Project Profile

Development and adoption of agricultural technology to diminish the effects of climatic

variability and change1

I. BACKGROUND

In recent years, hurricanes, floods and droughts have caused huge economic and social
losses in Central America (many deaths and an increase in the level of poverty, especially
in the countryside), threatening food security and furthering the deterioration on the natural
resource base needed for agricultural development. These catastrophes have shown how
vulnerable the countries of the area, and their agricultural sectors in particular, are to such
occurrences, and that the negative impact of same could have been diminished if proper
precautions had been taken.

The devastation has been made even worse by the existence of agricultural and livestock
activities on lands not suited for such purposes, the application of technologies not intended
to conserve natural resources (especially as regards the management of soil, water and
ground cover), and the lack of knowledge on the part of institutions and the population
regarding what to do in the face of such disasters. The time has come to rethink the
technological strategy currently being applied, and to enhance the capability of farmers,
especially those in the areas most affected, to demand the technologies they need.

II. JUSTIFICATION

Throughout the region, production activities are carried out with little thought to suitability
of the agroecological conditions in a given area. Evidence of this is the extensive damage
resulting from the floods spawned by Hurricane Mitch. In addition to this situation, there
are the problems caused by the climatic phenomena known as El Niño and La Niña, which
produce droughts and floods on a recurrent basis. The population in general, and especially
farmers, are not prepared to the face the challenges they pose.

The lack of planning regarding where agricultural, livestock and forestry activities should
be carried out is not the only problem, however. Another is the fact that conventional
technologies offer little hope for mitigating the effects of these phenomena, which, for
months at a time, increase or decrease rainfall to the point that both crops and animals are
affected, causing huge losses that could be diminished if certain preventive actions were
taken, especially considering the development of systems for forecasting climatic events
such as El Niño and La Niña with greater accuracy.

Another problem is associated with the changes that have taken place in the role of the
State as a result of institutional reforms. Both the financial and technical resources
available for generating information, knowledge and technology needed by small- and
medium-scale farmers have been cut back. As a result, these farmers must develop new

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Profile prepared by the Secretariat of the Central American Agricultural Council, in collaboration with
INCAE, IICA, PRIAG, CIAT, CIMMYT and ISNAR.
ways to identify, obtain, process, adapt and use information and knowledge, and, in this
way, enhance their capability to demand the technologies they need.

Given this situation, efforts must be aimed at developing and applying non-traditional
technologies and at enhancing the capability of farmers and farmer organizations to
demand the technologies they need, with a view to solving the problems affecting the
region.

Despite being acutely aware of this situation, national and regional authorities have neither
the financial nor the human resources they need to implement, on their own, a new
technological development strategy which calls for reorienting these processes and
enhancing the participation of farmers and farmer organizations and the capability to
demand the technology they need, with a view to diminishing the damage caused by
climatic variability.

III. OBJECTIVES

General Objective:

To generate and adapt appropriate technologies, and enhance the capability of farmers and
their organizations to demand the technologies they need, with a view to making the
production areas and activities affected by climatic variability and change less vulnerable to
same.

Specific Objectives

In pursuit of this general objective, the project has also set forth the following specific
objectives:

a) To identify the most flood- and drought-prone areas and develop a regional plan for
the adoption of technologies in same.

b) To identify and exchange information on successful attempts to diminish the impact

of floods and droughts, both in and outside the region.

c) To create a regional fund, accessible through competitive bidding, to be used in

developing and adapting technologies and enhancing the capability of farmer
organizations to demand the technologies they need.

d) To develop a system for disseminating information on available technologies and

the experiences of farmers in dealing with droughts and floods.

e) To promote educational and training activities and exchanges of experiences among

farmers, extension agents and researchers, on topics related to climatic variability
and ways to add greater value to production.
IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPONENTS AND ACTIVITIES

The project will comprise five components, one for each of the specific objectives
mentioned above.

a) To identify the most flood- and drought-prone areas and develop a regional
plan for the adoption of technologies in same, based on the production
potential of each

Satellite images and visits to the field should make it possible in a relatively short time to
draw up a map of the areas most affected and identify the most important problems in each.
Based on an assessment of the activities carried out there, a specific plan will be prepared
for each area, with a view to ensuring that climatic variability, as well as other factors, are
considered in planning land use.

