Promoting Climate Smart Agricultural Practices and Advisory Services
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+266 2231 2578PROMOTING CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND ADVISORY SERVICES
Component 1 aims at strengthening the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers to adjust and modify their production systems to minimize the potential future impacts from climate variability. The overall goal is to enhance climate resilience through solutions that improve soil health, increase water use efficiency, and increase farm productivity and crop diversification. The component focuses on:
(i) scaling-up the adoption of climate-smart agriculture technologies by farmers and enhancing farm management practices aimed at improving soil health, water-use efficiency, crop diversification, and farm productivity.
(ii) rehabilitation and modernization of irrigation infrastructure to promote a more efficient use of surface water accompanied with a more sustainable use of groundwater, leading to improved access and availability of water at the farm level; and (iii) improving access to climate and market advisory services through Information and Communication Technology, thereby strengthening farmers’ adaptation and resilience.
The proposed project activities funded by the project involve the following sub-components:
Sub-component 1.1: Capacity Building in CSA practices
This subcomponent focuses on providing hands-on training and increasing knowledge of farmers, extension staff as well as agro dealers in climate smart agricultural technologies. The training covers a broad spectrum of CSA practices, including, inter alia, adoption of improved varieties that are climate-resilient, short-maturing and drought and heat resistant; better residue management; agroforestry, integrated soil fertility management, crop diversification and mixed farming.
Activities
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Identification and recruitment of 9000 lead farmers
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Training on 5 prioritized CSA practices/technologies: Target groups
(Extension Staffs, Farmer Field Schools (FFS), Lead Farmer and
Follower farmers) -
Study Tours for farmers or exchange visits
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CSA demonstration plots/sites
Key Achievements
- 8711(4412F, 4299M) lead farmers have been recruited with intention of recruiting follower farmers.
- A total of 7546 (3572M, 3974F) farmers have been trained on 5 prioritized CSA initiatives (Improved crop varieties and livestock management, Protected agriculture (shade nets and Plastic tunnels) Water harvesting and drip irrigation, Conservation agriculture and Agroforestry) across the country.
- 587 (261M, 326M) farmers were trained on FFS in Maseru, Quthing and Botha-Bothe.
- 4 demonstration plots implemented in 4 Irrigation schemes (Tsitsong-Quthing, Nkhunkhu-Mohale’s hoek, Makoabating-Maseru and Thaba-Phatsoa-Leribe). Districts have submitted a list of 10 additional selected sites for demonstrations and trials by lead farmers and farmer field schools and procurement is underway
Sub-component 1.2: Rehabilitation and Modernization of Irrigation Infrastructure
The aim of this sub-component is to increase climate resilience and productivity in areas of high agricultural potential, through improved water use efficiency and increased access to irrigation. Given the critical need for irrigation in Lesotho, the Government of Lesotho has requested Bank support for irrigation under SADP II in parallel with the preparation of an Irrigation Master Plan under original SADP. Sub-component 1.2 has three major activities
Planned Activities
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Rehabilitation of existing Irrigation infrastructure (irrigation schemes)
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Carry out detailed feasibility studies and detailed design of
large irrigation schemes r productivity -
Development of irrigation schemes identified to have potential for
rehabilitationCapacity building of farmers and extension staff on irrigation -
Capacity building of farmers and extension staff on irrigation
Key Achievements
- 1389 (611M, 778F) farmers have been trained on irrigation, technologies, operation and maintenance in all districts.
- 9 additional irrigation schemes in Mokhotlong, Maseru, Mafeteng, Quthing, Thaba- Tseka and Qacha’s Nek) were identified, delivery of equipment completed and civil works in Thaba-Tseka, Qacha’s Nek, Quthing, Mafeteng have already commenced.
Sub-component 1.2 (a) Support to rehabilitation of the existing infrastructure.
Sub-component 1.2 (b) Support to the investments defined by ongoing National Irrigation Master Plan.
Sub-component 1.2 (c) Capacity building of farmers and extension staff.
Sub-component 1.3: Support in implementation of other CSA technologies
Sub-component 1.3 (a) Development of Lesotho Soil Information System
Sub-component 1.3 (b) Establishment of a State-of-art Laboratory
Sub-component 1.4: Integrated Climate, Weather and Market Advisory Services
Under this component SADP II will finance the development of real-time Agro weather forecasting and marketing information system and their dissemination tools by
(i) developing a climate-smart, Agro weather and market information system and advisories; and
(ii) building institutional and technical capacity for agrometeorological observation and forecasting, agricultural statistics collection and analyses, and market advisory services. By translating climate information into actionable knowledge, Agro weather tools will improve farmers’ long-term capacity for adopting CSA technologies, managing weather shocks and climate risks, and sustaining agricultural production under changing climatic conditions. Support for climate-smart, Agro weather and market information system and advisories will involve:
Planned Activities
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Development of the Lesotho Agro-weather tool
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Segmenting and registering Farmers
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Digitising agricultural statistics
Key Achievements
- Trainings on agro-weather tool for farmers have been undertaken in Butha-Buthe, Mokhotlong and Mohaleshoek. SMS notifications are already being sent to extension staff for pilot testing and sharing with farmers.
- The Management Information System consultancy engaged, system has been developed and 4576 farmers have been registered to date
Sub-component 1.4 (a) Digitizing Agricultural Statistics
Sub-component 1.4 (a) Segmenting and registering farmers and value chain stakeholders.
Sub-component 1.4 (a) Developing Lesotho Agro-weather tool and delivery of Integrated Market Advisory and Information Services
