A low-cost participatory development approach for rice

cultivation in inland valleys

Sander Zwart, Worou SoklouAfrica Rice Center (Cotonou)

Felix GbaguidiCellule Bas-Fond (Porto Novo)

Assimiou Adou Rahim AlimiInstitut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique (Lomé)

This presentation will show an alternativeto ‘traditional’ investment projects for agricultural development of inland valleys

‘Traditional’ investments project develop:- Concrete structures including

canals, weirs, divers, etc.- Stone dams

Bottlenecks- Short project period - Slow process (tenders)- Low quality of works- No ownership = no maintenance

Requirements for sustainable implementation:- Strong farmers organization- Continued support (from extension agencies)- Land tenure arrangements- Access to credits and markets

AfricaRice development methodology

• Participatory• Low-cost• Easy to replicate

5 steps approach in which farmers are participating

1. Sensitization of farmers

2. Land clearing

3. Design of the system

4. System implementation

5. Rice cultivation

WUR – AfricaRice workshopCotonou, Benin, February 1, 2013

SMART-IV project:Countries: Benin and TogoPartners: ITRA (Togo), Cellule Bas-fonds (Benin)Ecology: inland valley rice productionTime: 2009-2014Donor: Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF) in JapanTarget: Establish demonstration sites

Facilitate adoptionAssess impactDevelopment of agricultural practices

2011 – development and demonstration sites

Parakou

Glazoué

Ouinhi

Kpalimé

Notsé

Kara

2012 – development and demonstration sites

Parakou

Glazoué

Ouinhi

Kpalimé

Notsé

Kara

2013 – development and demonstration sites

Parakou

Glazoué

Ouinhi

Kpalimé

Notsé

Kara

2013 – development and demonstration sites

Parakou

Glazoué

Ouinhi

Kpalimé

Notsé

Kara

GRED

farmersfarmers

The way forward

1. Long-term support and capacity building to farmers, extension staff and NGOs

2. Slow, step-by-step introduction of new agricultural practices and tools to farmers(participatory evaluation)

3. Strengthening farmer organization and linking them to the rice value chain(Multi-Stakeholder Platforms)

The way forward

1. Long-term support and capacity building to farmers, extension staff and NGOs

• Training package and discussion video being developed

• Trainings organized for field technicians, on the approach, but also sustainable introduction of field machinery (powertillers, mechanic weeders)

The way forward

2. Slow, step-by-step introduction of new agricultural practices and tools to farmers(participatory evaluation)

• Extension officer and field technicians are being trained in good agricultural practices

• Farmers in demonstration sites are exposed to GAP

• Farmers in demonstration sites participate in evaluation of mechanic weeders & powertillers

The way forward

Participatory evaluation ofmechanic weeders(Tanaka, 2013)

Ring hoe Straight-spike weeder

Cono weeder Twisted-spike weeder

Curved-spike-floating weeder

Dry soil (n=22) 1st 16 5 0 0 1 2nd 4 7 1 7 3 3rd 1 6 0 4 11 4th 1 3 2 9 7 5th 0 1 19 2 0 Wet soil (n=11) 1st 2 0 9 0 0 2nd 8 0 1 0 2 3rd 0 5 1 4 1 4th 1 4 0 1 5 5th 0 2 0 6 3

The way forward

3. Strengthening farmer organization and linking them to the rice value chain

Multi-Stakeholder Platforms to link producers to input dealers, rice buyers/millers, banks, extension services