Overview
Our impact in numbers
In 2012–13, AACES helped improve the food security of over 33,000 people. More than:
- 26,000 households received farm inputs such as tools, seeds and livestock
- 30,000 households adopted new and improved agricultural technologies that will increase agricultural productivity
- 14,000 farmers joined farmer associations, which provided technical support, information and knowledge sharing
- 31,000 farmers accessed new or improved agricultural services
- 32,000 people learned about their rights to land, food and access to government agricultural services.
Despite improvements over the last two decades, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the highest prevalence of undernourishment, with one in four people estimated to be hungry.14 Rural households are the most affected. Contributing factors across Africa include rapid population growth, lack of agricultural investment, civil war, and agricultural dependency on the climate and environment. Inadequate access to land and agricultural technologies for smallholder farmers is also a significant factor.
Most farmers are women. Women also account for more than 80 per cent of household food production,15 yet they have less access than men to productive resources, services, technologies and information. People with disability are often forgotten when it comes to food security. This is despite the fact that the majority face enormous challenges such as not being able to till or retain access to and control over their land, as well as discrimination and stigmatisation. By ensuring that people with disability are not left behind, food security initiatives play a direct role in promoting sustainability, supporting human capital development, stimulating local markets, facilitating structural economic reforms and reducing inequality through redistribution. To address these issues, AACES is working with smallholder farmers to increase agricultural productivity and help them find other sources of income and savings.
In 2012–13, Plan International, Caritas, CARE, ActionAid and AFAP helped smallholder farmers by:
- providing agricultural support to smallholder farmers
- helping them to diversify their incomes
- providing information/platforms that helped them to better advocate for their rights.
Agricultural support to smallholder farmers
Highlights
Mozambique
With AFAP's support, 120 kitchen gardens were established. As a result, 621 farmers, including 22 people with disability, increased their incomes and had access to more nutritious food.
Ethiopia
CARE established 30 village savings and loans associations with a membership of 587 farmers (including 330 women farmers). Sixteen rural saving and credit cooperatives were registered, which helped members to mobilise savings and get credit from formal banking institutions. As a result, seven cooperatives (including 165 women) received financial credit to fatten livestock.
Uganda
Plan International helped people with disability to participate in food production by promoting the traditional practice of dava (community help), where community members offer labour to help people in need, which may include people with disability. Annah Chauke, who has a disability and who benefited from dava to weed her farm, says 'this made me feel loved and belonging to the rest of the community. It made me feel that I can do a lot of things with my community helping me.'
Malawi
Caritas' partner CADECOM supported 248 people with disability to participate in community development meetings. CADECOM ensured meeting venues were accessible and that 52 people with disability assumed office-bearing roles at various community committees. This was achieved by collaborating with the Ministries of Health, Education and Gender and Community Development, village development committees, the Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi and the Malawi Council for the Handicapped.
Kenya
ActionAid provided training and documentation for registration of three smallholder farmers' cooperatives involved in marketing farmers' produce and formulating policies to influence agricultural regulations. ActionAid also improved the collective negotiation skills and influence of women and men farmers by continuing to support 80 farmer field schools.
Program partners helped smallholder farmers to increase agricultural productivity through activities such as seed and fertiliser distribution, agricultural technical extension services and sharing of experiences and learning.
Input support, training and agricultural extension services
Many smallholder farmers work in remote rural areas where there is limited access to advice and training in farm production and techniques. In Malawi, AFAP's partner Concern Universal, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, facilitated 'Training of Trainers' for 60 workers in food production techniques and community-based management of water facilities and sanitation. The trainers will now train communities with a focus on practical aspects for immediate application of learning.
In Kenya, 71 people with disability participated in ActionAid's farmer field schools and junior farmer field schools. Activities were tailored to suit school members with different forms of disability. For example, alternative income-generating activities are offered to those unable to farm, included beekeeping, tree nurseries, weaving and hiring of tents and plastic chairs. ActionAid also linked a group with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), a semi-autonomous government agency, to advocate for their rights, including improved service delivery as well as employment opportunities.
Learning and innovation
A central strategy for improving food security in marginalised communities is supporting smallholder farmers to learn from each other. Over the year, AACES partners facilitated the formation of farmer field schools where farmers learned conservation and agriculture techniques to increase agricultural productivity. They also helped to provide agricultural support services and enabled women, including those with disability, to take up leadership roles in their communities.
