CGIAR System Organization - Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers
CGIAR System Organization - Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers
09/16/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/16/2024 08:21
Promoting the adoption of SAPLING’s innovations through village sharing events
The CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Animal Productivity (SAPLING), has been implemented in Mai Son District, Son La Province, Vietnam since 2022. A key component of this initiative's work in the district is the formation and enhancement of livestock farmer groups to help smallholder farmers access input and output markets more effectively. These groups also serve as platforms for capacity building and collaborative problem solving related to pig and cattle farming. Currently, SAPLING is assisting eight farmer groups, comprising a total of 120 members, with a focus on improving capacity, production organization, and marketing.
Over nearly two years, the eight farmer groups have experienced substantial benefits from this support. These include better access to technical assistance, fair pricing from input suppliers, and stronger links to profitable markets. The long-term goal of SAPLING is for these farmer groups to act as motivators and mentors, encouraging other farmers in the community to adopt its innovations on a wider scale.
From 15-22 August, SAPLING organized a series of village sharing events across eight key villages where farmer groups are active. These events had two objectives: (i) to disseminate information about the farmer groups and SAPLING's core innovations to a broader audience of farmers, thereby increasing the number of adopters, and (ii) to boost the recognition of the farmer groups within the community and among local authorities. The events took place at village cultural houses and were co-organized by SAPLING and local organizations, including the Mai Son District's Agricultural Service Center, the Communal People's Committees, farmers unions, women unions, farmer groups, and artificial insemination (AI) service provider cooperatives.
To engage a broader audience, the events were organized as a festival, allowing farmers to gather and share their livestock experiences in creative and enjoyable ways. Accordingly, each village chose two teams, each consisting of 10-15 farmers, to compete in a three-round contest.
- Round 1- Farmers' greetings: The two teams introduced themselves by highlighting their characteristics, local strengths and livestock production techniques through creative expression methods such as verbal introductions, images, short plays, singing, and dancing.
- Round 2- Listening to farmers: Representatives from each team presented and discussed their experiences with SAPLING's innovations, which covered areas such as breeds and genetics, feeds and forages, animal health, and gender.
- Round 3 - Farmers' knowledge: The two teams randomly picked a set of technical questions through a drawing process and attempted to answer as many as they could within five minutes.
During the breaks between rounds, the organizers invited demo farm owners to share the innovative techniques they have adopted on their farms, providing the audience with potential sites to visit for further learning. Additionally, representatives from AI service providers participated in the events to highlight the benefits of using AI in cattle and pig farming while promoting their businesses, offering attendees a trustworthy resource for their needs. The attendees were also given a chance to engage in a side activity, where they could respond to questions about typical livestock production practices and earn small gifts from the organizers.
Typically, the events in the eight villages attracted nearly 1,000 farmers, providing a platform for farmer groups to exchange knowledge and experiences regarding technical innovations, thereby strengthening their visibility within the community. Additionally, farmers who had not previously participated in SAPLING's activities were introduced to advanced technologies and began to see the farmer groups as reliable sources for technical learning when necessary.
"We should consider organizing these exchanges more regularly and at different levels, not only at the village but also at the commune and district levels, to spread knowledge about good livestock practices among farmers and encourage them to apply," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien - Technical specialist of Mai Son District's Agricultural Service Center.
SAPLING is one of 32 CGIAR initiatives designed to achieve a world with sustainable and resilient food, land, and water systems. Its goal is to deliver more diverse, healthy, safe, sufficient, and affordable diets and ensure improved livelihoods and greater social equality within planetary and regional environmental boundaries. In Vietnam, one of its seven focus countries (others are Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Nepal, Tanzania, and Uganda), the initiative is coordinated by ILRI and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.
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Some photos
Photo 1: Village sharing event in Me village, Muong Bon commune (Credit: Duy Vu/ILRI)
Photo 2: A short play of farmers demonstrating the silage technique (Credit: Thinh Nguyen/ILRI)
Photo 3: A team representative explaining the benefits of cattle artificial insemination (Credit: Thinh Nguyen/ILRI)