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)

Strengthening national-level institutional and professional capacities of country Parties towards enhanced UNCCD monitoring and reporting – GEF 7 EA Umbrella II (GEF 7 UNCCD Enabling Activities_Umbrella II)

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

National Soil Services Centre, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock (NSSC) - Bhoutan

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

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

20/7/2023

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

Oui

2.1 Courte description de l'Approche

In the past, it was difficult for households to complete seasonal farming activities like ploughing, sowing, and transplanting in time. So, land users came together by adopting 'latsab' or labour sharing. This involves pooling land users, who work on a rotational basis on the plots of the different group members. Labour sharing is a very old approach but is still being practiced throughout the country.

2.2 Description détaillée de l'Approche

Description détaillée de l'Approche:

In the past, it was difficult for households to complete seasonal farming activities like ploughing, sowing, and transplanting in time. So, land users came together by adopting 'latsab' or labour sharing. This involves pooling land users, who work on a rotational basis on the plots of the different group members. Labour sharing is a very old approach but is still being practiced throughout the country. In addition, land users also come together for any construction work or other activities related to land management. Labour sharing aims to complete seasonal farming activities more efficiently and on time. The approach also helps economically disadvantaged land users who cannot pay wages to employ. Other co-benefits reported are the improved sense of community and enhanced social cohesion because the exchange of experiences and collaboration builds mutual trust. Working in a group eases hard physical work, such as carrying and breaking large boulders, and is perceived to be much more enjoyable than working alone or in a household setting.
Groups are formed at the village and sub-village levels to enable households to take up labour-intensive SLM activities, such as stone bunding, bench terracing, stone check dam construction, water source protection works, or grass hedgerow development. Labour-sharing involves land users coming together to discuss important agricultural activities to be implemented. They also select the land users where the work should start. When it comes to activities related to SLM intervention, the land users are given initial practical training on the SLM intervention, which starts with hands-on work on the land of a group member, preferably that of a vulnerable household. Labour-sharing groups, therefore, facilitate the inclusion of vulnerable households, especially female-headed and small families, in the implementation of labour-intensive SLM interventions. In addition to technical guidance provided by extension staff, support is given to the group formation process, such as drafting informal by-laws and group management.
Any activities through a labour-sharing approach have to undergo specific stages. Initially, the land users will come together to discuss important agricultural or SLM activities to be carried out in a season. Secondly, they identify a 'Blenpa' who is a land user who requests help on his/ her land. Once in the field before they start any activities a supervisor or 'la pon' is appointed. If work involves heavy digging, a 'Nyempa' (preferably a strong man) is appointed, and he will be assisted by four or five women. The labour-sharing group is formed through common interests among different land users in the community. The group members come together and plan and prepare by-laws. They appoint a chairman or 'Trizin', who is the overall manager of the group. The accountant/treasurer or 'Tsezin' is appointed to take care of the finances. Any conflict between land users is solved within the group.

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

• traditionnel/ autochtone

2.8 Principaux objectifs de l'Approche

The main aims/objectives of the approach are 1) Labour-sharing to complete seasonal activities faster and on time, 2) To support economically disabled land users who cannot pay for hired workers, and 3) To share resources like water which is important for carrying out farming activities.

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	auto-mobilisation	The labour-sharing approach was initiated by the ancestors of current land users. Current land users found this approach as an effective way to mitigate labour shortage and resource management and they continue to preserve and practice it.
planification	auto-mobilisation	Land users are the ones who come together, prepare their by-laws and plan all the activities related to farming or SLM intervention.
mise en œuvre	auto-mobilisation	The approach has an elected chairman and accountant who are responsible for the smooth running of the group and finances. Any conflicts that arise between land users are solved within the group.
suivi/ évaluation	auto-mobilisation	The group is monitored by the chairman. During the time of any activities, they also appoint a supervisor who will monitor the quality of the work performed by the members.

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:

• principalement les exploitants des terres soutenus par des spécialistes de la GDT

Expliquez:

The technologies implemented by land users have been decided by land users and upon their request to the government the SLM specialist are sent and technology related training and materials are provided to the group.

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

Formats de la formation:

• zones de démonstration

Thèmes abordés:

Improved ways to dry Chilli, Nursery bed preparation, electric fencing, Growing Napier grass, Chainlink fencing, Greenhouse construction, etc.,

Commentaires:

The training was provided by extension agents

4.2 Service de conseils

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

Oui

Décrivez/ commentez:

Whenever there is an outbreak of crops or livestock diseases, advisory services are provided by agricultural and livestock officers on do and don't of the issues.

