Sustainable Food and Environment Improvement

Farmers build climate-resilient farms by putting proven agroecological practices into action. Training focuses on improving soil fertility, conserving water, diversifying crops, integrating livestock, and making small changes with existing resources to strengthen farm productivity in the face of unpredictable seasons and climate shocks.

Practical methods include mulching and cover cropping to retain moisture in the soil, and planting trees and woodlots to protect soils and strengthen the wider farm environment during floods.

Crop rotation, and compost and manure production help maintain soil fertility and reduce degradation, while drought-resistant seeds and seedlings distributed to project participants give families more resilient options for growing vegetables and other food crops.

Healthy livestock can provide families with food, manure and a valuable source of income, while well-managed animals can also make farms more resilient to climate pressures. The project supports farmers to improve animal health, welfare and productivity alongside crop production, with training on appropriate housing, equipment, feed and clean water, as well as vaccination, biosecurity and effective control of parasites.

Farmers learn how to produce, conserve and manage feed, including rearing Black Soldier Fly larvae as an alternative source of nutritious poultry feed. This reduces reliance on expensive commercial feeds and makes productive use of organic waste, helping families manage rising input costs while building more sustainable farming systems.

Climate shocks can affect more than what families grow. Changing weather can put pressure on food supplies and water resources, and increase the risk of illness, making good nutrition and hygiene an important part of household resilience.

Community Health Promoters work with farmer groups to strengthen knowledge of nutritious diets, food preparation, safe water use, hygiene and sanitation. Families learn how to make the most of the diverse foods they start growing from their kitchen gardens, helping them maintain a more varied diet.

Relying on a single source of income can leave farming families particularly exposed when drought, heavy rainfall, pests or other climate shocks affect production. The project helps families spread this risk by developing a range of farm-based enterprises and strengthening their ability to turn what they produce into reliable income.

Farmers and self-help groups build skills in business planning, financial literacy, savings and loans, and identifying viable income-generating opportunities. They are encouraged to diversify across crops, vegetables, fruits and livestock, alongside activities such as poultry production and Black Soldier Fly rearing, so that a setback in one part of the farm does not put the whole household income at risk.

The project puts women and people who can face barriers to participation at the centre of its work. Activities are designed to ensure these groups can take part in training, farming, income-generating activities and decisions within their households and communities.

Gender and social inclusion is integrated into farmer training via various approaches, for example the Transformative Household Methodology (THM). THM gives families space to discuss how roles and responsibilities are shared, as well as who has access to and control over household resources and the benefits they generate. This can open up more equal conversations about farming, income and household decisions.