ActionAid supported smallholder farmers in Kenya to participate in exchange visits, exposure tours, farmer field days and fairs to facilitate learning and sharing of experiences. ActionAid also established 10 junior farmer field schools for 300 school students to help teach the next generation of farmers. These students established various enterprises in their schools including rabbit rearing, fish farming, fruit tree orchards, tuber crops and tree nurseries. The schools have become popular training centres for neighbouring communities too, with more than 1000 parents getting involved to learn new agricultural techniques.
Through farmer field schools piloted by AFAP's partner CTDT in Zimbabwe, farmers received training in agricultural techniques, how to build food storage facilities such as granaries, and basic business principles. By providing community assets such as fenced gardens and granaries, AFAP also inspired more farmers to seek agricultural training and support. For instance, the introduction of baby marrow as a new crop at Kawere garden resulted in demand for additional agronomic advice on tending the crop.
CARE worked with selected and elected community members in Malawi to provide farmers with agricultural support services. The community-based agents reached 10,576 people, providing information on agronomy, gender equality, village savings and literacy. Farmers learned how to better manage harvested crops as well as how to provide nutritious meals for their families. For example, agents worked with farmers to promote the use of sweet potatoes mixed with dry fish and local vegetables to make a balanced nutritious meal - an alternative to maize, which is in short supply. To create awareness of the nutritious crop alternatives, 65 demonstration plots were planted with soya, beans, cassava and sweet potatoes. The community is now learning about modern farming techniques such as land preparation and management, irrigation, improved varieties of soya, beans, cassava and sweet potatoes, as well as post-harvest handling.
In many communities, almost all agriculture extension workers are men and few have been trained to provide the services and information that women smallholder farmers need. For instance, women are desperately short of secure and adequate land, basic tools and inputs, credit, extension services and technical advice, relevant research, and appropriate infrastructure and technology. In Malawi, AFAP's partner, Concern Universal, trained women as lead farmers to train both male and female farmers in improved agricultural practices and new techniques. This has significantly increased demand for agricultural extension services, particularly from women.
Helping smallholder farmers diversify incomes
Program partners improved communities' access to regular nutritious food by addressing underlying problems such as limited agricultural resources and inputs, which result in poor crop yields. They also supported farmers to diversify their sources of income by providing access to credit, which has helped them to pay for farm inputs, improve farming techniques and develop small businesses, allowing for greater participation in local markets.
Income-generating activities for women
AACES partners worked to improve the economic and social quality of life for marginalised rural women by providing opportunities for them to earn income from a variety of sources. They continue to support women through village savings and loans associations, which have become integral to strengthening women's activities in business, while diversifying their sources of income.
Through ActionAid's support, six village savings and loans associations in Uganda each saved 1.5 million Uganda Shillings (AUD652), while a further 38 farmer groups saved 10 million Ugandan Shillings (AUD4152) to put towards income-generating activities. The savings were made over the course of the year. Also in Uganda, ActionAid encouraged communities to include people with disability and other members of marginalised groups in the distribution of assets such as goats. Ninety-nine people with disability have participated in project activities, including 56 women.
CARE enabled 1519 female producers in Tanzania to improve their agricultural productivity by facilitating access to agriculture extension services and improved varieties of sesame and cassava. Farmers reported that the new sesame variety has produced double the yield of the previous variety. From a total of 421 kilograms of sesame seed distributed, farmers harvested a total of 12,770 kilograms, worth 27 million Tanzanian shillings (AUD17,719). As a result, farmers are looking for more land so that they can go into individual production without external support.
Plan International supported 475 women, including eight women with disability, in Kenya and Zimbabwe to form village savings and loans associations, enabling them to pool resources and generate income through activities such as baking, home agriculture and selling goods and produce. Women have used the income to pay for agricultural inputs, school fees, house construction and other household needs. They have also reinforced their confidence and position as decision-makers and income-earners within their households.
Conservation agriculture gave me a second chance at life
A little over five years ago, 63-year-old Margaret Zipata from Chimeta village in Malawi would harvest only three bags of maize from 0.2 hectares of land. With these few bags, she had to feed her family of eight for a year. Not surprisingly, she often ran out of food only a few months after harvesting her crop.
Being in a polygamous marriage with her husband, who was almost always absent, meant she had to work even harder to provide for her children and grandchildren.
'To survive these harsh times, I did a lot of casual work so I could buy food for my family. Sometimes I literally begged for maize from friends. Many times we went to bed on an empty stomach. Not surprisingly, people in the village mocked me,' Margaret recalls.
