BUILDING SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS AND CAPACITY FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT
Field visit in DPRK
Building sustainable food systems in DPRK through organic knowledge dissemination (BOKK II)
Implementation time frame: January 2015 – October 2019
Countries where the project is being implemented: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)
This is the second project in DPR Korea, the first project was implemented between 2012 - 2015
DPRK's sparse agricultural resources limit agricultural production. Climate, terrain, and soil conditions are not particularly favorable for farming, with a relatively short cropping season. Only about 17% of the total landmass, or approximately 20,000 km2, is arable, of which 14,000 km2 is well suited for cereal cultivation; the major portion of the country is rugged mountain terrain
The project focuses strongly on training and capacity building. The training targets a variety of stakeholders including the partner organization (institutional capacity building), the managers of the model farm (training in organic agriculture practices), stakeholders in the agents of the agriculture knowledge dissemination system (content, tools and methodology to disseminate organic agriculture knowledge) and institutions involved in nutrition education and food management (diversified nutrition). The overall result expected from this action is to have the agricultural and nutritional knowledge dissemination systems promote and disseminate the adoption of diversified organic production and consumption systems more effectively in the DPRK. The target groups of this action are the institutions and persons involved in these dissemination systems, specifically the staff from PIINTEC (Pyongyang International Information Center for New Technology and Economy), agricultural scientists and technical advisers, farm managers and staff from institutions involved in nutritional education and food management. The final beneficiaries will be the farmers and the consumers in DPRK, who will benefit from a more reliable and diversified food supply.
Main objectives of the project
Result 1. Model farm is established and serves as demonstration site for organic practices
Model farms are important tools for the establishment and promotion of organic practices. They serve as research sites and as sites to experiment with organic practices. Furthermore, they provide space for testing and finding solutions as well as for detecting new species, varieties and breeds adapted to the local climate and soil. Model farms additionally facilitate the development of technical solutions to production challenges. Another important function is the utilization of model farms as training sites to disseminate practical knowledge on organic agriculture is. Ultimately, model farms serve as examples to inspire their environment, including other farmers and to increase awareness regarding the potentials to improve agriculture production with sustainable, and highly productive low input methods in the region.
Result 2. PIINTEC’s role as capacity building and networking centre for organic agriculture is strengthened
PIINTEC is performing important tasks for the development of organic agriculture in DPRK, in particular through its role as resource and networking centre, but it is also taking on other roles, e.g. in advocacy. Part of this capacity was built through the BOKK project. The proposed action aims to further strengthen PIINTEC’s role in facilitating organic agriculture development in DPRK by building the capacity and skills of PIINTEC staff and by further supporting the Capacity Building and Networking Center for Organic Agriculture (CBNC), located in PIINTEC’s office. The training of PIINTEC staff will be designed to fit the organizational needs and will include technical organic agriculture and leadership training as well as coaching to build skills related to project management and project design. The capacity building of PIINTEC will also become crucial for the implementation of the proposed activities, as PIINTEC will successively take on more responsibility in the training components of the project.
Result 3. Adoption of organic practices is expanded through technical capacitation of the agents of the agriculture knowledge dissemination system
A number of professionals in the DPRK are equipped with basic knowledge and awareness about organic agriculture. The proposed action aims at expanding the reach and disseminating the knowledge and awareness to a broader group of professions and other stakeholders. This will be realized through an intensive training course for agents of the agriculture knowledge dissemination system and the development of a methodology and materials for repetition of the course. Materials and methodology will be passed on to the trainees as part of the course and a first round of replication will be carried out and technically supported in the framework of the project. After completing this process, the agents are expected to have the necessary knowledge and tools to independently carry out more replications to improve the methodology. The ultimate impact of the technical capacitation along the agriculture knowledge dissemination system will be an increased adoption of organic practices throughout the country.
