Continuous innovation program (Ex PIC)

Project completed
Potato crops © FDFA

Over three decades, Switzerland has successfully supported Bolivian Agricultural Innovation, leading to considerable production increases. Since 2007, an SDC project promoted a bottom-up, demand based innovation model. With the creation of the National Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (INIAF) above project is to be phased out and the accent set on strengthening INIAF through a multi-donor effort with the World Bank. Over the next 4 years, 30’000 poor producers will increase their production and income.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Bolivia
Agriculture & food security
Agricultural policy
Agricultural research
Agriculture value-chain development (til 2016)
01.10.2013 - 30.09.2018
CHF 8'670'400
Background

With a population of 10 million people, Bolivia remains among the poorest and most unequal countries in Latin America. Poverty incidence is 64% in rural areas and 41% in urban areas. Rural areas depend mainly on agriculture as livelihood basis. In order to generate additional income and reach food security, the poor in rural areas need to improve crop productivity and diversify production. To achieve this, Bolivia has formulated a broad strategy geared towards promoting a decentralized national agricultural innovation system under the leadership of the National Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (INIAF). The policy is clearly oriented at improving life and work quality for small and medium farming families.

Objectives

To contribute to poverty reduction and improvement of the quality of life of farm families through the increase in income and employment, thanks to the availability and use of improved technologies and other innovations. Project’s Objective: The capacities of the National System of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation, and in particular INIAF’s, strengthened and contribute to increasing the productivity and sustainability of small and medium size farming families.

Target groups

Direct Beneficiaries

  • 30’000 producers, men and women, members of communities mainly from the Bolivian Andean region.
  • 640 technicians, professionals and lead producers, men and women, trained on participative tools and methodologies for agricultural innovation.

Indirect Benificiaries

  • 150’000 family members in family farms will potentially be exposed to new technologies and agricultural practices.
  • 500’000 urban and rural consumers of agricultural products.
Medium-term outcomes

  • Objective 1: INIAF provides quality services to farming families and contributes through its leadership to the efficient operation of the National System of Agricultural Innovation (SNIAF).
  • Objective 2: The Continuous Innovation Program (PIC) has consolidated its participative innovation model, and contributes to the strengthening of the National System of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (SNIAF)
  • Objective 3: The National System of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (SNIAF) has improved its access to relevant international know-how and improved its capacity to promote new practices and institutional changes in generating agricultural innovations and providing technical assistance.

Results

Results from previous phases:  

Since 2007, 9’900 farm families adopted innovations (new technologies, seeds, etc) and improved their income by an average of 54%. Social capital was created through broad innovation networks in four departments (31 municipalities). These allowed for (a) a better linkage of the producer families to markets, (b) a greater awareness and involvement of the local and departmental authorities in agricultural issues and value chains and (c) a generally more enabling environment and framework. Local stakeholders have increased their ownership of innovation processes: they invested US$ 2.1 million in 54 agricultural research and development projects, while SDC’s financing was of US$ 1.9 million.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Foreign state institution
  • Central State of South East
  • SDC Field Office
  • National Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (INIAF); Departmental Innovation Councils (CDCs/RASP); Local platforms


Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF   8'670'400 Swiss disbursement to date CHF   8'659'474
Project phases

Phase 4 01.10.2013 - 30.09.2018   (Completed)

Phase 3 01.11.2012 - 30.06.2014   (Completed) Phase 2 01.01.2009 - 31.12.2013   (Completed)