The pilot phase - essential elements

Key elements: better farming practices boost yields

The pilot phase of the Special Programme for Food Security focuses on several components needed to help LIFDCs achieve national food security. These include:

Demonstration
The Special Programme starts with demonstrations held on farmers' fields in selected areas within a country. Some examples of technological innovations that may be introduced are: improved seed varieties; better farming practices, such as the use of draught animals for ploughing; water conservation methods such as terracing and bunding; integrated pest management and integrated plant nutrition systems; and new post-harvest storage methods.

Participation
Demonstrations not only introduce farmers to new ways of doing things; they also offer members of the local community an opportunity to participate actively in the evaluation of new technologies and management practices, to identify obstacles preventing their adoption, and to search for practical means of overcoming these obstacles.

Water control
A reliable supply of water is required to maintain improvements in crop yields and prevent loss of livestock in drought years. Small-scale, low-cost irrigation and drainage systems will be introduced, together with better storage systems and land-use practices to conserve water.