mca mozambique newsletter - Millennium Challenge Account ...

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT MOZAMBIQUE
farmer income supporT project
community meetings
One of The objectives of The Farmer Income Support Project is to
promote active community sensitization and surveillance of CLYD in
line with the community strategy and to facilitate sustainable community
reporting of new outbreaks. Last year, the project continued
to focus on public outreach for building community awareness of
CLYD and Oryctes Prevention and mitigation strategies in the epidemic
zone 6, project messaging through various channels including
a weekly radio program and school-based education, and promotion
of the BDF.
A total of 2,333 community CLYD and Oryctes awareness meetings
were conducted by trainers across the eight participating districts
of Nampula and Zambezia with approximately 43,406 participants
attending. The meetings were attended by government representatives,
community leaders, and community members. The meetings
focused on the evolution of CLYD, CLYD awareness, recognizing the
warning signs of CLYD, and the importance of sustained community
monitoring of trees to prevent further spread of CLYD.
Quarter
CLYD & ORYCTES Awareness Meetings
Meetings
Held
Total Men Women
5 622 11,330 6,692 4,638
6 892 14,251 8,484 5,767
7 424 10,578 6,271 4,307
8 395 7,247 4,645 2,602
Adoption of Control Measures for Pests and Disease (Epidemic)
In 2011, the FISP Service provider conducted 2,333 sensitization
meetings to transfer knowledge about CLYD and Oryctes with more
than 40,000 people in the epidemic zone, led primarily by Village
Surveillance Brigades members. In September 2011, evaluation of
adoption of control of pests and disease measures in the epidemic
zone (measuring understanding and adoption of knowledge on
CLYD and Oryctes mitigation techniques based on the sensitization)
indicated that based on the criteria for adoption 23% of respondents
were compliant with the definition. Within the subcategories, 100%
of respondents participated in the identification of trees affected
with CLYD by informing local VSB members and 82% of respondents
were able to list the symptoms of CLYD (premature fruit falling,
death of young flowers, and tree yellowing). The results indicate
that project recipients are successfully receiving the message about
CLYD mitigation through various communication channels (radio
programs, awareness meetings, school assemblies and Madal felling
activities). The adoption survey also indicated that epidemic zone
respondents were less active in managing Oryctes actively (44%) or
identifying the different stages of damage to the trees from the Oryctes
beetle (73%). Additionally respondents scored low in the area of
active control of CLYD (30%) however, it is unclear if the respondents
had any trees affected during the period and this low score is contributing
to the low observed rate.
Community Feedback Forum Activities
As of the end of 2011, 48 feedback forums were facilitated in the
eight project districts. The feedback forums were established as a
context in which communities could air grievances and mediate conflicts.
Although there were issues in the first year of the project regarding
ownership of the coconut seedlings, last year no conflicts
were registered by the feedback forums. It is noted that some of the
feedback Forums are active in certain districts and inactive in others.
In 2012, during field visits the social teams will continue to check in
with the feedback forums during community visits to identify and
track conflicts arisingwith project implementation.
CLYD Awareness through Schools
In 2011 awareness meetings on the effects of CLYD in 82 schools in
the epidemic zone across 4 project districts (Angoche, Maganja da
Costa, Moma, and Pebane) took place. As part of the visits, teachers
and students were taught the background and threat of CLYD
and the need for mitigation, posters identifying CLYD symptoms
were posted in schools, and educational materials were distributed
for teachers to incorporate information on CLYD in classes. 8 primary
schools participated in a drawing competition as part of a promotion
conducted on International Children’s day in June after receiving
instructions about CLYD. The theme for the competition was “CLYD
Awareness and Impact” and approximately 480 children participated
(2 schools each in the 4 districts). Winners received backpacks, exercise
books, and pens. This year the program will work in the remaining
4 districts of Chinde, Inhassunge, Nicoadala, and Namacurra. An
evaluation of the school interventions will be conducted in August of
2012. If the results are positive, material will be designed for use by
teachers that can be continued after the Compact.
Community Radio Broadcasting
In conjunction with Radio Mozambique, a radio program was produced
to facilitate project messaging in Zambezia.
The weekly program features a different theme focused at both the
district and community levels. The program conducts interviews and
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