Farmers being interviewed

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) had started the implementation of a Self-evaluation and Holistic Assessment of climate Resilience of Farmers and Pastoralists (SHARP) applied to farmers at the provinces of Gaza, Sofala, Tete and Manica in Mozambique.

Within the project "Strengthening Capacities of Agricultural producers to cope with Climate Change for increased Food Security through the Farmers Field School approach", SHARP methodology aims to use technological tools to understand the concerns and interests of farmers and pastoralists about climate resilience through participatory self-assessment.

For the assessment 30 technicians were trained in the SHARP methodology at Central level and 73 technicians, among supervisors, extensionists and extension supervisors at provincial and district level. In total about 384 questionnaires were collected in 60 FFSs.

After this phase, the process of implementation and dissemination of feedback to the beneficiaries will be conducted so that they can know the risks they are facing and adopt measures that are most appropriate to each situation.

Designed through an interactive tablet application, SHARP was developed to address the needs of smallholder farmers and pastoralists to assess their climate resilience at the level of individual households and communities.
As some advantages SHARP facilitates interactive learning, facilitates dialogue in Farmer Field Schools, Integrated Programs (curricula) in the FFS throughout the season and immediate feedback.

The project funded by the GEF (Global Environment Facility) aims to increase the capacity of the agricultural and livestock sectors to tackle climate change through increased adoption by farmers, technologies and adaptation practices to climate change in Farmer Field Schools already established.

Based on SHARP results, managers, facilitators should meet with breeders and farmers to discuss potential outcomes and actions, and understand how FFS curricula can be adapted accordingly to identified concern and challenges.