Timing and colour charts

The example of the support to a provincial farmers’ organisation in Vietnam (VFA Cantho) illustrates how capacity building of the farmers’ organisation, has improved the outreach towards minority groups and has contributed to a more demand driven approach of the extension services. The support has increased marketing, profitability and at the same time natural resource management of the involved farmers. Operating in Vietnam, of course one deals with an attribution problem, certainly the interventions are not solely responsible for the improvements. Also, the successes on local level have been difficult to institutionalise on higher levels of VFA.

“VFA Cantho (Vietnam Farmers Association) has received support for many years with a focus on improving its service capacity for members to increase crop yields, crop diversification and better natural resource management. Important effects have been found in an external quantitative survey. The average rice yield among project members in 2007 was 1.22 times higher than in 2003 (from 5.8 tons/ha to 7 tons/ha in 2007). The cost of production reduced by 19% in 5 years time in two project areas and 25% in two other project areas. The application of in line seeding, ‘Leaf Colour Chart’ for nitrogen management and Integrated Pest Management (‘3 reductions, 3 gains’) contributed to lower cost because of reduced use of seed, pesticides and nitrogen fertilizer. Outreach was better than estimated: 59% of the poor in these communities were included (against 50% as planned). Group formation at hamlet level contributed to the wider outreach amongst minority groups. In VFA Cantho, Vietnam, the farm sales prices increased by 21% for agricultural products and with 16% for non-agricultural products. This was thanks to higher quality products, better organised transportation and better timing of sales. A generally higher market demand, which was not controlled by the project, contributed to the results. The average income of the target group increased from 185,263 VND/person/month in 2003 to 311,315 VND/person/month in 2007 (times 1.7) The study showed that this improved income resulted in improved well-being and increased investments. The successes on local level have been difficult to institutionalise on higher levels of VFA.”

Coops cope with external circumstances

The support by SCC to cooperatives in Kenya, illustrates the potential of small cooperatives to contribute to input supply, market linkages and especially improved market payments for small scale farmers, influencing positively their incomes. The example also illustrates how working with cooperatives has advantages for farmers to cope more quickly and in a sustainable way with difficult external circumstances.

“The project has supported 43 primary agricultural cooperatives, 15 small scale farmers organisation and 15 youth groups between 2006-2009. About 6.300 direct beneficiaries are participating via the cooperatives, of which about 43% women. The support of SCC contributes to organisational strengthening of the cooperatives, and to more and better service delivery to the members by the cooperatives. More specifically, a participatory monitoring and evaluation system was strengthened and the professional capacity of cooperatives for democratic principles and for service delivery (market related) to members was built. Also measures to strengthen the accountability towards members have been taken. For the members of the cooperatives, this resulted in improved and more diversified services to members and in better payments for their products by the cooperatives. For example, the price paid for milk for members of the Kyumbi dairy association increased with 30%. This took place thanks to higher market prices generally, but also thanks to the fact that the cooperative started to produce yoghurt and linked the members to lucrative markets. Not only prices for farmers increased, but their profitability was further increased by collective supply of inputs for farmers, combined with raising awareness on environmental issues. This type of progress has been translated in an income increase for the members of 46%, despite drought and political violence in Kenya. Still, the example of SCC in Kenya illustrates that working with farmer organisations has the advantage of being close to the analysis of effects by farmers and of working close to farmers to introduce new strategies. Climate changes have quite suddenly introduced longer drought spells in Kenya. Apart from directly introducing drought resistant crops and testing drip irrigation, the project is also able to link the cooperatives directly better to surrounding research institutions in order to search continuously new solutions with them.”