A farmer plucking tea in a sustainably managed tea smallholding under improved working conditions (Iroshini Senevirathna)

Inter-sectoral collaboration for sustainable land management in tea smallholdings (Шри-Ланка)

Inter-sectoral collaboration for sustainable land management in tea smallholdings

Описание

Participatory land restoration with the collective efforts of different stakeholders can assure sustainable use of land-resources. This approach promoted sustainable land management technologies such as agroforestry, soil conservation, and soil fertility enhancement practices through inter-sectoral collaboration, including the use of digital tools and Farmer Field Schools (FFS) to provide training and resources, disseminate knowledge, improve market-orientation of farmers, and monitor and evaluate the progress of activities for rehabilitating and increasing the productivity of degraded tea smallholdings in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka.

Due to unsustainable land management practices the monthly average green-leaf yield of tea smallholdings in Maligamale watershed in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka is as low as 1000 kg/hectare, whereas the potential is 2400 kg/hectare. Soil erosion, soil fertility decline, low plant density, and poor shade management are among the main reasons for low productivity. This causes reduced household incomes and farmers’ ability to invest in sustainable land management (SLM) practices. Inefficiencies in top-down extension methodology, lack of awareness and training on tea cultivation techniques, poor business practices, lack of access to services and poor perceptions about SLM have reduced profit margins of tea smallholdings. Hence, the aim/ objectives of the approach are to increase the land productivity in tea smallholdings and increase farmer’s incomes and gain environmental benefits through proper implementation of SLM practices. To address this, the Rehabilitation of Degraded Agricultural Land Project (RDALP) introduced a participatory approach together with Tea Smallholdings Development Authority (TSHDA), Department of Agrarian Development and other relevant government institutions, the private sector and farming community. The approach considered methods for strengthening linkages between stakeholder groups, providing training and resources for SLM practices, enhancing market orientation, using ICT for knowledge sharing, monitoring and evaluation, improving perceptions of farming community on agriculture and enhancing food-security of the households.
Firstly, tea smallholders who volunteered to learn about SLM were linked with the experts to collectively develop a participatory land restoration proposal. Site specific limitations for productivity improvement, recommendations, roles of different stakeholders, and training and material needs were identified in the proposal. The existing institutional setup was used for coordination of activities. The experts from government institutes provided training on SLM through farmer field schools, field demonstrations and ICT tools. More specifically, farmers were educated on soil conservation and soil fertility management practices: these included producing organic fertilizers using locally available resources, building live fences with green-manure crops and edible crops, intercropping using export agriculture crops, in-filling, selective weeding, developing and maintaining nurseries, using machinery for cutting pits and harvesting, using safety measures during field operations, and shade tree management. In addition, farmers have been encouraged to share good-practices, keep records and practice soil test-based decision making for nutrient management. Farmers and officers effectively used WhatsApp®, Zoom® and Facebook® for knowledge sharing and for monitoring and evaluating progress. Dissemination of knowledge using ICT and performance-based rewarding helped to recruit more farmers as followers. The TSHDA supported with extension service and regular monitoring of progress. With the support of government institutes, farmers were linked with private sector companies to promote market orientation. Export agriculture crops such as peppers, vanilla, areca nut and cloves were successfully incorporated into tea smallholding landscape, allowing farmers to earn an extra income. The partners from the private sector provided planting materials and extension services to transfer necessary knowledge and skills to the farmers. Machinery was provided to farmer organizations for the members to share.
Improving profitability of farming, improving hygiene and safety of farmers, and reducing time spent on agronomic practices have uplifted the living-status of famers and increased their willingness to invest in SLM. These characters could attract youth to the sector.

Местоположение

Местоположение: Pambadeniya village, Kandy District- Central Province, Шри-Ланка

Географическая привязка выбранных участков
  • 80.62982, 7.15168

Дата ввода в действие: 2017

Дата завершения: н/п

Тип Подхода
Stone ditches (Iroshini Senevirathna)
Farmer training in the field (Iroshini Senevirathna)

