OBJECTIVES Improve food and nutrition security of women and rural poor households through diversification of agriculture

and promotion of environmental friendly and sustainable practices

Improvement of village sanitary conditions through improved water supply systems, training of villagers and awareness raising on hygiene, food safety and nutrition basic principles

Empower poor local communities to participate in decision-making at the local level for achievement of a sustainable food and nutrition strategy through Participatory Land Use Planning (PLUP) and Village Action Plan (VAP)

A C T I V I T I E S A N D R E S U L T S

Food Security Project in LAO P.D.R.Food Security Project in LAO P.D.R. Support women and rural poor in Viengkham District, Luang Prabang Province Support women and rural poor in Viengkham District, Luang Prabang Province

PPPROJECT PRESENTATION:ROJECT PRESENTATION:ROJECT PRESENTATION: ACTIVITIES AND RESULTSACTIVITIES AND RESULTSACTIVITIES AND RESULTS

The project “Food Security for Women and Rural Poor in Viengkham District, Luang Prabang Province” started in October 2009 and ended in December 2011. It worked in 25 villages of the District, starting with 14 villages in 2010, then added 11 villages in 2011.

The target groups were:

- 508 vulnerable households for direct support in Agriculture

- Population of 10 villages without water supply

- 25 Villages Committees

1. Diversification of Agricultural and Non-Timber Forestry Products

Four agricultural sub-activities have been chosen according to the needs expressed by the District Authorities and the communities of the target villages:

- Vegetable production for home-consumption

- Market-oriented vegetable gardening

- Pig and poultry raising with veterinary services

- Rain-fed crops for animal feeds

Funding:

European Union

Co-funding:

France Volontaires

IRD-CIFOR-NAFRI

Agrisud/Phitrust

Partners:

Luang Prabang PAFO

Viengkham DAFO

France Volontaires

Associates:

IRD-CIFOR-NAFRI

Viengkham DHO

Viengkham DLMA

Viengkham LWU

Activities

Number of beneficiaries / activity expected for 25

villages

Number of beneficiaries trained / activity

Number of women

Pig farming

125

112

13

Poultry farming

250

213

41

Vegetable production

100

31

16

Home-gardening

250

246

115

Rain-fed crops

375

329

51

VVW

50

47

1

TOTAL TRAININGS

1150

978

237

Activities

Number of beneficiaries / activity expected for 25

villages

Number of beneficiaries trained / activity

Number of women

Pig farming

125

112

13

Poultry farming

250

213

41

Vegetable production

100

31

16

Home-gardening

250

246

115

Rain-fed crops

375

329

51

VVW

50

47

1

TOTAL TRAININGS

1150

978

237

Vegetable gardening for home-consumption * 246 persons supported * 13 sessions of training

* 25 groups of families trained in biopesticides

* Tools and seeds delivered to each family: watering can, rack and spade; 14 varieties of seeds ; sprayers for biopesticides

Lessons learned

Trainings in the fields and villages are more efficient and practical demonstrations are necessary.

Working at village level is better to associate women in project activities. Women have not enough time to spend out of their village and family.

Market-oriented vegetable gardening * 31 persons supported (285 m² per family in average) * 3 irrigation systems settled

* 26 families trained in compost liquid

* Tools and seeds delivered to each family: watering can, rack and spade; 14 varieties of seeds; sprayers for biopesticides; liquid compost pits

Lessons learned

One shot support (subsidies in kind: seeds, specific tools, animals) is a good way to promote new farming activities and share risk between farmers and project. This support must be only focused on a “starter” effect.

Pig farming * 112 persons trained and supported * 224 sows delivered to the families: 2 per family

* 25 studboars delivered: one per village

* Animals vaccinated, de-wormed and held in quarantine for 10 days before delivery

Indicators

Results

Annual pork meat production per family

308 kg

Total annual production

34.5 T

Annual income per household

3 448 000 kip

Equivalent value in paddy per year

155 T

Mortality rate reduction

69 %

Chicken farming * 213 persons trained and supported * 639 hens and 213 roosters delivered to the families: 3 hens and 1 rooster per family

* Animals vaccinated and held in quarantine for 10 days before delivery

Indicators

Results

Annual chicken meat production per family

9.4 kg

Total annual production

2 T

Annual income per household

236 000 kip

Equivalent value in paddy per year

20 T

Mortality rate reduction

27 %

Veterinary Village Workers (VVW) * 49 Veterinary Village Workers trained

* 3 sessions of training organized * 25 veterinary pharmacies set-up: 1 per village * 25 veterinary kits of tools and 25 first kits of medicines given to villages

Rain-fed crops for animal feed * 313 producers trained and supported in rain-fed crops for animal feed

* 50 farmers’ groups set-up around planting sticks: one group of pig producer and one group of chicken producer per village

* 4 types of crops promoted: maize associated with rice bean; sorghum and Stylosanthes

Crops

Total cultivated area

Number of beneficiar-ies

Average area per beneficiary

Maize

41 ha

303

1353 m²

Sorghum

10.3 ha

201

512 m²

Rice bean

37 ha

313

1182 m²

Stylosanthes

9.5 ha

89

1067 m²

Master-Farmers * 80 Master-Farmers selected on basic knowledge and application in 4 activities: market-oriented vegetable gardening; home gardening; pig farming; poultry farming * A kit of additional tools given to each Master-Farmers

2. Improvement of sanitary conditions in 10 villages

Three sub-activities have been part of this component of the project:

- Construction and improvement of gravity fed water supply systems (GFS)

- Sensitization on hygiene, food safety and nutrition basic principles using LANN approach

- Sensitization on women rights, hygiene, nutrition and family planning by Lao Women Union (LWU)

Results * 13 water supply systems: 8 new ones built and 5 existing water supply systems rehabilitees * 1036 households have better access to water * 13 water supply maintenance committees and funds set-up * 30 sessions of sensitization using the LANN approach: 3 sessions per village; 10 villages * 650 households sensitized (LANN) * 48 village sensitization agents trained by LWU in Women Rights, hygiene, nutrition and family planning

* 25 sessions of sensitization from LWU: one per target village * 1611 households sensitized (LWU)

Lessons learned

To insure improvement of farming systems, it is necessary to support farmers for at least 2 or 3 production cycles. Project duration was too short to be sure of sustainability and technical support should go on after project enclosure (conducted by DAFO technicians associated to the project).

3. Institutional strengthening and capacity building at village and District level

Two sub-activities have been part of this third component of the project:

- Involvement and strengthening of district staff in the project’s implementation

- Strengthening an capacity building at village level: Participatory Land Use Planning (PLUP) and Village Action Plan (VAP)

Lessons learned

Complementarily between activities at village and family level is necessary to guarantee local sustainable development. To build PLUP and villages Action Plans allow a participatory development management.

Results

* 15 district staff involved: 8 DAFO technicians, 1 DLMA technician, 3 DHO technicians, 1 DEO officer and 2 LWU officers. * 19 PLUP implemented with monograph and Village Action Plan (+ 4 implemented by CIFOR project) * 228 persons involved in PLUP committee (+ 48 by CIFOR project) * Involvement of women in decision making: at least 2 women per committee

A S S E S S M E N T S