Desire for Greener Land

Impacts of the Approach
Improved sustainable land management: Yes, a large impact.
Adoption by other land users / projects: Yes, many. All projects of MDR (Ministry of Rural Development) adopt this approach.
Improved livelihoods / human well-being: Currently, the Cape Verdean agriculture presents a significant improvement over the
previous decades as well as irrigated agriculture. As for rainfed agriculture, a lot of agricultural land has been reclaimed or created.
However, cereal yields have increased only slightly due to the high variability of rainfall, low soil fertility and water erosion. However,
the irrigated sector recorded year after year very positive results due to the improvement in the provision of surface water (with tanks,
dams, etc.), the introduction of new irrigation techniques (drip irrigation), capacity building of farmers and increasing demand for
garden products. These findings have resulted in a significant improvement in farmers' income and their living conditions in a general
form.
Improved situation of disadvantaged groups: All shares of capacity building are oriented to both men and women and also young
land users. However, the status of some women as household heads limits sometimes their participation.
Poverty alleviation: Capacity building campaigns have played a role in the notorious burden of poverty. Many land users were able
to increase their income through increased agricultural output, working as stonemasons, security guard, etc.
Training, advisory service and research:
Training effectiveness:
Land users - good
SLM specialists - good
Agricultural advisor / trainers - good
School children / students - moderate
Politicians / decision makers - moderate
Advisory service effectiveness
Land users - excellent
Politicians / decision makers - moderate
Planners - good
Teachers - good
Technicians / conservation specialists - good
Land/water use rights: The approach moderately reduced the land/water use rights problems because managing multiple sources of
irrigation water is currently the responsibility of local farmers organized in association.
Long-term impact of subsidies: Positive long-term impact – greatly / negative long-term impact - none
Main motivation of land users to implement: The implementation of actions and works of soil and water conservation is a source of
income for farmers and especially the poorest farmers and women as unemployed heads of households. For several years the
implementation of these actions against desertification and land degradation were achieved through local associations of farmers
under contract. These associations received technical support from the Ministry of Rural Development, especially for certain works
such as small dams and other waterworks.
SLM: Sustainability of activities: The involvement and empowerment of community-based associations in the implementation of rural
development actions intended to ensure the sustainability of these actions. Thus, the handling and monitoring of short- and mediumrange
actions are in the hands of intervention associations. In contrast, far-reaching actions such as hydraulic works are the
responsibility of the State regarding their handling.
Concluding statements
Strengths and how to sustain/improve Weaknesses and how to overcome
The approach works with existing decentralized bodies (central
government, municipalities or local governments, MDR delegations)
Strengthen human, financial and material resources of these entities.
Create synergies and boost communication between these entities.
Creation of multidisciplinary teams The monitoring system of
measures and actions to conserve and protect natural resources
should be provided by a representative and multidisciplinary team.
Involvement of community associations and NGOs in the approaches
implementation NGOs as community representatives are
spearheading the fight against desertification and the conservation of
natural resources. Their effective involvement requires, among other
things, to understand not only their needs but also the priorities of their
requirements.
Active participation of stakeholders in the process The
sustainability of participation requires a particular form of involvement
that happens through the enhancement of their knowledge but also
through actions or measures of small and medium size which are
carried out by them through a fair and proper contract.
Established land tenure system could not be solved with the approach
The church should be more integrated in the land problems, because it
owns a large part of agricultural lands.
The high rural poverty could not be tackled sufficiently More dynamic
programmes against poverty are required
Santiago is still the most favoured island benefiting from the approach
compared with others Programmes should be more integrated
Weak exchanges (knowledge) between the land users of the various
islands Create a fund able to support the exchange of knowledge
between the land users of the main agricultural islands
A slow process between the consultation and identification phases and
the implementation Reduce this time
Not enough financial resources to solve the agricultural problems of the
land users Reinforce the synergies and dialogue between the rural
development programs and projects
Key reference(s): And Emilia, V., 1995. Diagnostico inicial junto da comunidade. Volume II, Guia Para o Formador. Minstério de Agricultura-Projecto
GCP/CVI/032/ITA “ Consolidação das actividades do Centro de Formação de São Jorge”, pp 99.
Contact person(s): Jacques de Pina Tavares, INIDA-MDR, jacques.tavares@gmail.com; Amarildo dos Reis, INIDA-MDR areis@inida.gov.cv
204 DESIRE – WOCAT Desire for Greener Land