Farmer to Farmer East Africa

Volunteer Assignment Scope of Work

Summary Information
Assignment Code / ET-59
Country / Ethiopia
Country Project / Grain Crops Production and Sector Support
Host Organization / MCS[1] -Social and Development Coordinating Office
Assignment Title / Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM)
Assignment preferred dates / March/April and/or June/July 2017
Assignment Objective / To provide training and technical assistant to project beneficiary farmers, CDWs[2] and DAs[3] on ISFM techniques for improved and sustainable production of crops.
Desired volunteer skill/expertise / ·  Graduate knowledge/skills and experience in soil science and soil fertility management and agronomy
·  Experiences in farming, agricultural learning institutes, especially in farmers’ cooperatives schools and related

A.  BACKGROUND

The Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) East Africa program is a program that leverages US volunteer’s expertise to assist small holder farmers and small scale processors in East Africa to improve their business practices through volunteer assignments conducted with host organizations. Through F2F intervention, CRS will improve the livelihoods and nutritional status of significant numbers of low income households by: i) broadening their participation in established commodity value chains as producers and service providers; ii) strengthening community resilience to shocks such as droughts, that adversely affect livelihoods; and iii) preserving/enhancing natural resources upon which most rural communities depend. As an important corollary result through the program, CRS will also increase the American public’s understanding of international development programs and foster increased cross-cultural understanding between host countries and US volunteers.

Compared to all grown crops in Ethiopia, the grains had the greatest share in 2012/13 both in area coverage (91%) and production share (79%)[4]. Among grain crops in 2012/13, teff is the first, maize (17%) the second, sorghum the third, and wheat (13%) is the fourth most widely cultivated cereal. Maize (corn) is the first (27%), teff the second, sorghum the third, and wheat is the fourth (15%) in production contribution3. Pulses are also important in Ethiopian agriculture and food security, accounting for 15% of land coverage and 12% of production share3. Grain farming in Ethiopia is predominately subsistence rain fed agriculture. Ploughing is dominantly done by oxen pulled traditional plowing implements locally called ‘maresha’ and farmers also use hand tools for their farming operations. Sowing is usually done when the soil moisture is sufficient for seed germination.

Shashemene and adjacent districts are located in the great rift valley of Ethiopia. The area receives bimodal rainfall called ‘belg’ the short rain fall season and ‘meher’ the main rainfall season. Following the rainfall pattern, farmers’ practiced double cropping in the same plot of land. The major grains crops grown in this area are maize (corn), wheat, haricot bean and teff. These grains are staple food and main source of income to the smallholder farmers. Despite this, soil fertility depletion and soil quality decline have been threatening the ecological and economic sustainability of crop production in the area.

The host organization MCS-Shashamene Area Coordination Office is implementing its food security and rural development project (FSRDP) in five districts: Shashamene, Siraro, Shala, Arsi Negele and Wondo. While running its project, the host realized the missing knowledge gaps in soil fertility management and joined hands with CRS’s F2F program to support its smallholder famers’ beneficiaries through F2F volunteer’s specialist. The assignment districts are located in west-Arsi zone of the Oromia region. The region is one of the four USAID’s Feed-the-Future (FtF) and Agricultural Growth Program-I (AGP-1) regions of the Ethiopian government. As a value chain development approach, therefore, this integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) could be a follow-on assignment of the previous volunteer assignment on agronomy by Dr. Kefyalew. The major modalities of such technology transfer are informal adult training and on-farm practical demonstrations with the aim of increasing farm soil fertility thereby increase grains’ productivity, income and improve livelihood.

B.  ISSUE DESCRIPTION

Shashemene and adjacent districts are located in the great rift valley of Ethiopia where it faces a wide set of soil fertility issues that require approaches that go beyond the application of chemical fertilizers which is the only practices applied at scale to date. Soil fertility decline and degradation are the pressing issue and the most serious bio-physical constraint limiting crop productivity in the area. Core constraints include top soil erosion by wind and rain water; acidity, significantly depleted soil organic matter due to the complete removal of crop residues from farm lands and widespread use of the biomass and manure as source of fodder and fuel, low levels of fertilizer application, depleted macro and micro-nutrients, and depletion of soil physical properties and lack of appropriate soil conservation practices and cropping systems are among others.

