promoting farmer innovations in africa’s drylands
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Promoting Farmer Innovations in Africa’s drylands. Paradigm Shift: Community / Farmer centered participatory approaches in addressing poverty. Rationale for the farmer innovator approach: transfer of technology has failed small scale farmers in marginal areas of Africa. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Promoting Farmer Innovations Promoting Farmer Innovations
in Africa’s drylandsin Africa’s drylands
Paradigm Shift: Community / Farmer centered participatory approaches in addressing poverty
Rationale for the farmer innovator approach:- transfer of technology has failed small scale farmers in
marginal areas of Africa
- farmer innovators can produce better technologies….- ….and they are good communicators- researchers and extension agents can help this process
Objectives
• Demonstrate potential of local knowledgeand creativity to improve rural livelyhoods and the environment
• Document and promote local farmer innovations• Empower farmers, in particular women.• Promote policies that recognize innovative skills• Link FI’s, researchers, extension staff and policy makers
Farmer Innovators: who are they?
- farmer innovators are individuals or communities who are testing new ideas on their own initiative
initiatives which combine conservation withproduction and are new - at least in local terms
Land Husbandry Innovations:what are they?
- many innovators to be found
- their ideas catch on quickly
- lots of enthusiasm at all levels for the concept
Working with farmer innovators….. …..some positive experiences
Kenya
a range of innovations linked to food & cash crops
Tanzania
Mama Susanna with her composting system
Uganda
Ali Alias comparing mulched bananas with his control plot
PFI strengths
- high extension impact of best bet innovations
- video and book module
- progress with gender issues
- institutionalisation of approach
Noah’s Ark was built by an amateur
The Titanic was constructed by a team of experts
PFI KenyaPFI Kenya
• Budget: 208,000 $ (The Netherlands)• Partners: UNSO, GTZ, GOK, VU, UNDP• Finalised in 2001• 60 FI’s identified and trained• 5000 Farmers exposed• Adoption rate 50%• 2002: integrated in FAO-FFS (Farmer
Field Schools)
• Budget control – payments, – financial reports,– financial
management assistance
• Progress (M&E, field visits, meetings)
• Reporting • Outreach• Resource
Mobilization
Role of UNDP JPORole of UNDP JPO
Alternative Programming Cycle
EnthusiasmEnthusiasm
FrustrationFrustration
PanicPanic
Assigning of Assigning of the Blamethe Blame
Punishment of the Punishment of the InnocentInnocent
Rewarding of Rewarding of the Non-the Non-
ContributorsContributors