Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Practices in ... - Horizont3000

Tree planting: Trees are planted to demarcate the perimeter of the plantations and also to
interplant selected tree species. This practice is aimed at nutrient recycling to increase the soil
nutrients and mitigating deforestation in the area. It also aims to provide farmers with a variety
of fruits, fodder for livestock, fuel wood and timber for construction.
Clean gardening: For environmental conservation farmers have been taught how to keep their
surrounding clean by establishing rubbish pits which can be composited and recycled back
Pest and disease control: The project promoted integrated pest management, using cultural
practices and natural pesticides. This involves establishment of herbariums as source of raw
materials
1.6.3 Methodology
The methodology employed to promote SA by the project is training-of-trainers with close
follow-ups and a group-centred approach. A participatory approach was used to engage the
beneficiaries from the onset of the project. The methods applied are:
Training of Community Based Extension Assistants (CBEAs): Initially each group selects two
members to be trained in SA practices and act as group trainers. After this „test run‟ the
groups select two CBEAs, who were trained extensively by the project and passed on the
skills to their groups, under supervision and guidance of the project staff.
Group training: Farmers are organized in groups of about 30 members, brought together to
discuss and be trained by CBEAs in SA production techniques. On average the training of
farmers takes seven days. In order to ensure that farmers are adequately prepared for the
training, the discussion topics are given to the farmers a week before the training.
Demonstrations: Sustainable Agriculture techniques were demonstrated to farmers on
different fronts. This was done in form of training to CBEAs by the WASIP staff, secondly by
the CBEAs to their group members, and then by the experienced farmers and through other
exposure visits. This was one critical activity of the program. The main objective was to ensure
that the trainees get hands on experience and learn the technique practically.
Follow-up training: Following the group training and demonstrations by CBEAs, individual
farmers receive follow-up training support from the WASIP team on their respective farms. The
follow-up is intended to establish the level of adoption and identifying needs for additional
support or training.
Farmer-to-farmer skills sharing: Novice farmers visit other farmers who have excelled in the
adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. The method enables farmers to see production
methods at work and share innovations made by other fellow farmers.
Use of experienced farmers: In addition experienced farmers visit and stay some days with
new farmers, work with them and share.
Songs: Farmers compose songs to describe to their counterparts the sustainable agriculture
practices that they have adopted on their plantations. Through the songs farmers are able to
remember important concepts.
Competitions among farmers: This involves setting of implementation standards that the
farmers want to achieve. It involves farmers visiting each other‟s plantations to evaluate each
other and to advice. At the end of the set period the best farmers are given prizes.
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