In addition, deforestation and overgrazing with the intention of expanding farmland to meet the needs of the ever-increasing human and livestock population has not only led to severe land degradation and deterioration in the fertility of agricultural soils but also jeopardized the survival of the rural population who depends on agriculture. Furthermore, the weak linkage between research and extension also inhibit the adaptation and adoption of improved practices by smallholder farmers.

The most common fertilizers used in Ethiopia are di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea. This chemical fertilizer also faces significant constraints in low availability of credit and limited reach of distribution networks in contexts where appropriate application can enhance yields. As a result farming carried on without replenishing nutrients over time due to continuous cropping of cereals, removal of crop residues, and low levels of fertilizer usage and also lack of local specific fertilizer recommendation. In general, limited use of agricultural inputs and lack of knowledge on soil fertility management principles and practices contribute to yields that are lower than would otherwise be expected. Therefore, the mitigation of soil fertility depletion is currently a pressing issue and becomes a major concern of farmers as well as stakeholders working in the area.

The host MCS-Shashamene Area Coordination Office requested a volunteer assistance and skill transfer on integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) that helps to replenish soil nutrient pools and improve land productivity while maintaining or enhancing soil fertility. This knowledge-based intervention by volunteer will introduce ISFM techniques to project beneficiary farmers, community development workers (CDWs) of the host and development agents (DAs) of the government. Smallholder farmers in this area normally grow hybrid and composite varieties of maize and composite varieties of wheat and grain legumes with less intercropping and crop rotation practices. Grain legumes (pulses, mainly common bean) are considered as cash crop and protein sources for many poor farmers in the districts. F2F volunteer (agriculture specialist) considering these local farming circumstances of the area will address the aforementioned farming constraints through a variety of training interventions and technical assistances.

C.  OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of this volunteer assignment is to train and technically assist project beneficiary farmers, CDWs and DAs on integrated soil fertility management techniques for improved and sustainable production of crops. The total beneficiaries of this assignment will be 80 (70 subsistence smallholder farmers (direct beneficiaries) and 10 staffs (CDWs, DAs and other experts as a training of the trainers-TtT)). Among the 10, possibly one or two staff of the host and government office of agriculture experts will also considered as a beneficiary of this training.

The volunteer will provide training and practical technical assistances on the following major topics/fields, but not limited to:

·  Measures to improve soil organic matter,

·  Residue management,

·  Organic manure and composing

·  Chemical fertilizer application

·  On farm soil and water conservation measures,

·  Replenishing soil nutrient pools

·  On-farm recycling of nutrients.

·  Reducing nutrient losses to the environment.

Using these prior identified constraints as initials or clues, the volunteer during the first one or few days of her/his assignment, will further assess the missing gaps and can make change on the above drafted topics and also refine her/his training and technical assistances for fruitful delivery of knowledge/skill and practices.

Host Contribution: - The host will select farmers from its projects’ beneficiaries and facilitate the volunteer to reach them. The host will also avail key personnel to work closely with the volunteer at all times in assisting her/him during training, visiting sessions (in FTCs, on-farm/HHs, etc), and also to ensure translation to local language. The host will also select CDWs and DAs for this training, and make arrangements if prior scheduled training forums by local agriculture office are schedule to enable the volunteer present as many DAs as possible. The host will also provide the volunteer with office space and furniture in Shashemene town (250 km Southeast of Addis Ababa). In consultation with CRS, it will also facilitate booking of hotel accommodation (lodging) possibly at Haile’s hotel in Shashemene town. For field travel in the assignment area, the host will provide the volunteer with transport. The host will consult CRS if fuel cost can be covered in mode of fuel receipts, mileage or any convenient ways as per the financial/administrative regulation of CRS.

D.  ANTICIPATED RESULTS FROM THE ASSIGNMENT

Integrated soil fertility management plays a critical role in both short-term nutrient availability and longer-term maintenance of soil organic matter and sustainability of crop productivity in most smallholder farming systems. Therefore, after this assignment, there will be an improvement in on-farm practice which will yield substantial production gains.