Once this is done, a regional management plan will be established. This plan will focus on
the development of new conservation technologies for agriculture that will reduce
contamination, erosion and runoff and allow for greater filtration of water into the soil, by
adding ground cover, which will enhance biodiversity and add more nutrients to the soil.
The plan will also be aimed at reducing dependence on inputs, attaining higher, sustainable
levels of productivity, and enhancing the capability of farmer organizations to demand the
technologies they need.

In some cases, technological and marketing support will be provided in relocating crops, in
order to reduce the impact of future natural disasters; in others, construction projects will be
undertaken to make production areas and activities less vulnerable. Actions will be
coordinated with the organizations and programs in charge of these components.

Expected Result: An analysis of the areas most vulnerable to the effects of climatic
variability; a specific plan for supporting technological development and enhancing the
capability of farmer organizations in these areas to demand the technologies they need.; and
the establishment of priorities for action, as the basis for allocating resources.

b) To identify and exchange information on successful attempts to diminish the

impact of floods and droughts, both in and outside the region.

Successful experiences can be found both in the region and outside of it. Individual farmers
have been successful and so have entire areas. Some areas, despite being exposed to such
disasters, have managed to diminish their negative effects and, in some cases, have even
been able to turn these natural phenomena to their advantage.

Therefore, one of the first actions will be to identify successful experiences in the countries
of Central America , and others in countries such as Mexico and Brazil. To do this,
countries in the area and outside of it will be encouraged to exchange experiences.

In the exchanges, priority will be attached to topics such as techniques for diminishing the
effects of floods, droughts and soil erosion, reducing runoff and increasing the filtration of
water into the soil; the development of cropping systems; organic agriculture; crop
management on hillsides; and controlled burn methods. Such exchanges will take place
during visits by farmers and specialists to areas that have been successful in this field, in
meetings between farmer organizations, and through publications.

One experience that could be analyzed in the field of land-use planning is the Zamorano
Valley in Honduras. This valley, despite taking a pounding from Hurricane Mitch, did not
suffer the full destructive force of the accompanying downpours. Since the natural limits of
soils and hillsides were taken into consideration in managing river basins and planning
production activities, more serious consequences were avoided.

In El Salvador, the community of Guayamango adopted a number of controlled burn

methods that were so successful they have become soil conservation techniques. Also,
several countries in the area are moving ahead in the use of ground cover, as a means of
avoiding erosion and retaining the humidity in the soil in times of drought, and in the use
of live and artificial barriers to reduce soil erosion caused by runoff. An interesting
example is a bean known as mucuna, which is used on hillsides on the Atlantic side of
Honduras as a fertilizer and to control weeds and provide ground cover. In Costa Rica,
organic agriculture techniques are being developed, and taught to farmers in several
schools.

In Mexico, there have been a number of experiences which could be useful for the countries
of Central America. These include: the development of crops for semi-arid conditions; the
use of reservoirs of different sizes to store water or divert it to irrigation channels;
construction of dikes to retain humidity in existing crops; and mechanisms for reducing
water loss caused by runoff, rather than drilling wells.

In Brazil, very good results have been obtained in the development of technologies for the
management of river basins, and in the development of ‘Direct Planting,” in which ground
cover is used and soil is not removed for several years. This system can be used by small-,
medium- and large-scale farmers, and has made certain areas in Parana, Santa Catalina and
other states less vulnerable to variations in climate. Also, it has led to higher yields and
lower production costs. The implementation of this technology has led to the development
of low-cost equipment and machinery that is suited to conditions in these areas and does
not harm the natural resources. As a result of exchanges with Brazil, through cooperation
programs, equipment and implements2 are now available to some organizations. In Costa
Rica, some of this equipment is already being manufactured.

