From LEAP to LURAS: lessons and differences

Inception Workshop25 February 2015

Overview

Experience - what we learned from the past Trends – why the future will be different Continuity - what is the same as LEAP Change – what is new in LURAS

Experience

Experience The most important outcome of LEAP was the

development of the Lao Extension Approach, which was introduced in 17 Provinces.

Over a period of more than 10 years, LEAP helped to change the way in which extension services are provided across the country, making them more … Group based Needs based Participatory

Studies were carried out in 2013 to identify the ‘Lessons from LEAP’

LEA is more effective if… Careful planning is carried out:

Objectives are clear at local level Technical content is appropriate for location

More time is invested in the process: Greater frequency of visits Longer duration of support

Greater inclusiveness on interventions DAFO staff speak local language Strong involvement of women

Low opportunity costs of participation Few alternatives to rice/pigs/chickens Little competition from rich projects

Trends

Trends A lot of things have changed in the past 10 years:

Better infrastructure - eg. roads, electricity, mobile phones New types of agribusiness - concessions, contract farming,

land leasing Farmer Organisations – many groups have been created,

and they are getting stronger Farmers now get information, inputs and services

from the private sector, and from each other They don’t need the same type of extension service as

provided 10 years ago!

Policy has changed

Strategy for Agricultural Development, 2011 to 2025 “The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) will transition from being a provider of public services to a regulator of private sector involvement in service provision and facilitator of emerging new service providers; also by devolving gradually the provision of services to farmer organizations.

Continuity

ContinuityThe LURAS partners are ‘old friends’: DAEC,

Helvetas, SNV, PAFOs, CLICK, GDG, SAEDAThe principles of LEA will still be applied: services

will be group-based, needs based and participatoryLike LEAP, the new project is focussed on learning

activities, not providing farmers with inputs or credit.

LURAS will also make use of the methods for strengthening value chains that were developed under SADU and EMRIP

Building on our strengthsNAFES has become DAEC… LURAS will support the

implementation of the new mandateCapacity has already been built in PAFOs and DAFOs…

LURAS will make use of this capacityThe Lao Farmer Network has been established … LURAS

will strengthen their operationsCLICK, GDA and SAEDA have gained experience… LURAS

will provide them with new opportunitiesHelvetas and SNV successfully collaborated in the past…

LURAS will repeat this success in future

Change

Better Services

ChangeCapacity building in LURAS is focussed more on

Farmer Organisations, less on PAFOs and DAFOsActivities will be funded on a demand-driven basis.

No guaranteed budget. Proposals must be submitted with clearly defined outputs.

Focal Districts have been suggested in the project document, but flexibility is needed. We will plan according to FOs and VCs, not ‘target villages’.

Collaboration and networking with other stakeholders and projects is essential, not optional.

A Better Project!Wider range of service providersGreater choice of technical content Deeper understanding of marketsIncreased activity by farmer groups Stronger involvement of womenMore connections between stakeholdersBetter information for all decision makersAnd most important… … more satisfied farmers!