DODOTH AGRO-PASTORALIST DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

[DADO]

DADO Brief Presentation C.A Project Sharing.Presented by;

Loupa Pius

Background of DADODodoth Agro-Pastoralist Development Organization (DADO) is a local, non-Governmental, non-political non-profit making organization founded in July 1996 by the agro-pastoralist communities in Kaabong district. DADO in partnership and funding from Mennonites Central Committee (MCC) is implementing a three year project from 2015 TO 2017. The project targets Vulnerable groups which include Widows, disarmed youth and disabled persons.Vision • DADO envisages prosperous and sustainable agro-pastoral communities with

access to enough food and livelihood options to fulfill their potential in harmony.Mission • To improve food and nutritional security; animal health, including natural

resources rights to reduce poverty and conflict through building community resilience and capabilities, securing better lives and sustainable livelihoods

Project goal and objectives

Goal: Increased household food security and income Security through innovative agriculture and VSLAs/VICOBA for harmonious living among the Dodoth people. Objectives Increased the use of conservation agriculture for improved household

livelihood and increased income in two sub counties of Karenga and Kamion in Kaabong district.

To establish and support School Peace clubs in two sub Counties of; Karenga and Kamion so as to promote peace and conflict resolution through dialogue, transformation for a peaceful co-existence in the two sub counties in Kaabong district

DADO organizational and institutional capacity strengthened to be effective and efficient in providing livelihoods interventions in Kaabong, north Karamoja and its adjacent communities

Project Location Beneficiary Distribution

Sub county Parish Village No. of Beneficiaries

Household Beneficiaries

Component

Karenga Loyoro Lorukul 40 280 C.A and VSLA

Geremech 40 280 C.A and VSLA

Lokori 40 280 C.A and VSLA

Kamion Kamion Narukenyi 30 210 C.A and Peace

Total 150 1,050

Project Location: Karenga and Kamion sub countiesTarget group: Vulnerable women (widowed and disabled), Disarmed Youth

Brief of Karamoja Food security The Karamoja region can be classified into three livelihood zones linked to the degree of aridity and associated dependence on livestock: 1. Pastoral – semi arid zone characterized by a prolonged dry season and erratic rainfall. It runs along the eastern border with Kenya, comprising parts of Kaabong, Moroto and Amudat districts. Livestock production is the main economic activity supplemented by opportunistic farming; 2. Agro-pastoral – with an average annual rainfall of 500 – 800mm, stretches through the central part of Karamoja region from the border with South Sudan covering Kotido and parts of Kaabong, Moroto, Napak Amudat and Nakapiripirit districts. The zone is highly dependent on livestock production and rain-fed crop production;3. Agricultural – running along the western side of Karamoja which include Kaabong, Nakapiripirit with an average annual rainfall of 700 – 1000mm, capable of supporting most tropical food crops.

The region is generally characterized by poor rainfall distribution and reliability manifested through prolonged dry spells and flash floods. The magnitude, frequency and severity of these hazards have increased over the past decades seriously eroding the productive assets and traditional coping capacities that support livelihoods

Crop production is affected by the massive environmental degradation as a result of deforestation, monoculture, poor land and water management practices leading to uncontrollable runoff, erosion, nutrient depletion and flooding in low lying areas. These underlying factors mirror the general lack of production skills and overstretched extension service delivery in the region. Other constraints include use of rudimentary tools, inadequate supply of clean drought tolerant and quick maturing crop varieties, crop pests and diseases and poor pre and post harvest management practices all of which further threaten to keep the communities more vulnerable amidst the worsening effects of climate change.

Karamoja livelihood zones

Food security programming

Strategies to achieve food security through C.A

Project Strategy • DADO in partnership with MCC is promoting a lead farmer approach that trains farmers to

adopt good agricultural and business practices that they are then able to share with their communities, thereby extending the program’s reach beyond just the farmers receiving direct training.

• Lead farmers, selected by the program based on previous exceptional performance and proven leadership skills, teach other farmers using their own land as demonstration plots.

• The lead farmers receive training and technical assistance from program extension officers on their demonstration plots. Key practices include; Crop rotation, mulching, intercropping, soil and water conservation, weed control, crop nutrition, and better postharvest handling techniques. In turn, the lead farmers provide training to at least five other farmers around their demonstration plots.

• Lack of effective extension services is a major challenge to smallholder agriculture in Karamoja.

• The existing state-run extension services are poorly resourced and key messages do not filter down to the rural smallholder farmers who need them most. Without a basic understanding of good agricultural practices, most smallholder farmers cannot grow sufficient crops to move past subsistence farming.

Project Activities• Training of DADO staff in Conservation Agriculture: • Mobilization, sensitization and selection of individual farmers:• Training of selected farmers in Conservation farming• Establishment of Garden based learning• Establishment and strengthening of Peace building structures at School

and Community levels.• Training of women and youth Groups on VSLA/VICOB Methodology• Start up support/Grant to boost up VSLAs/VICOBA Groups Enterprises:• Linking Farmers and VSLA/VICOBA Groups to Governments and other

Development partners Programmes [NUSAF II, National Agricultural Advisory Services - NAADS and Community Driven Development - CDD] initiatives

• Conduct quarterly project Review Meetings & Monitoring.

Scaling Up Conservation Agriculture

Supporting Household Food security

DADO staff training on Conservation Agriculture Methodology

Over 12 DADO staff participated in C.A training, the training facilitated by ECHO technical Adviser.The purpose of training the staff is equip the staff with C.A Knowledge so as they are able to articulate and practice and express the C.A Knowledge.