Цели подхода и благоприятные условия для его реализации

Главные цели/ задачи Подхода
The aims/ objectives of the approach are to increase the land productivity in tea smallholdings and increase farmers' income and environmental benefits through proper implementation of SLM practices.
Условия, содействующие применению Технологии/ Технологий в рамках Подхода
  • Социальные/ культурные/ религиозные нормы и ценности: Increased livelihood requirements and access to education, market and health services
  • Наличие/ доступность финансовых ресурсов и услуг: Providing funds/ subsidies has increased the access to financial resources (subsidy schemes of TSHDA, Loan facilities of tea factories)
  • Институциональные условия: An institutional set-up for facilitating the approach already exists and all technical support is providing by institutes
  • Сотрудничество/ координация действий: Institutes have some level of collaboration
  • Нормативно-правовая база (землевладение, права на земле- и водопользование): Some land users own their land
  • Программные документы/ руководящие установки: National soil conservation act
  • Управление земельными ресурсами (принятие решений, осуществление и контроль за выполнением): Farmers participated in the decision-making process related to land management. Land is maintained based on the advice given under the approach. Most of the technologies introduced were not gender biased and therefore, involvement of women in management practices increased
  • Осведомленность в области УЗП, доступность технической поддержки: Farmers were guided through farmer training programs, practical sessions, farmer field schools, Zoom® meetings, sharing knowledge through WhatsApp® groups and Facebook.
  • Рынки (для приобретения материалов и услуг, продажи продукции) и цены: Private companies come to fields to purchase products and they provide extension support and material inputs to some extent to the farmers who have established links with them
  • Объем работ, доступность рабочей силы: Labour resources are available. Introduction of machinery created shared responsibilities and reduced labour demand while creating an income source for the farmer organizations. Decent working environment with safety kits and machineries will encourage the labour force to remain in the sector
Условия, затрудняющие применение Технологии/ Технологий в рамках Подхода
  • Социальные/ культурные/ религиозные нормы и ценности: Migration of youth and males to cities
  • Наличие/ доступность финансовых ресурсов и услуг: Access of farmers to resources is limited by their financial situation as well as geographic location.
  • Институциональные условия: Mandate of some institutions are not clearly defined. Decision making is very often a top-down approach
  • Сотрудничество/ координация действий: There is lack of motivation to initiate collaboration and the level of collaboration depends on the commitments of the officers. Institutional mechanisms do not encourage the collaborations
  • Нормативно-правовая база (землевладение, права на земле- и водопользование): Some lands used by farmers are owned by the state and there are issues on land rights. Water availability is problematic to farmers as the crop is maintained as a rainfed crop. In the region, drinking water is supplied in ten days interval during dry-months
  • Программные документы/ руководящие установки: Implementation of policies to action is very low
  • Управление земельными ресурсами (принятие решений, осуществление и контроль за выполнением): Dependence on males is high for agronomic practices in tea-cultivation
  • Осведомленность в области УЗП, доступность технической поддержки: Shortage of tea extension officers
  • Рынки (для приобретения материалов и услуг, продажи продукции) и цены: Market orientation of farmers is low and their ability to negotiate prices is poor due to various factors
  • Объем работ, доступность рабочей силы: Labour force continuously moving away from the industry

