(2021) Rapò Aktivite Teknik - Pwojè « Pwojè Sipò pou Ranfòse CRDDM » (PARC)

1 PROJECT « PROJET D’APPUI AU RENFORCEMENT DU CRDDM » (PARC) Activity Title : Technical Activity Report Award Number : 72052119FA00003 C/AOR : Reginald TOUSSAINT Quarter : July 01, 2021 - September 30, 2021 Fiscal Year : 2020-2021 Date Submitted : October 2021 Project Start Date : March 01, 2019 Project End Date : February 28, 2021 2 Table of Content Acronymes .................................................................................................................................................... 3 A. Project Description ................................................................................................................................ 4 B. Summary and Key Achievement Highlights......................................................................................... 4 C. Key Achievements ................................................................................................................................ 6 Result 1: Increase farm productivity ............................................................................................................. 6 Sub-result 1.1 Awareness raising and acquirement of new skills by farmers ........................................... 6 1.1.1- Supervision of plantain growers ................................................................................................. 6 1.1.2- Supervision of rice growers ........................................................................................................ 6 1.2- Supply of and access to improved technology increased .............................................................. 8 1.2.1-Multiplication of Bean seeds ....................................................................................................... 8 Result 2: Strengthen producer organizations participation in remunerative markets ................................. 10 2.1 Support for strengthening BIAs ...................................................................................................... 10 Result 3: Sub-watershed management improved ........................................................................................ 10 Sub-Result 3.1: Awareness and knowledge about sub-watershed management interventions and soil conservation practices increased ......................................................................................................... 10 Result 4: The capacity of the CRDD to provide technical assistance to farmers, to conduct applied research, and manage itself as an enterprise strengthened .......................................................................... 11 4.1- Commercialization of agricultural products ................................................................................ 11 G. Annexes............................................................................................................................................... 14 3 Acronymes AGCRDDM Association de Gestion du CRDD de Montrouis BIAs Boutiques d’Intrants Agricoles CGSBV Comité de Gouvernance de Sous Bassin Versant CRDD Centre Rural de Développement Durable MT/ha Metric ton per hectare EMMP Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plan IPTT Indicator Performance Tracking Table MEL Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning PARC Projet d’Appui au Renforcement du CRDDM USAID United States Agency for International Development SRI Système Riziculture Intensif (Intensive Rice Cultivation System) SRT Système Riziculture Traditionnel (Traditional Rice Cultivation System) SWMC Sub-watershed management committees 4 A. Project Description « Projet d’Appui au Renforcement du CRDDM (PARC) », implemented by the AGCRDDM and financed by USAID, is a three-year project that aims at increasing the capacity of AGCRDDM to build its capacity to deliver services to farmers and to become financially independent so it can sustain the delivery of those services over the long term. The AGCRDDM, whose mission is to conduct applied research, agricultural extension and training to farmers, is facing major constraints. Hence, PARC will support the AGCRDDM in fulfilling its mission within the Matheux Corridor. The interventions that will be implemented under this project will contribute to the following results:  Increase farm productivity;  Strengthen producer organizations’ participation in remunerative markets;  Improve the stabilization of the selected sub-watersheds;  Strengthen the capacity of the Rural Center for Sustainable Development (CRDD) to provide technical assistance to farmers, conduct applies research, and manage itself B. Summary and Key Achievement Highlights The CRDDM executes the PARC project in order to strengthen its capacity to become financially independent. The project provides support to the farmer associations, agricultural input shop and other local associations in order to reinforce also their capacity. During this period the activities were carried out on data collection in the production of bean seeds and maize seeds. Thereby, twenty (20) farmers were assisted at Goyavier on 6.45 ha of land in the production of bean seeds. the yield obtained was satisfactory, it was 1.1 MT / ha, much higher compared to the yield obtained in the baseline. During this quarter the CRDDM has supported the rice campaign and continues also to support the plantain farmers. Thus, 700 rice farmers were assisted on 335.12 ha of land and 300 banana farmers on 121.35 ha of land. The harvest was carried out for the rice plots and all the related data were collected. The yield obtained is more than double the yield that farmers used to get without technical support. It varied from 3.2 MT/ha to 