Finding common ground
In this issue of the Ileia Newsletter we present the full story of the ILEIA Collaborative Research Programme. The Reports on Activities in The Philippines, Ghana, Peru, and India provide detailed information on the process and the results of the participatory research undertaken by our partners in the national LEISA Working Groups.
There are inspiring articles on their experiences with Stakeholders Platforms, Participatory Technology Development and Participatory Assessment in the process of developing LEISA.
Table of contents:
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4 - 8written by ILEIA editorial teamIn order to come to a better understanding of the necessity and opportunities for developing LEISA, ILEIA decided to add a research component to its programme of activities. This would include three regional research programmes, from contrasting economic and ecological conditions. This was intended to provide convincing insights into the viability and necessity of developing LEISA, among other objectives. This overview outlines the research questions, the partners chosen, methods and approaches used as well as the lines of activity.
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9 - 10One of the first activities of the ILEIA collaborative research programme in the Philippines, Ghana and Peru was the evaluation of soils in six research sites, by farmers and scientists. The methodology used and results are described, followed by the activities planned based on these results.
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12 - 13written by Marilou G. AbonIn the humid lowlands of Central Luzon, the Philippines, the research programme focused on irrigated rice. Members of the farmers' federations KADAMA and KALIKASAN chose to experiment with soil fertility and improved traditional rice varieties. They compared the performance of chicken manure and chemical fertilisers, improved traditional and high yielding varieties and different amounts of chicken manure. Scientists from Central Luzon State University carried out the statistical and economic analysis.
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14 - 15written by Humayun KabirAn exploratory study was carried out for the ILEIA Research Programme to establish an overview of the economic and ecological impact of trends in rice production. The study was based on a lliterature survey and was also reviewed by rice speiclaists from various insitutes in the Philippines. This article summarises the main findings.
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16 - 18Three important periods in the recent agricultural history in the Philippines lowlands were studied. With a better understanding of this history, farmers may learn from the past and be better equipped to choose appropriate options for the future.
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19 - 19KADAMA farmers organisation was founded in 1991 as a confederation of five farmers organisations. A consensus was reached on the need to unite with other farmer groups in the interests of change and the development of alternative technologies. KADMA now gives priority to recreating the biodiversity lost through rice produciton and hs launched a new breeding and selection initiative. It plans to continue PTD experiments.
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20 - 20KALIKASAN is a farmers organisation in the northern Philippines, who began by experimenting with organic farming and different rice varieties. They now train new members and make inputs such as chicken manure available. Farmers pay a membership fee but have seentheir yields increase.
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21 - 21Farmers from the groups described in the two previous articles visited five other NGO supported farmer groups, to exchange experiences on developments in LEISA rice production. Discussions made it clear that farmers are motivated to work with LEISA rice farming because it offers helath and environmental benefits. Their experiences, successes and difficulties were discussed, and KADAMA and KALIKASAN farmers came away with the conclusion that although they only had little experience so far, they were on the right track with LEISA rice production.
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22 - 23written by Aurea G. Miclat-TevesOne of the major constraints to improving farmers economic position is the difficulty of marketing rice. An exploratory survey was carried out to get a better insight into the conditions that determine supply and demand for alternative rice, and into current and alternative rice marketing systems. The realities of the problems and potentials need to be grasped to plan for effective improvements.
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24 - 26written by Marilene C. HipolitoFarmers often complain about soil acidificationas they believe it to be one of the factors causing yield decline, which meant they needed to use chemical fertilizers to prevent further falls. However, some farmers admitted they did not really understand the concept of soil acidificaiton, it was a term they had heard from technicians. Soils were analysed, and symptoms described by farmers were taken into account before making conclusions and recommendations.
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25 - 25A range of options for rebuilding soil fertility, from azolla to leucaena to crop residues, are described and analysed in view of local conditions and needs. Reports and expriences from farmers contribute to this overview of options.
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27 - 31written by Marilou G. AbonThis article details the process of Participatory Technology Development as experiencecd by farmers participating in the ILEIA Research Programme in the Philippines. It begins with problem identification, through implementation to monitoring and evaluation. Results and analysis are also presented. As well as being part of the ILEIA programme, it is an interesting case study of a detailed PTD process.