Участие и распределение ролей заинтересованных сторон

Заинтересованные стороны, участвующие в реализации Подхода, и их роли
Какие заинтересованные стороны/ организации-исполнители участвовали в реализации Подхода? Перечислите заинтересованные стороны Опишите роли заинтересованных сторон
местные землепользователи/ местные сообщества Men and women farmers are involved in tea cultivation They involved in practicing SLM technologies as the technologies were not gender biased. But the operation of mechanical weeder and auger for infilling are mainly done by male farmers.
организации местных сообществ Farmer organizations Support coordination of activities with farmers Support Farmer Field Schools Maintain common equipment and rent for members and non-members to support SLM practices
эксперты по УЗП/ сельскому хозяйству Tea Smallholding Development Authority, Department of Agrarian Development, Department of Export Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Provide tea plants for infilling, promote inter-cropping and provide technical guidance to farmers Serve as resource-persons in Farmer Field Schools and in WhatsApp® groups
ученые-исследователи University of Uva Wellassa, Sri Lanka Study the effectiveness of knowledge dissemination approach and effectiveness of some SLM technologies
частный сектор Several private sector companies are involved (Bio Food (Pvt) Ltd, Adamjee Lukmanjee (Pvt) Ltd) Buying products, providing planting materials and continuing extension services to transfer necessary knowledge and skills to the farmers who are linked with them
местные власти Local government institutes are involved in the process (Tea Smallholdings Development Authority (TSHDA), Department of Agrarian Development, Department of Agriculture, Department of Export Agriculture, Divisional Secretariat office- Doluwa Capacity building, advisory services on fertilizer usage, land management, crop selection etc.
государственные власти (отвечающие за планирование или принятие решений) Ministry of Environment Helps to raise awareness among private and government sector stakeholders and within communities about SLM approaches and technologies, Project coordination and partial financial support
международные организации Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Project coordination, partial financial support and capacity building
Ведущая организация
Tea Smallholdings Development Authority (TSHDA)
Участие местных землепользователей/ местных сообществ на разных стадиях реализации Подхода
нет
пассивное
внешняя поддержка
интерактивное
самоорганизация
инициирование/ мотивация
x
Government agencies, representatives from farmer organizations, RDALP team. Discussions to develop participatory land use plans for a region and identify the sectors to be developed
планирование
x
Government agencies, representatives from farmer organizations, RDALP team Discussions, site visits and field programs to identify factors limiting land productivity and implementation of SLM practices Identify strategies to address these limitations Identify how the private sector can contribute and invite them to invest
выполнение
x
Government agencies, leaders of farmer organizations, farmers, RDALP team, private sector companies Training and dissemination of knowledge through demonstrations, farmer training programs, farmer field schools Progress monitoring and evaluation Provide advisory services to farmers as needed Conduct performance-based rewarding to motivate the practitioners and to recruit followers
мониторинг/ оценка
x
TSHDA, RDALP team, farmers, private sector companies make observations in fields, guiding land users, exchange photos through whatsapp® Some private sector companies also involve in monitoring and field evaluating process (Adamjee Lukmanjee (Pvt) Ltd)
Схема реализации Подхода

Before implementing the approach the level of productivity of tea lands that belong to the farmers who participated in the project were in class ‘C’ and below. In this scale of productivity lands were classified from A to D where A is the best and D is the worst. After implementation of the approach most of the fields upgraded to ‘A’ and ‘B’ performance levels. An interview conducted with a farmer revealed that the average green-leaf tea yield before and after participating in the approach were 1000 kg/ha/month and 2400 kg/ha/month, respectively.

Автор: Warshi S. Dandeniya
Принятие решений по выбору Технологии УЗП

Решения принимались

  • исключительно землепользователи (по собственной инициативе)
  • в основном землепользователи при поддержке специалистов по УЗП
  • все участники как часть процесса совместных действий
  • преимущественно специалисты по УЗП после консультаций с землепользователями
  • исключительно специалисты по УЗП
  • политики/ руководители

Принятие решений было основано на

  • анализ подробно описанного опыта и знаний по УЗП (принятие решений на основе подтвержденных фактов)
  • результаты исследований
  • личный опыт и мнения (незадокументированные)

Техническая поддержка, повышение компетенций и управление знаниями

Следующие мероприятия или работы являлись частью Подхода
Повышение компетенций/ обучение
Обучение было предоставлено следующим заинтересованным лицам
  • землепользователи
  • местный персонал/консультанты
Тип обучения
  • в ходе работы
  • обмен опытом между фермерами
  • опытные участки
  • общие собрания
  • курсы
  • Zoom discussions, Farm Field Schools
Рассматриваемые темы

Soil conservation practices, intercropping in tea lands, organic fertilizer preparation (compost tea, vermi- compost), burying of pruned plant parts, infilling, documentation, improving tea buds quality and quantity, handling of machines for cutting pits and tea plucking

Консультационные услуги
Консультационные услуги были предоставлены
  • на полях землепользователей
  • в постоянно функционирующих центрах
Demonstration, advisory service was carried out through: government extension system, agricultural instructors and some private sector companies such as Adamjee Lukmanjee (Pvt) Ltd company which is giving support to enhance vanilla cultivation as an intercrop
Институциональная поддержка
Какие институциональные структуры были укреплены или вновь созданы
  • нет
  • да, немного
  • да, умеренно
  • да, существенно
на уровне
  • местные
  • региональный
  • национальный
Опишите организацию, функции и ответственность, членство и т.д.
Тип поддержки
  • финансовая
  • повышение компетенций/ обучение
  • оборудование
  • providing safety kits and tea plants for infilling
Подробнее
Organizing and conducting training programs, providing machineries for tea plucking and cutting pits, distribute safety kits among land users
Мониторинг и оценка
Научные исследования
Научные исследования проводились по следующим темам
  • социология
  • экономика / маркетинг
  • экология
  • технология

