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WORLD CONGRESS ON AGROFORESTRY 201410-14 FEBRUARY 2014, DELHI, INDIATrees for Life: Accelerating the Impact of Agroforestry
Why volunteer? Insights from a farmer to farmer extension
program in Kenya and Uganda Evelyne Kiptot 1,*, Monica Karuhanga 2, Jane Kugonza 3, Ronald Wambire 3,
Steven Franzel1 1
1World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, Kenya, 2Makerere University, 3World Agroforestry Centre, Kampala, Uganda
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
OutlineIntroductionFarmer to farmer extensionVolunteer farmer-trainer approach in the
EADD projectObjectivesMethodologyFindingsConclusions and recommendations
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
IntroductionThe decline in public extension services has
led to development of alternative low cost extension approaches that are participatory, demand driven and farmer centred
They place farmers at the centre of knowledge generation and sharing
They deliver technologies, empower farmers to innovate and also facilitate collective action for service provision
These extension approaches that are farmer led are commonly referred to as farmer to farmer extension (FFE)
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
Farmer to farmer extension the provision of training by farmers, to
farmers, often through the creation of a structure of farmer-trainers
They vary from place to place in mode of operation, selection criteria and incentives
FFE works on the assumption that farmers have the ability to spread innovations because of comprehensive local knowledge, use of local language and are known by their community members hence have their trust
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
The volunteer farmer trainer approach One such approach that is being used by the EADD to
disseminate dairy feed technologies is known as the volunteer farmer trainer (VFT) approach.
ICRAF’s role is to facilitate the spread and use of improved feeds and feeding systems among members of targeted dairy cooperatives through innovative extension approaches such as the volunteer farmer-trainer approach.
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
Who are volunteer farmer trainers? They are volunteer farmers selected on the
basis of being good communicators, interest, being an active dairy farmer and be willing to give part of his/her land for demonstration purposes.
The selection is a participatory process involving farmers in DMGs, their representatives and the management committee of the chilling plant in each project site.
They are trained in feeds and feeding methods by extension officers, researchers and service providers
Rely on extension staff for training and for addressing problems that they cannot handle.
Are given seed for setting up demonstration plots of various feed technologies on their farms.
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
Bulking and selling milkFinancing, Extension services (AI, Technical support, inputs)
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
Justification of the studyThe project started in 2008 with its main
objective being to double the incomes of 179,000 dairy farmers in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda through improved dairy production and marketing
While the project has been able to achieve its targets, the sustainability of this achievement is likely to depend on the continued commitment of VFTs.
A key challenge is how to keep VFTs motivated, hence sustainability of extension activities
The big question: why do farmers volunteer as trainers and what keeps them motivated?
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
ObjectivesTo get perspectives of VFTs
about factors that motivated them to become trainers and to continue volunteering
It is expected that such information will assist the project partners to design and implement strategies that will improve the effectiveness of this approach and also ensure its sustainability.
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
Methods of data collectionQualitative and
Quantitative methods of data collection were used
Focus group discussions were held in each of the sites with 5-20 trainers
A structured questionnaire was administered to 99 and 190 individual VFTs in Kenya and Uganda respectively
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
Demographic and socio-economic characteristics of VFTs
Variable VFT KenyaMean
VFT Uganda Mean
Age (yrs) 46.8 47.5
Longest distance (km) 6.7 9.3
Dairy experience (yrs)
11.3 8.7
Education )yrs) 10.7 9.8
Times train/month/dry
2.5 3.0
Times train/month/wet season
2.3 2.2
No . of villages covered outside their own
4.8 5.5The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
Reasons for volunteeringKenya
(% of VFTS N=99)
Uganda (% of VFTsN=190)
To become trainers
To continue
To become trainers
To continue
Gain knowledge and skills
93 87 96 94
Altruism 85 81 89 84
Social benefits 76 72 88 88
Project benefits 71 73 90 80
Income (Financial benefits)
64 88 70 76
Increased demand for training
- 81 - 75
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
Pairwise ranking of social benefitsSocial benefits
Kenya Uganda
Rank Rank
Exposure 1 1
Gaining confidence
2 2
Increased social networks
3 3
Improved social status
4 4
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
Financial benefits In Kenya 50% of VFTs
receive income from selling seed/seedlings and providing services.
Hay fodder (15%), calliandra seedlings (12%), chaff cutter services (14%), silage making (13%)
In Uganda, only 8% reported receiving income from selling pasture seed
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
Conclusion and RecommendationsGenerally, VFTs are motivated by personal and community
interests which are driven by intrinsic and extrinsic factorsThe importance of the motivation however varies from VFT
to VFTThe interests are key to sustaining voluntary farmer to farmer
extension programsThey need to be encouraged and supported to invest in
personal development, build social and financial capital from activities related to fodder innovations
Linking VFTs to seed companies so that they can produce seed on contract basis in order to generate income and also ensure a reliable supply of seed to the community.
Organizing training and exchange visits from time to time to improve their knowledge and skills
Social benefits can be enhanced by involving them in exchange tours and giving them recognition
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence
Thank you!!!
The science of scaling up and the trajectory beyond subsistence