Expected result: Identification of successful experiences in each country, and visits

involving specialists and farmers, who will share their experiences with other farmers for
the purpose of developing and adapting technologies for diminishing the effects of droughts
and floods.

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For example, animal-drawn direct planting implements. In this regard, there are opportunities for the private
sector to manufacture such equipment, which means that they could be available in the region in the near
future.
c) To create a regional fund, accessible through competitive bidding, to be used in
developing and adapting technologies and enhancing the capability of farmer
organizations to demand the technologies they need, with a view to diminishing
the effects of climatic variability.

The Regional Agricultural Technology Fund, which is funded by the IDB and with
contributions from the countries, covers all of Latin America and the Caribbean. However,
the amount of resources available is insufficient to develop the technologies needed in
those areas where floods and droughts occur repeatedly.

Given this situation, it is proposed that a specific fund, accessible through competitive
bidding, be created for the Central American region, to be used not only for developing and
adapting technologies for the most vulnerable zones, but also for making better use of
existing capabilities and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of committed
organizations.

The fund will be used to spur the development of technologies applicable to production
systems in flood- and drought-prone areas. Emphasis will be placed on: the development
of new techniques, such as the use of ground cover, which, by making the soil more porous,
facilitates water filtration and diminishes damage caused by runoff; the development of
genetic material better adapted to the climatic variability of these areas; the development of
small-scale irrigation techniques; the development of methods for building small reservoirs,
as a source of water in dry periods; the development of improved grasses and hay for
livestock, as feed during the summer months; and the development and adaptation of
simple machinery and equipment, for use in ecologically fragile agricultural areas.

Regarding production activities, research will focus on the products located in the most
vulnerable areas, such as corn, beans, rice, plantains and livestock, with the goal being to
develop germ plasm that is more resistant to drought; produce varieties that mature faster;
apply conservation techniques in crop management; improve grasses; develop agriculture-
forestry-pasture systems, etc. Also, the management capabilities of organizations will be
improved in the areas of marketing and processing, in order to add greater value to
production.

As a complement to initiatives intended to upgrade existing research and extension

capabilities, it is necessary to promote and strengthen technological innovation at the local
level. This will create a demand for the services provided by research and extension
institutions, and will lead to the consolidation of a new technological model.

The challenge that lies ahead is for all social actors to seek and integrate different types of
knowledge. This will also contribute to preparing the human capital required to meet the
challenges posed by the new model.

As a strategy, the priorities to be addressed first will be identified by the farmer

organizations and submitted for consideration to a Board of Directors. Once they are
approved, a committee comprising representatives of relevant farmer organizations will be
set up to monitor research or the adaptation of existing technologies.
Interested research organizations will be invited to submit proposals or bids, based on pre-
established criteria, on all activities to be carried out, with a view to maximizing the return
on each investment. Depending on the topic involved, bids from outside the Central
American area may be considered.

Expected Results: Results of research and technological adaptation applied at the farm
level, and capability of farmer organizations to demand the technologies they need
enhanced, with a view to making production areas and activities less vulnerable to floods or
droughts, and, in this way, mitigate the negative effects and reap the positive effects of
same.

d) To develop a system for disseminating information on available technologies

and the experiences of farmers in dealing with droughts and floods.

As a consequence of the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch, the countries of Central

America have become a laboratory for studying what people went through and the results
of a number of conservation practices that had been implemented, such as soil
conservation, water management, management of flood- or drought- prone areas, and the
development of cropping systems suited to such areas, paying particular attention to the
development of dynamic and complex agroecological systems adapted to conditions in the
tropics.