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32 - 33written by Carlos S. BasilioA concluding farmers forum on PTD was held, to assess the results and processes of the PTD experiments,and also to formulate recommendations. Several significant resutlswere reported by farmers, including that the use of organic fertilizer does not necessarily mean lower yields. They saw that plants were often sturdier and had a healthy green colour. These and other observations are documented here, along with recommendations for future studies.
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34 - 34written by Marilou G. AbonTo summarise the Philippines participation in the ILEIA Research Programme, this artricle outlines what academics had learnt from the process. The benefits of collaboration and recognising each others capabilities are highlighted.
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36 - 37written by Malex Alebikiya , Ann Waters-BayerIn northern Ghana development workers and researchers created the Northern Ghana LEISA Working Group to enhance stakeholder concerted action and participatory technology development. The aim was to improve the productivity and sustainability of traditional smallholder agriculture. Activities focused on farmers\' in Langbensi and Sandema and other secondary research sites. In these communities men experimented with farmyard manure, rock phosphate and compost for two seasons. Women focused on cowpea storage compared the effectiveness of ashes derived from three different local trees and a local herb. Studies were concerned with farmers\' experiences with non-burning and the role of livestock in the savanna crop-livestock system. A study tour to Burkina Faso opened farmers\'s eyes to what could be done to improve farming in regions with real drought problems. This made many farmers eager to start experimenting with the production and use of compost. Advocacy workshops contributed to LEISA and PTD gaining wider acceptance as viable approaches in Northern Ghana by the University of Development Studies and the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute amongst others.
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38 - 39written by PB Atengdem , AB DeryTraditional low external input agriculture is practiced in the dryland savanna of northern Ghana. This article outlines the soocio-cultural setting of farming in northern Ghana, traces past attempts at modernisation and describes the context in which smallholders make their living.
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40 - 42written by Malex AlebikiyaWhen ILEIA chose northern Ghana as a site for research on LEISA, it was not only because it fulfilled the agroecological criteria of being a dryland ecosystem. It was also because it was home of a network, the Association of Church Development Projects, which was collaborating with local research and training institutions in a participatory approach to developing LEISA. This association joined with other concerned actors in the region to carry out the research. The article describes the process of working together with government and other research institutions, and thier activities and achievements.
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43 - 46written by David MillarThis article describes in more detail the PTD process worked through by the research team in northern Ghana. The farmers involved prioritised research activities, and experimented with soil fertility improvements. They shared results freely amongst themselves, and wanted to continue and expand research. Additional farmers also came on board and tested other ideas in subsequent seasons.
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47 - 48Farmers researchers and extension agents in northern Ghana regard low soil fertility as a major constraint to crop production. Widespread dry season burning was traditionally practiced to clear vegetation. This article compares the benefits of non-burning and applying organic manure. Many advantages of non-burning are mentioned, including higher yields. More action is needed to raise awareness of this and other benefits.
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49 - 50Mixed crop livestock produciton by small holders is the predominant farming system in northern Ghana. However, the use of manure to improve soil fertility varies from one location to another. This article looks at the greater role all types of livestock could play in an area of increasing population density.
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51 - 52written by Saa DittohWith the subsidies on inorganic fertilizers removed, fewer than 30 percent of small holders in northern Ghana buy fertilier for thier foor crops. Indigenous methods of managing soil fertility worked reasonably well under past conditions, but now low input agriculture is no longer sustainable and high input agriculture is not possible or relevant. Farmers in northern Ghana experimented with organic manure and compost, and saw many benefits. The action research was a learning experience for all involved, and gave a better understanding of the constraints to agriculture in this region, as well as the possibilities.
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53 - 53written by Ben BonzaliThis article briefly describes the PTD process in two communities. What is clear is that farmers very much appreciated this chance to engage in research. They also expressed an interest to continue, as they say it is clear that there is huge potential for LEISA practices in this area.
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54 - 54written by Malex Alebikiya , Ann Waters-BayerThis summarises the efforts and successes of the LEISA research programme in northern Ghana. The two years of collaboration in supporting farmer led action research have established a good base for continuation, in terms of mutual respect between all actors, and initial results that the point the way to promising options that can be investigated further.