4.5 MT/ha. The protection of watersheds is essential for the CRDDM, that’s why three nurseries sites were set up during the previous quarter in order to continue with 5 the reforestation activity. During this period, 9479 seedlings were distributed and planted by the various beneficiaries in two (2) sub-watersheds: Délugé / Bois neuf and Bethel. Respectively 4,362 in the Deluge / Bois Neuf sub-watershed and 5,117 in Bethel. In order to strengthen the BIA on the remunerative market as well as to diversify its sources of income, the CRDDM acquired 430 bags of fertilizer: 214 bags of urea and 216 bags of complete fertilizer in order to put the fertilizer available at the level of the BIA. The amount generated by the sale of fertilizers was estimated at 1,289,350.00 HTG. During the next period, the following key activities will be carried out: Training of 75 growers on integrated pest management (IPM) and soil fertility; Working on an Exit strategy for the CRDDM , Production of 3 ha of corn seed, Training of maize seed multiplier planters, Training of bean seed multiplier growers, Monitoring and collect of information on the plantain campaign, follow-up on seedlings planted during previous years, distribution and planting of seedlings in Goyavier, marketing of chemical fertilizer 6 C. Key Achievements During this quarter, the following activities were carried out at each component level thanks to the efforts made despite certain difficulties encountered: Result 1: Increase farm productivity Sub-result 1.1 Awareness raising and acquirement of new skills by farmers 1.1.1- Supervision of plantain growers During this period, the CRDD continues to support the plantain value chain. Among the plots of the previous campaign, 300 farmers are assisted on the area of 121.35 ha of land for a second harvest. This will allow us to compare the data of the first harvest with that of the second harvest to draw a conclusion. The monitoring is also carried out on six (6) demonstration plots established during the first campaign. The various performance results will be presented during the next quarter. Table 1- Number of farmers Assisted in banana disaggregated by sex and age The table below provides details on the number of farmers that are assisted during this period by the project disaggregated by sex and age, the number of hectares disaggregated by sex and age. Number of banana farmers Sex Age Number Area (ha) Female 15-29 5 1.76 30+ 13 3.82 Male 15-29 17 8.73 30+ 265 107.04 Total 300 121.35 1.1.2- Supervision of rice growers During the previous quarter, the CRDDM has supported the rice value chain in the aim to increase the production of the rice in the Matheux corridor. The intensive rice cultivation system was the new technology disseminated and popularized by the project. 700 farmers were assisted 7 on 335.12 ha of land. During this period, the CRDD collected data on the harvest for all the 700 rice plots and the 5 rice demonstration plots that were assisted by the project. Thus, the various results obtained are presented in the tables below: Table 2: Table of the average yield of the supervised plots and the demonstration plots Crop Plots Number Area (ha) Average Yield TM/ha Rice Supervised plots 700 335.12 3.2 Witness plots 5 0.25 3.4 Innovative plots 5 0.25 4.5 Before the agricultural campaign, a baseline for the yield of the different crops targeted by the project has been established. Thus, the average yield obtained for rice cultivation was 1.67 MT/ha. The technical support provided by the project to the various beneficiaries through the dissemination and popularization of new production methods and techniques, allows rice farmers to achieve a yield of up to 4.5 MT/ha. This is a 169% increase compared to the baseline. The yield was more than double and the highest yield was obtained on plots where the entire technical package popularized by the project was followed as shown in the table above. The results obtained in the 3 different categories of plots in the table above were due to the level of application of the technical package popularized by the project. In the supervised plots, the entire technical package was not followed by the farmers. The CRDDM set up demonstration plots in order to encourage famers to apply the new technology. These plots included two parts with equal area: a witness plot and an innovate plot. In the witness plot, the technical package was the same as in the supervised plot. The difference between the two exists in the maintenance of the plot. In the innovate plot, the entire technical package popularized by the project was followed. The planting distance was 25 cm x 25 cm. SRI demonstration plot rice threshing 8 Table 3- Number of rice farmers disaggregated by sex and age The table below provides details on the number of rice farmers that were assisted during this period by the project disaggregated by sex and age, the number of hectares disaggregated by sex and age. Number of farmers Sex Age Number of farmers Area (ha) Female 15-29 17 4.94 30+ 198 99.14 Male 15-29 26 8.98 30+ 459 222.07 Total 700 335.12 1.2- Supply of and access to improved technology increased 1.2.1-Multiplication of Bean seeds Access to quality seeds is one of the main constraints for farmers in the Matheux corridor for the exploitation of their plots. To alleviate the problems of good quality seeds that the farmers are confronted in the Matheux corridor, the CRDDM continues to support the farmers in the production of good quality seeds. Therefore, during the previous quarter 6.45 ha of land of bean seeds were produced at Goyavier following an input credit approach to the farmers. The harvest and the reimbursement of the credit were done during this period. The total production