The insignificant harvest from her farm, coupled with the use of a labour intensive farming method, discouraged Margaret to cultivate her land and prompted her to work as a casual labourer instead. Fortunately for Margaret, AFAP's partner, Concern Universal, in collaboration with the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, was able to offer her training in conservation agriculture along with other farmers in her community.
The training involved laying tree and maize stems on the ground to form compost, thereby restoring soil fertility. It also taught participants about the benefits of planting vetiver grass at intervals in sloping fields and digging terraces to prevent soil erosion and conserve moisture.
After adopting these simple practices, Margaret says her farm now produces an average of 900 kilograms of maize each year, six times more than what she used to harvest. She now sells part of her surplus harvest to buy fertiliser and other basic necessities for the home.
'Other members in the community were sceptical and did not want to adopt conservation agriculture right away but now that they have seen tangible results of it in my field they approach me for advice. I gain a lot of satisfaction teaching them everything I have learnt, knowing that it will have a positive impact on their lives,' says Margaret. Because conservation agriculture is not as labour intensive as the conventional method, Margaret says she now has a lot of time left over to get involved in other income-generating activities, such as caring for her livestock and running small seasonal businesses.
Margaret is now a confident, happy woman who is proud of her achievements. Conservation agriculture has not only given her enough food for her family, but also an income, resilience, self-assurance and a standing within her community.
Advocating for the rights of smallholder farmers
The needs of smallholder farmers, particularly women and people with disability, are often not considered when it comes to policy, legislation, agricultural extension services and research. During the year, AACES partners developed the capacity of smallholder farmers and civil society groups to work together and engage with government on these issues. This resulted in strong and vibrant communities that are able to take collective action and participate actively in decision-making processes.
Promoting legal rights
In Mozambique, advocacy initiatives directed at various levels of government, facilitated by AFAP's partner, Concern Universal, and the Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted of Mozambique, encouraged disability-friendly policies. Due to the collaborative advocacy initiatives, 33 people with disability were included in government vocational training courses such as carpentry, sewing and construction free of charge. Also, the government supported 10 children to attend a special school for children with disability.
AACES program partners recognise that access to land is essential for women farmers to earn a living and feed their families. Plan International educated community members in Uganda, particularly women, about their legal rights regarding land. A total of 13,220 people (including 8053 women) attended the rights education sessions. Topics covered during the sessions included domestic violence, land rights, health rights for expectant mothers, inheritance rights and making a will, economic rights of women and people with disability, as well as rights in a family setting, including how to legalise a relationship to protect the rights of women. Women have identified significant improvements in their well being as a result of knowledge and legal services safeguarding inheritance entitlements, including the retention of land, housing and other properties.
Caritas' partner CADECOM supported communities in Malawi to lobby the Government to review the Game Reserve and Park Act following crop damage and the loss of life caused by animals from the nearby game reserve. As a result, a 10-member committee has been formed to continue advocating on this issue and to ensure people's rights to life, security and food production are not compromised.
Through the Farmer Reflect Group, ActionAid increased the collective influence of women and men farmers in Uganda. During the year, the 2791 members (2102 of whom are women) engaged with government duty-bearers in forums, where they articulated various agricultural policy and programming issues. The issues particularly related to the National Agricultural Advisory Service, a demand-driven service co-funded by the Ugandan Government. This resulted in women now feeling confident enough to speak in public and voice their concerns, as well as hold positions of leadership.
Challenges and opportunities
Failure to prioritise agriculture by the newly devolved county structure of the government in Kenya could result in under-financing of the sector. ActionAid has commissioned a study to estimate the percentage of resources allocated to agriculture in the project area. The outcomes of this study will be used to influence legislation and policy.
The outbreak of African swine fever in Malawi led to the loss of some pigs. AFAP's partner, Concern Universal, collaborated with key players including the Department of Agriculture, local leaders and communities on a response. This included awareness-raising meetings about the disease. As a result of this coordinated effort, further spread of the disease was prevented and no additional cases have been reported in the project area.
Supporting women in Ethiopia was a significant challenge for CARE as beneficiary lists generated by the Government list mostly men. However, CARE held a long consultative process with local government and community leaders on the importance of engaging women as the primary beneficiaries of the AACES project to improve household food security. This has led to a commitment from the Government to CARE's approach and CARE is now able to directly engage women in mixed households.
Food insecurity in Tanzania worsened after several years of drought, severely disadvantaging the community and limiting people's ability to participate in community development projects. Caritas addressed the problem through food security initiatives, including providing 100 marginalised households with drought-tolerant seeds.
14. FAO, The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2013
15. FAO, Women and Sustainable Food Security, 2011