4.3 Renforcement des institutions (développement organisationnel)

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

• oui, beaucoup

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.

Within the labour-sharing group, land users also have formed other groups like the Chilli group (focusing on cultivating and marketing chilli), Vegetable group (involved in growing and marketing vegetables other than chilli)

Précisez le type de soutien:

• financier
• renforcement des capacités/ formation
• équipement

Donnez plus de détails:

The financial institution provides loans to those land users who are members of the group. Support from the government and external projects targeted to the groups. As a result, members of the group have received training in Chilli drying through the Tarayana Foundation. Members also shared that when they work in groups they also share tools, equipments, machinary, etc., which indirectly reduces the cost.

4.4 Suivi et évaluation

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

Oui

Commentaires:

Labour sharing involves working on a rotation basis. The group has a chairman who monitors the overall activities of the group. When it comes to agricultural or SLM intervention activities carried out at individual land user's fields. The supervisor is appointed who monitors and supervises the work.

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

Non

4.5 Recherche

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

Non

5.1 Budget annuel de la composante GDT de l'Approche

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

The group is mainly formed by those land users who are economically disabled. They work on a rotation basis so that they don't have to pay for human resources involved in carrying out any agricultural or SLM intervention activities.

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:

Electric fencing: The materials were supported by the government.
Chilli dryer:

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

• équipement

• matériaux de construction

• infrastructures

• autre

Si la main d'œuvre fournie par les exploitants des terres était un intrant substantiel, elle était:

• récompensée avec un autre soutien matériel

Commentaires:

All materials required were supplied by the government for free. Land users were involved in construction/installation.

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?

Oui

Si oui, spécifiez:

The group also received a cake-making machine. However, this was shared among different groups from other places.

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)?

• incertain

Si non ou incertain, spécifiez et commentez:

The approach was there in the past when external support was not there. It is continuing today, but it is uncertain whether this approach will survive in the future with changing climate and improving the lifestyle of every farmer.

6.4 Points forts/ avantages de l'Approche

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue de l'exploitant des terres
The approach allows members to enhance social cohesion and community sense. They come together for any kind of work, thus tackling the main issue of labour shortage and easing hard physical work.
Agricultural activities like ploughing, tilling, sowing, transplanting, weeding, watering, and harvesting, have to be completed on time. The approach allows every member to complete these activities on time avoiding crop failure and enhancing crop production.
The approach includes all vulnerable groups giving them opportunities to share their problems and supporting them through labour-sharing to carry out important agricultural activities for crop production.

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé
The approach demands equal participation from all household members. Thus giving training on any SLM intervention activities by SLM experts becomes very easy. It is also easy to communicate to the group for dissemination of any information.
The approach helps the economically disabled members to sustain their livelihood. This is because labour-sharing cut many of the costs involved in crop production or SLM intervention activities increasing the cost-benefit ratio.

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?
Marketing of agricultural produce: There are many other groups at the village and sub-district level. They compete to capture the local market which is always saturated with supply. Exploring the market at the domestic and international levels is very expensive for the majority of the group.	The government takes some initiative to explore the market for these groups or give them some incentives to do marketing like marketing van.

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
The sustainability of the group: Most of the members are between the age group of 40-70. The young generation is not interested in agriculture and in the future, there are chances that this kind of group may die.	The government must take some initiative to make our young generation like Agriculture by bringing new technologies that will ease hard human labour.

7.1 Méthodes/ sources d'information

7.2 Références des publications disponibles

Titre, auteur, année, ISBN:

BHUCAT (Bhutan catalogue of soil and water conservation approaches and technologies):Best practices and guidelines from Bhutan for sustainable land managements on steep to very steep slopes, National Soil Service Center, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest 2012,

Disponible à partir d'où? Coût?

A copy of a book was provided by National Soil Service Center, Simtokha: Bhutan for Free.

Titre, auteur, année, ISBN:

2021 Labour force survey report Bhutan, National statistics Bureau, 2021, ISBN 978-99936-28-93-4

Disponible à partir d'où? Coût?

available online for free. https://www.nsb.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2022/04/LFS-2021-web.pdf

7.3 Liens vers les informations pertinentes disponibles en ligne

Titre/ description:

SLM Labour-sharing group Bhutan

URL:

https://qcat.wocat.net/wocat/approaches/view/approaches_2491/

Titre/ description:

Sharing labour to implement contour bunding in Nepal

URL:

https://qcat.wocat.net/wocat/approaches/view/approaches_2604/

Titre/ description:

Organic agriculture, Labour exchange, and social networks: a case study of smallholder farming in Bhutan

URL:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13165-022-00416-z