Social mobilization organizes farmers into village-level producer groups and valley-level producers’ associations. This addresses scattered production, weak aggregation and quality control, limited links between smallholders and extension or research, and the difficulty private buyers face in dealing with individual producers spread over large areas.
Social mobilization partners are also essential for irrigation development, which uses a community-driven approach linked to recovery of 50% of construction cost. Nutrition activities are mainstreamed at community level, particularly with women and youth.
The sub-component is implemented through experienced NGOs and rural support programmes, selected competitively for the three programme regions according to capacity, experience and area advantage. Partners are responsible for farmer organization and for facilitating links among farmer groups, the private sector, implementing agencies and the Value Chain Technical Assistance Team.
Main activities
- Engage social mobilization partners for the three regions and develop a community-interaction strategy with the PCU, line departments and the private sector.
- Train partner staff in programme objectives, coordination, reporting and accountability.
- Select priority valleys and crops with Agriculture Extension and Research, VCTAT and the PCU/RCUs, starting with potato and apricot.
- Establish village producer groups (including women’s groups), prepare village development plans, and identify women-headed households, landless people and unemployed youth for priority support.
- Form valley-level producers’ associations to support registration, business plans and bank accounts, with regional associations once valley bodies are operating profitably.
- Deliver nutrition training and materials through partner and extension staff to male and female community members.
Progress
Over 40,900 farmers have been organized under 162 formally registered Village Agriculture Cooperatives, with business plans and office-management support. These cooperatives are the main vehicle for value-chain investment, collective marketing and links with promoters.