Innovations in Agriculture

Why use vouchers?

In 2008, countries experienced unprecedented strains on food supply and purchasing power due to the food price crisis. In Burkina Faso, high prices continued into 2009.

• Over a 6 month period in 2008, the price of rice, the main staple food for urban populations, increased from $28 for 50 kg sack in January 2008 to $46 by early June, a 63% increase.

• Before January 2008 an average middle class house-hold spent $120 on food each month. By early June, the same household was spending $207, a 73% increase.

• Effects of high prices were exacerbated for people still recovering from flooding in July 2007 and subse-quent irregular rainfall. These shocks had affected over 100,000 people, destroyed 13,000 MT of grain, reduced agricultural productivity, and caused grain prices to spike.

Despite high prices, markets were still functioning, and food, seeds, and other essential household goods were still available. In this context, CRS/Burkina Faso began six voucher-based projects in urban and rural areas.

A sampling of Burkina Faso’s voucher projects in 2008-2009

Rural livelihoods fairsCRS partners provided vouchers in exchange for shelter and other goods to help households recover assets lost to heavy flooding.

and the EnvironmentProviding access to food and supplies through vouchers

InnovationEach of 1,271 households (30% female-headed) received vouchers equivalent to $50. Vouchers were used to pur-chase the following items locally:

• Material for housing : corrugated iron sheets, ce-ment, doors, windows, etc,

• Food items: rice, maize, millet, sorghum• Cooking utensils: plates, buckets, ladles, spoons, etc.• Clothes for women and children

Outcomes• 208 vendors participated in the fairs (24% women)• More than $63,000 was directly injected in the

economy of the targeted areas.

Rasmata Sowedgo, 30, a rice farmer from rural Burkina Faso, received a voucher for fertilizer for her rice crop. Photo: Lane Hartill/CRS

CRS’s strategy: a market-based response

Vouchers can be exchanged for food, seed, shelter, livestock,

fertilizer, or other livelihoods needs. They enable vulnerable

populations to choose commodities they need; they boost local

economies; and they are flexible so can be used in both rural

and urban economies.

She now has to beg for food from neighbors. Photo: Lane Hartill

Poor harvests last year meant Rasmata has no grain reserves. Photo: Lane Hartill

Increase of ordinary rice price in Burkina Faso (bag of 50 kg)

Looking AheadCRS continues to provide vouchers as market-based solutions in emergency situations such as Haiti. It also provides assistance in development contexts, in urban and rural settings. CRS is continuing to study the impacts of voucher programming to improve its effectiveness.

Rural seed fairsCRS partners gave vouchers to households affected by flooding to help them rehabilitate lost agricultural land and respond to high seed prices. (Donor: OFDA)

Innovation • Each of 8,650 households (22% female-headed) received a voucher equivalent to $20. Vouchers were used to purchase

locally-produced certified and non-certified seeds

• 680 seed vendors (57% women) participated

Outcomes

• 286 MT of non-certified seed (95%) and 15 MT of certified seeds (5 %) were sold

• On average, beneficiaries were able to replant 1.1 hectares with their seeds

• Approximately $173,000 US was directly injected in the local economy

Urban basic needs vouchersIn Ouagadougu, beneficiaries receive vouchers for exchange for locally-available foodstuffs and basic livelihoods goods (Funder: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)

Innovation

• Each beneficiary receives one voucher equivalent to $22.50 per month over 6 months

• Authorized food and non-food items include: cereals (maize, millet, sorghum, rice), beans, vegetable oil, sugar, soap, salt

Outcomes

• 3,267 urban households are receiving vouchers (56% women)

• Recipients include city street cleaners, city garbage collectors, daily factory workers, elderly, disabled, and other vulner-able people

For more information, contact pqpublications@crs.org.