Simultaneous Solution Finding for All Components of the Value Chain in a Holistic Approach

As ZIDOFA farmers trained on SRI, training for organic fertilizer manufacture was also incorporated so that the organic inputs can be available once the cropping cycle started as and such, the farmers can focus on the SRI agronomic management principles instead of having to still worry about making organic inputs. 

 

As the ZIDOFA farmers started planting and cultivating their organic SRI rice plants, ZIDOFA was already seeking market linkages with potential customers for the upcoming harvested paddy rice and the eventual milled organic paddy rice. 

 

All throughout the chain of activities, ZIDOFA was aggressively joining national and regional exhibits as well as trade fairs in order to promote SRI and to increase public awareness on the benefits of organic pigmented rice as part of consumer diet. The environmental ramifications of organic-based SRI was also highlighted with ZIDOFA adopting the following tagline "That Farmers, Soils and Oceans May Live" in all its communications engagements including social media. 

 

All throught the cropping year, ZIDOFA submitted project proposals for its needed equipment and infrastructure and persistently followed up on their statuses

 

Continous seeking of funding sources.

 

 

Creation of an Operational and Project Plan

 

Assignment of tasks to Committees 

 

Fund, Resource and Manpower Availability

 

Physical office space for operational planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation

The need for administrative staff was highlighted as the work load can be overwhelming most times. 

 

The need for a physical office space is critical for communication flow and organizational planning. 

 

The need for and lack of operational funds was highlighted early on in the project 

 

 

Training on use of locally available raw materials to manufacture organic inputs and amendments

This ensures that the most basic concept for sustainability is practiced by participating farmers and that it is nutrient recycling to veer away from input intensive dependence and transforming into low-input organic practices.  Successfully carrying out this objective supports the  participating farmers but also other farmers, who may want to try their hands on organic farming, the readily available supply of organic bokashi, vermicast and natural farming systems concoctions.  The organic inputs will provide much needed nutrients and micronutrients required by rice plants in order for it to manifest its maximum potentials at optimum conditions.  Healthy rice plants establish what is known as the "positive feedback loop" where it develops healthy and substantial root architectures which feed the upper biomass resulting in better photosynthetic capabilities which can then provide nutrients for the roots to develop even more.  Once this loop is established, the plant can easily ward off pest and disease attacks. The preparation of organic inputs also offers an opportunity for farmers to sell to other parties outside of ZIDOFA and can supplement their income while waiting for their rice to be harvested. Sufficient supply of organic inputs lessens dependence on chemicals. 

Continued education on newer technologies coupled with farm to farm visits will allow farmers to not only share knowledge but also to share available materials needed as ingredients for organic input manufacture. 

 

Presence of open sided rain shelters for the farmers to work on. 

 

 

Continuous monitoring and mentoring to ensure that the organic inputs are applied at the right amount and at the right schedules. Inability to follow input application schedules will lead to lower yield. 

 

Continous monitoring of raw materials used to ensure quality and organic integrity of organic inputs. 

 

Documentation of yields versus inputs applied is important to show correlation and effectiveness.

Use of the Organic-Based System of Rice Intensification as the preferred protocol for rice cultivation

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a group of agronomic management practices and principles which delivers optimum conditions for rice plants to manifest their fullest potentials for growth and yield.  This climate and enviroment friendly method of rice cultivation uses 50 percent less irrigation water, requires 90 percent less seeds and allows for the cultivation of rice using only organic inputs with zero chemical or synthetic fertilizers.  

 

SRI ensures that farmers in the group all use the same protocols or method of cultivation, use the same seed varieties and prepare organic inputs using the same formulas and use them in the same dosages.  These ensure that quality of rice grains are consistently of high quality and of the same organic integrity from farmer to farmer. 

 

Additionally, organic SRI plants exhibit substantial root architectures which allows them to withstand long periods of drought or extreme bouts of wind and rain.  The deeply entrenched roots also allow for maximum uptake of nutriens and water as well as allows the rice plants to sequester deeper in the soil horizon, organic and photosynthetic carbon.  The use of intermittent irrigation also lessens emissions of methane as a Green House Gas and the non-use of fertilizers reduce carbon emissions.

 

Key to the project would be the successfull execution of organic-based SRI practices and principles by the participating farmers.  As such, continued training for SRI and organic agricultural practices should be conducted. 

 

The availability of organic fertilizers and inputs is critical to replace the nutrients otherwise previously provided by synthetic fertilizers..   

 

On-site and continuous farmer monitoring and mentoring will reduce risk and increase probability of succes especially for first time practitioners.

 

Volunteerism is key to success as the lack of farm labor could delay the execution of agronomic tasks related to SRI and will result in compounding of problems.  If rotary weeding is delayed or not done as scheduled, weeds will grow out of control and will lead to failuer.  If not enough organic inputs are avaiable and applied to the rice paddies and sprayed to the plants as foliar fertilizers, then yield will not  be maximized.   