obtained was 7.1 MT for a yield of 1.1 TM/ha. The table below provides details View of two bean Plots established at Goyavier 9 Table 4 – Table of bean seeds farmers of goyavier disaggregated by sex and age The following table provides information on the number of farmers who received project support in the production of bean seed disaggregated by sex and age, the area disaggregated by sex and age. Beneficiaries Sex Number of beneficiaries Age Area (ha) Total production (TM) Yield (TM/ha) Male 16 30+ 5.2 Female 4 30+ 1.25 Total 20 30+ 6.45 7.1 1.1 1.2.2- Multiplication of maize seeds Also in the context of facilitating access to good quality seeds, during the previous period, 0.25 ha of maize seed has been produced by the CRDDM through the project. This corn seeds will facilitate the multiplication of this high-yielding variety of maize in the area. The yield was 1.8 MT/ha. Table 5- The table below provides detail about the maize seeds: Crop Area Production MT Yield MT/ha Corn 0.25 0.45 1.8 1.3- Adoption of new technology increased During the previous period 700 rice farmers received technical support from the project. Among these farmers, many of them adopt the technical package disseminate and popularize through the project. The table below provides the list disaggregated of the farmers who applied the technical itinerary in the rice crop. 10 Table 6: List of farmers disaggregated by sex and age applying the technical itinerary Sex Age Number of beneficiaries applying the technical itinerary Female 15-29 3 30+ 93 Male 15-29 6 30+ 165 267 All told, 267 farmers (96 females and 171 males) applied the new technical package disseminate by the project. Result 2: Strengthen producer organizations participation in remunerative markets 2.1 Support for strengthening BIAs In order to support the strengthening of the Agricultural Input Shops (BIA), the CRDDM in its strategy aims to put available at the level of these BIA the good quality products where the farmers can buy and allow the BIA to make profit. The 430 bags of fertilizer (215 bags of complete fertilizer and 215 bags of urea fertilizer) bought by the CRDDM in the previous quarter, were sold during this period to BIAs to facilitate supply by planters in the Matheux Corridor and also to allow BIAs to strengthen their participation in the remunerative market which consists in strengthening their economic activity. . Farmers in the area also purchased bags of fertilizer from CRDDM This activity will also allow the CRDDM to diversify its economic activities. Therefore, the CRDDM will continue to make the bags of fertilizer available in its premises for the farmers in the area as well as the BIAs. With the total stock sold, the CRDDM will renew its stock for this winter campaign in the Matheux corridor. Result 3: Sub-watershed management improved Sub-Result 3.1: Awareness and knowledge about sub-watershed management interventions and soil conservation practices increased 11 Distribution and planting of seedlings: During this period, 9479 seedlings were distributed and planted by the various beneficiaries in two (2) sub-watersheds: Délugé / Bois neuf and Bethel. Respectively 4,362 in the Deluge / Bois Neuf sub-watershed and 5,117 in Bethel. These seedlings have been bagged during previous periods. The distribution was made according to the need of the area. The table provides relative information is in annex . Result 4: The capacity of the CRDD to provide technical assistance to farmers, to conduct applied research, and manage itself as an enterprise strengthened 4.1- Commercialization of agricultural products During the previous quarter, the CRDDM procured 430 bags of fertilizers in order to market them to the BIA and other growers in the area. Contact has been made with the BIAs to recuperate the bags of fertilizer but they have not yet recuperated their fertilizers. For this period, the fertilizers were recuperated and the CRDDM marketed all the bags of fertilizer purchased during the previous period. Thus, the 214 bags of urea and 216 bags of complete fertilizer were sold for an amount of 1,289,350.00 HTG. The table below provides details 12 Table 7: Marketing of agricultural products and inputs Products Quantity (bag) Purchase Sale Earnings Urea fertilizer 214 615 168.75 630 550 15 381.25 complete fertilizer 216 640 001.25 658 800 18 798.75 Total 430 1 22 5170 1 289 350 64 180 D- Collaboration and Synergistic Results The project is based on the proper involvement of local actors for its proper implementation. Indeed, through this project, associations regularly participate in decision making. As they have a better historical, sociological and ecological knowledge of the area, they are always invited to participate in meetings to decide on actions to be taken such as planting trees, the ravines to be treated, etc. On the other hand, local authorities (CASEC), and the BAC of St. Marc also participate in decision making and thus directed the interventions to the real problems. To date, there is good cooperation; no problems are still occurring with project stakeholders. E. Continuous Learning and Adaptation and Challenges Land conflicts have been, for several years, a repetitive issue in the Montrouis area. These conflicts have had major consequences on the PARC project. Several times, armed individuals create panic at a few meters from the CRDDM office. This period was above all marked by general panic in the Montrouis area due to land conflicts because of individuals armed of locality pyat who claimed most of the land in the area and even the premises in the center. The AGCRDDM had received a warning that these armed individuals had entered the premises. Such a situation greatly reduced the activities of the project because