For the first time ever, the MTCP2 Knowledge Management Fair will feature a PHOTO CONTEST. The following are photos showcasing various projects and activities supported by the MTCP2 Programme.
Go to our Facebook page to vote for your favorite entry! Voting ends October 21, 2018.
ORGANIC DRIED FISH PRODUCTION. In Bangladesh, there is a rampant use of hazardous pesticides in preserving sea fish. These chemical-coated fish are consumed by people all throughout the country and its byproducts are made into poultry feeds. Through MTCP2, four dry fish producer groups have been formed to produce dried fish without using pesticides. After going through theoretical and practical training on different eco-friendly methods of dry fish production, these groups are now producing dried fish organically. Not only is their income secured, but risks on their health have also been reduced, ensuring a healthy life for them. USING COMMUNITY RADIO TO ENHANCE FARMERS AND FISHERS’ CAPACITIES. Through MTCP2, regular radio pragrammes for the farmers and fishers are broadcasted via Radio Meghna, a community radio in Charfasson upazila in Bhola island, Bangladesh. Through the community radio, farmers and fishers are able to access information particularly on agriculture and fishing; linkages among farmers-fishers and service providers have been established; farmers-fishers receive regular weather updates as well as updates on the market situation; and, they are now well-informed about government decisions, rules, and laws.MTCP2 attracts young Indian women farmers to their agricultural roots by creating better livelihood opportunities. The journey of making the rural young farmer women of Pisavada Village in Gujarat accept and adapt to climate resilient agricultural practices and technological innovations has been challenging but the results have been heartening in terms of substantial increase in the quality and quantity of yield, strengthened livelihoods, fulfilment of nutrition requirement of a greater number of households, retention of soil nutrients, tech savvy farmer women, smart agricultural practices, climate preparedness, hike in agricultural revenue, a well set supply chain, sturdy cropping patterns, etc.Organic—the way forward for Indian farmers. Climate change, the increasing threat of pests, and the urge to multiply their agricultural produce has pushed many farmers towards the use of chemical pesticides in the past three decades. But these pesticides have an adverse effect on the environment, soil health and also on human beings. Under MTCP2, awareness on the benefits of using organic pesticides and trainings for preparing them have been provided. Consequently, a large number of farmers are now making bio-pesticides using cow dung, urine, neem, etc. leading to drop in input cost, better quality of produce and reduced risk levels.After the training, Shakuntalaben decided to sow paddy using the SRI Technique. She faced a lot of ridicule from her community for switching to modern farming techniques with the other farmers saying that her produce levels would be even lesser than before. But Shakuntalaben pushed through. It was a long process and she had to be extremely patient. Every step was new for her and she continuously needed to turn for guidance to Lucknow Mahila Sewa Trust, which provided full support in terms of answering her queries after consulting agri experts and providing soil, tools, equipment, and other requisite inputs, and calming her when the crops are delayed. Shakuntalaben’s efforts and patience paid off when her yield jumped by 60%, silencing the farmers who predicted the worst. In India, farmers spend eight months in the harsh salt pans in the Little Rann of Kutch braving the scorching rays of the sun and the spine chilling wintry winds often without basic facilities like clean drinking water, electricity or even a decent roof over their head. To help the community, SEWA stepped in to assist 1100 salt farmer women of Little Rann of Kutch with its Solar Pump Program which aims to reduce the cost incurred due to purchase of diesel, minimize the operational labour for the salt farmers, save the environment in terms of drop in air and noise pollution levels and sizeable reduction in use of electricity, and improve the socio economic life of the community.Grafting technique of propagation as practiced by farmer groups’ member of Toraja Coffee Farmer Union (PPKT). The technique is done to have better quality of coffee trees.A member of Asosiasi Masyarakat Tani Padi (AMARTAPADI) cleans the field where they practice rice seed propagation. (DesaJengkok, Indramayu, Jawa Barat, 03/08/17)A coffee farmer member of Sridonoretno sorting harvested coffee. (Malang Selatan, Desa Darungan, 08/16/17)Farmers drying rice which was harvested from the land they reclaimed from a state-owned forestry company. Many farmers were criminalized and imprisoned, but they still fight for agrarian reform. (Majalengka, Jawa Barat, Indonesia, 8/12/16)A female coffee farmer shows some of her Toraja coffee harvest. Toraja coffee is one of the best Arabica coffee from Indonesia, cultivated on 1,200 – 2,000 masl. Toraja Coffee Farmer Union (PPKT) produces 896.5 tons of coffee beans per year. The members work on 4.462, 5 hectares of land. Men and women farmer members of Indramayu Farmer Union in Indonesia work together to plant rice using the traditional technique. They successfully reclaimed a state’s abandoned land through years of fighting for it. Many farmers were criminalized and some of them even lost their life for this struggle. Now, the members of STI manage 18,000 hectares of land