07imrw-5064 - Projet d’Augmentation de Revenue Agricole et Protection de l’Evironment pour led habitants du district de Gicumbi PARAPEGI.
Project background and Rationale Project context The project will operate in Rwanda, North Province, Gicumbi district and will share IMPUYAKI cooperative central office located in the sector of Kaniga. At present IMPUYAKI Cooperative will start agricultural intensification and commercialization in four selected enterprises, dairy, beekeeping, wheat and Irish potatoes. However, agricultural production remains critically low. The cooperative has a dairy shop in Kigali where milk is bulked and sold. The cooperative have initiated saving activities amongst its members and following government policy is promoting soil protection activities through building of radical and progressive terraces and sensitization of members on prevention of HIV&AIDS pandemics The project will help in increasing cooperative production by reinforcing extension activity to members and introduce modern agricultural techniques for the selection of appropriate enterprises witch include improved cow breeds and milk production by use AI and feed production, modern beehives and honey processing and expand the radical terracing. A Community Base Line Survey will be carry out in the District especially in the sectors where IMPUYAKI cooperative operates. The project will cover a total of 2,500 households or 15,000 individuals including the 383 households’ member of IMPUYAKI cooperative and promote group formation among non members for future membership. The activities after having proved successful will be replicated in at least other three similar organizations working in other sectors in the district. Problem definition and analysis The greatest development challenges facing the Gicumbi District is its socio-economic and ecological problems, with a close correlation between poverty and environmental degradation. The low productivity of the agricultural sector is largely attributed to low and decreasing soil fertility. Approximately 75% of the total populations of 372,228 people who habit in the district live below the poverty line. Farmers are still to a large extension not well organized. They have limited access to extension services and marketing information or bulking facility. Participation and influence in decision making of members is low due to limited knowledge and information. Small-scale farmers continue to use rudimentary production techniques that are not environmentally friendly. Experience in marketing is limited and market driven strategies are lacking The gender imbalance in terms of participation in agricultural activities and decision-making poses a serious threat to rural development. Capacity building in farmers’ organization as well as in improved production techniques must target the women and youth if sustainable development is to be realized. The youth is an underutilized resource. An average of 8% of population is directly affected by HIV and Aids witch threaten the soico economic development in the district The analysis for the District is similar for the IMPUYAKI cooperative members whose main challenges encountered are summarized as follow: Project objectives, results, activities and budget Overall project objective. The overall project objective is \"To contribute to improve livelihoods and farm income through improved production, farm management, organization development and marketing and sustainable management of natural resources\". Output 1. Improved governance and management of the IMPUYAKI cooperative and partners’ organizations trough strengthening the capacity building of theirs members. Indicators: 75 % of the target group trained. At least 30% of female represented in the direction of organizations. At least 40% of youth and women accessing the IGAs One baseline survey conducted in the area Activities: Carry out organizational assessment (base line survey), Train on visioning and strategic planning, Train on leadership and advocacy, Train on gender issues, Awareness creation on family planning and Train on cooperative governance and membership Output 2. Intensification and development of sustainable production systems Indicators: 75% of target group using AF. 50% livestock farmers with increased production 100% using AI. 75% HH with pit manure. 50% HH using improved crops seed. 60% of HH with horticultural crops Activities: Facilitate in agroforestry techniques, Training, demonstration and study visits on modern animal husbandry specially bee keeping and diary, Training on modern crops production specially, Irish potatoes, wheat and horticulture production, Facilitating artificial insemination practice, Train and demonstration of the integrated pest management techniques and Training and demonstration in organic farming techniques Output 3. Improve the linkages between production and market Indicators: 75% of HH informed about markets issues. 30% of HH with increment in volume of marketable produces. 60% HH practicing FaaB. Activities: Capacity building on marketing of agricultural commodities, Training and demonstration on market information system, Train farmers on bulking and selling their agricultural commodities, Facilitate the setup of crop/livestock bulking points and storage facilities, Advertisement of the production and services delivered by the cooperative, Facilitate in participation in the national agricultural exhibition, Promotion of village saving and loan activities among farmers, Training on enterprise selection, business planning and entrepreneurs kills Output 4. Sustainable management of natural resources, particularly soil and water Indicators: 100% of member sensitized on environment protection issues. 75% of HH trained on soil and water conservation practices. 50% HH using practices. 70% HH with improved compost. 75% HH using improved stoves. Activities: Sensitize farmers on environment protection issues and training on radical and progressive terracing techniques, Avail seeds and establish agro forestry trees nurseries Facilitate agro forestry tree planting, Training on improved land management and crop rotation, Training and demonstration on improved compost making, Training on improved compost making and organic farming, Sensitize farmers on water harvesting techniques Output 5. Interventions for preventing and mitigating the effects of HIV/AIDS on member households adopted, developed and implemented. Indicators: 70% of members tested. 60% of HIV/AIDS positive with kitchens gardens. 75% of member organized in HIV/AIDS committees Activities: Organize and train an HIV/AIDS committee, Awareness creation on HIV/AIDS among all members, Facilitate VCT uptake among members, Avail first aid kits and condoms among members, Train infected members on alternate non heavy income generating activities adapted to their life conditions, Train on horticulture production and avail inputs to infected members, Train members on human nutrition, Support to studies of orphans and medical care to widows and widowers Expected Impact The project is a capacity building project that will empower farmer socially and economically through increased organization and enhanced production as a result of using improved techniques and inputs. Farmers, women and men, will organize themselves into modern, business oriented local level societies. Furthermore, the access to, and use of, market information will enable the farmers to get better prices for their produce. With increased incomes the members will support their organizations that will in turn deliver increased and better services. 6. Tentative funding and source of funding The planned cost for the project is estimated as follow: RWF SEK EUR Year 2007 : 8,000,000 100,000 11,000 Year 2008 : 20,000,000 250,000 27,500 Year 2009 : 28,000,000 350,000 38,500 Year 2010 : 24,000,000 300,000 33,000 TOTAL : 80,000,000 1,000,000 110,000 The source of funding could be 10 % IMPUYAKI cooperative, 15% Vi-LIFE Programme and 75% SCC AgriCord. Monitoring and Evaluation In the methodological and implementation modalities the efforts will be put in concrete step of participation, giving the members of the cooperative responsibility and ownership in the process of planning, monitoring and evaluation integrating modern tools of information and communication technologies. Continuous adjustments will be made during the course of the implementation with the purpose of enhancing efficiency and flexibility. Record keeping, as a method and an approach to promote commercial- oriented farming will be encouraged among the farmers. Sustainability, cost efficiency The strategy will consist in empowering the civic society organizations (associations, cooperatives, etc) local leaders and agriculturalists in many ways according to felt need which will be assessed periodically trough participatory problem analysis at farmers’ level. Participatory methodologies will be used throughout. The crosscutting issues of gender, youth and HIV/AIDS will be mainstreamed in the project, i.e. integrated into all aspects of planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. A division of roles and responsibilities between IMPUYAKI and Vi/LIFE Programme and partners will be decided so as to guarantee efficient project implementation where combined experiences from all stakeholders will be utilized. Linkages will also be established with SCC member organizations and other Swedish organizations in particular the Swedish Farmers’ Association (LRF) to exchange ideas and give support to the project. Assumptions and Risks Political stability remains. That the farmers will be willing to take up farming as a business venture and will be willing to respond to the recommended techniques. Sufficient resource base for visionary leaders will be there. The two main actors, IMPUYAKI cooperative and SCC Vi/LIFE programme and partners, will both contribute to the creation of a conducive environment for collaboration and partnerships