**Water Efficiency in Rice and Cotton**
The project aims at improving the household economy combined with the promotion of more efficient production of rice and cotton of 45,000 smallholder families in two regional clusters: Central Asia (Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan) and South Asia (India, Pakistan). To motivate rice and cotton farmers to be more efficient with irrigation water and other inputs, a push-pull approach is applied: smallholders receive technical assistance and market access for more efficient production while private companies enter into reliable business partnerships.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Asia |
Agriculture & food security Water
Agricultural water resources
Water supply Water sector policy Agricultural development |
01.10.2014
- 30.06.2018 |
CHF 3’454’600
|
- Rice and cotton farmers adopt more efficient and more effective production methods (push)
- Private sector companies purchase commodities from farmers who produce with more efficient and more sustainable methods (pull)
- Multi-stakeholder water stewardship plans are implemented (water policy)
- Push-Pull approach is scaled up to more farmers and more companies
- RAS for 45’000 smallholders
- Secured market access for 70 to 80% of the farmers
- Policy influencing at local level
- Crowding-in of new companies.
- Stakeholder workshops in the four countries organised and joint planning
- Negotiations with private sector companies successfully completed
- Baselines elaborated and ready for use
- Joint elaboration of project document with a strong joint ownership
- HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation
- Coordination with SDC programs on efficient water use in the two geographic clusters
- CORIGAP (Closing rice yield gaps in Asia)
- FIBL – Langzeitversuch für biologischen Landbau
- Grow Africa
- GFRAS
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION
AGRICULTURE
WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION
WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION
AGRICULTURE
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Basic drinking water supply
Agricultural water resources
Water sector policy and administrative management
Water sector policy and administrative management
Agricultural development
Cross-cutting topics The project takes account of gender equality as a cross-cutting theme.
The project takes account of democratisation, good governance and human rights as cross-cutting themes.
Aid Type Mandate with fiduciary funds
Project number 7F09186
Background |
Rice and Cotton are two key crops. While rice is the most important staple food for humans, cotton is a key commodity for the textile industry. These two crops consume around 30% of the world irrigation water. Around 250 million smallholders are involved in the cultivation of rice and cotton. Cotton is relevant for food security because of its qualities in crop rotation as well as for income generation capacity. Furthermore, cotton seed oil is the most relevant kitchen oil in cotton regions. |
Objectives |
To improve water use efficiency of rice and cotton, firstly by promoting effective water use as well as better agronomic approaches, and by involving the private sector as well as platforms such as the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) and Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). |
Target groups |
45’000 smallholders (15% of women; 85% of men) in four countries: India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic. |
Medium-term outcomes |
|
Results |
Expected results: Results from previous phases: |
Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
Credit area |
Development cooperation |
Project partners |
Contract partner Swiss Non-profit Organisation Other partners Coop, Reismühle Brunnen, Mars Food, Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS), Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation. |
Coordination with other projects and actors |
|
Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 3’454’600 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 3’409’282 Total project since first phase Budget inclusive project partner CHF 6’000’000 |
Project phases |
Phase 2
01.11.2018
- 31.12.2022
(Completed)
Phase 1 01.10.2014 - 31.10.2018 (Completed) |