PULSES FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH PROJECT (PIG)
PIG-Pilot Phase have had a significant impact on improving productivity and market access for smallholder farmers in the common beans value chain in Manyara region. PIG based on the premise that common bean SHFs do not benefits from their farming activities due to constraints in the market systems. These constraints are related to fragmented market structure and systems, inadequate availability and access to seeds, poor and weak common actions by smallholder farmer organizations which leads to smallholders being price takers etc.
The project therefore, capacitated SHFs invested in GAPs and uptake of improved seeds for increased yields and exposing them to reliable markets whose revenue covered the costs of production and provides incentives for further production.
In order to boost adaptive capacity of SHFs to climate change mitigation and improve common bean productivity, SHFs were capacitated to take on climate-smart agricultural practices like conservation tillage implements, row crop multiple planters both hand pushed and tractor pulled, maintaining soil texture through replenishment of manure and green manure, hard pan breaking and early weeding to minimize weed and crop competition to moisture and nutrients.
Furthermore, to enable SHFs reduce common bean post-harvest losses, attract high volume of produce, premium prices from off-takes and secure high returns, SHFs were enhanced to adopt on and out-farm improved handling and good practices.
Project Details
Implementing Partners
Small Enterprise Institutional Development (SEIDA)Project Funders
WFPKey achievements include but not limited to:
- 20 demo plots planted and harvested for peer learnings on GAPs and improved seeds uptake.
- 2 farmer field days conducted at Haraa and Halu Villages, attended by 68 (M=31, F=11, MY=22 and FY=4) farmers/ neighbours.
- 5 MoU’s signed with Agro dealers and AMCOS for stocking of improved bean seeds.
- 13 experienced QDS farmers were given field follow-ups training. QDS farmers play a critical role in seed production and distribution. As such, it is essential that they receive regular training and updates to ensure the production of quality seed.
- Conducted seeds demand audits, and established 140.6 metric tons demanded (Lyamungo 90 and Selian 13 varieties) for Mbulu, Hanang and Babati for 4,092 acreages.
- Trained additional new 17 QDS (M=14, F=1, MY=1 and FY=1) producers by TOSCI and registered.