PRONEA Support Project

PRONEA Support Project

This project supports the government's National Programme for Agricultural Extension (PRONEA), operating in 42 districts throughout the country. In addition to other financing, it is receiving US$1.4 million in grant funding from the European Union through IFAD.

The goal of the project, which evolved from the now completed Agricultural Markets Support Programme (PAMA), is to contribute to a reduction in absolute poverty and to an improvement in the quality of life of poor rural women and men.

Specifically, the project works to help subsistence farmers – particularly woman-headed and disadvantaged households – attain increased returns and improved household food security through increased production efficiency. This increase is to be achieved through wider access to effective technical support services focused on districts; better organized producer groups influencing the supply of services; and delivery of support services in response to requests.

The project promotes a new extension approach based on demand-driven service provision to guarantee the quality of services provided to farmers. Targeting small farming households, especially in the poorest localities, it ensures that disadvantaged groups such as women, young people, the elderly and people affected by HIV/AIDS are involved in project activities, which include:

• Introducing low-cost techniques and technologies to raise crop and livestock farmers' productivity
• Broadening access to technical support services, including outsourced services
• Helping to establish farmers' organizations
• Building capacity within the agricultural sector.

Source: IFAD