1.2 Detalhes do contato das pessoas capacitadas e instituições envolvidas na avaliação e documentação da abordagem

Nome do projeto que facilitou a documentação/avaliação da Abordagem (se relevante)

Soil protection and rehabilitation for food security (ProSo(i)l)

Nome da(s) instituição(ões) que facilitou(ram) a documentação/avaliação da Abordagem (se relevante)

Alliance Bioversity and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT) - Quênia

1.3 Condições em relação ao uso da informação documentada através de WOCAT

Quando os dados foram compilados (no campo)?

16/01/2023

O/a compilador/a e a(s) pessoa(s) capacitada(s) aceitam as condições relativas ao uso de dados documentados através da WOCAT:

Sim

1.4 Referência ao(s) questionário(s) sobre tecnologias da GST

2.1 Descrição curta da abordagem

A Farmers Research and Extension Group (FREG) engages about 50 or more farmers in a kebele (lower administrative unit), with three sub groups of 17-20 each who live in a homogenous landscape. It is a local institution established for joint learning, piloting, and evaluating soil improvement technologies across the intervention regions.

2.2 Descrição detalhada da abordagem

Descrição detalhada da abordagem:

Farmers Research and Extension Groups (FREGs) are the approach used to test and spread Integrated Soil and Fertility Management (ISFM+)/Agroecology project best practices in Ethiopia. These technologies include livestock urine collection and use, cover crops, intercropping, vermicompost, acid soil treatment by liming, green manures, crop residue management, and bioslurry. A FREG employs a participatory approach, whereby joint investigation and learning is implemented. Farmers' group members use participatory planning and peer learning from one another. The approach is gender inclusive: one-third of the members in a FREG are women. There is also a mix of social categories. FREGs are populated by proactive model farmers who adopt and demonstrate technologies for scaling up. After the first year, the best-performing model farmer serves as an ambassador for knowledge and skills transfer to the indirect beneficiaries.
Collective investigation, learning, adoption, and then promotion of proven technologies are the key features of the approach. Member of the FREG jointly identify soil fertility/acidity-related issues, participate in training and demonstrate the technologies. The ISFM+/ Agroecology projects equip the target groups with implementation skills and knowledge. Site and participant selection are made with participation of woreda and kebele representative partners and the target farmers. Then soil-related issues are jointly identified with the support of laboratory analysis by the Regional Research Institute. This demonstrates that the intervention is implemented by the public research and development actors with technical, financial and/or inputs supply from the projects. The approach tends to mobilize the communities living in similar agroecology and farming systems who are subjected to the same SLM-related issues.
Identifying proactive model farmers and establishing demonstration plots for different technologies and crop types are the basis of collective learning. The demonstration is employed as an experimental and learning plot by showcasing and inspiring farmer groups and indirect beneficiaries in the area. Organizing field days and exchange visits further enables the demonstration of technologies for scaling out. Experience shows that where ISFM+ technologies have been piloted, farmers have built up new agroecology technologies such as cover cropping, intercropping and woodlots development over and above those previously adopted. Target farmers have piloted at least three or more technologies/practices on their plots. The woreda office of agriculture through the assigned project focal person gives closer follow-up for the proper implementation of the technologies. Provision of technical support and advisory service via the development agents (DAs) are among many other services.

2.3 Fotos da abordagem

2.5 País/região/locais onde a abordagem foi aplicada

2.6 Datas de início e término da abordagem

2.7 Tipo de abordagem

• Baseado em projeto/programa

2.8 Principais metas/objetivos da abordagem

To promote participatory implementation and peer-to-peer learning by increasing its scope from plot based to landscape scale. The approach capacitates the farmers' group and stimulates the scaling of the approach at a larger scale.

