Enhancing extension services through Radio and ICTs in the promotion of

soil health in Tanzania

Break out session 25

The soil health project

What do we do?

• Capacity building of agricultural extension for up scaling ISFM in Tanzania

• Implementation: Faida Market Link and Farm Radio International

• AGRA and Tanzania Government support

• Target-Southern Highlands

South-Western

Where do we operate?

Farm Radio International

Implementing organisations

• Since 1997-Partnership with broadcasters to strengthen small scale farming and rural communities

• Resources to 460 stations

• Offer online and In- station trainings

• Impact programing (ICT supported)

• Offices in 8 African countries

Faida Market Link

Implementing organisations

• Faida Market Link-a Tanzanian based company established in 2003

• Facilitates contracts between producers

• Uses the Faida 10 step Market Linkage Approach to build trust between key market actors

Challenges

Why the intervention?

• Declining agricultural productivity

• Low soil health knowledge and limited soil fertility management practices

• Shortage of extension staff

• Extension staff lack adequate capacity

• Colleges unprepared to offer hands-on trainings on soil health

Low crop yields

Why the intervention?...

Limited ISFM practices

Why the intervention?...

ISFM by women

Why the intervention?...

Existing Knowledge

Why the intervention?...

Training institutions and extension staff

Capacity building

• Igurusi, Uyole, Ilonga - 15 Tutors trained

• 2 ISFM modules developed

• Demonstration plots established

• 300 ISFM trainees graduated

• 53 field extension staff trained on ISFM

The approach

Participatory Radio Campaigns

• A radio campaign?

• Bomba, Abood, Baraka FM engaged

• Broadcaster capacity building

• Formative research

• Campaign designing

• Listening clubs

• Radio shows

• Monitoring

Packages

ICTs in Radio Campaigns

• SMS alerts

• Beep to vote

• Farmer calls/sms

• Calls to experts

• Smart phones for sound off by extension staff

Feedback/Monitoring

ICTs in Radio Campaigns…

• Interactive programs

• Sound off for monitoring

-Extension officers using smart phones

-Farmers feedback on programs

-Demand driven services

• Stakeholder linkages

Community feedback

Are we making a difference?

• Awareness on ISFM-beyond project areas

• Knowledge on Azola over 90%

• Practice –Azola with DAP in 0.25 acre

yield 6.5 bags v/s 4 bags rice DAP alone

• Azola reduced water and fertilizer use

• Legume intercropping-knowledge 80% practice 40%

Community feedback…

Are we making a difference?

Extension staff

Are we making a difference?

• Increased knowledge-ISFM/skills in use of ICTs

• Participation in PRCs- Study and interaction with farmers more

• Confidence

• Credibility

• Reaching out to more farmers

• Participation in program monitoring

Broadcasters

Are we making any difference?

• Understand farmers conditions

• Disciplined programs-farmers own the programs. They task broadcasters

• Research before producing program

• Use of ICTs in broadcasts and monitoring

• Use of the PRC approach – linkage with different stakeholders

• Rewarding- see impact of the broadcasts

Our say

Conclusion

• Trainings for extension staff worth investing in

• ICT enhanced radio campaigns:

-Have high potential to support extension services

-Lead to increased change in knowledge and practices

-Encourage farmer feedback for demand driven services