Indicate the title of
a South-South
Solution:
Shifting to conservation agriculture to build resilience to climate change
What did a solution
achieve in the
originating
country?
Conservation Agriculture is a concept for resource-saving agricultural production
that strives to achieve acceptable profits and high and sustained production levels
while concurrently conserving the environment. It is based on enhancing natural
biological processes above and below the ground. Interventions such as mechanical
soil tillage are reduced to an absolute minimum and external inputs such as
agrochemicals and nutrients of mineral or organic origin are applied at an optimum
level and in a way and quantity that does not interfere with, or disrupt, the biological
processes.
Sustainable Agricultural practices have been tested on the territory of the Republic of
Moldova and it has been proven to be a solution that reduces the effects of hazards on
agriculture and also feasible in various climate, relief and soil conditions.
In particular, Conservation Soil Tillage is a relatively new system which provides a
solution to farmers thanks to the following advantages: it preserves the soil moisture,
reduces soil loss from water and wind erosion, reduces production costs, provides
food and cover for wildlife and soil organisms and finally yields are rather stable
under the climate stress. In addition, the system supports the diversification of crops
and reduces farmers’ dependence on monocultures that are more sensitive to climate
change.
In the originating country, the solution has made a significant contribution to the
following sector:
Job creation: In line with the government’s priorities to reduce rural poverty
through agriculture and rural development, IFAD provides support to
improve the quality of agricultural production and processing to help raise
rural people’s incomes and generate employment opportunities.
Income-generation: IFAD is supporting the implementation of these
techniques and since 2000 has supported 5 development programmes and
projects in Moldova, with a total contribution of USD 68.9 million for an
overall cost of USD 116.3 million benefitting around 70,000 poor rural people.
Education: Over 600 farmers received practical training in 2013 on
established Demo plots.
Networks: Promotion of the technology as a main project’s goal is
implemented through seminars, field days, publications, study tours and TV
spots.
Environment: Currently Conservation Agriculture (CA) and Organic
Agriculture (OA) are supported by the Government of Moldova, who intends
to implement these technologies and techniques which will be beneficial to
farmers but also for a sustainable agricultural development, thanks to the
support of natural resource base, and the adaptation to climate change.
Moreover the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry is now supporting
several initiatives aimed to reduce soil degradation and increase soil fertility
through environmental-friendly agriculture practices and modern agriculture
technologies.
What were initial
objectives?
The overall goal is to enable the poor rural people to raise their incomes and
strengthen their resilience. The objectives are meant to provide innovation around
climate change, through the promotion of climate smart agriculture that will enhance
adaptive capacity of especially small-scale farmers in locations that are increasingly
susceptible to climate shocks. The objectives consequently aim at increasing
investments in the rural economy and strengthening climate adaptive capacity for the
poorer sections of society, leveraging the experiences of past interventions and
introducing innovations where appropriate.
Climate resilience through conservation agriculture is intended to address the
adaptation priorities identified by the Moldovan government in the agriculture sector
by focusing on demonstrating the adaptation potential, supporting knowledge
generation and including farmers’ investments around conservation agriculture
systems and techniques leading to a more resilient agricultural production.
Furthermore the objective is to increase the capacity of all beneficiaries and partners
concerned with agriculture and agro-forestry (agriculture producers, agriculture
associations, extension organizations, research/academic, forest managers,
governmental agencies, and NGOs) to address climate change impacts and implement
adaptation measures.
In addition, the climate change component triggers a policy process that boosts
conservation agricultural adoption, mainstream conservation agriculture into rural
development and planning, and supports small-scale private agro-forestry
investments.
What were the
outcomes achieved
that can be
replicated?
The main replicable outcomes are: - the adaptive capacity of farmers and other
practitioners to cope with CC risks is enhanced; - the institutional capacity and policy
environment for climate resilient agriculture and soil protection are enhanced; information on the CC adaptation and mitigation benefits of sustainable agriculture
and agro-forestry is generated to increase awareness, mobilise public support for
conservation agriculture, foster policy dialogue and disseminate results.
A number of IFAD’s supported leading farmers have adopted conservation and
organic agriculture in part or all of their production, obtaining significant
improvements in terms of soil protection/fertility, soil water conservation and higher
yields. IFAD’s investments have supported the diversification of crops, reducing
farmers’ dependence on monocultures that are more sensitive to climate change.
What has this
solution achieved
to date that make
the solution
outstanding?
During 2012-2013 IFAD’s project has supported the establishment of 4 Demo plots in
three geographical zones, upgraded with modern agriculture machines and
techniques for implementation of the CA system. Also, over 600 farmers have got
practical training in 2013 on established Demo plots. This solution triggered an
increase of the area under CA from 40.000 ha to 70.000 ha.
IFAD has supported a number of leading local entrepreneurs who have demonstrated
the effectiveness of new technologies and production systems following conservation
agriculture and organic agriculture principles.
In particular, as a result of IFAD interventions and promotion during 2012-2013 and
due to the results provided by this solution, 26 new farmers have converted their
production systems to CA. As in response to the demand, IFAD in partnership with
GEF and DANIDA, has designed a new programme which will be implemented in
2014-2019 to deploy the CA solutions at a much large scale.
What institutions
were involved in
this SSC experience?
Contact information
of solutionprovider:
Currently Conservation Agriculture (CA) and Organic Agriculture (OA) are supported
by the Government of Moldova, who intends to implement these technologies and
techniques which will be a beneficial solution to farmers but also for a sustainable
development of agriculture thanks to the supporting of natural resource base, and the
adaptation to climate change. Moreover the Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Industry is now supporting several other initiatives aimed at reducing soil
degradation and increase soil fertility through environmental-friendly agriculture
practices and modern agriculture technologies.
Victor Rosca
Director
CPIU-IFAD, Moldova
162 Stefan cel Mare street, Chisinau, Moldova
Tel. (+373 22) 21 05 42
Fax. (+373 22) 87 16 59
vrosca@ifad.md
www.ifad.md