UN Division for Sustainable Development

Case Study Detail Record

Organization type:	Major Groups

Submitting organization:

Affiliation:	- Non-governmental organization - Farmers

Name of Focal Point:	Sofia Widforss

Initiative Title:	Farmers exchange and the implementing of ecologically sustainable methods

Internet links:	http://www.svalorna.org/pages_sv/PRESS/pressmeddelanden.html

Scope:

Status:

Timeframe:	Start: End:

Lead Institution:	The Swallows Latin America, Sweden (NGO)

Stakeholders/Partners:

Relevent issues:	- Community-based and indigenous approaches to food production - Capacity building - Empowerment of local rural communities - Other regional initiatives

Objectives/Challenges:

For the Bangladesh farmers to learn about ecologically sustainable methods from other farmers in Tamil Nadu, India and (The Swedish NGO Swallows organized the exchange) and then implement it back in their homelands in Bangladesh.
To exchange information and experiences and for the Bangladesh farmers to trust the new methods enough to wanting to implement them at home.
To make sure that half of the participants were women since the womens role in the agriculture is likewise important as well as their contribution to the family household income.

Lessons Learned:

After this exchange, there was great knowledge diffusion when the farmers came back, the gains were higher ecological sustainability in the farmers’ production and a better self-confidence amongst the farmers.
The farmers have changed to ecological methods in growing e.g. eggplant and cotton, they have increased their yields to some extent.
Women involved in the project feel more empowered and there are several examples of farmers who have started their own businesses afterwards such as i.e. a worm compost that provides an extra income.

Summary:

A regional initiative for farmers to exchange knowledge in order to find alternative, sustainable farming methods.
It was also a way of empowering women when fully including them in the process.
Concludingly, the exchange was constructive and valuable.