Specific outputs from this assignment include, but are not limited to, the following:

·  80 beneficiaries (52% women) are trained and technically assisted on ISFM techniques

·  Farmers awareness on soil fertility issue raised

·  Locally adaptable and helpful oversees’ experiences are transferred and adopted for better productivity, income and livelihood,

·  Preferably, training handouts/guidelines (for TOTs) is developed by the volunteer and submitted,

The anticipated deliverables by the volunteer include:

·  ISFM training and technical assistance conducted;

·  Initial presentation done (outlines of topics of the course, plan, approach, etc),

·  If possible, handouts (especially for TOTs) developed and submitted;

·  Final debriefing (PPT presentation) with host organization and with CRS/USAID conducted;

·  Field trip reports with recommendations to host organization and CRS are submitted;

·  All logistics and advances (if any) are reconciled at CRS;

·  Outreach events conducted upon return to the US by the volunteer.

E.  SCHEDULE OF VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES IN ETHIOPIA

Day / Activity /
Day 1 / Arrival to Ethiopia. The volunteer will be met at Bole Airport by CRS’s client hotel Churchill ( / info@churchillhoteladdis; phone # 0111111212). As you exit the airport customs, you will be in the main terminal. On your left side, inside the terminal you will find Churchill Hotel booth. It is the first hotel booth. Go there and inform the person at their desk that you are a CRS/ET guest at Churchill Hotel then he/she will lead you to the shuttle that will take you to the hotel.
Day 2 / ·  Introduction with and welcoming by CRS higher officials and briefing meeting (security, general orientation, logistic, reporting formats, etc) at CRS office. Discuss anticipated outcomes and work plan
·  If time permits, vehicle travel to Shashamene (250 km southeast of Addis) accompanied by CRS staff and accommodated at prior booked hotel
Day 3 / ·  Briefing on the main objectives and modality of the assignment and adjust the agenda for the coming days (work planning session).
·  Conduct first hand staff orientation for relevant staff of the host and key personnel of agriculture, and other key stakeholders as required.
·  The volunteer assess soil fertility challenges focusing on farm land
Day 4 / ·  Based on information gathered and gaps identified, refine training materials, and pretest with model staff and selected farmers, fields, equipment, etc.
Day 5-7 / ·  Commence firsthand training and technical assistances utilizing the variously prepared methods and approaches (training, on-farm & household visit, show-up, demonstrations, individual and group contact & discussion, etc). Such activities will be complemented by information/data collection by volunteers as applicable.
Days 8 / Rest day:
Day 9-14 / Training and technical assistances continued
Day 15 / Rest day
Day 16-18 / Training and technical assistances continue
Day 19 / ·  Debriefing with the host in the presence of CRS.
·  Volunteer travels back to Addis Ababa.
Day 20 / ·  Debriefing at CRS office with USAID Mission and/or CRS staff
·  Finalize reimbursement expenditures and liquidations (if any) with finance.
·  Volunteer also finalizes his/her reporting and submit M&E forms to CRS F2F staff.
Day 21 / ·  Depart for USA (evening hours)
TBD / Outreach event when back in the US could include: presentation with a local group/organization, press release, media event and/or speaking tour.

F.  DESIRABLE VOLUNTEERS SKILLS

The volunteer will have the following qualifications and competencies:

·  Soil science with rich experience in farming and technological innovation among small scale farmers

·  Demonstrated skills and experience in soil fertility management techniques and practices,

·  Experience and interest in training of smallholder farmers, extension workers, development agents, etc.;

·  If possible skills in modern farming practices for smallholder farmers (hybrid maize/corn, seed system, crop rotation, intercropping, soil fertility, soil and water conservation, etc.);

·  Experience and enthusiasm in women empowerment, gender mainstreaming, etc;

·  Experience working with diverse teams in multicultural communities,

·  Willingness to travel in rural areas and on-farm fields,

A.  ACCOMMODATION AND OTHER IN-COUNTRY LOGISTICS

·  Before flying/travelling to the assignment site, the volunteer will stay in Addis Ababa at one of the CRS’s client hotels (most probably Churchill hotel) that will be booked and confirmed before the arrival date.

·  In Addis Ababa, the hotel usually has rooms that include services such as airport pickup and drop-off, breakfast, wireless internet, etc.

·  The hotel or CRS will arrange a vehicle for short travel from the hotel to CRS and vice versa while in Addis Ababa.

·  All required materials will be prepared ahead of time and will be provided to the volunteer. CRS Ethiopia will provide the volunteer with a laptop computer (if s/he needs), local internet dongle (modem/EVDO) and mobile phone with charged local SIM-card. Any other required logistics and facilities can also be requested by the volunteer during her/his stay in Addis Ababa.