| Farmer's Academy |
The Farmer's Academy is comprised of several individual projects, all of which have one main aim: to increase the livelihood security of farming communities through improved agricultural technologies. Farmers are targeted in all villages where CHEMA is active. The following pages provide more detail on specific projects:
Low External Input Sustainable AgricultureCurrent agricultural practices particularly on steep slopes have destroyed potentially fertile land. Mixed-crop farming and crop rotation must be encouraged and fully supported in order to curb all types of soil erosion. CHEMA is dedicated to providing trainings on soil fertility methods, including trench, vegetation, basket and boma composting, as well as green manuring with the use of mucuna, sunhemp, and canavalia. We also teach soil and water conservation measures such as contouring, terracing, measurement of the water table, and proper use of A-Frames and spirit levels. For small-scale farmers, CHEMA introduced systems of gardening like 9-maize-per-hole, double-digging to improve flow of air and water penetration, Mazimbuko bed, and mandala gardens for water collection. Integrated Plant Nutrition Management
There are two follow-up visits: After 2-3 months, a first follow-up to check if the farmer has actually kept up the suggested methods. If not, another training session is provided. If the first follow-up shows that the farmer had adopted the techniques, a second follow-up is made after 6 months to one year, to assess yield improvements. To that end, yields before and after adoption of the new techniques are compared. More recently, CHEMA has started to take pictures of fields and plants before and after adoption, to get a better documented comparison. Improving soil fertility can minimize the necessity for pest management simply by strengthening plants and thus improving their natural defence capabilities. Furthermore, techniques such as intercropping increase plant diversity which is an additional protection against pests. Therefore, before thinking about pest management, integrated plant nutrition management should always be considered. Integrated Pest ManagementAs part of integrated pest management, CHEMA recommends the use of resistant crop varieties and the following natural herbs/materials to be used as organic pesticides:
Seed Security ProgramIn CHEMA's fight to alleviate malnutrition, we set-up seed banks within the villages. We enhance farmers skills in crop seed conservation and their understanding on the genetics of plant resources, including in seed production, selection and storage. Our aim is to teach farmers how ensure future harvests and to promote the availability of improved cereal crop seeds at the majority of the farming community at the selected villages and groups.
Organic FarmingCHEMA has a strong committment to enhancing the market value of agricultural products by showing farmer's how their crops can become Ceritified Organic. We have trainings and register farmers annually, as well as provide external inspections to those farmers which are already certified. In cooperation with Matunda Mema Co. Ltd., we assist farmers export their fruits at fair-market value. By December 2005, a total of 61 farmers in Karagwe district alone were Certified Organic by IMO (Institute für Marktökologie). About 65% of these farmers are women.
Experience has shown that adoption rates are higher if women are trained along with men. Therefore, CHEMA likes to train couples. The first day of trainings comprise of a theoretical part and involves the whole group. At the end of the day, we move from theory to application for which the group members provide their plots/farm and the necessary materials or items. While the training is done at group level, follow-up is carried-out at each individual farm. If necessary, additional advice and even training is provided on-the-spot. Subsequent trainings are carried-out for group leaders only. These trainings take place at CHEMA headquarters and cover topics like leadership skills, record keeping, planning and maintaining enthusiasm of group members. The group leaders are responsible for keeping up with the monitoring forms and supporting CHEMA during follow-up. According to the Project Officers, the adoption rate of the techniques is very high. The most common and wide spread technique is trench and basket compost making.The positive effects on crop yields and plant development are visible and were proudly demonstrated to the evaluation team. Especially the rise of production on bananas as major food crop in Karagwe is important to the farming households. Women are benefiting most of the LEISA techniques since they are responsible for providing a sufficient and balanced diet to the family. Several LEISA farmers mentioned multiplier effects to neighbouring farmers who wanted to learn from them. Challenges
Organic farming demands special efforts from the farmers. Proper mulching, a sanitary environment that is free of plastic waste, batteries or other non-biodegradeable materials (even in the surrounding plots), regular application of techniques to increase soil fertility, integrated pest management and the exclusive use of organic pesticides in the whole farm are just some of the specific conditions to which organic farmers have to adhere. Some farmers may have difficulties to maintain this high standard. In general, the practices of organic farming match well with CHEMA’s objective of sustainable environmental management - but they may only prove to be sustainabile if farmers obtain a secure and real economic benefit compared to standard local markets. The economic viability of organic farming should be analyzed by examining the benefits acheived by those farmers who have already obtained certification. We need to develop a clear conception and strategy of promoting sustainable agriculture at village level - including defining entry and exit points for support. Read about our work with Matunda Mema on this Sustainet Report. |
There are different
technical possibilities for integrated plant nutrition management: mulching, green manure, organic manure, different
compost techniques (trenches for silviculture, baskets for horticulture),
intercropping or nitrogen-fixing plants. CHEMA staff visits a given farm in
order to decide, together with the farmer, which techniques are most
appropriate for the local situation. Then CHEMA staff will go through the methods together with the farmer; for
instance, they will set up basket compost or a demo plot together so that the
farmer gets first-hand experience.
Organic farming is very labor intensive and tends to be applicable only as small-scale. For example, Mandela gardens are suitable for farmers having only very
small plots/farms - which is not the case for most farmers in the CHEMA area. Also, organic farming techniques cannot be easily disseminated or practiced in a manner that conforms to all rules and regulations across-the-board. At Matunda Mema Co. Ltd., where we have a partnership to help them set-up dried-fruit exports, we have sometimes faced issues with solar dryers under
humid conditions. There is also a lack of incentive on the part of the group leaders to monitor activities or to transmit technological knowledge to other interested people in the village.