 

Farmers who are too dependent tend to cheat and apply chemicals and poisons for diseases and pests when no one is looking.  Random monitoring and strict mentoring discourages this.  Only when the plants have shown their robust health will most first-timers be convinced that healthy organic rice plants can ward off pest and disease infestations on their own. 

 

Lack of farm equipment will likewise adversely affect the planting and cultivation schedules.  Preparing project proposals to government agencies should be done in advance as it may take a year or two for assitance and support to be placed in the pipeline for delivery

 

Involvement of local communities in Wildlife Friendly™ enterprises

Enterprises are most successful when they leverage strong community involvement, collaborate with a local conservation organization, and are dedicated to the conservation of wildlife. Forming strong partnerships and avenues of communication on the ground ensures that certification benefits local communities and incentivizes the protection of biodiversity.

Open avenues of communication, and the development of trust with all stakeholders, are critical in enabling the success of local partnerships and enterprise-based approaches.

Forming partnerships early in the project planning process, and involving local partners in the early stages of implementation, helps to ensure local investment of the program itself and stewardship of the species that certification seeks to protect. These partnerships are most successful when communities and local groups see the value in certification and seek out external support themselves.

Development of expert-driven standards for agriculture and biodiversity

The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network offers a range of certification programs that promote best practice standards for farming and ranching enterprises around the world. These standards represent global best practice with input from the appropriate experts to ensure that a) key species of wildlife are protected for net positive impact and b) local communities are actively involved.

Local and policy contexts, market forces, and the threats to key species and needs of local communities are important factors in ensuring that certification is a viable solution where we work.

The involvement of expert partners and local perspectives in the drafting of standards for our certification programs ensures that our criteria are relevant and beneficial in the contexts where we work, for the communities and key species involved.

Financing the community gardens

The implementation of a community garden of about 6000 square metres costs around 33 000 USD. This includes working devices (e. g. spades and hoes), irrigation system and sun protection, measures of soil improvement such as organic fertilizer and humus, construction timber for the compost heap and planting beds, plants, seeds, petrol for the delivery of materials and machines, and personnel costs for two agricultural engineers who help residents create the garden. Costs vary depending on the size of the garden. 

 

The implementation of the community gardens is financed through donations from private and public persons and foundations. In 2015, a German branch was founded in Berlin (Städte Ohne Hunger Deutschland e. V.) with the objective to support Cities Without Hunger's work in Brazil financially and public relations work abroad, especially in Germany, but increasingly at an international level. 

 

After one year, community gardens are self-supporting. Gardeners earn their income selling their produce. Cities Without Hunger still provides technical support and lends bigger machines like tractors when needed. The NGO also supports network-building actions to integrate the gardens in São Paulo's wider economy, e. g. through delivery partnerships with restaurants.

  • Cities Without Hunger depends on donations to finance the implementation of community gardens.
  • After one year, the gardens are self-supporting and gardeners earn their livelihoods by selling their produce. 
  • The NGO keeps providing technical support and fostering socioeconomic integration of the garden projects after the one-year implementation phase.
  • Financing the implementation of the garden projects through donations does not guarantee planning security. If this building block is to be replicated, attention must be given to finding reliable sources of funding.
  • Even though community gardeners manage their gardens autonomously after a year, technical support and machines are shared amongst them via Cities Without Hunger. In that resepct, the NGO plays an important role as project coordinator. 
Vacant urban land and landuse contracts

Vacant urban land is the essential building block required for the implementation of a community garden. The urban sprawl offers spaces where such gardens can be created. Areas include land below electricity lines, near oil pipelines, city-owned land, or private properties. 

 

Cities Without Hunger makes contracts with land owners on the use of the respective area. The land is given to the NGO for free. In turn, land owners can be certain that their land is going to be used as a community garden, avoiding the misuse of areas as dumping sites, and helping prevent wilful damage of infrastructures such as electricity lines or oil pipelines. On such areas, other landuses such as housing are prohibited. That way, landuse conflicts do not occur. 

 

Land use contractors include e. g. the energy supplier Petrobras, Transpetro, or Eletropaulo. 

 

With a growing number of community gardens and strong media presence within São Paulo and beyond, Cities Without Hunger earned a reputation as an NGO with who private and public land proprietors want to collaborate. Hence, getting access to new areas is usually unproblematic. 

  • vacant urban land
  • land proprietors willing to sign a landuse contract with Cities Without Hunger 
  • trust in Cities Without Hunger: a good reputation as reliable partner through strong media presence and word-of-mouth both within citizens' circles and the corporate and public realm
  • Due to soil contamination, not all areas within the city can be used for plant cultivation. Hence, it is necessary to take soil samples and have them tested in a laboratory before starting a garden. Gardens will not be built on soil which does not meet the requirements.
  • Public relations work with the media, primarily television and newspapers, matters: It helped and still supports the NGO's good reputation. 
Visibility, communication, and guidance lead to replication

The first community garden was built by Mr. Temp and his brother on their own initiative on a plot of vacant urban land in front of Temp's house in São Paulo's East Zone.

