1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Amt für Landwirtschaft und Natur des Kantons Bern (LANAT) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

A multi-stakeholder approach using action research methodologies to implement conservation agriculture

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: - To develop and diffuse conservation agriculture technologiy
- To develop capacity among stakeholders
- To improve soil health
- To reverse soil degradation

Methods: - Training of trainers, i.e. lead farmers and extension worker
- Awareness events, e.g. farmer days, field days
- On-farm experimentation
- Farmer-to-farmer extension
- Local institutionalization
- Partnerships Monitoring and Evaluation

Stages of implementation: 1. Stakeholder analysis
2. Diagnosis / Situation analysis
3. Planning and design
4. Implementing and management
5. Learning and adopting
6. Exit strategy

Role of stakeholders: Researchers: - facilitators, advisors, trainers, management of trials
Extension worker:- advisors, trainers
Lead farmers: Trainers for other farmers, awarenes builders, on-farm: leaders of farmer managed trials/experiments, facilitators for learning groups

Other important information: Other stakeholders, e.g. input suppliers are also important and need to be involved at various stages and events

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused on SLM only

Build capacity among key stakeholders Change traditional practices to conservation agriculture practices Build strong local institutions (learning groups) Improve experimental skills Improve soil health

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: Soil erosion Soil fertility and -acidity Poverty / food security Lack of knowledge and skills Poor / weak local institutions

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	none	Farmers were interviewed during the informal semi-structured survey
planning	none
implementation	interactive	Lead farmers were part of implementing team; were responsible for farmer-to-farmer extension
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	Were fully involved in most monitoring and evaluation activities
Research	interactive	Lead farmers were responsible for farmer mangaed trials

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

Explain:

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by SLM specialists with consultation of land users

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

Form of training:

• demonstration areas
• courses

Subjects covered:

Conservation agriculture principles, communication, visionry, training, value adding

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Name of method used for advisory service: Multi-stakeholder process using action research; Key elements: Monitoring and evaluation / experiments, Training of farmers, Farmer-to-farmer extension

Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; Have been empowered quite successfully with project

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

bio-physical aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: Soil health

technical aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: Conservation agriculture principles adopted

socio-cultural aspects were regular monitored through observations; indicators: Changes in SKA

economic / production aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: Yield & gross margin

area treated aspects were regular monitored through observations; indicators: Area

no. of land users involved aspects were regular monitored through measurements; indicators: Number of farmers trained

management of Approach aspects were None monitored through measurements; indicators: Number of farmers using tools for adaptive management

There were many changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: Monitoring and evaluation was the main methodology used to induce change to focus, improve and integrate project management. Land users learned to use monitoring and evaluation tools to improve their learning in groups as well as their adaptive management capacity.

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Action research through monitoring and evaluation; applied at different levels; used various tools and technologies to apply it. Action research was used to improve, focus and integrate project strategies

Research was carried out on-farm

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 10,000-100,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: government (LandCare programme,90%, Research programme 10%): 100.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

• agricultural

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

Comments:

Only labour on main trial was paid in cash, other was voluntary

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Have higher level of knowledge and skills (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Through experimentation, communication forums, field days, training courses)
Better contact with outside stakeholders - improved networks (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Frequent stakeholder forums)
Higher status of lead farmers and their groups (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Continuous contact and use of lead farmers' experience and capacity)
Improved food security through collective action (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Monitoring and evaluation of sustainable land management practices)
Improved communication between land users (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Frequent local action forums)

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Empower key stakeholders (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Frequent stakeholder forums / meetings / workshops)
Help people 'learn how to learn' (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Provide them with learning tools (monitoring and evaluation) and skills)
Promote a culture of adoptive management (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Build their capacity through monitoring and evaluation tools and processes)
Develop a capacity to experiment among farmers (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Facilitate and promote experiments through agricultural research)
Develop self-reliant local institutions and leadership (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Develop local capacity to lead and facilitate learning groups)

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Amt für Landwirtschaft und Natur des Kantons Bern LANAT, Ruetti, 3052 Zollikofen. Kanton Bern fördert Ressourcen schonenden Ackerbau.AGRARForschung 14 (3): 128-133, 2007

Available from where? Costs?

http://www.vol.be.ch/site/lanat-3155-mbressourcen.pdf