The main goal of the project is to contribute to poverty alleviation and socio-economic development in poorer rural areas of Timor-Leste.
RDPIII is contributing to the formulation of key national policies and development strategies whilst implementing associated activities in Manufahi District, including: agriculture and extension support; agribusiness promotion; rural roads and irrigation rehabilitation, and; institutional strengthening & capacity building of line agencies and key stakeholders.
The RDPIII approach involves reinforcing local capacity for improved management administration and M&E, both at the national and district level whilst providing assistance in the process of decentralisation for integrated agricultural development and infrastructure improvement. This approach aims to reduce rural poverty through targeted interventions, i.e. improvement of trade in agricultural products; providing support to the development of road systems; assisting with the development of efficient irrigation systems; providing support to entrepreneurs who wish to start trading, agro-processing or other small-scale economic investment through micro credit, etc.
A consortium led by Landell Mills Ltd was contracted to provide TA the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) and Ministry of Infrastructure (MoI) to implement RDP3 through:
Project Management:assistance in the design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation of programme initiatives; preparation of programme estimates under EDF-9; development of visibility and communication campaigns; submission of progress and financial reports;
Technical Assistance:TA in the field of agricultural production (coffee, rice, cashew, maize, livestock, aquaculture, training of extension staff, etc.); support to private sector rural services (e.g. agribusiness, extension, construction, business development services, etc. using a co-financing approach); agroforestry activities; rural road infrastructure development (including using a local labour-intensive/community development approach); capacity building of government staff at national and district level.
The following Results achieved on the Programme as of December 2012:
Result 1: Sustainable agricultural production and quality / value of products passing along the value chains increased through:
Implementation of improved production packages by Pilot Farmer Groups with: 11 groups in rice SRI/ICM; 23 groups in Maize;, 17 groups in Coffee rehabilitation, 3 groups in Cashew; 5 groups in Coconut; 15 groups in fresh vegetables; 5 groups in potato production; 8 groups in Home-Gardens; 8 groups in Cattle Breeding; 7 Groups in Cattle Fattening; 12 groups in aquaculture. Productivity increased in 450 smallholder farms by over 30%; 20% of coffee plantation areas rehabilitated; Over 1,000 farmers attending extension demonstrations, >30% women; 38% increase in amount of rice marketed.
Result 2: Private sector and local communities’ rural services improved (market and community-based agricultural development), including:
36 Informal Seed Production cooperatives; 30 village-livestock-workers trained; Young Graduate groups trained and supported; 21 SMEs involved in agro-processing were trained and supported under cost-sharing arrangements; 92 profitable community-based small enterprises established, of which 32% managed by women and 26% by youth (under 30); 54 entrepreneurs trained on land preparation, agro-processing and business administration;
Result 3: Selected rural roads / irrigation schemes rehabilitated and maintenance regimes introduced, including: 1,200 km rural /district roads surveyed, prioritized and classified; 43km improved & maintained; rural roads design, geotechnical materials and bioengineering works standards and manuals developed and disseminated to assist with climate-proofing of rural infrastructure; 10 WUAs established with sustained O&M systems under M&E/support system by MAF; 200ha of additional irrigated area with enough water for 1 crop/year;
Result 4: Government capacity to plan, implement and monitor through decentralised activities improved., including: 70% MAF staff in Manufahi trained on planning, implementing and monitoring of rural / agricultural development projects;