Project News

From 2009, the Project began to assist individual farms of group members in adopting conservation and environmentally friendly techniques. We anticipate that in is way the techniques acquired at specific “points” (group farms) will be widely adopted (on individual farms) so that watershed conservation techniques will spread exponentially throughout the “areas”. The first step in this process is to make a “farm use plan” for individual farms.

Project Assistant Ayerza (right) discusses a plan for farmland use and conservation techniques with a group member. (October 15 2009 in Boqueron Arriba community)

GPS is used to survey the borders of an individual farm, and information about the slope of the land and vegetation is recorded. (September 30, 2009 in Boqueron Arriba community)

Extension worker Alexander transfers the survey results onto a farm map. (October 1, 1009 at the Project office)

Based on the farmer’s plan and the farm map, extension workers review the conservation techniques to be introduced, cost estimate and the implementation schedule. (September 16, 2009 at the Project office)

A group’s sustainability is evaluated using maturity indicators (please refer to Project News: “Evaluation and Monitoring of Group Activities” February 15, 2010) to ascertain that it is sufficiently mature before commencing assistance to the individual farms of the group members.

Regarding the material necessary for introducing conservation techniques, the Project provides for material up to a certain monetary limit and the beneficiary member covers the remainder. The member’s amount should be more than the Project’s amount.

Example of a future farm map. The slope of the land, crops and conservation techniques are indicated in each plot.

Evelyn (left, in charge of the Land Use Component of Chagres National Park) and author discuss measures for assisting individual farms. (October 20, 2009 at Chagres National Park office)

Through future Project News we will continue to inform you about the development of our assistance to individual farms.

(Mr. Taku MORI, Farm use plan / Environmental Education)