Building the local capacity for the manufacturing of agricultural tools In North Darfur

Since 1989 ITDGPractical Action Sudan has been working in North Darfur on a blacksmith training programme which managed to train over 200 blacksmiths in the production of traditional agricultural tools.  After the blacksmiths had completed the training programme they formed a community based organization named Blacksmith Society. Its main objectives were to provide equipment and to support the sustainable supply of materials to enhance the market.

A few months ago, ICRC approached ITDGPractical Action to request its support in providing 60,000 assorted pieces of tools for local farmers. ITDGPractical Action organized over 60 blacksmiths in El Fashir market. Most of them were initially trained by ITDGPractical Action, but they had fled their villages during the conflict. They manage to successfully complete the task with only a slight delay in the agreed time. The blacksmiths were very happy to have won that contract and meet the challenge of achieving this task. The impact achieved can be summarized as follows:-

1. Each individual got an income of SD 360,000 (approximately US$ 1400).
2. Five of the young blacksmiths got married immediately after they completed the job and received their final payment.
3. All of those who had not completed the payment of government fees for their workshop training have managed to do so, and now they have all acquired work space of 9m² at El Fashir market.
4. This income provided good capital for them to buy all the necessary equipment and raw materials to be prepared for the next rainy season.

ICRC provided an excellent opportunity for building the capacity of local tools manufacturing. “Before executing this contract, we were sitting in the market doing very little work, mainly sharpening of knives and axes and hardly meeting our family requirements” said Yahia Mogu. The strategy followed by ICRC in acquiring the tools they needed to distribute locally has enhanced local manufacturers' capacities, and also ensured the production of the most appropriate tools. Tools have been made to cope with the variety of soil types and the type of crop to be cultivated. They also took into account the gender and age of the users, for instance in sandy soil, elder males use a weeder known locally as Jeraiyah shaggaga, women use Jeraiya kattala, while children use small version known as Kor and usually go in a group.

It is recommended that those who want to provide tools to farmers, should first sit with farmers and with local blacksmiths to ensure that there is full understanding of the user requirements.

Further reading: Blacksmiths forge new skills

This article appeared in issue ten of Sharing, ITDGPractical Action Sudan's newsletter, which looks at how ITDGPractical Action is working to achieve its aims of reducing vulnerability and making markets work for the poor.