Roger Samson
REAP - CanadaBox 125 Maison Glenaladale
Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada, H9X 3V9 T: (514) 398-7743; F: (514) 398-7972
W: www.reap-canada.com; E: [email protected]
The Agro-Ecological Village Development Model: Experiences in the Philippines, China and the Gambia
REAP-CanadaHelps rural communities in
Canada and developing countries meet the
challenges of ecologically sound production of food,
fibre and fuel.
The organization began its participatory on-farm
research and farmer-to-farmer training on ecological farming in Canada in 1986.
Agro-Ecological Village (AEV) Development Project Partnerships
Aim to improve the economic & social well being of marginalized farming communities & women, while also protecting & enhancing the natural resource base
SNSADP Project, Philippines (1997), PDG and the MAPISAN Farmers Alliance WCAEV Development Project, China (2002), Ministry of Water Resources, Peoples Republic of China GAEV and GEAD Development Project, Gambia (2003), NATC and Village AID
Agricultural Problems in the Philippines Extreme weather
Soil erosion and poor soil fertility
Deforestation and loss of watersheds
Agrarian land reform struggles Monoculture production systems
Agricultural Problems in North Central China
Severe erosion
Loss of soil organic matter
Overgrazing and excessive use of wood & crop residues for household energy
Low rainfall and risk of drought
Vulnerability of the environment to desertification and global warming
Salinization
Agricultural Problems in the Gambia
Agricultural production decreasing due
to deteriorating soil fertility & rainfall
Monoculture production of peanuts
All crop residues are removed
Free ranging goats destroy vegetation
Forest cover has seriously declined
Why The Agro-Ecological Village?
A holistic and integrated approach that builds the social, ecological and technological infrastructure of
communities.
Addresses the challenges of food security and improving livelihoods by rehabilitating the natural resource base through ecological farming systems
development & farmer to farmer training.
The Agro-Ecological Village An interdependent community of individual households that
are largely self-reliant through the creation of ecological food, fiber & energy systems.
The Agro-Ecological Village (AEV) Rural Development Approach
AEV ApproachEmphasizes local self-reliance through the development of diversified and ecological agricultural systems Empowers farmers through participatory assessment, training and research that is farmer ledLowers cost of rural development
Conventional ApproachFocus generally is on expanding exports of cash crops Loans used to “fuel” rural developmentFocus is on production with limited attention to natural resource issuesProblems identified by outside experts Training provided using “top down” approaches
The Agro-Ecological Village
Ecological System
Conventional System
Food Supply
Farm production of principal food crops and vegetables
Imported prepared foods and animal feeds
Soil tillage Perennial crops, animal draft power Annual crops, tractors for cultivation
Seeds Community seed banking and plant material improvement
Hybrid seeds, transgenic GMO seeds
Soil fertility Biological N fixation, compost, crop rotation, green manures
Purchased chemical N,P,K fertilizer
Pests Mechanical weeders, crop rotations, intercropping, bio-controls, compost
herbicides, insecticides, fungicides
Marketing Household food security & income crops for local markets
Mainly cash crops for exports
Agro-Ecological Village Development Activities
1. Baseline Data Gathering & PRA
2. Institution Building
3. Capacity Building
4. Farm Planning and Development
1. Baseline Data Gathering & Participatory Rural Appraisal
Assess the communities status with agro-ecological and socio-economic surveys
Through a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), the community analyzes & deepens their understanding of their local situation.
The project team and local villagers identify causes & possible solutions to local problems, through PRA and Participatory Action Planning (PAP).
2. Institutional BuildingEnsure communities are sufficiently well organized before project activities are initiated
Ground project activities with community leaders & organizers who facilitate the communities awareness, understanding and uptake of the project
3. Capacity Building
Farmer to farmer training network
Ecological Training Modules
Gender Development
Farmer-to-farmer trainingDevelopment of participatory Farmer to Farmer Training networkSelection of first liners and second linersTraining of trainers
in farm development and effective training techniques
Inclusion of women as trainers
Participatory Training Modules Training materials need to be customized to local needs
identified through the PRA and through on going assessments as the trainings evolve.
The process can begin with a basic ecological farming module including:
Soil Fertility Management Cropping systemsWeed managementPest & disease managementSoil & water conservation
Sensitize communities around gender equality Involve active participation of both genders in project activities as trainers and participantsIncrease women's role in decision making in communities Ensure gender issues are incorporated into all project activities.
Gender Development
4. Farm Planning and Development
Farm planning and “Learning Farms”
Soil and water conservation
Food Footprint
Appropriate Technology
Learning Farms A farm in the community
that is used for education and farmer led research while remaining a “working farm.” They can include:
Adaptability TrialsCrop ImprovementOn-farm DemonstrationsCommunity Seed banks and tree nurseriesFarmer-led plant breedingLivestock Management
Adaptability Trials The testing of new crops or varieties to assess their
adaptability to the environmental and management conditions on small farms.
Crop Improvement in North Central China
In the Western China AEV Project in Gansu Province, farmers tested a total of 43 different varieties of 7 field crops. They are now scaling up production of the leading new varieties.
On-Farm Demonstrations Farmers demonstrate
E.F.S. (Ecological Farming systems):
Crop RotationsGreen ManuresMultiple CroppingCompostingLive Fencing
Community Seed banks and Tree Nurseries
Farmers collect and preserve seeds to conserve genetic diversity Farmers also learn how to propagate plant material and develop plant material improvement programs
Farmer-Led Plant Breeding
Farmers learn how to breed varieties adapted to their local environment and growing conditions.
In the Philippines, one achievement has been the development of ECO-RICE varieties that combine SRI techniques, Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) and ratooning.
In ecologically devastated areas, free-range livestock management can cause irreparable damage.
Farmers learn ecological and sustainable methods for:
Benefits of intensive/ semi-intensive managementFodder Crop ProductionAnimal health and nutrition
Livestock Management
Soil and Water ConservationContour farmingDrip Irrigation
CheckdamsWindbreaks
Food Footprint1. Assess the quantity of food
consumed annually and the landbase needed to produce the households basic foods
2. Diagram seasonal fruits and vegetable production and identify gaps
3. Discuss opportunities for creating a healthier diet
4. Identify strategies to maximize efficiency of land use based on optimizing production
Appropriate Technology
Farmers need access to low cost appropriate tools for developing their farms ecologically. REAP has worked to help support farmers organizations manufacture their own tools.
Appropriate Technology
In the PRA process, communities identify their most urgent and basic technological needs.
To help solve the fuelwood crisis in the Philippines, REAP developed the Mayon
Turbo stove, a low cost, advanced combustion rice hull stove.
The AEV model is a logical evolution for rural development programming. It integrates the best management practices in rural development with sustainable knowledge in ecological farming systems training and development.
Summary
Thank you!