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2008/09 NATIONAL STAKEHOLDER REVIEW MEETING ON ULIMI WA M’NDANDANDA AND FIELD DAYS 5 TH JUNE 09, CAPITAL HOTEL. THEME. ENHANCING PARTNERSHIPS IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR ULIMI WA M’NDANDANDA. PRESENTATION OUTLINE. Introduction Progress on implementation Farmer organization
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2008/09 NATIONAL STAKEHOLDER REVIEW MEETING ON ULIMI WA M’NDANDANDA AND FIELD DAYS 5TH JUNE 09, CAPITAL HOTEL
THEME ENHANCING PARTNERSHIPS IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR ULIMI WA M’NDANDANDA.
PRESENTATION OUTLINE • Introduction • Progress on implementation • Farmer organization • Resource mobilization • Achievements • Challenges and way forward • Conclusion
1.O INTRODUCTION • Agricultural development agenda is the core business of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security • Primary goal is to ensure the country is food, nutrition and income secure • Used innovative strategies to achieve mandate – clusters and ulimi wa Mndandanda.
DESCRIPTION OF FARMING CLUSTERS AND ULIMI WA M’NDANDANDA • Farming Clusters A collection of farmers who are committed to work together as on one farm to follow recommended and innovative technologies to improve crop, livestock and fisheries production. • Ulimi wa M’ndandanda Astretch of well managed agricultural enterprises of not less than a kilometer as starting point, by farming clusters .
Implementation Progressa) Farmer Organisation • Village is the entry point; planning and organising base • Commitment by Local Leadership very crucial • Farmers sensitization and mobilisation • Formation of cluster and Mndandanda committees
b) Resource Mobilisation • Manure Making and use • campaigns at various levels • Farm inputs – fertilizer and seeds • Cash purchase – individuals and group • Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme • Loans • Donations
DONATIONS • Maize seeds - Monsanto, Seedco and Pannar Seed. • Herbicides - Monsanto • Fertilizers – Optichem and Smallholder Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi Distributed to ADDs with clear guidelines for accountability
c) MONITORING • Backstopping teams formed at all levels • Used checklist to guide the process • Multidiscipline joint field visits were conducted to all ADDs • Officers at headquarters were assigned to specific ADDs
d) ACHIEVEMENTS • In 2008/09 a total of 4141 Clusters and 587 belts were implemented
FIELD DAYS • Conducted in all ADDs and some research stations • To showcase achievements and sharing • More than 14 field days • Attended by a cross section of stakeholders • Lead Farmers articulated processes and technologies being promoted in the fields
PS Agriculture addressing a group of farmers during one of the field days
ACHIEVEMENTS (CONT’D) • Increased adoption of appropriate technologies • Timely implementation of recommended cultural practices • Improved crop stand • Increased yields • Improved farmer organization and cohesiveness • Increased number of Lead Farmers of all gender categories
2.3 The Features of Farming Clusters for Ulimi wa Mndandanda) • Village as the entry point; planning and organizing base • Farmers organized according to commodity interest groups • Harmonized and integrated technology packaging by SMS • Demonstrations mounted strategically • Action plan facilitates operation as one farm
Farmers have a vision -to produce beyond food security and formation of cooperatives • Farmers encouraged to harness the human, social, natural, physical and financial resources into sustainable rural livelihoods. • Farmers take ownership of activities and make informed decision • Desire sustainable development efforts
Greenbelt Initiative and the Farming Clusters for Ulimi wa Mndandanda • Ulimi wa Mndandanda is part of the master plan for the Greenbelt Initiative • The Greenbelt is planned to develop large scale irrigation infrastructure to use existing water bodies such as the lake. • Promote smallholder farmers through contract farming, out grower schemes through intensified irrigation farming. • Partnerships with greater sense of social responsibility
CHALLENGES • Incomplete packaging of technologies • Inadequate knowledge and skills in farm business skills • Inadequate knowledge and skill in proper processing and utilisation of farm produce
CHALLENGES (CONT’D) • Inadequate support for resource poor farmers • Inadequate demonstrations • Inadequate visibility for the Ulimi wa mndandanda.
IMPLEMENTATION AREAS OF IMPROVEMENTS • Intensify integration of livestock, fisheries, horticultural crops and management of Natural Resources • Intensify food processing and utilization for value addition and better nutrition • Integrate Farmer business schools to attain successful and sustainable cooperatives • Mainstream gender, HIV and AIDS interventions, • Intensify visibility and communication strategies • Develop harmonized framework for field operations
CONCLUSION • Ulimi wa Mndandanda – effective strategy for farmer empowerment • Donor support under ADP-SP • Builds capacity for collective action • Improve technology packaging and adoption • Hence Increased productivity and production
END OF PRESENTATION THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION