wrap up meeting

1. SEED DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT
WESTERN SUDAN RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT PROJECT
FOLLOW UP MISSION – 2/2015
Wrap up meeting – El Obeid
26 February 2015

2. AGENDA
A. Overview
B. SDP
C. WSRMP

3. Overview
Follow up mission for WSRMP
and SDP
To assess implementation,
identify bottlenecks, and
provide recommendations for
improvement

4. AGENDA
A. Overview
B. SDP
C. WSRMP

5. SDP: Project Status
For IFAD - ‘Problem Project’
status due to slow progress on
key milestones
MTR October 2014 proposed
changes in design to achieve
project goals

6. Key recommendations
 Revise Project approach to engage with private
sector
 abandon the requirement that the PSCs be required to purchase
and sell seeds locally
 explore opportunities throughout the value chain
 Seed growers
 commission studies to identify sites suitable for successful seed
production for SGGs
 enable medium sized farmers to join the Programme with
suitable plots and skills for seed growing, on a pilot basis
 Rural finance
 restructure SGGs and GPGs to make them compatible with
ABSUMI
 provide support and improve coordination with ABSUMI&Bara’ah

7. Key recommendations (cont’d)
 Commission value chain studies - urgent
 Strengthen Project management
 strengthen the PCU with a PPP consultant - urgent
 strengthen the extension teams for farming as a
business.
 Revise Project design
 joint IFAD and Government of The Sudan mission in
early 2015 to finalise revised Project design upon
recruitment of the PPP consultant

8. The new vision for SDP
GPG
ARC
Registered seed
Foundation seed
SGG
Certified seed
PSC
PSC
• mgt of
storage
• processing
groundnut, sesame, cowpea
sorghum & millet
hybrids & OPVs
Informal
distribution
V
a
l
u
e
c
h
a
i
n
s
t
u
d
y
• Processors
• Feed
• Food
FARMING AS A BUSINESS

9. Components - Overview
Policy and
Law
FSA
ARC - Supply
of registered
seed
Farming groups
and extension
Private sector
engagement
Rural Finance
Farming groups
and extension
Private sector
engagement
Rural Finance
Project
Coordination
and
Management

10. Component 1
Policy and
Law
FSA
ARC - Supply
of registered
seed
Farming groups
and extension
Private sector
engagement
Rural Finance
Farming groups
and extension
Private sector
engagement
Rural Finance
Project
Coordination
and
Management

11. Component 1: Institutional and
Regulatory Environment Strengthening
and Development
 Status:
Slow progress in 2014
Serious delays in procurement
Main outcomes should be completed in
2015

12. Component 1: Institutional and
Regulatory Environment Strengthening
and Development
Seed Policy and Plan
Seed Act and UPOV
Compliance
ISTA accreditation of the lab
Seed Inspectors accredited on
State level

13. Component 2
Policy and
Law
FSA
ARC - Supply
of registered
seed
Farming groups
and extension
Private sector
engagement
Rural Finance
Farming groups
and extension
Private sector
engagement
Rural Finance
Project
Coordination
and
Management

14. Component 2: ARC
 Status
 Little improvement in ARC capacity to produce registered seeds -
groundnut and sesame in particular
 Procurement still delayed
 ARC trained on participatory research
 ARC conducted a successful 2014 season of participatory
research
 Recommendations
 ARC distribute the participatory research results in March
 ARC develop a protocol for PR including criteria for assessment,
sex-disaggregation and analysis etc to consider women
perceptions and preferences and ARC Staff to be sensitized on
gender issues
 ARC follow up on procurement and requests for internal/external

15. Component 2: Extension sub-
team
 Status
 Good support to the 7 SGGs in 2014
 Adopted MTR recommendations on development of
database and communication plan
 Recommendations
 more involvement of ARC in extension and FFS training
 Conduct annual adoption survey
 Complete communication plan in advance of season
 Conduct cost benefit analysis
 Inclusion of baby trials besides mother trials for
comparison
 Reform SGGs to ABSUMI model
 Develop graduation criteria
 Develop a seed buyer database (name, mobile, facilities
etc)

16. Component 2: Seed Grower
Groups
 Status
 7 SGGs, planned 1,300, planted 988, inspected 937, certified
801
 Mid size farmers included in the SDP as seed growers
 Sold seed to project or locally
 Recommendations
 Ensure SGGs have PSC demonstrations in 2015
 SGG business plans should be developed for each crop/location
detailing the incremental costs and benefits for seed vs. grain
production
 Reform SGGs to fit ABSUMI model – link to seasonal loans
 Conduct Farming as a Business training
 Facilitate linkage between ARC, SGGs, traders and PSCs –
WFP?

17. Component 2: Farmer Field
Schools
 Status
 SDP recruited a national consultant to technically support
the extension sub-teams and build their capacities as
facilitators in the establishment and management of FFS
 Seven FFSs were established by extension sub-teams: 2
in NK and 5 in SK
 No implementation during season in SK and partial in NK
 Recommendations
 Recruit consultant by April to develop FFS manual and
conduct ToT
 Consultant to ideally provide support and further training as
required during the season
 Conduct FFS as needed, every two weeks at most

18. Component 3
Policy and
Law
FSA
ARC - Supply
of registered
seed
Farming groups
and extension
Private sector
engagement
Rural Finance
Farming groups
and extension
Private sector
engagement
Rural Finance
Project
Coordination
and
Management

19. Component 3: MDETs
 Status
 Six LETs, 74 communities, 105 groups and 205 demos
 Trained in creating knowledge with farmers, communication
skills, gender in agriculture, seed testing and community
development/participation
 GPG database developed
 Recommendations:
 Finalise recruitment of consultant for training needs assessment
(March)
 Conduct identified training
 Use contact farmers to host PSC demos
 Develop new demos for 2015 that show incremental impact of
improved seeds + seed dressing + fertiliser
 Revisiting roles and responsibilities of the MDETs and sub teams
to meet “Farming as Business” requirements.
 MDETs and M&E to agree on standard units of measurement for
use in knowledge sharing, presentations etc.

20. Component 3: Grain Producers
Groups
 Status
 105 GPGs have been formed (NK 42, SK 63) with 8,362
household members (39% women participation)
 GPGs cover 100% of target farmer groups and 80% of
target beneficiaries for 2014. Target figure same in 2015
 SK 96%, NK 93% contact farmer demonstration plots
approved
 Demonstration plot field days and exchange visits used as
seed promotion activities
 Recommendations
 Urgently reform SGGs to fit ABSUMI model, link to
seasonal loans
 Train GPGs on Farming as a Business
 Develop linkages to SGGs, traders and PSCs – WFP?

21. Comp 3: PPP – Creation of Effective
Demand – Prerequisite for Increasing
Supply
 5 Key ingredients for increasing effective demand:
 Understanding of improved seed
 pre-MTR: demos limited to a few ARC released varieties
 2015 and on: demos include PSC plus ARC varieties
 Understanding of improved inputs
 pre-MTR: demos limited to micro-dosing
 2015 and on: demos include herbicides, planters, harvesters, etc
 Access to Markets
 pre-MTR: GPGs – no activities SGGs – model for linkages with PSCs
unworkable
 2015 and on: GPGS: Value Chain studies identify improved market opportunities
SGGS: Commercial Linkages between SGGs and PSCs
 Farming as a Business (FAAB)
 pre-MTR: No activities
 2015 and on: FAAB TOT for extension workers, then roll-out to GPGs and
SGGs
 Access to Production Finance
 pre-MTR: No activities
 2015 and on: 1) ABSUMI production finance piloted 2) Value Chain input
finance explored

22. Increasing Supply – Key
Ingredients
 Farmers have access to improved seed through many
channels:
 saved improved seed (esp. for SPV such as sesame,
groundnuts)
 local improved seed from neighbours (esp. for SPVs)
 Farmers/Traders who informally select seed, can be adequate
 GPG F1 seed better
 SGG “pre-certified” seed even better
 Certified seed supply from PSCs is key when:
 Locally available OPVs have deteriorated
 New OPV varieties are available
 Hybrids are adopted
 Pre MTR: unworkable; production of fully certified seed by SGGs
sold to PSCs and then sold back to GPGs

23. How SDP Will Increase Improved
Seed Supply: 2015 and on
 SGGs will be facilitated to form links to supply
seed to PSCs
 SGGs will receive basic or certified seed from
PSCs
 PSCs will make decisions on source of basic or
certified seed to supply SGGs
 SGGs may retain some “pre-certified” seed
that can be sold informally and locally

24. How SDP Will Increase Improved
Seed Supply: 2015 and on
 GPGs that use certified seed for older improved OPVs
may retain some seed for local informal sale – this is
okay!
 PSCs facilitated to demonstrate and supply the best
new/pure OPV and hybrid certified seed through a
diversity of supply channels.
 PSCs facilitated to demonstrate and supply improved
seeds for other rainfed cash and food security crops
(Sunflower, Watermelon, Pigeon Pea, Hibiscus)
 Chemicals and equipment that will raise productivity
and lower risk of farmers
 Through diverse supply channels
 Directly – bulk sales to GPGs
 Agro dealers
 Traders

25. 2015 and on: New Roles and
Responsibilites
 ARC:
 PR includes new PSC seed varieties
 ARC production and supply of basic seed is
negotiated with PSCs, not SDP
 SGG:
 SGGs helped to negotiate directly with PSCs
 SGGs may retain some seed for local sale
 FAAB training
 Access to credit facilitated

26. 2015 and on: Roles and
Responsibilites
 GPG:
 Linked to PSCs and supply chain/service providers for
seed/inputs/equipment
 Linked with market opportunities
 FAAB training
 Access to Finance facilitated
 ABS:
 Linked to PSCs for financing seed production and
marketing seed/inputs/equipment
 Linked to seed/input/equipment supply chain for
financing opportunities

27. 2015 and on: Roles and
Responsibilites
PSCs (and input/equipment suppliers):
Role #1: Buyers of seed from SGGs
linked to SGGs, and linkage supported
no restrictions on marketing of seed
purchased from SGGs
no restrictions on source of higher class of
seeds
Role #2: Suppliers of seed, inputs, equipment
Demonstrations facilitated by SDP
Linkage to supply chain/service providers
facilitated by SDP
No restrictions on source of certified seeds

28. Component 3: Rural Finance
 Main problems at MTR were lack of financing linkages
 (a) due to absence of suitable partners in the project areas
 (b) lack of suitable product
 (c) lack of harmony of GPG/SGG structure ABSUMI methodology
 MTR recommended
 (a) establishment of 2 new ABSUMI units in Abu Juibeha & Al Rahad
 (b) design of a new seasonal loan product for men’s groups
 (c) restructuring of GPG/SGG to meet ABSUMI criteria
 (d) disbursement of more than 1,500 seasonal loans in 2015.
 Main areas of progress were;
 (a) Budget for two new units were approved by ABS HQ
 (b) Seasonal loan product developed by ABSUMI
 (c) RF manager formalised for SDP

29. Component 3: Rural Finance
(cont’d)
 Lack of timely action by SDP has resulted in slow progress
and emergency situation related to:
 (a) establishing the two ABSUMI units
 (b) restructuring the SGG/SPGs at the community level
 (c) dilution of the MTR recommendation on ABSUMI
methodology, resulting in higher risk
 Recommendations:
 (a) restructure GPGs/SGGs through extension teams by
mid April
 (b) organise vehicles and equipment to start-up ABSUMI
Units on emergency basis by end of April
 (c) Ensure disbursement of ABSUMI/Baraah loans to 1,400
farming households from around 75 groups in
approximately 30 communities in the 4 SDP Localities

30. AGENDA
A. Overview
B. SDP
C. WSRMP

31. WSRMP: Project status
 Satisfactory implementation and
impact
 Two Year Extension and top up
financing
Closing 31 December 2016
New financing: USD 3.2 million IFAD
grant

32. WSRMP top-up: delay in start-
up
 Not yet countersigned by GoS
 Majority of activities to start at
beginning of 3rd quarter
 Implications
All planned hafirs and wateryards
implemented in construction season
2016
Other activities: abiding by tighter
schedule

33. Advance
 WSRMP advance set at EUR 500,000
 This means appr 15 WAs over a 18 month
period
 In the case of slightest delay, with most
infrastructure works lumped for the
construction season 2015-2016
 shortage of funds
 stoppage in works
 MOFNE may consider requesting an increase
to the advance

34. Overview of Project
components
Rangeland
s &
pastures
Water
supply
Land recl.
& water &
soil
conservati
on
Livestock
activities
Fishery
activities
Rural
Financial
Services
Marketing
Community
Developmen
t and
Extension
Rural
Feeder
Roads
Mgt and
coordination

35. Component 1: Natural Resource
Management
Rangeland
s &
pastures
Water
supply
Land recl.
& water &
soil
conservati
on
Livestock
activities
Fishery
activities
Rural
Financial
Services
Marketing
Community
Developmen
t and
Extension
Rural
Feeder
Roads
Mgt and
coordination

36. Sub–Component 1.1. Rangelands and
Pastures – stock routes
 Status
 Re-demarcation of stock routes remains an issue
 The Stock Route Co-management Mechanism is in
place but seems still to be effective
 The interstate committee has recommended a
consultative workshop for the SRCM to be held in
March 2015
 Recommendations
 WSRMP details the reasons to why re-demarcation is
needed and where it is through disagreement,
determines how to resolve these issues
 The SRCM meeting should be held as a matter of
urgency

37. Sub–Component 1.1.
Rangelands and Pastures –
Conflict Resolution Centers
 Status
 The CRC model has worked well in NK and has broadened its
remit to include resolution of crop damage, land disputes
 CRC require additional training
 Conflict Resolution Unit in NK has been set-up but is not yet
functional
 Recommendations
 Clarify the roles and responsibilities of the different SRCM
committees and of each committee member
 Conduct additional training for CRC committees
 Postpone the expansion of the NK CRU model to SK and WK is
until an evaluation of the success of the NK unit done
 The next supervision mission evaluates if the workload of the NK
CRCs is too much to maintain its voluntary basis or if a system of

38. Sub–Component 1.1.
Rangelands and Pastures –
Rangelands
 WSRMP has adopted in full the
recommendation to only invest in land
rehabilitation in community (hema) rangeland
where control and management can be better
enforced
 All recommendations adopted

39. Sub–Component 1.2. Water
Supply
 Status
 Only visited one hafir - well had some standing water but it
was being diverted to a pond for animal watering
 Water fee is based on ability to pay with 3 payment costs in
the village
 Recommendations
 to deepen and enlarge the silting basin storage of hafirs in
order to provide extra water above the ground level
 To review if the capture and use of waste water to irrigate
small-scale vegetable gardens by women is feasible, or if
this will increase the draw-down on the hafir water supply
too quickly
 Assess if a unified acceptable water tariff rate on cost-
recovery basis is feasible, or if communities should set

40. Sub–Component 1.3. Land
Reclamation and Water and soil
Conservation
 Status
 Continuing chisel ploughing in Hema lands
 Sand dune fixation liked by the communities but what was seen
in the field was not well established
 Progress on re-forestation and avoid deforestation activities (e.g.
SSB, fruit trees)
 Recommendations
 Plant tree and shrub seeds earlier than the current March
planting date, so that the seedlings are much bigger when
transplanted in July/August
 Continue training on the importance of watering and managing
the newly transplanted seedlings.
 Conduct thematic study on the cumulative investments in sand
dune fixation, water provision, SBB and fruit and high value tree
production on village life, job creation, change in living
conditions, school attendance etc.

41. Sub–Component 1.4. Livestock
activities
 Status
 Most of the suggested Agreed Actions have not been
addressed with two being proposed for
implementation in the Additional Financing project:
 Guar production system for goat production
 Provide further support to fisheries activities.
 Recommendations
 Add budget for the Guar goat activities or delete it from the
project extension
 The May 2015 Mission assesses the relevance of the May
2104 recommendations now that some of these activities may
not be included in the WSRMP extension.

42. Sub–Component 1.4. Livestock
activities
 Status
 Most of the suggested Agreed Actions have not been
addressed with two being proposed for
implementation in the Additional Financing project:
 Guar production system for goat production
 Provide further support to fisheries activities.
 Recommendations
 Add budget for the Guar goat activities or delete it from the
project extension
 The May 2015 Mission assesses the relevance of the May
2104 recommendations now that some of these activities may
not be included in the WSRMP extension.

43. Component 2: Rural Finance and
Marketing
Rangeland
s &
pastures
Water
supply
Land recl.
& water &
soil
conservati
on
Livestock
activities
Fishery
activities
Rural
Financial
Services
Marketing
Community
Developmen
t and
Extension
Rural
Feeder
Roads
Mgt and
coordination

44. Comp 2: Rural Finance
 Areas of progress
 Development of MF Units accepted by States
 30 CTs trained as a part of strengthening the STs for project sustainability
 245 new SCGs formed inside project areas and 337 SCGs formed outside.
 Total 1,417 SCGs in 255 Villages, 27,367 members, SDG 3.3 million savings.
 343 SCGs linked to financial institutions
 Five village associations formed as pilot
 ABSUMI
 6 ABSUMI units are operational and 6 new units to be launched in 2015. Total
12 ABSUMI Units across 7 States by end of 2015.
 Outreach to around 28,000 households
 ABSUMI Issues
 Defaults in Lawaga mainly due to restrictions in 2 wheeler mobility reflecting
poorly on overall ABSUMI performance
 78% of portfolio concentrated on livestock activities

45. Comp 2: Rural Finance
 Recommendations
Strengthen the associations
Continue SCG formation
Immediately address the repayment
problem in Lagawa
Diversification of the portfolio

46. Comp 2: Marketing
 MTR recommendation: Construct/Rehabilitate
markets:
 Rahad - done
 Abu Gubeiha - done
 Babanosa - done
 El Obeid – done
 Al Mazroob – escalation in price, to be finalized with top-
up financing
 Training of Gov officials: to commence
immediately
 Livestock Market Information System: to be
assessed by supervision mission 2015

47. Component 3: Community
Development and Extension
Rangeland
s &
pastures
Water
supply
Land recl.
& water &
soil
conservati
on
Livestock
activities
Fishery
activities
Rural
Financial
Services
Marketing
Community
Developmen
t and
Extension
Rural
Feeder
Roads
Mgt and
coordination

48. Comp 3: Community Dev. & Ext
Status:
 Programme activities covered 143 communities (44
in NK, 19 in SK and 80 in WK).
 9295 HHs benefited from the Programme
interventions
 Programme activities focused on increasing
functionality of the communities (CDCs) to improve
social and productive services
Recommendations:
 Provide additional efforts to include the nomads
 Consolidation of the benefits and upscaling of the
success.

49. Status of the Extension:
 MDETs continued rendering capacity building
programmes for community structures to confront
climate change, agric and livestock production.
 LEN strengthened (58% active, with 85%
efficiency and 71% communities covered.
 10759 families benefited from LEN.
 Women fully involved.
Recommendations:
 focus on benefits, impacts and sustainability.
Comp 3: Community Dev. & Ext

50. Component 3 – Community
Development and Extension
 Community Development Communities
 As noted in the previous mission the erosion of the purchasing
power of the revolving fund continues to impact negatively on the
ability of the CDC to make effective use of the revolving fund
 In the Additional Financing the revolving fund is costed at USD
1,750 per CDC
 Recommendations
 Evaluate the revolving funds and see which can manage a top-
up, and/or if additional well performing SCGs should be
supported to invest in LPG
 By the next mission the PCU provide a review and proposal for
the amount of the CDC revolving fund for existing and new
CDC’s

51. Component 4: Rural Feeder
Roads
Rangeland
s &
pastures
Water
supply
Land recl.
& water &
soil
conservati
on
Livestock
activities
Fishery
activities
Rural
Financial
Services
Marketing
Community
Developmen
t and
Extension
Rural
Feeder
Roads
Mgt and
coordination

52. Comp 4: Rural roads
USD 8.7 million OFID loan
Closing: 31 December 2014
Suspension of OFID portfolio
in October 2014

53. Comp 4: Rural roads (cont’d)
 Elsimey – Elsamasim road for a length of 183 km
 38% of works done
 Payments for works completed before closing
 OFID can process direct WA
 OFID can reimburse gov payments from OFID loan
 Payments for works completed past closing
 Requires extension
 OFID has (unofficially) confirmed that extension
may be considered retroactively
 Escalation of cost (28%) mean that Gov. share of
road cost increases

54. Thank you!