1.2 Coordonnées des personnes-ressources et des institutions impliquées dans l'évaluation et la documentation de l'Approche

Nom du projet qui a facilité la documentation/ l'évaluation de l'Approche (si pertinent)

ICARDA Institutional Knowledge Management Initiative

Nom du ou des institutions qui ont facilité la documentation/ l'évaluation de l'Approche (si pertinent)

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

1.3 Conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées

Quand les données ont-elles été compilées (sur le terrain)?

2022

Le compilateur et la(les) personne(s) ressource(s) acceptent les conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées:

Oui

1.4 Références au(x) questionnaire(s) sur les Technologies de GDT

2.1 Courte description de l'Approche

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 Description détaillée de l'Approche

Description détaillée de l'Approche:

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 de l'approche

2.5 Pays/ région/ lieux où l'Approche a été appliquée

2.6 Dates de début et de fin de l'Approche

2.7 Type d'Approche

• fondé sur un projet/ programme

2.8 Principaux objectifs de l'Approche

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 favorisant ou entravant la mise en œuvre de la(des) Technologie(s) appliquée(s) sous l'Approche

3.1 Parties prenantes impliquées dans l'Approche et rôles

3.2 Participation des exploitants locaux des terres/ communautés locales aux différentes phases de l'Approche

	Participation des exploitants locaux des terres/ communautés locales	Spécifiez qui était impliqué et décrivez les activités
initiation/ motivation	aucun	ICARDA and OEP led discussion with the importer and manufacturer.
planification	aucun	Discussion between ICARDA, OEP, GIZ, INGC, to identify potential beneficiaries of the machines.
mise en œuvre	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.
suivi/ évaluation	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 Diagramme/ organigramme (si disponible)

3.4 Prises de décision pour la sélection de la Technologie/ des Technologies

Indiquez qui a décidé de la sélection de la Technologie/ des Technologies à mettre en œuvre:

• les spécialistes de la GDT seuls

Expliquez:

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

Spécifiez sur quelle base ont été prises les décisions:

• l'évaluation de connaissances bien documentées en matière de GDT (prises de décision fondées sur des preuves tangibles)?
• les résultats de recherches?
• expériences et opinions personnelles (non documentées)

4.1 Renforcement des capacités/ formation

Une formation a-t-elle été dispensée aux exploitants des terres/ autres parties prenantes?

Oui

Spécifiez qui a été formé:

• exploitants des terres

Si pertinent, spécifiez le genre, l'âge, le statut, l'ethnie, etc.

Farmers of the cooperation were trained

Formats de la formation:

• sur le tas
• zones de démonstration
• réunions publiques
• cours

Thèmes abordés:

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

4.2 Service de conseils

Les exploitants des terres ont-ils accès à un service de conseils?

Oui

Spécifiez si le service de conseils est fourni:

• dans les champs des exploitants?

4.3 Renforcement des institutions (développement organisationnel)

Des institutions ont elles été mises en place ou renforcées par le biais de l'Approche?

• oui, modérément

Spécifiez à quel(s) niveau(x), ces institutions ont été renforcées ou mises en place:

• local

Décrivez l'institution, ses rôles et responsabilités, ses membres, 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.

Précisez le type de soutien:

• renforcement des capacités/ formation
• équipement

4.4 Suivi et évaluation

Le suivi et l'évaluation font ils partie de l'Approche? :

Oui

Commentaires:

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.

Si oui, ce document est-il destiné à être utilisé pour le suivi et l'évaluation?

Oui

4.5 Recherche

La recherche a-t-elle fait partie intégrante de l’Approche?

Oui

Spécifiez les thèmes:

• sociologie
• économie/ marketing
• écologie
• technologie

5.1 Budget annuel de la composante GDT de l'Approche

Si le budget annuel précis n'est pas connu, indiquez une fourchette:

• 10 000-100 000

Commentez (par ex. principales sources de financement/ principaux bailleurs de fonds):

This includes the machines and trainings.

5.2 Soutiens financiers/ matériels fournis aux exploitants des terres

Les exploitants des terres ont-ils reçu un soutien financier/ matériel pour la mise en œuvre de la Technologie/ des Technologies?

Oui

Si oui, spécifiez le(s) type(s) de soutien, les conditions et les fournisseurs:

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

5.3 Subventions pour des intrants spécifiques (incluant la main d'œuvre)

• équipement

5.4 Crédits

Des crédits ont-ils été alloués à travers l'Approche pour les activités de GDT?

Non

5.5 Autres incitations ou instruments

D'autres incitations ou instruments ont-ils été utilisés pour promouvoir la mise en œuvre des Technologies de GDT?

Non

6.1 Impacts de l'Approche

6.2 Principale motivation des exploitants des terres pour mettre en œuvre la GDT

6.3 Durabilité des activités de l'Approche

Les exploitants des terres peuvent-ils poursuivre ce qui a été mis en œuvre par le biais de l'Approche (sans soutien extérieur)?

• oui

Si oui, décrivez de quelle manière:

The machines on their self are economically viable.

6.4 Points forts/ avantages de l'Approche

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue de l'exploitant des terres
Seed Cleaning Unit: better seeds, improves yield, higher income, less workload
Feed Pelletizer: use of agricultural by-products, cheap compound feed, less workload

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé
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 Faiblesses/ inconvénients de l'Approche et moyens de les surmonter

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue de l’exploitant des terres	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
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

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
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 Méthodes/ sources d'information

7.3 Liens vers les informations pertinentes disponibles en ligne

Titre/ 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

Titre/ 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

Titre/ 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