2.9 Condição que propiciam ou inibem a implementação de tecnologia/tecnologias aplicada(s) segundo a abordagem

3.1 Partes interessadas envolvidas na abordagem e seus papéis

3.2 Envolvimento do usuários de terra/comunidades locais nas diferentes fases da abordagem

	Envolvimento do usuários de terra/comunidades locais	Especifique quem estava envolvido e descreva as atividades
Iniciação/motivação	Participativo	Farmers' group involved in participatory planning, experience exchange visit, and evaluation of the activities. Agricultural experts, development agents, and project staff oversee the implementation of activities and provide technical support/advisory services.
Planejamento	Participativo	Target farmers and development agents involved in problem identification/assessment and planning.
Implementação	Participativo	Farmers who are members of the FREG are involved in implementing the technology with technical support from the woreda focal person and the DAs.
Monitoramento/avaliação	Participativo

3.3 Fluxograma (se disponível)

3.4 Decisão sobre a seleção de tecnologia/tecnologias de GST

Especifique quem decidiu sobre a seleção de tecnologia/tecnologias a serem implementadas:

• todos os atores relevantes, como parte de uma abordagem participativa

Explique:

Land users, SLM experts, Development Agents (DAs), and project advisors play a substantial role in participatory decision-making on the selection of SLM Technologies.

Especifique em que base foram tomadas as decisões:

• Avaliação de conhecimento bem documentado de GST (tomada de decisão baseada em evidências)
• Resultados de pesquisa

4.1 Reforço das capacidades/ formação

Foi oferecida formação aos usuários da terra/outras partes interessadas?

Sim

Especifique quem foi capacitado:

• Usuários de terra
• Equipe de campo/consultores

Caso seja relevante, especifique gênero, idade, status, etnia, etc.

Women-headed households are a member of the three model farmers in the sub-group of FREG. In general, the approach involves women one-third of the group members.

Tipo de formação:

• Em exercício
• Agricultor para agricultor
• Áreas de demonstração
• Reuniões públicas

Assuntos abordados:

The concepts of agroecology, integrated soil fertility management and overall benefits of cover cropping and related crops such as Desmodium.

Comentários:

The approach stimulates to conduct farmers group meeting at the beginning of the season as well as for end season evaluation of the pilot technologies.

4.2 Serviço de consultoria

Os usuários de terra têm acesso a um serviço de consultoria?

Sim

Especifique se foi oferecido serviço de consultoria:

• nas áreas dos usuários da terra
• Em centros permanentes

Descreva/comentários:

The advisory service is face-to-face on demonstration plots at various crop stages including for split application of Urea fertilizer, disease/pest management time, harvesting, and post-harvesting.

4.3 Fortalecimento da instituição (desenvolvimento organizacional)

As instituições foram fortalecidas ou estabelecidas através da abordagem?

• Sim, moderadamente

Especifique a que nível (níveis) as instituições foram fortalecidas ou estabelecidas:

• Local

Descreva instituição, papéis e responsabilidades, membros, etc.

FREG has three model farmers leading the group. They mobilize their followers, demonstrate technologies, and steer collective action. Farmers' groups along with agricultural experts and project staff support the selection of technologies and replacement of the existing ones if the need emerges.

• Facilitation/mobilization

4.4 Monitoramento e avaliação

Monitoramento e avaliação são partes da abordagem?

Sim

Comentários:

Participatory monitoring and evaluation are part of the FREG approach. Essentially, beginning and end-season evaluation is the approach employed in the implementation of new technologies.

Caso afirmativo, esta documentação é destinada a ser utilizada para monitoramento e avaliação?

Sim

4.5 Pesquisa

A pesquisa foi parte da abordagem?

Sim

Especifique os tópicos:

• Tecnologia

Dê mais detalhes e indique quem realizou a pesquisa:

Research is part of the introduced technologies. Problem identification is the entryway to introducing a new technology/practice. Regional Agricultural Research Institute involves in the assessment and identification of problems, evaluation, and issuance of appropriate recommendations that make the intervention evidence-based.

