IBSA Fund Annual Report- COMOROS

Key Achievements

• Organic agricultural techniques were introduced, and farmers were trained, which enables a significant reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The organic farming school has brought together the indigenous knowledge of farmers and the new practices based on accurate scientific data to improve agricultural production on the island of Mohéli.
• 15 tractor operators were trained, two of whom are currently working at the farm school.
• 20 composting units were established in Mibani. The compost was ready to use within 6 months; on average, 450 kg of compost were produced per unit.
• Over 10,000 young Comorians from the diaspora were targeted and exposed to the project activities via social media platforms.

Link of the Project to National Priorities

This project advances priorities defined in the rural development framework, the Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Sustainable Development, and the new agricultural policy of the Comoros. It enhances food production for small-scale farmers through an adaptive research strategy, demonstration of sound agricultural techniques for a variety of crops and the promotion of climate-resilient agricultural practices. The project benefits vulnerable groups, especially small-scale farmers, women and youth, through their participation at the rural economic development centres.

Strengthening South-South Cooperation

This IBSA-funded project is a good example of South-South cooperation. In addition to the financial support through the IBSA Fund, Comoros is benefiting from technical support from the South African Agricultural Research Council, which enhances the sharing of experiences and knowledge between the two partner countries.

This cooperation has also facilitated the linking of Comorian and South African institutions that will eventually be able to develop further collaborations beyond the lifetime of this project. Moreover, equipment, agricultural inputs and agricultural infrastructure were purchased in South Africa, providing new opportunities for local suppliers to explore the international market and South African products.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

The involvement of key stakeholders and partners at an early stage of the project is crucial for successful implementation. Sharing of responsibilities between the implementing entities should be clearly identified while designing the project.

The absence of a reliable maritime route to Mohéli delayed delivery of equipment from the main island. While this is a constant problem in the Comoros, it was further exacerbated in the aftermath of Cyclone Kenneth.

Way Forward

Sustainability of the project beyond the funding phase is a key component. Therefore, selecting experts permanently based on each island for training in South Africa ensures that skills to design and run irrigation infrastructure are available at any moment on the three islands.

The project is building capacity through the partnership between the South African research institute and the Comorian research institute. This enables resulting content and expertise to remain in the Comoros after project completion.

Water resources are continually being depleted, so proper water-saving strategies will be shared with the farmers during water-management training. Concerning the sustainability of the irrigation infrastructure, the project and the Rural Centre for Economic Development (CRDE) officials have organized awareness campaigns in Mibani and neighbouring communities.