Финансирование и внешняя материальная поддержка

Годовой бюджет мероприятий по УЗП в долларах США
  • < 2000
  • 2000-10000
  • 10000-100000
  • 100 000-1 000 000
  • > 1 000 000
Precise annual budget: н/п
Землепользователям были оказаны/предоставлены следующие услуги или меры стимулирования
  • Финансирование и внешняя материальная поддержка, предоставляемая землепользователям
  • Субсидии на отдельные затраты
  • Кредитование
  • Другие методы или инструменты стимулирования
Финансовая/ материальная поддержка, предоставленная землепользователям
Provide machinery for cutting pits and plucking, safety kits and tea plants for infilling as material support, provide financial support for soil testing, to add liming material for correcting soil pH for those who performed soil testing The material and financial support was provided by RDALP team with contributions from TSHDA and private sector based on performance evaluation
профинансированы частично
профинансированы полностью
оборудование: техника

Tea plucking machines, grass cutting machines and machine for cutting pits in tea lands

x
оборудование: техника: инвентарь/ инструменты

Tea buds collecting buckets

x
Planting materials, liming materials

Tea plants for infilling, liming materials to correct soil pH, soil testing service

x
Safety kits

x

Трудозатраты, вложенные землепользователями были

Другие методы или инструменты стимулирования

н/п

Анализ влияния и заключительные положения

Влияние Подхода
Нет
Да, немного
Да, умеренно
Да, существенно
Сумел ли Подход расширить возможности местных землепользователей, повысить участие заинтересованных сторон?

Application of organic fertilizers such as compost tea, vermi-compost enhance the market value and some farmers ventured into organic tea production

x
Сумел ли Подход дать возможность принимать решения на основе подтвержденных фактов?

Participatory approach in all stages of the project and farmer field schools encouraged the farmers and officers for evidence-based decision making. This also helped to recruit followers for the approach.

x
Сумел ли Подход помочь землепользователям внедрить и поддерживать технологии УЗП?

Approach helps to maintain better environment within the community as it introduced practices that improved safety and hygiene of the farmers while being more efficient. Farmers have been maintaining the SLM technologies

x
Сумел ли Подход улучшить согласованность действий и повысить рентабельность применения практик УЗП

Approach used existing institutional set-up and farmer organizations to coordinate the activities. Therefore, it was cost effective and helped to strengthen the collaborations between stakeholders

x
Сумел ли Подход мобилизовать/ расширить доступ к финансовым ресурсам для применения практик УЗП?

Introducing private sector collaborations and improving market orientation of farmers helped to attract financial support to maintain sustainability of the approach

x
Сумел ли Подход расширить знания и возможности землепользователей в применении практик УЗП?

Approach improved the knowledge and capacity of practitioners. Although only about 25 farmers attended farmer field school the number of farmers who joined WhatsApp group is high as 70. Farmers are sharing knowledge and experiences and were able to improve land productivity through the approach

x
Сумел ли Подход расширить знания и возможности других заинтересованных сторон?

The knowledge and capacities of other stakeholders were improved similarly. Several officers were trained on SLM practices and technologies, use of ICT for extension, etc

x
Сумел ли Подход укрепить сотрудничество между заинтересоваными сторонами/ выстроить механизмы сотрудничества?

Approach helps to strengthen the collaboration between institutes and stakeholders

x
Сумел ли Подход снизить остроту конфликтов?

Improving communication through the project supported the stakeholders to build healthy relationships.

x
Сумел ли Подход расширить возможности социально и экономически уязвимых групп?

Approach helps to earn income in different ways. It is not limited for tea. They can earn money by selling the harvest from intercropping such as vanilla, pepper cultivation, managing nurseries, etc.

x
Сумел ли Подход содействать гендерному равенству и расширить права и возможности женщин и девочек?

Women engagement is high as the new agronomic measures help to reduce time spent on field practices

x
Сумел ли Подход стимулировать молодежь/ будущее поколение землепользователей заниматься УЗП?

Usage of ICT knowledge, improving hygiene and safety of farmers, increased their willingness to invest on SLM and these characters could attract youth to the sector

x
Сумел ли Подход способствовать улучшению продовольственой безопасности/ качества питания?