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55 - 55
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56 - 57In Peru, in the highland valleys of the Andes, NGOs and agricultural research institutes established two working groups, one in Huancayo (GIAREC) and another in Cajamarca (GINCAE). Farmers were invited to take part in participatory technology development. After analysis of their situation farmers chose to focus their experiments on improvement of forage production, pest control in potato storage and parasite control with sheep. On the basis of their own criteria farmers assessed the performance of different combinations of grasses and forage legumes and to develop affordable means to control potato moth in storage farmers compared the viability of different ashes and a petroleum trap. Experiments with a traditional herbal medicine (shipita) to control distomatosis, a serious parasitic sheep disease, were very convincing and lead to a series of scaling-up activities to promote reforestation and use of shipita. A study analysed the experiences with the use of pesticides and Integrated Pest Management in potato in the Andes.
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58 - 59written by Luis Gomero Osorio , Alfonso Lizarraga TravagliniSince the late 1960s, pesticides used in potato crops in the Peruvian highlands have unsettled the balance of Andean ecosystems and given rise to many cases of poisoning among farmers. The introduction of chemicals is described, along with their ecological, economic and social impacts. This is followed by examining some responses, alternatives and efforts to change national policies.
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60 - 61written by Norma Canales RiveraIn 1995 a group of NGOs and agrarian research centres active in the Mantaro Valley in Peru created an inter-institutional group to promote sustainable agriculture in their area. A process of collective learning began, and many achievements were seen in the first three years, in terms of research results and improved organisational and collaborative practices. They intend to continue this joint action network to improve natural resource management in the Central Andean valleys.
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62 - 64written by Ida Mendoza Alvarez , Vicente NalvarteThe sheep raising family farms of the Andes rely on the natural pastures which grow at altitudes above 4000 metres. The lack of fodder and difficulty in managing animal health at this altitude affects the economy of farm families. A PTD was undertaken looking at community defined constraints, including weevils, fodder shortages and low prices of meat. The families appreciate the learning by doing approach, with special reference to the experiments related to the use of a local shrub, \"shipita\" in treating distomatosis in sheep. The integration of different types of knowledge helped to confirm that PTD is a process that enhances local skills and resources.
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65 - 66written by Raul Canto , Norma Canales RiveraThe high incidence of pests in the potato crop was an identified constraint by farmer groups in the highlands of Peru. Local farmers looked at the causes and effects of moth infestation before deciding which solutions to test out. Farmers and technicians had their own evaluation criteria which proved to be a strong point in the process.
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67 - 68written by Custodio Bojorquez ReyesFinding new ways to improve fodder- through PTD. This particular experience benefitted from the blending and use of farmers and scientists expertise. The experiemtns showed posititve results, which triggered ideas for futher tests. Discussion between farmers, researchers, scientists and technicians improved the chances of ontaining specialised assistance from research insitutions,and gave farmers confidence to organise themselves and propose a schedule for further experiements.
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69 - 69written by Markus Staub EisenlohrThe objective of the PTD approach is to ensure that small-scale farmers genuinely participate in establishing their technological requirements and develop their capacity to carry out experiments in the field. This will help in achieving a more sustainbale development. This article tells of how one farmers group shared their experience of the process with others, who were encouraged to begin a similar process of implementation and learning.
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70 - 70This article summarises the two years experience with PTD in Peru. Farmers capacitiess have been strengthened, networks forged, and long-term relationships built.
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72 - 76In southern India, on the semi-arid Deccan Plateau, AME is facilitating a research platform of farmers, NGOs and research organisations on groundnut production. Millions of small farmers with marginal land have become dependent on groundnut monoculture to obtain cash. However, due to soil degradation, pests and diseases and macro-economic issues groundnut increasingly gets an un-sustainable option to them. AME strengthens farmers and NGOs capability to analyse their situation, experiment with alternative practices and interact with scientists, bankers and input-suppliers. Many farmers recognized the viability of several of the soil fertility and pest and disease management practices experimented with. This has resulted in a fast growing coalition of stakeholders who discuss and coordinate their concerted actions in the 'Groundnut Working Group'.
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77 - 83During the last 30 years, farming systems analysis and research has brought researchers closer to the realities confronting farmers and today farmers’ knowledge is being explored more seriously. Yet despite Farmer Participatory Research and Participatory Technology Development many development and research efforts fail. This is a signal that development and research agendas have to change. New research partnerships must be forged with many different stakeholders. Providing insights into how these partnership can be developed has been one of the main components of participatory assessment and stakeholder concerted action in the ILEIA’s Collaborative Research Programme. Looking back on the ILEIA Collaborative Research Programme there are two significant outputs: the experiences with research partnerships in Stakeholder Concerted Action and the results of Participatory Assessment. These outputs are examined in the following pages.
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