Ipongo Development Programme (IDP)

• Full Case Study Report (156kb)
  
• Debriefing Documents
  
• Zambia seminar proceedings
(208kb)

Ipongo Development Programme (IDP), implemented by the Institute of Cultural Affairs of Zambia (ICAZ), is 188 km northwest of Lusaka and, covers an area of c. 500 sq.km with a population of c. 5000 people. The programme works directly with about 1000 farmers in 36 farmers’ clubs.

IDP was initiated by invitation or demand from ”resource poor farmers” in (1994) as a small-scale Integrated Rural Development Programme including components focusing on agrobiodiversity, environmental awareness, adult education (literacy and nutrition), water/sanitation and roads rehabilitation. This case study has focused only on the agrobiodiversity components.

The major achievements of the IDP approach in terms of conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity have included the adoption of organic farming techniques, establishment of a revolving micro-credit scheme (for seed, cattle and cash loans), capacity building (from 5 clubs in 1994/1995 to 36 in 2002), seed multiplication, annual events (e.g. seed fairs), farmer training and extension, exposure tours, construction of Community Seed Banks (CSBs) and household storage bins as well as strengthening farmer-led monitoring system. Extension work, following an informal ”Farmer-to-Farmer Approach”, has increased farmer knowledge and skills and application of sustainable agricultural practices. The project has trained 375 farmers as Community Agricultural Workers/CAWs, and several sustainable farming techniques, demonstrated on 25 plots throught the programme area, have been adopted by nearly 60% of the farmers.

Ipongo is a typically remote rural area with mostly traditional crop genetic diversity e.g. maize, sorghum, millet, cowpea, groundnut, bambaranut, sweet potato and a range of largely underutilised cultivated and semi-cultivated vegetables like amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) and cleome (Cleome gynandra) which remain relatively intact owing to minimal external influence because of inaccessibility due to poor roads and infrustructure in terms of government extension services, which are sub-standard. However, a number of improved (hybrid) varieties have been introduced, from time to time, to Ipongo area and recently for purposes of food relief to avert hunger or for seed multiplication to increase local seed supply, improve yield, household food security and income.

IDP, however, has tried to ensure that at least 50% of the club members would grow the minimum of 2 alternative food crops including a legume, and has introduced a number of organic farming techniques including on-farm cultivation of a variety of nitrogen-fixing species e.g. Sesbania sesban, Tephrosia (also in fallow plots), sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea) and velvet bean (Mucuna deeringiana).

IDP’s efforts to improve household food security have included extension, micro-credit (seed, cattle and cash) and training programmes on crop diversification and sustainable farming techniques to increase hectarage, crop yield and household incomes. Other activities, in recent years, include seed multiplication and strengthening the seed supply systems through the Annual Event which includes Seed Fairs in the community. An increase in land under cultivation from 0.5 to 2 ha and improved crop yields have ensured that nearly 50% of the 1000 participating households have enough food for three meals per day, and between 30%- 50% of club farmers have food surplus for sale locally.

The factors which have contributed to this success include:

• a grassroots-oriented farmer-group approach, fostering cooperation and improved service delivery,
• the ”Farmer to Farmer Approach”, building on local human capacity,
• participatory training (through Farmer Field Schools) to enhance farmers’ skills and resourcefulness,
• small-scale demonstration plots on farmer’s own land,
• seed multiplication and seed fairs using local materials to increase crop diversity and improve community-based seed supply systems.
• the 36 farmers’ club facilities (the CSBs) serve as local meeting and selling points, and grain stores,
• the Farmer-Lead Monitoring System helps to take account of a set of programme activities between farmer clubs and the programme staff.
  

Challenges

• IDP need to provide a range of planting material for farmers to try, not only a limited number as at present.
• Loan recovery for Revolving Micro-Credit, sometimes, is difficult in the face of adverse climatic conditions, e.g. the drought season of 2001/2002 although on average recovery was 50-60%.
  
• Micro-agribusiness enterprise means that farmers must be trained to negotiate for competitive prices for their produce.
  
• Local infrastructure including markets and government extension services including roads have been inadequate to boost marketing opportunities in Ipongo.
  

Arthur Nkonde & Tamiru Mulualem