5.1 Orçamento anual para o componente de GST da abordagem

Caso o orçamento exato seja desconhecido, indique a faixa:

• 2.000-10.000

Comentários (p. ex. principais fontes de recursos/principais doadores):

The budget is generally allocated to support woreda's operational cost and to supply necessary inputs for the implementation of ISFM+ and the Agroecology projects.

5.2 Apoio financeiro/material concedido aos usuários da terra

Os usuários da terra receberam apoio financeiro/material para a implementação de tecnologia/tecnologias?

Não

5.3 Subsídios para entradas específicas (incluindo mão-de-obra)

• Nenhum

5.4 Crédito

Foi concedido crédito segundo a abordagem para atividades de GST?

Não

5.5 Outros incentivos ou instrumentos

Foram utilizados outros incentivos ou instrumentos para promover a implementação das tecnologias de GST?

Sim

Caso afirmativo, especifique:

For best-performing farmers, incentives such as solar panels, energy-saving cooking stoves, wheelbarrows, etc., are offered to further motivate the farmers and enable them to properly implement the technology and become a very good advocator for scaling the beneficial practices.

6.1 Impactos da abordagem

6.2 Principal motivação dos usuários da terra para implementar a GST

6.3 Atividades de sustentabilidade de abordagem

Os usuários da terra podem manter o que foi implementado através da abordagem (sem apoio externo)?

• Sim

Caso afirmativo, descreva como:

The positive outcome of applying the FREG is considered as a payoff for participating farmers as it gave them the energy to sustain the adopted practices. The outputs of integrating technologies, collective learning, and action allow to see significant yield increment per unit of land, improved soil fertility and soil health, etc.

6.4 Pontos fortes/vantagens da abordagem

Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades na visão do usuário da terra
Increases farmers understanding of SLM and enables to improve soil fertility and soil health.
Allows direct and indirect beneficiaries to adopt beneficial agricultural practices.
Promote peer learning to apply technologies that nurture soil fertility and increase crop production and productivity, supply feed to the livestock, manage pests...

Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades na visão do/a compilador/a ou de outra pessoa capacitada
Ensure stakeholders' participation and allows the development of a sense of ownership of the technology.
Promote knowledge sharing for scaling out of the technologies.

6.5 Pontos fracos, desvantagens da tecnologia e formas de superá-los

Pontos fracos/desvantagens/riscos na visão do usuário da terra	Como eles podem ser superados?
The farmers' group meeting is not so strong and there are absentees or dropouts because of the overlaps with other regular and casual meetings, and private chores.	Strengthening appropriate participation in planning, implementation, collective learning and action process.

Pontos fracos/vantagens/riscos na visão do/a compilador/a ou de outra pessoa capacitada	Como eles podem ser superados?
Lower level of farmers' commitment and non-zealous to bring change with positive impacts.	Need regular follow-up and continuous awareness creation exercises.
Take the project intervention for granted	Mainstreaming further land-related issues and the necessity of adopting ISFM and agroecology practices to ensure the sustainability of the management intervention.

7.1 Métodos/fontes de informação

7.2 Referências às publicações disponíveis

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

Agricultural extension approach: evidence from an Integrated Soil Fertility Management project in Ethiopia. Leta, G., Schulz, S., Alemu, G. 2020. DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2020331

Disponível de onde? Custos?

https://www.researchgate.net (Free online)

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

Evaluation of Farmer Research Extension Group as Extension Approach: The experience of Sida-Amhara Rural Development Program in Kalu District of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Abebe, E. 2008.

Disponível de onde? Custos?

https://depot.wur.nl/1129

7.3 Links para informação relevante que está disponível online

Título/ descrição:

Farmer research and extension

URL:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5055710_Farmer_research_and_extension

Título/ descrição:

Basics of cover cropping

URL:

https://organicgrowersschool.org/gardeners/library/basics-of-cover-cropping/