Host Country

Mozambique

Highlights

Towards the implementation of a NPFS

Budget

US$3 396 000 for PAN II (National Action Programme for Food Security)

Beneficiaries

PAN II is present in 12 districts of the Provinces of Maputo, Sofala and Manica (financed by the Government of Italy)

Commencement Date

2003

Background

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER) launched the SPFS in 1998 as part of PROAGRI, an umbrella programme for agricultural development supported by a consortium of donors. The programme is known as the National Action Programme for Food Security (PAN) and has been supported by the Government of Italy and the African Development Bank.
• In 2007, the SPFS has assisted SETSAN (Secretariado Técnico de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional) in the review of the National food security strategy (ESAN II) and in the formulation of the National programme for Food security (PASAN) which has been endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers in October 2007. PAN II is now considered part of the PASAN.

Goals

• PAN II focuses on introducing a participatory capacity building methodology known as Farmer Field Schools (Escolas na Machamba do camponês - EMCs in Mozambique), to empower groups of small holders to improve their livelihoods and food security. The aim is to support the creation of about 1,000 FFS/EMCs benefiting around 25,000 families.

Activities

• A FFS/EMC is a practical, hands-on ecologically based "school without walls" where a group of people work together, where their basic knowledge is valued and respected, where they are empowered to learn and be proud of it. The theme to study is chosen by the group itself.
• The "facilitators" of the FFS are, in a large majority, farmers themselves which provide a potential for rapid outreach to a large number of farmers at an affordable cost.
• The group receives a small fund (about US$400) to run the FFS, pay for the inputs and the costs of the facilitator's visit and the field day where other members of the community are invited. This fund is then maintained by the group itself and used to continue the activities of the group.

Results

• In four years, about 650 FFS have been formed benefiting about 18,000 families or about 100,000 people in terms of increased and diversified production, food security and livelihoods, increased farmers organization capable of improving access to other services, markets etc.
• The FFS at District level are starting to create networks in order to provide various services to their members in terms of access to inputs, technology, markets etc.
• The government has included this methodology in their National Master Plan for Extension and various stakeholders and NGOs are asking PAN II to train their staff in order to extend the use of this methodology in other provinces.