The Community Resource Person (CRP) model in India is a community-driven approach to development and empowerment, particularly in rural areas. It involves identifying and training individuals from local communities to act as extension service providers, advisers, and mobilizers to address various socio-economic challenges and promote sustainable development. 

Under the SAFAL project more than 140+ CRP trainers (Train the Trainer, ToT) and 500+ CRPs and have been trained between 2021 and 2023 in Assam and Odisha. CRPs themselves are aquaculture farmer belonging to the local farmer institutions who are supporting up to 25 farmers. Up to now, CRPs are providing trainings and extension and advisory services to more than 7.000 farmers in rural areas on sustainable aquaculture practices to their communities. 

The selection process of CRPs involves several step starting from registration, selection among co-created criteria as well as following recommendations from farmer institutions such as Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Self-Help-Groups (SHGs) followed by an intensive capacity building course. 

The training, likewise, for CRPs and CRP-to-farmers, are conducted in tailored sessions conducted with the help of Knowledge Products (KPs) and Information, Education & Communication (IEC) material, such as the Farmer’s Handbook, a Training Manual for Trainers, the Farm Record Book and various training material. Those were co-created among scientists, government officials, experts in sustainable aquaculture practices, aquaculture operators and SAFAL technical to fit the exact needs of the local farmers. 

The training cascade contains basic and advanced modules using the didactic methodology for easy adoption of adult learning. The program consists of 30 per cent classroom and 70 per cent hands-on training as well as exposure visits to state-of-the arts hatcheries and research and educational institutions within different states. Making it accessible and inclusive to farmers all over, it is translated into local languages and designed in a way that it can be held in remote and rural areas using flipbooks, posters, and pamphlets to teach without access to electronics. 

CRPs are based within their farmer institutions (FPOs, FPCs, SHGs) and are motivated by social, environmental, and financial incentives, including selling goods and services, and facilitating access to finance.

Through this self-financed CRP model, thousands of small-scale farmers are empowered with knowledge and resources. This ground-level approach boosts yields within planetary boundaries while ensuring nutrition and food security.

You can find more information about the training materials (knowledge products and Information, Education & Communication material) and download them in the building block: Knowledge Products and Information, Education & Communication Material. 

The integration of sustainable agriculture and landscape management practices in land restoration efforts is crucial in conserving soil and water, promoting biodiversity, and mitigating climate change. This approach also improves livelihoods, enhances ecosystem services, and builds resilience. To achieve this, we conducted thorough assessments, engaged local farmers and other stakeholders, developed context-specific plans, provided training, monitored progress, and foster policy support. This ensures a holistic and sustainable restoration of degraded lands, benefiting both people and the environment, including water resources. It's important for the community to collaborate, contribute, and learn effective environmental management approaches to ensure the project's long-term sustainability and unsustainable agricultural practices.

Effective policy lobbying and advocacy must address the implementation of both existing and newly finalized policies to ensure they meet their intended goals. This involves continuous monitoring to track progress and assess the effectiveness of policy implementation. All partners involved in a program or policy must participate in this ongoing process to ensure alignment with objectives and adapt strategies as needed.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) is central to ensuring the sustainability of our tree restoration efforts. This building block allows us to track the progress of tree growth and refine our restoration strategies for better outcomes. We employ drones to capture before-and-after images, providing a clear visual comparison of the impact of our restoration work. By continuously assessing our efforts, we can make data-driven adjustments that enhance the effectiveness of our conservation initiatives.

Environmental restoration initiatives need to report to their donors and other stakeholders the impact of their investments. The TREEO Impact Dashboard is a platform where the results from implementer’s projects are showcased, thereby providing evidence from their planting and monitoring efforts which they can use for further reporting and sharing with their stakeholders. The Impact Dashboard, with single sign-on capabilities, displays the data from tree monitoring, including sequestered CO2, biodiversity monitoring, and data from the socioeconomic surveys if performed. This fosters easy reporting as well as provides interactive and clean visualisation for the implementer’s stakeholders (donors, sponsors, government agencies, and companies). Impact reporting data comes from the TREEO Cloud and can be exported and published based on each project’s needs.

Integrated Land Use Planning involved strategically allocating land for agricultural and conservation purposes to balance human and wildlife needs. This comprehensive approach ensured sustainable land use that supported both community livelihoods and wildlife conservation. The planning was necessitated by the 10% fence plan, where 10% of beneficiaries' land was secured with an electrified short fence. Farmers utilized the secured land to incorporate skills honed from climate-smart agriculture training, maximizing production, while 90% of the land was left fallow for wildlife and livestock. Currently, a total of 129 acres have been secured by the 10% fence plan, with over 1,000 acres (90%) left as room for wildlife to roam. Up to date, there has been zero elephant conflict registered within the fences, securing crops and property with zero crop raids or property damage.