Staff training focused on C.A principles, Soil and water Conservation practices, The situation assessment.

ECHO Technical Adviser - Okumu Robert Lotoroboch training DADO staff on C.A

Training of selected Lead Farmers (SLF) on C.A methodology

During this sect Lead farmers are mobilized, and they will be trained on minimum tillage, Permanent Soil cover, cover cropping and Crop rotation and crop association and Agronomic practices enhancing Conservation Agriculture.

Each Lead Farmers (LF) Trained are also expected to train 5 more community farmers in their locality in order to scale up use and application of Conservation Agriculture in Karamoja.

Since 2015: DADO has been reaching over 40 Lead Farmers in Kaabong District

Establishment and Garden Based LearningImmediately after capacitating Lead Farmers (LF), The farmers are now set to establish their Individual Demonstration Gardens in their own fields.

The purpose of this progress is to encourage ownership and management of the IDGs (Individual Demonstration Gardens), Lead farmers since they are well and sound in management after one year of C.A implementation they are required to preach the Gospel of C.A to the rest of the Community members so as the neighbours to practice Conservation Agriculture.

Follow Up of Individual Farmers

Immediately after training Lead farmers on, the Project Officers will also make follow up, to oversee the progress of C.A application by the farmers in their communities.

The purpose of the follow up Visit is to ensure that farmers are following clearly the principles of C.A and also guide them on where possible especially in measurements of the C.A Demonstration Gardens.

Pre and post harvest handling by Lead FarmersDADO also after training Lead Farmers on C.A and its enhancers did not stop in following up farmers. So lead farmers where also trained on post harvest handling and seed saving.

The purpose of always encouraging post harvest handling by lead farmers and the Organization is to help farmers in ensuring food saving, seed saving and storage management.

Cover crops

Sometimes, with poor timing in regards to planting of the main crop and the cover runs into a mess with no focus on calendar , the cover crops ruins the main crop or it suppresses the growth of the main crop.

Hands in field of C.A

Why cover cropping is important

Cover crops are very important in that it reduces the time spent by the farmer in collecting mulch, and also cover crops like cow peas enhances farmers to harvest two crops, which also encourages crop diversity in the fields.

When to mulch and cover crop

C.A application with Sorghum

Cover cropping and spacing

Healthy crops healthy family

Monitoring C.A activities

Food security enhancements

Achieving food security through VSLA/VICOBA

Training of Women and youth groups on VSLA/VICOBA

DADO believes in working with functioning and established community groups. So to support the VSLA/VICOBA groups we have trained group leaders, and group members on IGA and record management.

Meeting and review with the VSLA/VICOBA farmers After training farmers on VSLA/VICOBA the project officers have always followed up the groups to further guide them, also witness implementation of the ideas gained during the training. The groups are also supported with grants to aid their capacity to borrow more money.

During Joint staff and BoD monitoring visit to DADO/MCC supported group

Peace dialoguesPeace club interschool debates

Kamion P/S peace club group photo with the project officer

Completed activities since,• 10 DADO staff and Fourty 40 farmers for two sub counties which include

Karenga and Kamion trained on Conservation Agriculture.• Fourty (40) demonstration gardens established and other 5 non trained

group members have also learnt and adopted CA methodology from trained farmers.

• 4 peace/structures clubs at school and community level established and strengthened through trainings, scholastic materials, schools debates and peace dialogues.

• 4 VSLA/VICOBA groups trained on VSLA/VICOBA methodologies • 4 VSLA /VICOBA farmers groups trained and supported with grants to boost

their individual savings and promote IGAs• 4 groups of VSLA linked/registered at sub county and district level and 2

have benefited to get support grants from government programme of Community Driven Development (CDD) grant.

SUCCESS

• 2 farmer from Lokori and Geremech open up the commodity shop, and deals with household goods and cereals.

• 12 farmers have bought livestock in Lokori, Lorukul and Geremech.

• 4 farmers in Kamion are seed saving for this coming season

• Lorukul group in Loyoro parish –Karenga buys 10 sheep and now they have over 16 sheep.

Challenges

Pictorials

Bush burning and deforestation

Droughts/ long dry spells

Poor roads linking to farmers

Pests

Challenges • Less/ low adaptation of farmers on Conservation Agriculture due to

competition with local traditions.• Different approaches but conventional one promoted by other institutions• High demand for money, inputs by the farmers yet the budget cannot

provide.• Drought/unreliable rainfall that has affected demo gardens. • Lack of modern farm equipment especially Conservation Agriculture

related inputs like Jab planters, ox plough rippers and other weed controlling equipments and herbicides.

• Limited time and resources for frequent visits/mentoring by field staff. • Lack of transport facility coupled with Poor transport network attributed

to bad roads and heavy rains especially the roads to Karenga has always been stressing during field activities.

• High demand for agriculture inputs such as planting materials by farmers.• Competition with livestock and wildlife for both the sub counties lie on the

wildlife corridor of KVNP,

Lessons Learnt

• Continuous follow up is necessary in working with Farmers

• Working with the community while selectting those who success is best in C.A

• Calendar following in understanding the rain partners in the drylands is necessary.

• Timely planting breaks the cycle of drought especially in the drylands of Karamoja.

THE END

Thank you for listening

Alakara nooi