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)

Strengthening of Livelihoods through Climate Change Adaptation in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

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

GIZ Tajikistan (GIZ Tajikistan) - Tajikistan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

28/11/2018

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

Rain-fed agriculture faces challenges from climate change impact, inappropriate crop varieties and inadequate inputs. The approach of integrated rain-fed farming reduces the adverse effect of climate change impacts and improves the income of farmers.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Rain-fed cultivation of wheat and other crops is hampered by poor agricultural practice and these challenges are increasingly exacerbated by the impact of climate change. The already visible trends and predictions show higher levels of aridity, higher temperatures during the vegetation season, reduced overall precipitation, more irregular rainfall patterns, reduced snow packs and accelerated snow melt. These factors all cause a reduced availability of moisture in soil during the growth season. Increasingly irregular rainfall patterns make it difficult for farmers to predict during the season of drilling if soil moisture will be sufficient for rain-fed farming.

Other problems in rain-fed farming are caused by inadequate agricultural practice. Crop varieties producing high yield of good quality under the local conditions of rain-fed fields are not available for local farmers. Classical tillage causes loss of humus content of topsoil, wind and water erosion and high evaporation. Insufficient knowledge about the use of agrochemicals, difficult access to these and financial shortages experienced by farmers during the time of planting and growing of crops cause the inadequate application of fertilizer and pesticides and cause crop losses and quality issues. Only wealthy farmers are able to purchase timely sufficient amounts of agricultural inputs. Most farmers apply insufficient amounts and inadequate combinations of fertilizers, thus contributing to the decline in soil fertility. Unreliable harvest amounts reduce the marketability of the agricultural products and cause low income levels of farmers, again affecting their ability to work their lands effectively and sustainable.

The approach aims at reducing these risks and obstacles in an integrated way under consideration of ongoing trends and predicted impacts of climate change. The approach therefore combines several elements through an agricultural extension service:
•Agricultural extension service providing tailored assistance to the farmers;
•Provision of agricultural inputs through the extension services to ease the application of technical advice and reduce transaction costs for the farmers;
•Packages of agricultural inputs include seeds/planting material, fertilizers and pesticides as well as growth regulator with the instruction for their correct use;
•The agricultural extension service provides access to crop varieties, which are adapted to the local site conditions and produce reliable high yields of best quality;
•Provision of machinery for drilling in combination with application of tailored amounts of fertilizer;
•Agricultural inputs are provided to farmers on a part loan basis by the extension service: farmers pay 50% of the costs of the package when purchasing, the remaining 50% are paid after harvest, with a zero interest rate (the extension service buys the inputs at bulk price and sells them to the farmers at retail price, which is 115% of the bulk price);
•Technological assistance includes cultivation technology like zero tillage and the use of modern drilling machines.

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

Improved agricultural productivity in terms of yields and quality under conditions of climate change.

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	Discussion of testing of elements of the approach on their lands
planning	interactive	Selection of land plots and discussion of testing of elements of the approach on their lands
implementation	interactive	Applying elements of the appraoch on their lands
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	Recording of yield and crop quality, reporting experiences in applying the elements of the approach.

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

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

Form of training:

• demonstration areas
• public meetings
• courses

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.

Agricultural extension service developed as provider of package of agricultural inputs and machinery. Expanded its fields of work and reach of farmers.

Specify type of support:

• financial
• capacity building/ training
• equipment

Give further details:

Drilling machine purchased for testing and demonstration. Income from provision of drilling machine will be used to purchase additiona machinery.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Documentation of yields, recording of inputs, recording of return for machinery.

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

No

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):

Government of Germany, implemented via Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The approach has been implemented in the frame of a much larger program and the specific budget for the SLM component of the Approach cannot be determined.

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):

Loan of 50% of the costs of agricultural input packages, to be recovered after harvest at zero interest rate.
Drilling machine purchased with project support and thus available for farmers at lower cost than would be possible if purchased commercially.

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

• agricultural

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

• voluntary

Comments:

Work on their own fields for their own income generation.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

Yes

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

Loan of 50% of the retail price of agricultural input packages, to be recovered after harvest at zero interest rate. (The extension service buys the inputs at bulk price and sells them to the farmers at retail price, which is 115% of the bulk price.)

Specify credit providers:

Agricultural extension service / provider of agricultural inputs.

Specify credit receivers:

Farmers

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

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

Yes

If yes, specify:

The combination of advisory service, provision of a complete package of inputs and financial support (loan).

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)?

• uncertain

If no or uncertain, specify and comment:

Many farmers will not be able to purchase the package of advise and inputs without loan support. Such loans are currently not available from commercial financial institutions at affordable conditions. Machinery for direct drilling and fertilizer application is only affordable for large farmers and service provider (extension service).

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Improved crop production.
Reduced risk of crop failure in case of drought.
Reduced costs for cultivation and fertilizer application.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Improved crop production effectiveness and cost efficiency.
Reduced risk of crop failure in case of drought.
Preservation of soil fertility.

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?
High costs of inputs can by most farmers only be met with loan, at better conditions than typical commercial loans.	Loans at affordable conditions.
Dependence on extension service for use of machinery and potential availability issues.	Reinvestment of payments for machinery use in additional machinery as demand grows.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
High costs of inputs can by most farmers only be met with loan, at better conditions than typical commercial loans.	Loans at affordable conditions.
Dependence on extension service for use of machinery, potential availability issues and risk of monopoly situation.	Reinvestment of payments for machinery use in additional machinery as demand grows. Development of more service providers.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information