Result 4. DPRK institutions involved in nutrition education are sensitized to the importance of products of diversified organic production systems (agroforestry, livestock, legumes, fruits and vegetables)
In the frame of this project, sensitisation workshops about diversified nutrition with representatives from ministries that are involved in nutrition education and food management as well as their respective research institutes and academies will be organized. Furthermore, educational materials targeted at the household level will be developed. Due to their particular importance, childcare institutions will receive special attention. Nutrition education should target not only households, but also decision makers who have an impact on the planning of food production. Consequently, elements from nutrition education will also be included into the capacity building activities implemented under Result 2 and Result 3.
While corporate farm production is highly regulated, people and institutions in DPRK have some freedom in what they choose to grow in their home and kitchen gardens. For many people, these gardens are the main source of non-grain foodstuffs. Considering the high relevance of those non-grain foods for peoples’ nutrition, home and kitchen gardens will receive special attention in the nutrition education component and will be a focus in the model farm.
While corporate farm production is highly regulated, people and institutions in DPRK have some freedom in what they choose to grow in their home and kitchen gardens. For many people, these gardens are the main source of non-grain foodstuffs. Considering the high relevance of those non-grain foods for peoples’ nutrition, home and kitchen gardens will receive special attention in the nutrition education component and will be a focus in the model farm.
Partners: Pyongyang International Information Center for New Technology and Economy (PIINTEC)
Donor organization: European Union
Contact person: Alejandro Espinoza – a.espinoza@ifoam.bio
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ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ACADEMY FOR EXTENSION AGENTS - OAAEA
Organic Sector Capacity Building Activities
As a part of IFOAM’s Organic Sector Capacity Building Activities, the OAAEA Project is a follow-up of the IFOAM Organic World Congress in 2011 in the Republic of Korea.
OBJECTIVE
This 2,5-year cooperative project between IFOAM - Organics International and the Rural Development Administration of the Republic of Korea (RDA) intends to develop curricula and aims to train coaches and extension agents in order to support organic conversion and extension in the Republic of Korea. This way, the OAAEA will contribute to the capacity of Korean extension agents for organic agriculture and therefore empower organic farmers and their institutions.
DUAL CONCEPT
IFOAM - Organics International and the RDA offer two 6-months training courses, each for about 20 participants from all over Korea, which include face-to-face events as well as e-learning units. The participants will be coached in their extension activities and develop objectives and content for practical trainings of extension agents.
To achieve a higher relevance, more outreach and a greater impact compared to simple trainings participants of the OAAEA will be asked to apply of what is taught by providing training to farmers and peers using the “farmer field school” and the “train the trainers” methodologies.
Farmer-Field-School Approach
The participants will train a farmers group of about 10 – 15 farmers on chosen topics like organic technologies or organic certification. Beforehand, the OAAEA will help them to determine appropriate methodology and training contents.
Train-the-Trainers Approach
The participants will teach a group of about 8 – 10 peers, replicating the OAAEA training content to extension agents in their region.
CONSTANT MONITORING
Throughout the course, participants get support for the application of the learned content and to set up their training units. Furthermore, IFOAM - Organics International and RDA will undertake field visits to farmers and peers.
OUTREACH
Through the interaction of course participants with extension agents, the project reaches directly about 360 peers and 500 farmers. The eventual potential outreach is several thousand farmers.
OPPORTUNITIES
The OAAEA has a great potential to strengthen the Extension Services in the Republic of Korea and effectively improve its methodology. In addition, it provides farmers with up-to-date knowledge of technology and empowers them for self-help and business development, facilitating their access to markets. Participants of the OAAEA will be able to extend their collaboration skills and promote the uptake of environmentally sound organic practices.
INTERIM CONCLUSION
In July 2013, the first group of OAAEA participants has successfully completed the training course and received their OAAEA certificates at the RDA during the second face-to-face session.
The first training session concluded two important outcomes. Firstly, the translation of the IFOAM Training Manual for Organic Agriculture into Korean was completed. Secondly, the development of a conversion manual for farmers and extension agents was issued in Korean. These two publications will be key resources for future OAAEA courses, as well as future extension support beyond the program period.
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