Adaptation to climate change of family farming

Code:

ATN/RF-16680-RG

Initiative:

Call for Proposals

FONTAGRO Amount:

USD 300.000

Counterpart Amount:

USD 570.791

Execution time

42 Months

Total Amount:

USD 870.791

Participating countries:

Argentina

Peru

Funding source:

FONTAGRO Amount 34% Other agencies 0% Counterpart Amount 66%

Executive Summary

By the year 2050, the agriculture sector faces the challenge of increasing production by 60% to meet global food demand. In Latin America, arid and semiarid regions (where family farmers’ main income is extensive livestock breeding) are highly susceptible to climate change, environmental frailty and experience high levels of rural poverty. In these regions, research and innovation can increase production and efficiency while accounting for environmental changes. The Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture (SIA) is the best alternative to increase the efficiency and resilience of these production systems. In Northern Patagonia, Argentina, 90% of the 8,000 livestock producers are Family Farmers, and are currently in a deep crisis. Already suffering from recurring droughts, ash fall from the Puyehue eruption caused severe damage that the systems could not handle due to structural precariousness. In Perú, of the 824,000 livestock producers, 31% are poor and 13% are in extreme poverty. Over 50% of bovine stock are bred in areas smaller than 12 acres, with small herds, high production costs due to property fragmentation and weak market connnections.

Today, both INTA and Universidad Agraria La Molina have developed and validated technologies with producers to increase production indexes, improving the adaptation of Familiar Farming livestock production in each country. These innovations were transferred to demonstrative producers with promising results. Nevertheless, more resources and inter-institutional work is needed to scale adoption, facilitate market access for producers and generate a regional platform for experience exchange.

The technological solution

The project now reaches more than 16,000 family livestock producers in Argentina and Peru through training, webinars, demonstration days, radio programmes and direct work on farms. The main technological solutions implemented to sustainably intensify and adapt their livestock systems to climate change are: animal management infrastructure such as paddocks and sheds; the collection, storage and transport of water for family and animal consumption; improvements in irrigation systems; cultivation of forage species as a protein and/or energy bank: strategic use of feed in the most important animal categories, and links to local markets through fairs and/or associative sales.

Results

More than 16,000 producers have been trained in management practices for climate change adaptation through different means of dissemination in the 4 regions of the project.

In Argentina, in the project's area of influence, silage production by family livestock farmers has more than doubled thanks to trials and training sessions. The production of forage for baling has increased by 50% in this sector, as have the services related to this activity. In Peru, the incorporation of improved pastures increased forage production in demonstration fields by more than 20% and this had a similar impact on milk production. Through training, the number of farmers willing to invest in improving their pastures is increasing, given the important results obtained in the trials. This has led to an 80% increase in water collection, storage and transport on family farms in some areas (Province of Neuquén, Argentina).

In terms of animal management, there has been a 30% increase in the use of electrically-fenced paddocks, and the demand for training in their installation and maintenance continues to increase.

In the province of Neuquén, Argentina, in the face of increased predation, the project supported the breeding of livestock guarding dogs (LGDs) and the training in their correct use. The presence of LGDs in herds of family farmers has increased by 400% so far, and demand is increasing. It is estimated that their presence has reduced predation by more than 50% on farms where this non-lethal method of predation control is used.

In terms of joint marketing, in Argentina the project has so far accompanied family producers to carry out formal sales of more than 72,000 kg of wool in the 2019-2020 harvest, who doubled their income through this form of marketing. Work continues through training, workshops and informative meetings on the incorporation of more producers given the advantage generated. The installation of drip irrigation systems in demonstration farms, the adjustment of their management by family farmers and subsequent on-site training of different trial communities and the public in general allowed an increase of more than 50% in vegetable production in areas where this technology was incorporated and this in turn increased the presence of fresh produce at local fairs and even the sale of surpluses to other regions by more than 60%. In Peru, there has been a 15-20% increase in milk production from producers trained by the project.

Beneficiaries

100 demonstration farms in 4 regions of Argentina and Peru where different innovations are being tested for the sustainable intensification of family livestock systems to adapt to climate change; many of these farmers are representatives of indigenous communities. More than 16,000 trained producers who could apply the innovations developed. In addition, there are 250,000 potential consumers in the study areas between the two countries who can benefit from the products generated by sustainable family farming.

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors

BlogRadio interview on the disease Toxemia of pregnancy that affects sheep and goats in winter, within the framework of dissemination activities of the FONTAGRO Project

26/06/2020

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Participating Organizations

Executor

Fundación ArgenINTA (ARGENINTA) - Argentina

Co-executor

Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - Argentina
Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM) - Perú

Associated

Cooperativa Agrícola Ganadera Calibui LTDA - Argentina
Comité de Ganaderos Juan Guerra (Comité de Ganaderos Juan Guerra) - Perú
Asociación de Ganaderos La Asunción de Matahuasi (Asociación de Ganaderos La Asunción de Matahuasi ) - Perú