Project Detail

Sustainable agroecology initiatives to reduce Polissya landscape land degradation

Ukrainian Polissya landscape is characterized by a low amount of humus and insufficient availability of nutrients in the soil. Moreover, the lands still suffer from the consequences of Chornobyl disaster. Therefore, local scientists developed an innovative approach on how to increase economic efficiency and improve the environmental balance. They promote cultivation of niche crops, for example, black cumin, milk thistle, amaranth and others. Niche crops cultivation is an integrated approach to resolve the situation of problematic, eroded and reclaimed lands that not only supports their self-healing and self-regulation, but also through the selection of certain species of plants provides highly efficient and economically attractive lands. Thus, the project goal is aimed at developing, demonstrating and distributing agro-ecological technologies of growing niche cultures as a tool to solve the problem of degraded land in agricultural landscapes of Polissya.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

NGO Communities Sustainable Development Centre

Country:

Ukraine

Area Of Work:

Land Degradation

Operational Phase:

OP6 -Y4 (Jul 18 - Jun 19)

Grant Amount:

US$ 49,930.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 22,900.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 20,080.00

Project Number:

UKR/SGP/OP6/Y4/STAR/LD/2019/41

Start Date:

4/2019

End Date:

2/2020

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Gender Focus

Gender equality is a part of project policy and all parties participate in project activities on equal base and benefit from project results. The project involved women farmers from the Association of Farmers and Private Landowners of Ukraine in Zhytomyr Oblast, women scientists from Zhytomyr National Agroecological University, and representatives of the Green Zhytomyr Region CSO Network (about 350 women took part in the project). In addition, the Communities? Sustainable Development Center consists of 70% women; the project coordinator was also a woman.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Introduction of innovative agro-ecological approach supports to increase local farmer?s income as well as decrease land degradation. Moreover, new cultures growing opens new sails markets for local farmers in the EU.

Notable Community Participation

Involvement of young people in the implementation of the project took place through scientific conferences, forums, trainings, exhibitions, demonstrations, as well as the Regional Youth Competition. The results of the project, its development were included in the curriculum of Zhytomyr National Agroecological University.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The project conducted a wide awareness raising and knowledge sharing campaign through a series of 14 public events, namely: two international scientific-practical conferences on land management and application of agroecologic practices, one international Ukrainian-Belarusian forum on sustainable community development, three trainings for youth and teachers, one Regional Youth Competition, three exhibitions- demonstrations, four Days of the field. In total, the project increased the environmental awareness, literacy and culture of the community and other partners in the amount of 800 people.

Project Results

The main goals of the project were achieved:
1. One technology for growing niche crops was developed and substantiated taking into account the peculiarities of the landscape of Zhytomyr Polissya, and 150 hectares of degraded land were restored.
2. The technology of growing niche crops developed by project was applied on four plots in Zhytomyr region with a total area of 150 ha (demonstration plot # 1 ? village of Kulishi, Yemilchyn district ? 50 ha, demonstration plot # 2 ? village of Velyki Kosharyshcha, Korostyshiv district ? 25 ha, demonstration plot # 3 village Pavlivka, Pulyn district ? 20 hectares, demonstration plot # 4 ? village of Korchivka, Pulyn district ? 55 ha).
3. Four communities use methods of sustainable land management.
4. Methodological recommendations on the technology of growing niche crops on degraded sod-podzolic soils of Zhytomyr Polissya, and one textbook on the methodology of growing milk thistle were prepared for students of agricultural educational institutions.
5. Information on the project activities results was posted on six sites; 10 news items, one video, three printed articles were published, and 28 posts on social networks were made.
6. The opportunities of the Association of Farmers and Private Landowners of Ukraine in Zhytomyr region were expanded by participating in national and international events. Information about technology and project partners in the amount of 200 people was disseminated.
7. Environmental awareness and culture of community members in the number of 800 people were increased; experience in eco-technology of growing niche crops in Polissya was disseminated by holding 14 public events, namely two international scientific-practical conferences on land management and agro-environmental practices, one international Ukrainian -Belarusian forum on sustainable community development, three trainings for youth and teachers, one Regional Youth Competition, three exhibitions-demonstrations, four Field Days.

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Indicators

Biophysical

Hectares of degraded land rest 150

Livehood

Number of households who have benefited* from SGP project 180

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