In this regard, several countries and nongovernmental organizations have already

undertaken a number of studies. It is important to monitor this research and to disseminate
the results of same to as many people as possible (farmers, extension agents and
researchers). To this end, an information system containing data from the different studies
will be created and made available to all interested parties.

Also, a considerable amount of research has already been conducted, but the results have
not be made available to farmers. This system will place most of these results at the
disposal of specialists and farmers, for evaluation in the field.

Expected Result: A technological information system will be operational, and

mechanisms will be established to give specialists and farmers access to information on
technologies for diminishing vulnerability to the effects of climatic variation, and on
positive and negative effects at the farm level. Also, the results of visits to successful
projects will be publicized.

e) To promote educational and training activities and exchanges of experiences

among farmers, extension agents and researchers, on topics related to climatic
variability and ways to add greater value to production

A training program consisting of practical courses will be offered for researchers. The goal
will be to re-educate them and steer them toward participatory research based on the needs
of their clients, with a view to developing technologies for dealing with the climatic
variations that have been occurring on a cyclical basis, and are affecting the sector more
and more. This implies developing an alternative type of agriculture that will allow for the
comprehensive management of production resources, in which environmental
considerations (especially climatic variability) are an essential element.

Training for specialists will be aimed at making public and private research and extension
activities carried out in high-risk areas more participatory and effective, ensuring that such
activities take environmental variables into account and reduce the vulnerability of
production systems and areas. This training will not be limited to technological
considerations. It will also address market information, post-harvest handling of products,
agroindustrial development and other topics related to adding value to production, and will
provide information on ways to prevent disasters.

Training for farmers and their organizations will be aimed at enabling them to better
identify and solve their problems, and to ensure that research is based on their needs. Also,
technological innovation will be strengthened with a view to enhancing the capability of the
organizations to transmit tested research results to their members, and to improving their
capability to adapt successful techniques developed in other countries in and outside the
region.

Also, the concept of “agribusiness operator” will be incorporated into technical,

professional and business education programs. This concept includes, in addition to the
traditional technical-agricultural education of farmers, aspects related to management,
marketing, funding and risk assessment. The goal is to get farmers to look beyond primary
production, and consider the needs and interests of customers and the target markets.

Expected result: Direct and indirect training for farmers, extension agents and researchers
on management, communication and the results of research and adaptation activities,
through training workshops, visits, seminars, courses, field trips, etc.

V. ORGANIZATION FOR EXECUTION

The project will be executed at the regional level, with components at the national level,
making it possible to carry out coordinated actions at both levels.

The project will be coordinated by an Executing Unit, which will answer directly to the
Central American Agricultural Council (CAC). This unit will coordinate actions with the
Central American Integrated System for Agricultural Technology (SICTA), created by the
Ministers of Agriculture of Central America in 1996, meaning that it will be necessary to
strengthen its administrative and management capabilities.

The Executing Unit will coordinate actions with national research and extension
institutions, as well as with farmer organizations, private-sector chambers and NGOs
involved in developing technologies in the vulnerable areas, and with international research
and technology transfer organizations.
The fund to be set up will be administered by a foundation comprising representatives of
SICTA, grassroots groups of small- and medium-scale farmers, leading organizations in the
private sector, and the international scientific community.

Both the CAC and the foundation will monitor the different components and evaluate the
progress of the project on an annual basis.

VI. DURATION AND COST OF THE PROJECT

Duration: 5 years
Cost: US$10,500,000

Components Amount US$

Identification of zones prone to flooding and drought, and preparation 300,000
of regional plan
Exchange of experiences 2,000,000
Fund for developing and adapting technologies 5,000,000
System for dissemination information on technology 200,000
Education and Training 1,000,000
Executing Unit 1,500,000
Total 10,500,000

VII. PROJECT BENEFICIARIES

The project will benefit the farmers located in the areas most vulnerable to the effects of
climatic variability in the Central American region.