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

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

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

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

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

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

CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture) - Kenya

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

28/01/2023

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

Promoting mucuna seed processing for food and nutrition security and income generation encourages women farmers to plant mucuna as a cover crop that improves soil productivity.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean) is tropical legume that is widely known for its ability to rehabilitate soils by increasing organic matter. Unlike many other legumes of the bean family, mucuna seeds (beans) are not very palatable. In addition, raw and unprepared mucuna beans can cause severe digestive disorders. However, due to its emerging health and economic benefits, many farmers are now adopting the crop. Consequently, the crop is simultaneously helping in soil conservation by controlling soil erosion and improving soil structure alongside suppressing weeds.

Promoting the economic benefits of mucuna through value addition is a key factor in ensuring farmers adopt mucuna as a conservation agriculture crop. Mucuna value addition involves various stages of beans preparation/ treatment aimed at reducing the potential of L-DOPA toxicity. The ProSoil project promoted the uptake of mucuna as a green manure cover crop by training farmers on mucuna bean value-addition. In Matungu area of Kakamega County, Kenya, the ProSoil project partnered with a local farmer-based self-help group, Tunza Udongo Self Help Group [‘tunza udongo’ is a Kiswahili phrase for ‘take care of the soil’] which facilitated the convening women farmers. The project facilitated specialists in mucuna value addition from the Ministry of Agriculture who trained the farmers.

To spread this approach, the trained farmers train other farmers. In addition to the training in mucuna value-addition, the farmers were informed about the ecological and economic importance of mucuna and its propagation. The ProSoil project (GIZ and WHH) and Ministry of Agriculture invite the farmers to events such as farmer field days where they can exhibit different products from mucuna, network, and link up with potential markets. On the other hand, Tunza Udongo Self Help plays an important role in collective marketing.

One aim of promoting mucuna value addition is to increase its uptake by farmers as a green manure cover crop which is an important measure in conservation agriculture. Mucuna beans preparation is a domestic chore equivalent to other chores that are traditionally performed by women. Consequently, the entire farming household benefits from the income from the sale of mucuna products (skin free beans, flour, beverage, and baked products). The prices of these products vary in time and space depending on the availability of and demand for the products. However, the average prices are KES 100.00 per kg of skin free beans, KES 120.00 per kg of flour, and KES 150.00 per kg of beverage. Farmers also sell unprocessed mucuna beans as seed at KES 100.00 – 200.00 per kg depending on the availability of, and demand for, the seeds.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.4 Videos of the Approach

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

To increase its farmers' uptake of mucuna as a green manure cover crop which is an important measure in conservation agriculture.

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	self-mobilization	Farmers involved in the training on mucuna value addition.
planning	interactive	Farmers consulted on where and when to conduct trainings and demonstrate mucuna value-addition.
implementation	self-mobilization	Each farmer processes his/ her own mucuna and decides on whether or not to sell the surplus products. Farmers look for their own markets. GIZ and Welthungerhilfe may link farmers to potential buyers.
monitoring/ evaluation	passive	Interviews with implementing farmers.
	none

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 what products to produce from mucuna were made mainly by land users supported by SLM specialists.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users
• field staff/ advisers

• Agriculture extension officers from the county department of agriculture

If relevant, specify gender, age, status, ethnicity, etc.

Both men and women farmers, agriculture extension officers from the county department of agriculture, and project field staff (GIZ and WHH) were trained on mucuna value addition. The women constituted over 75% of the farmer trainees.

Form of training:

• farmer-to-farmer
• demonstration areas
• courses

Subjects covered:

1. Agronomic practices for mucuna
2. Harvesting and post-harvest handling of mucuna beans
3. Processing of mucuna beans
4. Value addition to mucuna beans
5. Packaging of mucuna products
6. Marketing of mucuna products

Comments:

Welthungerhilfe facilitated a consultant to train of agriculture extension officers from the county department of agriculture, especially agroeconomists. The trained officers later trained the farmers in groups. The trained farmers have been training other farmers through farmer-to-farmer peer learning approach.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

• Specific locations where the farmers interact with the technical officers

Describe/ comments:

Technical officers advise farmers at their homesteads whenever they visit them. Meetings are held on needs basis between farmers and the technical officers where pieces of advice are given to farmers.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, a little

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

Farmer groups, groups promote farmer-to-farmer peer learning.

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training

Give further details:

Knowledge on how to market their products.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

The ProSoil project (GIZ and Welthungerhilfe) and the County Department of Agriculture regularly follows up with farmers to check on the implementation of technologies promoted under this approach through annual surveys involving key informant interviews (KII), focus group discussions (FGDs), and household surveys.

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

No

Comments:

This documentation in intended for keeping a record of SLM technologies and approaches.

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

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):

Costs met by GIZ ProSoil project and included facilitation of transport to farmers (25 farmers) and trainers and remuneration to trainers. Other costs include support to farmers to purchase mucuna seeds.

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

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

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

Welthungerhilfe supported the farmers (through their group) with mucuna seeds.

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

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

• voluntary

Comments:

Farmers voluntarily provided labour at the demonstration plot.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

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

• yes

If yes, describe how:

Farmers produce their own mucuna seed and use the surplus beans as food or process them into different products. Mucuna is a perennial crop and farmers are able to retain it in the farm for more than one season. The farmers are also motivated to continue planting mucuna and producing different products for sell.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
It is an income generating activity.
Keeps people busy at home while at the same time generating income.
Mucuna has several health benefits.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Improves livelihoods of the land users.
Yields are often high. Hence, the beans for value addition are available.
Growing market due to increasing awareness about the value of the crop.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Labour intensive	Commitment and proper planning of farm work.
A lot of fuel required to boil the beans.	Farmers to incorporate agroforestry trees at their farms as a source of firewood.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Consumption rate is low due to its low palatability. At the same time, it is consumed in small quantities.	Expand the market through market research.
Fear of L-DOPA poisoning.	Increase awareness about processing mucuna before consumption.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Promoting Mucuna Beans Production for Soil Rehabilitation, Incomes, Food and Nutrition Security in Kenya, by Mary Stella Wabwoba and Kenneth Mutoro, 2019, ISSN: 2644-2981

Available from where? Costs?

Free download at https://irispublishers.com/gjnfs/fulltext/promoting-mucuna-beans-production-for-soil-rehabilitation-incomes-food-and-nutrition-security.ID.000543.php

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Processing of Mucuna for Human Food in the Republic of Guinea

URL:

https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/939/93911288020.pdf