and they even receive support from local government.A LANDSCAPE THAT IS BEAUTIFUL AND RICH WITH RESOURCES. Landscape of a paddy field and plantation in North Toraja. Toraja is not only famous for its coffee–farmers here also produce other commodities such as rice, vegetables, cocoa, and durian.Traditional method of coffee roasting in Indonesia which has been practiced for centuries. (Prigen, Pasuruan. JawaTimur, Indonesia)Mr. Joharipin, leader of Asosiasi Masyarakat Tani Padi (AMARTAPADI), giving instruction to the participants of Organic Rice Field School. The participants here are members of Women Farmers Organization Binangkit. The field school provides lessons and learning for free. (Cianjur, Jawa Barat). AMARTAPADI is member of API.WOMEN’S SOVEREIGNTY ON SEED. One participant of collective learning with AMARTAPADI (Asosiasi Masyarakat Tani Padi), studying the growth of seed on AMARTAPADI’s paddy field. FOREST HONEY TASTING. With sustainable honey harvesting practices, farmers can now access Ujung Kulon National Park areas. Before, farmers had a conflict with the Forest Police and many of them were shot or imprisoned. After years of lobbying and advocacy, the government has even become a partner of honey collecting farmer groups. The forest honey is from Apis Dorsata, endemic bees in Ujung Kulon. The farmers organized under Ujung Kulon Farmer Union and HanjuangHoney Cooperative are members of API.A vegetable group in Paksong district established a youth group at the village level to have their own garden. Lao Farmer Network, the MTCP2 NIA is Laos, encourages its members to have youth program in their organization. Young and old farmers celebrate their first harvest of coffee together. Lao Farmer Network, the MTCP2 NIA in Laos, supports the coffee learning center development of Jhai Coffee Cooperative aiming to facilitate farmer-to-farmer learning.The national implementing agency of MTCP2 in Laos, Lao Farmer Network, supports Namphaeng Forest Management Group in Oudomxay province to improve management and marketing of their forest products.Lao Farmer Network, the MTCP2 national implementing agency in Laos, facilitates contract farming between rice producer group in Vientiane province and rice company in Vientiane capital.Women farmers of Laggala, Sri Lanka tend to their organic vegetable garden.Lanka Farmers’ Forum (LFF) introduced the local seeds preservation program to farmers in Sri Lanka. LFF gathered 20 families in the villages and they were taught with knowledge about preservation methods. Under the program, an endangered bean variety called “Sitti Murunga” was picked for cultivating. Fifty kilograms of this particular bean was cultivated in four hectares of land.PEASANTS’ CHEAP, EASY-DO-IT-YOURSELF DRIP IRRIGATION. The villagers in Don Lak Dam, Thailand use everything available at hand that can hold water for drip irrigation including plastic soft drink bottles, broken jars, plastic barrels, etc. to make the device that drip water at the trees.WOMEN’S SEED PARTY. Thai women bring food ingredients such as native and wild varieties of rice, vegetables, fruits, spices, herbs and fish, that they grow in and get from the farms, gardens, village, forests, mountains and rivers, to cook local dishes and eat together. In the party, the women talk about the ingredients of their dish: the taste, the medicinal benefit, how, when and where to grow, how to cook them as well as their role and rights to protect the food and the community agrarian resources. They also bring seeds of native and wild food plants for exchange at the party.Clothes, bags, and accessories made by women farmers in Thailand sold in a bazaar.A woman farmer from Timor Leste happily shows their corn products.Vanuatu women farmers carrying their newly harvested crops.SUSTAINABLE COFFEE PRODUCTION. With support from MTCP2 program as well as the engagement of local authorities, coffee farmers of Lam Dong province, Vietnam have been provided with knowledge and capacity-building on business planning, market research, marketing, cooperative development, joined exchange visits to successful cooperative/cooperative models in and outside the province, and linked with enterprises for production and business.Farmers from the Pacific harvesting their crops.Pig raising in the Pacific
Go to our Facebook page to vote for your favorite entry! Voting ends October 21, 2018.
About MTCP2
The Medium Term Cooperation Program Phase 2 (MTCP2), a five-year capacity building program supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the European Union, has been implemented in 19 countries across three sub-regions—Southeast Asia, South Asia, Pacific—engaging 1,544 sub-national farmer organizations with a total membership of around 22 million women and men farmers. The funding support (total budget of $ 5 million for the whole duration of the project across 19 countries) serves as a catalytic fund that will allow farmers organizations (FOs) to enhance their capacity to be effective channels of economic services to farmers. The program so far have contributed to the formation of strong national platform of FOs with improved capacity to engage in policy processes and mobilize resources from mainstream agricultural development programs like extension services, credit and pre and post harvest facilities. The program also helped in transforming farmers associations into commodity-based cooperatives to strengthen the role of small-scale farmers within an inclusive and sustainable value-chain. The program is being implemented by the consortium Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC).
Comments are closed