Project Summary

During the last decade, several attempts with the new introduced IPM/FFS approach have been done through GEF/SGP@UNDP and FAO projects to find model of sustainable agriculture in Iran. The main goals of the mentioned projects are elimination of POPs pesticides and optimising chemical fertilizers, improve biodiversity, empowerment, reduction land degradation and climate change, and also emphasize on optimizing chemical fertilizers, minimizing chemical pesticides and elimination of POPs pesticides in diversified agro-ecosystem in different part of Iran.

The total assessment of the results has shown that new introduced approach was influential and improved biodiversity that helped to ecological balance in all agro-ecosystems, through decreasing their production costs and increasing livelihood because of added value. Gained economical achievements are the main and prior courage for local people to continue Integrated Production Management (IPM), which empowered them through Farmers Field School (FFS).

By gaining different experiences, after lots of efforts during these years in this procedure with different local communities around the country, and recent assessments, it is accepted that community based approach has better results and achievements than farmers based because, in such communities, members will learn how to produce a wide range of products but farmers usually used to work on some limited types. That?s why the variety of products increases the chance of success in market because of costumers? need.

Project Activities and Outputs:

1-Empower at least one community (about 80 families with 150-300 hectares irrigated and dry fed agriculture land) to implement Sustainable Agriculture (SA) and Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) guidelines.
2-Elimination chemical pesticides and fertilizers, through protecting agro-ecosystem diversity and producing 40 tonnes compost of organic waste.
3-Water management through collecting rainwater and drainage irrigation system, aquaculture.
4-Empowerment agro-ecosystem management, using clean energies and increasing ecosystem diversity
5-Establish safe food farm to fork market with production minimum 30 tonnes of 60 crops (fresh and processed via solar system)to provide 1000 member of CBO/IPM Group
6-Improved community livelihood through agro-ecotourism, direct shopping, reduction product cost, and increasing income through the mentioned activities.