Technical workshop Maize Development for Farmers in Nusa Tenggara Timur

Background

As part of the Decent work for food security project, a participatory model for value chain development for decent work and sustainable rural development has been introduced in 13 communities/villages in Kupang district. Data and information on the three selected commodities relate to value chains in the targeted villages listed in the table below have been collected by an international consultant and a national consultant. These information have been used as background information in the context of the consultations with the local communities, various key actors in seaweed value chain, maize value chain, and livestock (cattle).

As a result of these consultations, the detailed set of short term interventions has already been identified and prepared under one yearwork plan. Furthermore as part of understanding the real context and identifying the needs in order to improve farmers and the local stakeholders’s capacity, a team of experts is carrying out in depth field assessment in order to strengthen these interventions under this particular project activities. The result of this field assessment will be used for developing a guidelines for farmers in improving their productivities. As part of fulfilling the immediate need for farmers in improving their productivities the guidelines and strategies will be delivered in a two-day workshop for farmers representative from each of the targeted area and other key stakeholder such as government extensive worker including local NGO that are working in the village to support the entrepreneurship development.

Objectives and Outputs

The objectives of the expected technical workshop for farmers are to:

• Improve the capacity of 120 maize farmers in Takari, and Amabi Oefeto sub districts in improving maize productivity;
• Strengthen identified market links between the producers and buyers identified through the value chain assessment process, including others that may be further identified during field assessment, and align product quality with market requirements; and
• Improve the capacity of 10 government extensive workers as well as village community facilitators and local NGO on maize productions.

Outputs

• Around 120 maize farmers in Takari, and Amabi Oefeto sub districts in improving maize productivity will have better understanding in various methods to improve production and with a view to meeting requirement of potential / guaranteed buyers that have been identified in the participatory value chain assessment carried out by the project in February to April 2014 in Kupang District.
• Around 10 government officials, local field facilitator from local NGO, and relevant local training provider will have improved knowledge in maize and cattle production and their advisory services quality on targeted products improved.