 

Both have experience in organic agriculture: His brother runs their great-grandfather's farm in Agudo in the South of Brazil, and Temp, after having studied business management in Rio de Janeiro (1985-88), completed a two-years course in organic agriculture on a farm in Tübingen, Germany (1993-95). 

 

The garden area had been abused as a dumping site. When neighbours saw the garden being built there instead, they became aware of and interested in this alternative kind of landuse. A group of people got together to help and to replicate the implementation of gardens. Temp guided them.

 

Today, having implemented 25 community gardens, he considers guidance crucial for the success of the gardens. Furthermore, this guidance needs to be continuous and intensive especially in the first year of a garden's implementation. Afterwards, community gardeners are able to manage their garden autonomously, but it is important for Cities Without Hunger to be present as contact persons and to lend bigger machines when needed. 

 

 

  • guidance for the implementation of gardens: practical knowledge and experience in organic agriculture
  • visibility of garden in the neighbourhood
  • word-of-mouth communication between neighbours spread the word of the possibility to build community gardens
  • interested neighbours need continuous guidance on the ground for the implementation of gardens  
  • visibility of gardens is crucial for people to understand that alternative landuses are possible, and evoke the desire to replicate these
  • gardens are successfully implemented on residents' own initiative rather than using top-down approaches
Closing the gap between city administration and local residents

Before he founded Cities Without Hunger, Hans Dieter Temp had worked as project coordinator in the city of São Paulo's public administration, supporting the creation of the Secretaria de Relações Internacionais da Prefeitura de São Paulo, the mairy's secretary for international relations. He found that the effort put into administrative tasks could do little to tackle the actual problems of local people in 

the city districts, because the city administration was lacking staff responsible for such tasks, and because residents were lacking basic prerequisites to improve their situation. He wanted to close this gap and to be present on-site as coordinator to support the local network. In December 2003 he quit his job at the city administration and began the foundation process of Cities Without Hunger.

  • on-site experience in the socioeconomic deprived East Zone of the city
  • personal contact to residents of the East Zone
  • experience in city government and administration allowing for identification of a gap between administrative level and the local level of residents' daily life
  • In order to ensure the efficacy of administrative and governmental action, a close connection to local people is crucial.
  • Personal relationships to people whose situation shall be improved by administrative and governmental action can be very helpful in identifying actual needs and starting points for action. 
Upscaling of implementation of Dynamic Agroforestry Systems

 

The producer family with their garden is always linked with a broader sphere, such as the relationships between gender and generations, the social organisation, community, local and international markets, the cultures, and – something often overlooked as important – religion and/or spirituality. These aspects, however, should be considered within the concept of training.

The proposed methodology is based on a period of intensive theoretical and practical training of local trainers (facilitators) and lead farmers. In addition, the participants must "rebuild" their knowledge on their own plots of land. Individual practice must be supervised and accompanied by a senior trainer experienced in Dynamic Agroforestry.

Lead farmers present their practical know-how and document the processes experienced in the following installation period. In this way, a practical implementation of the concepts worked on can be achieved within a concrete context for the production level of a rural family. 

Upscaling is achieved as followed:

 

- 1 local trained facilitator trains 10 lead farmers

 

- 10 lead farmers accompany 5 to 10 farmers each in implementing DAF

 

- 10 trainers accompany 100 lead farmers

 

- 100 lead farmers  = 500 to 1000 followers

- A long term concept of developing programs for at least 5 years

- Participitory institutional framework

- Commited and open-minded staff 

- Budget for training, follow up, equipment, and monitoring

- Accurate selection of local trainers and lead farmers

- Practically skilled SAF senior trainers

- Access to market for cash crops

- Short term benefits for farmers (anual crops, less labour, no expenses for external inputs) 

The most important experience is the benefit of land preparation without fire. The advantage of SAF can be seen already after a couple of months, which helps to encourage farmers to extend learning plots step by step to the whole plantation. Short-term economic needs foster monocultures with expensive external inputs, creating more short-term economic needs. Also, agriculture is not a desirable future for many, and the young migrate to cities (generational conflict). National mega-projects such as dams threaten local initiatives. Other adverse conditions are unfulfilled basic needs, bad infrastructure and extreme climate conditions that impede dedication to long-term SAFS initiatives. However, we note an increasing awareness of the importance to preserve trees and biodiversity, and interest in SAF because of the need to restore soil fertility, and because families see that those who implement the mode are being less affected by climate change impacts, have better working conditions, healthier and more diverse food, and better markets (e.g. for organic cacao, coffee, coconut or coca).