objective (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Further develop, refine and spread NTT)
NGOs development: the association of NTT farmers and environmental clubs are important for spreading NTT and for re-enforcing the importance of NTT amongst government officers and decision makers (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: special NGOs should be encouraged to respect soils, nature, environment)
Cross-discipline: involving land users, research and extension agents has helped in building up an approach suitable for the local conditions. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: The working teams received also incentives and recognictions)
research connected to extension (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: research should be developed to get continuous measurements/information and to search new indexes and means)
Progressive implementation of a 'bottom-up' approach; integration of farmers' decisions, opinions and criticisms (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Farmers and their association are involved gradually in the approach and their critics, comments, feedbacks respected)

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?
Information availability: up to now information and communication on NTT is scarce	intensify training of trainees
In some situations (farmers with very low incomes), the need for external inputs such as herbicides, seeds, fertilizers and drills may retard implementation of NTT	Incentives should be maintained for a short period and supplemented by credit systems.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Direct incentives: there is always a risk that when eliminating these incentives, farmers will abandon NTT	Eliminate incentives gradually and replace with loans and credits.
The programme's duration is currently too short to overcome resistance (to new technology adoption) and to address economic constraints of farmers	A long term programme is needed to increase acceptance among farmers.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Wall et al, 2002, Institutional aspects of conservation agriculture, International workshop on conservation agriculture for sustainable wheat production, 14-18, october 2002, Tastikent, Usbekistan

Available from where? Costs?

p.wall@cgiar.org

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Segry, L.; Bouzinac, S and Pieri, C. 1991: An Approach to the development of sustainable farming systems. World echnical papaer N-2, ISBRAM proceedings 1991