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

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

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (GIZ) - Allemagne

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

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

20/05/2011

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

Technical advisory groups working on a 'fee for service' basis provide an effective service to farmers to achieve measurable yield increases, based on regular crop monitoring, crop management advice and effective use of inputs (fertilisers, water, pesticides, etc.)

2.2 Description détaillée de l'Approche

Description détaillée de l'Approche:

Aims / objectives: The TAG concept is designed to achieve the following key objectives: (1) Provide an effective agronomic advisory service to farmers to achieve measurable yield increases, based on regular crop monitoring, crop management advice and effective use of inputs (fertilisers, water, pesticides, etc.), (2) Support the development of agricultural input supply and distribution, and (3) Operate as independent entities on a competitive 'fee for service' basis (fee per ha), working towards achieving self sustainability.

Methods: TAGs are the central component of the framework and follow a very simple operational structure, basically consisting of a “Senior Agronomist” (SA), a “Organisation Manager” (OM) and a defined number of “Field Agronomists” (FA). The SA will register an advisory business as well as the OM and FA. The cooperation will be regulated by cooperation contracts. The SA will engage directly into service contracts with farmer clients to whom they will provide crop management recommendations throughout the entire production cycles. TAGs will be based in defined geographic areas, operating with local staff (SA, OM, FA) and build up a customer base large enough for financial self sustainability.

Stages of implementation: (1) TAGs are registered as enterprises, (2) TAGs develop business plans, (3) TAGs develop work plans and field records, (4) each TAG signs contract with cooperation partners (TAFF and GIZ-PSD project), (5) TAGs get first payment from cooperation partners (555 USD per TAG), (6) TAGs sign consulting contracts for 500 ha, farmers pledge to pay for advisory service 24 TJS/ha in the whole season, (7) quality control of advisory contracts concluded: visit of contracted farms to ensure the farmers understand the TAG-system, (8) TAGs do market analysis for the regional availability of suppliers for pesticides, fertiliser etc., mechanisation contractors, banks, buyers, (9) second payment from cooperation partners, 5 TJS per ha up to 500 ha contracted area per TAG, (10) third payment from cooperation partners, same conditions as previous point, (11) fourth payment from cooperation partners, 12 TJS per ha contracted area (only if field advisors are contracted and have received first salary, first field records are made and filed to the TAG documentation), (12) first payment from clients/farmers, 12 TJS per ha contracted area, (13) second payment from clients/farmers, 12 TJS per ha contracted area, (14) fifth payment from cooperation partners, 5 TJS per ha contracted area (only if contracts are fully pay through clients, TAG must handover documentation of their work).

Role of stakeholders: Cooperation partners provide expertise and training, support to the organisational and sustainable development of TAGs and financial support. NGOs (Agricultural Extension Service Providers) will be invited to enter into contract agreements for the provision of training to TAGs. TAGs consist of a “Senior Agronomist” (SA), a “Organisation Manager” (OM) and a defined number of “Field Agronomists” (FA).

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 Approach focused mainly on other activities than SLM (productivity increase)

The main objectives of the approach were to: (1) Provide an effective agronomic advisory service to farmers to achieve measurable yield increases, based on regular crop monitoring, crop management advice and effective use of inputs (fertilisers, water, pesticides, etc). (2) Support the development of agricultural input supply and distribution. (3) Operate as independent entities on a competitive 'fee for service' basis (fee per ha), working from the start towards achieving self sustainability.

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: low agricultural production, lack of technical knowledge

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
planification	aucun
mise en œuvre	passive	the land users pay the TAGs for their services with a service fee
suivi/ évaluation	aucun
Research	aucun

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:

agricultural extension service to provide assistance to land users

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by by SLM specialists alone (top-down)

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:

• personnels/ conseillers de terrain

Formats de la formation:

• technical advisory service

Thèmes abordés:

Innovative approaches to crop management, effective use of agricultural inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, water, etc), basics of advisory work, cotton growing, modern ways of plant protection, cooperation with other service providers, improving the performance of the TAG team, and improving the TAG business were key focus points.