Increased family improved food security of the practitioners. In addition, the approach promoted intercropping tea with export agricultural crops/ fruit crops and the use of edible crops in fencing. These also increased food supply. Since the mechanization and safety kits helped to reduce time spent on field work the farmers, especially women, were able to invest more time in their home garden and increase the provision of nutritious food to the household

x
Сумел ли Подход расширить доступ к рынкам?

Linkages developed through government entities increased market access. Further some farmers ventured into organic tea production using SLM practices and training provided through the approach. This helped them to reach a niche market

x
Сумел ли Подход улучшить способность землепользователей адаптироваться к изменениям климата и смягчать последствия катастрофических погодных явлений?

Improving soil fertility status has improved the resilience of tea stand for drought. Therefore, the effect of climate change on the income was only slightly affected. Further the SLM techniques they practiced helped them to rely less on inorganic fertilizers and therefore, the farmers were less affected by the fertilizer shortage in the market that happened due to changes in government policies. Using ICT tools for communication helped the farmers to share knowledge and coordinate activities even under COVID19 pandemic situation. They have got used to distant learning methods with this and now able to seek support from experts without having to travel

x
Сумел ли Подход привести к созданию новых рабочих мест/ к расширению возможностей получения дохода?

Farmer organizations were given some machinery for weeding and land preparation like activities. The members from the farmer organizations, who were trained to use the machinery, provided their service to the farmers for a payment from which a fraction is given to the farmer organization for maintaining the equipment. In addition, some farmers started nursery management as a business

x
Основные причины, побуждающие землепользователей внедрять УЗП
Долгосрочная устойчивость мероприятий в рамках Подхода
Могут ли землепользователи самостоятельно (без внешней поддержки) продолжать применение того, что было реализовано в рамках Подхода?

Approach has converted the most of non- productive lands to productive levels with the support of external bodies. Lands needs low external inputs as farmers produce required fertilizers by themselves in their own land by using natural organic materials. The crop diversification helps to reduce risk of crop losses and increase various income pathways to farmer. As well as approach helps access to markets. And there is a trend of farmers who succeed with approach to share their knowledge and experience with others. The ICT knowledge provided by the approach is much useful in that aspect. So, land users can sustain what has been implemented through the approach.

Заключительные положения и извлечённые уроки

Сильные стороны: по мнению землепользователей
  • Increased the production and product variability due to practicing intercropping
  • Reducing land degradation
  • Increased market opportunities
  • Improve the knowledge due to training programs and regular visits of agricultural officers
Сильные стороны: по мнению составителя или ответственных специалистов
  • Encouraging the participation of women in the field-based activities as a result of hygienic and time saving practices
    ex; mechanization, introduction of safety kits
  • Increase in soil fertility and reduction of soil erosion (due to application of organic manure, vermi-compost and improve the ground cover due to minimum tillage)
  • Using ICT in knowledge dissemination. This increased social cohesion, resilience and fast dissemination of knowledge.
  • Facilitating inter-sectoral collaboration taking a participatory approach throughout the process
Слабые стороны/ недостатки/ риски: по мнению землепользователейвозможные пути преодоления
  • Water scarcity Better to introduce rain water harvesting system and improved irrigation methods like drip-irrigation to increase water use efficiency
  • Males are need to use some heavy machinery Males are migrating to cities looking for jobs and therefore, the field activities are affected. Need to enhance income further to retain them
Слабые стороны/ недостатки/ риски: по мнению составителя или ответственных специалистоввозможные пути преодоления
  • A systematic impact assessment with key performance indicators should be developed with the involvement of farmers at the initial stage. This was missing in the approach and it was done only towards the latter part of the project Farmers have not maintained records prior to inception of the project. It is important to develop key performance indicators at the very beginning to evaluate how the system performance change so that even farmers can witness the changes through time. Otherwise, they cannot recall the situation before implementing the approach

Справочные материалы

Составитель
  • Head Soil Science
Editors
Рецензент
  • William Critchley
  • Rima Mekdaschi Studer
Продолжительность применения Технологии: 7 марта 2022 г.
Последнее обновление: 9 марта 2022 г.
Ответственные специалисты
Полное описание в базе данных ВОКАТ
Связанные данные по УЗП
Документирование осуществлялось при участии
Организация Проект
Ключевые ссылки
  • Improving livelihoods of women tea smallholders through sustainable land management practices, 2021: Daily Financial Times newspaper
Ссылки на материалы по теме, доступные онлайн
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareaAlike 4.0 International