Enhancing food and nutrition security in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
The project set out to improve key agricultural inputs, especially seed and good agricultural production practices, in order to improve food and nutrition security, increase rural employment, and empower women, who would be involved in various activities of improved seed production.
What did the project do
Local knowledge and good practices were developed for 180 farmers (both male and female) through capacity-building training courses in seed production and post-harvest management, and the provision of post-harvest machinery and equipment. Enhanced seed production and post-harvest management technologies were adopted in the project farms, in order to boost productivity. Key changes were also made in on-farm technology packages, to take advantage of the higher yield potential of improved varieties, and enhance crop production; also in environments affected by drought, a recurrent natural hazard in the country. These changes proved to be efficient in coping with severe drought in the spring season, and most of the beneficiaries’ paddy plots exhibited successful growth. The beneficiary cooperative farmers now have at their disposal cost-effective technologies, and adequate knowledge to multiply quality seeds and reduce post-harvest losses.Impact
The project contributed to enhancing the food security and nutrition of 4 286 people, including 4 085 cooperative farmers in 2 267 households, over half of whom were women. The ultimate beneficiaries were estimated at 716 000 people of the six counties covered by the project, who benefited from lower commodity prices, as a result of the increase in local availability of a wide range of agricultural produce and products that were important for nutrition.Activities
- Innovative technologies, including more promising varieties of staple crops, selected; and relevant cropping patterns designed and implemented.
- Post-harvest equipment and machinery provided.
- Technical packages on the reduction of losses at critical post-production stages prepared and disseminated to farmers.
- Training programmesfor 180 farmers organized on improved post-harvest practices, and on-farm production of quality seeds.
- Awareness-raising and other educational activities conducted, for the promotion of good agricultural practices in seed production and post-harvest management for about 4 085 cooperative farmers.
- Basic guidelines on post-harvest management produced.
Project symbol: TCP/DRK/3502
Project title: Farmer Participatory Seed Multiplication and Post-harvest Management for Food and Nutrition Security
Contact: FAO Office in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Email: [email protected]
Download PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/a-bs186e.pdf