As a key measure to raise transparency within small-scale and artisanal fisheries, a robust registration and licensing system needs to be put in place. It is advised to introduce mobile, and if possible, community-led, on-site licensing initiatives, providing immediate support for licensing with registered tax numbers. This enhances the accessibility of the licensing process and compliance among fishers, due to a sense of community ownership. In cooperation with a dedicated governmental body, such as the Department of Fisheries and the local research institute, a digital management system should be developed. This central database helps to monitor licenses and registrations from multiple locations and thus enables conclusions to be drawn about the status of fish populations.

Controls and inspections are key principles of curbing IUU fishing. Improving the quality of patrols through specialized training for inspectors is essential to monitor fishing activities directly on board or after landing. Additionally, processors are encouraged to conduct self-inspections to prevent the processing of undersized fish and enforcing regulations in their businesses, thereby reducing reputational risks in the industry. The development and / or revision of standard operating procedures for these controls ensures that they remain relevant and effective in the face of changing IUU fishing practices.

To ensure that fish production supported by the GP Fish is an accessible protein source also for the most vulnerable, GP Fish regularly tracks fish prices and the share of total production accessible to the food insecure population. According to the conducted surveys 90 %, 58 %, 84 %, and 99 % of farmed fish is accessible for the food insecure population in Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia, and Cambodia respectively (status 2023). These numbers again highlight the potential of extensive and semi-intensive aquaculture techniques to supply affordable protein and nutrients in areas with a high share of vulnerable people.

Under the application of the trap for intermittent harvest, the best results were achieved with the following combination of variables: maize bran (supplementary feed) x maize bran (trap bait) x O. Shiranus (species) x 2 fish/m2 (stocking density).

The total yields under this combination were 25 percent higher than in the control group with single batch harvest. A higher stocking density (3 fish/ m2) led to a slightly higher total harvest in the control group, but to a lower net profit. The use of pellets reinforced both effects and was the least economical.

Results from the on-farm trials (see Figure 1) have demonstrated the functionality and the excellent catch effect of the traps. Over the three-month on-farm trial period, the trap was used 2 to 3 times a week and a total of 27 times. On average, around 120 small fish – an equivalent of 820 grams – were caught each intermittent harvest. With the use of the trap, all households reported that they now eat fish twice a week. Before that, fish consumption was between one and four times a month.

The benefits:

• Reducing the competition for oxygen and food among the fish in the pond and thus measurable increase in yield.
• Improved household consumption of small, nutritious fish and better cash flow.

Success factors:

• Traps are easy and inexpensive to build (USD 3).
• Traps are easy to use, also for women.
• Directly tangible added value thanks to easy and regular access to fish.

Examples from the field

Overall, the user experience of households engaged in the on-farm trials was very positive:

“As a family we are now able to eat fish twice and sometimes even three times a week as compared to the previous months without the technology when we ate fish only once per month.” (Doud Milambe)

“Catching fish is so simple using the fish trap and even women and children can use it.” (Jacqueline Jarasi)

“It is fast and effective compared with the hook and line method which I used to catch fish for home consumption that could take three to four hours but to catch only three fish and thus not enough for my household size.” (Hassan Jarasi)

Under the application of the trap for intermittent harvest, the best results were achieved with the following combination of variables: maize bran (supplementary feed) x maize bran (trap bait) x O. Shiranus (species) x 2 fish/m2 (stocking density).

The total yields under this combination were 25 percent higher than in the control group with single batch harvest. A higher stocking density (3 fish/ m2) led to a slightly higher total harvest in the control group, but to a lower net profit. The use of pellets reinforced both effects and was the least economical.

Results from the on-farm trials (see Figure 1) have demonstrated the functionality and the excellent catch effect of the traps. Over the three-month on-farm trial period, the trap was used 2 to 3 times a week and a total of 27 times. On average, around 120 small fish – an equivalent of 820 grams – were caught each intermittent harvest. With the use of the trap, all households reported that they now eat fish twice a week. Before that, fish consumption was between one and four times a month.

The benefits:

Reducing the competition for oxygen and food among the fish in the pond and thus measurable increase in yield.

Improved household consumption of small, nutritious fish and better cash flow.

Success factors:

Traps are easy and inexpensive to build (USD 3).

Traps are easy to use, also for women.

Directly tangible added value thanks to easy and regular access to fish.

Examples from the field

Overall, the user experience of households engaged in the on-farm trials was very positive: “As a family we are now able to eat fish twice and sometimes even three times a week as compared to the previous months without the technology when we ate fish only once per month.” (Doud Milambe)

“Catching fish is so simple using the fish trap and even women and children can use it.” (Jacqueline Jarasi)

“It is fast and effective compared with the hook and line method which I used to catch fish for home consumption that could take three to four hours but to catch only three fish and thus not enough for my household size.” (Hassan Jarasi)