Building resilient food security project
- 1. BUILDING RESILIENT FOOD SECURITY SYSTEMS TO BENEFIT THE SOUTHERN EGYPT REGION Othman Elshaikh Ministry of Agriculture & Land Reclamation The Executive Agency for the Comprehensive Development Projects (EACDP)
- 2. BACKGROUND SOUTHERN EGYPT Highest Food insecurity+ Poverty rates rates-dependence on agriculture Highest Climate vulnerability rates Highest temperature rise and current extreme weather events Highest evapo-transpiration Highest losses in crop productivity Highest rates of disease and pest infestations Highest livestock productivity affected Southern Egypt stands to lose a minimum of 30 % of its food production by 2050 - compounding the already economically stressed and food – insecure state of the region.
- 3. BACKGROUND…CONT’ In response, GOE proposed a project to build resilience of Southern Egypt rural communities. Project is funded by the AF. WFP is the implementing entity and MALR is the executing entity. Project Objectives: 1) improve the adaptive capacity of the Southern region’ smallholders in the face of anticipated climate-induced reduction in food production through a set of integrated interventions and 2) build institutional capacity at national, regional and local levels to enable sustainability and replication of the project interventions 6 years 135,757 direct + 1.7 indirect beneficiaries
- 4. Agro-Climatology parameters analyzed Each of the 5 governorates is a distinct climatic area Implement in All five governorates Climate data available at governorate level Socio-economic vulnerability used for selection of districts (food security) then villages (poverty) Consultations with stakeholders (security, social tensions, acceptance, Presence of local NGOs ) SELECTION OF VILLAGES (50) SELECTION OF LOCATIONS ASWAN, LUXOR , QENA, SOHAG & ASSUIT
- 5. PROJECT INTERVENTIONS Component 1: Community level mobilization and climate adaptation planning including baseline assessment- done in preparation of project document techniques: awareness sessions, contests, theatre Establishment Climate information centers in NGOs Early Warning System 5 days & recommendations. Dissemination of information through local means + Smart phone application + SMS
- 6. PROJECT INTERVENTIONS…………CONTINUED Building resilience in agricultural production Introduction of heat tolerant varieties of common crops - varieties of wheat, sorghum, and tomato Introduction of chilling tolerate sugar cane variety Promotion of high income crops - grow better in warmer climates, bring in additional income while conserving water medical aromatic plants Black seed and fennel, changing sowing dates. New agricultural techniques to increase crop heat tolerance and productivity under heat
- 7. PROJECT INTERVENTIONS…………CONTINUED Building resilience in agricultural production Intercropping to diversify and increase income ( sorghum & cowpea fava beans & cane; maize and tomato; garlic and wheat) as a means of increasing resilience. 60% increase in income & resources efficiency Value addition to diversify and augment income sources, such as improved post harvest practices and small scale food processing (sun dried tomato + pomegranate deseeding)
- 8. PROJECT INTERVENTIONS…………CONTINUED Building resilience through livestock and poultry production. Establishment of community-level revolving loans schemes in local NGOs. (goats; honey bees; ducks; and rabbits Vet services enhanced Training and ongoing technical assistance on animal nutrition will be given by trained governmental and community organizations. Target women for gender balance
- 9. INTRODUCTION AND USE OF WATER SAVING IRRIGATION AND OTHER ADAPTATION TECHNIQUES H O W I T S D O N E realizing irrigation efficiency through laser leveling of soil; canal lining; Demonstration fields set up Establishment/strengthening water users associations
- 10. C A N A L L I N I N G B E N E F I T S Local Ownership Water users associations under local NGO Increased efficiency- 25- 30% Owners participate Much lower costs
- 11. COMPONENT 2: CAPACITY BUILDING FOR CLIMATE KNOWLEDGE AND REPLICATION OF INTERVENTIONS UNDER COMPONENT 1 lessons learned retained and disseminated to all actors to replicate them in the government’s first phase of support to 151 villages covering some 1.7 million people Building capacity of government technical staff: extension officers- soft skills + technical capacity building replication of early warning systems and other project interventions in directorates Presentations to senior governmental offices at central level Documentation & sharing of Lessons learned and Best Practices Flyers, Brochures, documentary, (sample +pictures) 1-hour orientation package for ministers and 2-days training package for technical ministerial staff, organized visits. TV, radio and newspapers outreach &Harvest Days (explain) for replication Integration of solutions into University & Secondary Schools curriculum Training of students: field days, case studies, summer training, on campus demonstration fields Use of lessons learned in enriching teaching modules
- 12. INDICATORS OF SUCCESS N A T I O N A L L E V E L Adoption by farmers within village +neighboring villages Government adoption (National Adaptation Plan+ Climate information centers) Request for phase 2 in Middle Egypt I N T E R N A T I O N A L L E V E L External mid-term evaluation= highly successful AF documented project for guidance on AF projects +presentation in 10th anniversary WFP documented best practice in ownership build and stakeholder engagement
- 13. LESSONS LEARNED Farmers make use of technology more than expected (facebook, smart phone application was very success full) Word of mouth +use of local resources (mosque +church) was very effective in spreading messages from the project (eg. early warning messages) Use of innovative methods (theater, traditional singers, to raise awareness on adaptation was highly successful) Income generated from animal projects allowed women to establish their own businesses, building household financial resilience Builds overall resilience +livelihood support