during this time the center was really not functioning. Only field activities could be undertaken with the help of extension agronomists. Several activities planned during this period were postponed to the following period 13 F. Planned Activities During the next quarter, the project proposes to carry out the following activities:  Production of 3 ha of corn seed  Training of 75 growers on integrated pest management and soil fertilization and fertility  Training of maize seed multiplier planters  Training of bean seed multiplier growers  Monitoring and collect of information on the plantain campaign  Follow-up on seedlings planted during previous years  Distribution of seedlings in Goyavier  Marketing of chemical fertilizer 14 G. Annexes I. Annex 1 - Indicator Table 15 II. Annex 2 - Financial Table 16 III. Annex 3 - Communications and Success Stories During this quarter, none of these activities were carried out due to the land conflict in the Montrouis area. The people of “Pyat”, armed bands, sowed panic in the area. Even the people who live in the area left their homes to take refuge in places that did not endanger them. It should be noted that AGCRDDM received a summons that "pyat" took possession of to the local of the center. As a result, several planned activities were not carried out because during this time the center was closed pending the decision of the people concerned. IV. Annex 4 - Quarterly Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Report, if applicable The Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring plan that has been approved since the start of the project is still considered and applied on every quarter. During this period:  The supported plots were all lands designated for agriculture in the aim to discourage and actively prevent the conversion of existing natural forest lands to agricultural land  The pesticides used complied with the approved Mission-Wide PERSUAP  Activities of community outreach on environment were conducted.  Conformation that noninvasive species are not being used  Nurseries were established where water was easily accessed.  For the products, the packaging used had no impact on the environment V. Annex 5 - Quarterly Shock Response Contingency Planning Report, if applicable During this quarter, there is not really a contingency planning in shock response to, however, measures have been taken in the face of the panic situation affecting the entire area and in particular the CRDDM:  Technical and administrative staff work remotely, they communicate with each other very often by telephone  Field activities were coordinated remotely with field agronomists  The resumption of activities was done timidly until the situation became calmer. 17 VI. Annex 6 - Summary of Key Achievements Highlights in French Le Centre Rural de Développement Durable de Montrouis (CRDDM) exécute le projet PARC afin de renforcer sa capacité à devenir financièrement autonome. Le projet apporte un soutien aux associations d'agriculteurs, aux boutiques d'intrants agricoles et à d'autres associations locales afin de renforcer également leurs capacités. Au cours de cette période, les activités ont été menées sur la collecte de données dans la production de semences de haricots et de semences de maïs. Vingt (20) agriculteurs ont reçu le support du projet à Goyavier sur 6,45 ha de terres dans la production de semences de haricot. Le rendement obtenu était satisfaisant, il était de 1,1 MT/ha. Ce rendement a été bien supérieur au rendement obtenu par les planteurs avant le projet qui est inséré dans la ligne de base. Au cours de ce trimestre, le CRDDM a soutenu la campagne rizicole et continue également avec l’encadrement technique des producteurs de banane plantain. Ainsi, 700 riziculteurs ont été assistés sur une superficie totale de 335,12 ha de terres et 300 bananiers sur 121,35 ha de terres. La récolte de toutes les parcelles de riz a été effectuée et toutes les données y relatives ont été collectées. Le rendement obtenu est plus que le double du rendement que les agriculteurs obtenaient sans assistance technique. Il variait de 3,2 T/ha à 4,5 T/ha. La protection des bassins versants constitue un élément primordial pour le CRDDM, c'est pourquoi trois sites de pépinières ont été mis en place au cours du trimestre précédent afin de poursuivre l'activité de reboisement. Durant cette période, 9479 plantules d’arbres fruitiers et forestiers ont été distribués et plantés par les différents bénéficiaires dans deux (2) sous bassins versants : Délugé / Bois neuf et Béthel. Respectivement 4 362 plantules dans le sous-bassin Délugé / Bois Neuf et 5 117 plantules à Béthel. Afin de renforcer la capacité des BIA sur le marché rémunérateur ainsi que de diversifier ses sources de revenu, le CRDDM s’est approvisionné de 430 sacs d'engrais dont 214 sacs d'urée et 216 sacs d'engrais complet afin de mettre l'engrais disponible au niveau des BIA. Le montant généré par la vente d'engrais a été estimé à 1 289 350,00 HTG. Au cours de la prochaine période, les activités suivantes seront entreprises : la formation de 75 producteurs sur la lutte intégrée des pestes et la fertilité et fertilisation des sols, un plan stratégique de sortie pour le CRDDM après le projet, la Production de 3 ha de semences de maïs, la formation des planteurs multiplicateurs de semences de maïs, la formation des planteurs multiplicateurs de semences de haricot, le suivi et la collecte d'informations sur la campagne de 18 plantain, le Suivi sur les plantules mises en terre au cours des périodes précédentes, la distribution et la plantation de plantules à Goyavier ainsi que la commercialisation d'engrais chimiques. . VII. Annex 7 - Additional Documents SRI demonstration plot Training of farmers