Capacity building

In addition to the harsh climatic conditions that have always characterized West Africa, the sub-region's farming systems face technical constraints that undermine the performance of its agricultural sector. These technical constraints are mainly related to inappropriate technology and the lack of training and information for farmers.

To help overcome these constraints, the APRAO project adopts the IPPM approach, which promotes techniques that help to conserve soil and ecosystem services. Through the APRAO project, specific curricula have been integrated in the IPPM programme of West Africa in order to strengthen the capacities of farmers in the production and use of quality seeds and general paddy production.

To promote synergies with IPPM, the National Coordination of the APRAO project is managed, where possible, by the National IPPM Coordinators.

The IPPM approach uses the Farmer Field School (FFS) training method. This entails a learning environment in which several field visits are conducted by technicians and farmers, who together observe the progress in crop cultivation and note the problems encountered for analyzing the situation and making joint technical choices. This method has many advantages, including the identification of context-specific solutions, improved ownership of good practices on the part of farmers and the wider dissemination of enhanced technology through training of trainers.