Awards

CARE is working with smallholder farmers in two districts in the Central Region of Malawi to improve their food security. CARE uses a ‘community scorecard’ to monitor activities and improve participation and governance at community level.

Men and women assess the aspects of the project that they care about most, like the seeds they receive and the Community Facilitators who deliver training. As a result, the project has made improvements like distributing seeds before the rainy season, moving training venues to be accessible for women, and improving field staff’s time management.

The Community Self-Reliance Centre leads a land rights campaign with smallholder farmers in Nepal. They organise and educate people to help them claim their rights through non-violent actions. They also lobby government for pro-poor land reform.

As of 2009, over 13,400 petitions have been settled in favour of the landless and land-poor. Educational activities have reached over 200,000 families. The government has formed a land commission, which includes a representative from the campaign.

The Flood Hazard Research Centre supports community-based organizations (CBOs) of small scale fishermen and farmers in Bangladesh. The CBOs manage collective resources, like water bodies, and undertake collective action. The program encourages CBOs and supports leadership, innovation and peer learning.

The program is working with over 250 CBOs with over 51,000 members (over 10,000 women). They manage natural resources, so for instance more fish are available, and advise farmers about new crops. CBOs have also gained confidence to engage with government, for instance around extension services, pollution and national policy.

Farm Radio International works with radio stations in Africa to help smallholder farmers solve farming problems, using ‘Participatory Radio Campaigns’. Broadcasters work with farmers to identify concerns and broadcast good practices, using weekly programmes in local languages. Farmers are involved through field visits, interviews, competitions, phone-ins and texts.

In Mali, a campaign led to a four-fold increase in farmers using improved composting methods. In Uganda, farmers demanded more advisory services from government extension workers. In Ghana, farmers’ demand for a new variety of rice increased so much it outpaced supply.

Helvetas Nepal works in the hill districts in Nepal to build public irrigation systems for smallholder farmers. Through public audits, farmers review designs and monitor implementation (including financial issues). Local ‘Users Committees’ decide on service providers and oversee logistical matters.

The public audits have increased opportunities for women and marginalised groups to get involved in decision making. They have helped build mutual understanding for peace. The Nepalese government has issued guidelines to roll out public audits nationally.

The Specific Union for Female Farmers brings together female agricultural labourers in confronting poverty, exploitation and violence. It has 450 members and has helped them claim their rights to land and improve their livelihoods.

As a result, women are claiming their rights to rent land, instead of relinquishing it to male relatives. The proportion of women joining the Jordanian Farmers Union has increased from 1 to 8%. Productive projects have raised the standard of living for many women.

In Malawi, Story Workshop promotes farming techniques and self-reliance among farmers through a radio programme, Mwana Alirenji. Each week, a problem is discussed and solutions are presented by fellow farmers. Listeners are encouraged to try out new approaches and learn what works, for instance through ‘radio research gardens’.

Farmers have shared techniques like which crops to grow in rotation to increase yields, rainwater harvesting and preparing manure for use as fertiliser. One listener harvested more maize where she had applied manure compared to where she used chemical fertilizer.

World Vision’s Food Security Program works with smallholder farmers in 14 districts in Zimbabwe, providing assistance like: seeds, fertilizer, livestock and training. World Vision informs farmers about the project and invites them to make comments or complaints about their experiences. Techniques have included: ‘focal point’ farmers, mobile help desks and farmer feedback committees (which are particularly accessible for women).

In 2009, World Vision handled 63 complaints from farmers which staff used to improve their work. This two-way communication also helped improve farmers’ organisation at community level and to advocate for changes to the project with donors.