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 des centres permanents

Décrivez/ commentez:

Technical Assisstance Groups (TAGs); Key elements: TAGs provide know-how on modern crop production and crop management techniques to individual farmer clients., TAGs establish links with input providers and buyers of produce, TAGs are financially self-sustainable through the service fee they collect from farmer clients

Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; The value of crop rotation to conservation and improvement of soil health is clear to the TAG. Problems associated with erosion and fertiliser leaching are being discussed in field training sessions.

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

Précisez le type de soutien:

• financier
• renforcement des capacités/ formation

Donnez plus de détails:

The TAGs were registered as formal entities. They were supported by the coordination partners financially and through training sessions.

4.4 Suivi et évaluation

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

Oui

Commentaires:

economic / production aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through measurements; indicators: Measurement of yields by TAG and farmers, accumulation of data over time

area treated aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through observations; indicators: Approx. 17,000 ha being covered by TAG

area treated aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through measurements; indicators: Nearly 900 Dehkan Farms serviced

no. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored by project staff through observations; indicators: Communication between TAG, land users, input suppliers and project staff

management of Approach aspects were regular monitored by project staff through observations; indicators: gender of contracted farmers

socio-cultural aspects were regular monitored by project staff through observations; indicators: Measurement of yields by TAG and farmers, accumulation of data over time

economic / production aspects were regular monitored by project staff, land users through observations; indicators: Agronomic measurements of crop progress by TAG and project staff

technical aspects were regular monitored by project staff through measurements; indicators: Comprehensive collection of land use activities

technical aspects were regular monitored by project staff through observations; indicators: None

management of Approach aspects were regular monitored by None through measurements; indicators: None

There were several changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: Introduction of record keeping for field activities to serve as a decision making tool in the future. Introduction of systematic crop progress evaluations enabling much improved crop management. Communication between farmers and input suppliers is streamlined, with the expected outcome of improvements in quality and timing of input usage.

There were several changes in the Technology as a result of monitoring and evaluation: New tools introduced for record keeping and crop progress monitoring. Improvements in timing and quality of field activities (cultivation, fertilisation, irrigation etc). Improved access regarding timeliness and quality of production inputs.

4.5 Recherche

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

Oui

Spécifiez les thèmes:

• économie/ marketing

Donnez plus de détails et indiquez qui a mené ces recherches:

Market analysis of regional availability of suppliers of pesticides, fertiliser etc., mechanisation contractors, banks, buyers.

5.1 Budget annuel de la composante GDT de l'Approche

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

Approach costs were met by the following donors: international (GIZ-PSD, TAFF): 20.0%; national non-government (TAGs): 80.0%

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:

TAFF/GIZ-PSD project will provide a voucher to the senior agronomists to pay for additional NGO services, which they might need based on individual requirements. The voucher will cover 80% of the cost

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

• autre

Commentaires:

During the initial establishment period of the TAGs they received 5 supportive payments. Those are either fixed amounts, or based on the number of hectares contracted by the TAGs

5.4 Crédits

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

• non

Si non ou incertain, spécifiez et commentez:

Land users rely on agronomic advice and on timely access to good quality inputs. TAGs, if successful, can provide a service to the farmer for which he/ she is prepared to pay for. TAGs if successful however, are expected to continue and grow their advisory services businesses and become self sustainable.

6.4 Points forts/ avantages de l'Approche

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue de l'exploitant des terres
Quality agronomic advice (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Ongoing training und upskilling of agronomists. Establishment of a strong core of agronomic advisors who themselves will train new agronomists as their advisory businesses grow)

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé
Systematic and professional approach to the provision of services (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Ongoing training of TAGs and NGOs)
TAGs are registered service providers (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Return clients, increase in client numbers)
Networking between TAGs and input suppliers (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Facilitation and improvement of communication, training)

7.1 Méthodes/ sources d'information