Farmers' choice : evaluating an approach to agricultural technology adoption in Tanzania / edited by Helene Bie Lilleør and Ulrik Lund-Sørensen, Rockwool Foundation Research Unit.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Lilleør, Helen Bie, editor.

Lund-Sørensen, Ulrik, editor.

Rockwool fondens forskningsenhed.

George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Rockwool fonden.

Agricultural innovations--Tanzania.

Agricultural innovations.

Technology transfer--Tanzania.

Technology transfer.

Rural conditions.

Tanzania--Rural conditions.

Tanzania.

Physical Description:

xiii, 154 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), maps (chiefly color) ; 24 cm

Other Title:

Evaluating an approach to agricultural technology adoption in Tanzania

Place of Publication:

Bournton on Dunsmore, Warwickshire, UK : Practical Action Publishing, [2013]

Summary:

Food security is once again an urgent international priority. Agricultural extension methods that rely on imposing centrally developed technological solutions have been ineffective, since small farmers in developing countries often cultivate marginal lands, working under constraints for which these solutions were not designed. Since 2006, a flexible agricultural extension approach has been implemented in northern Tanzania, inspired by the Farmer Field School approach, and offering farmers a 'basket of technology options' from which farmers can pick and choose what serves their needs and resources best. The focus is on extending improved low-cost farming techniques adaptable to local conditions in a pragmatic and flexible process. The interventions are locally known a 'RIPAT', and they have received financial and technical support from the Rockwool Foundation. Farmers' Choice outlines the RIPAT intervention, and examines how effective it has been. This evaluation of RIPAT brings together the analyses of economists, agricultural scientists, and anthropologists who studied the impact, implementation, adoption, and spread of the programme approaches. They asked: what has been the impact on poverty and food security among participating farmers? How effective has the implementation of the programme been? Which elements of the programme have been most enthusiastically and enduringly adopted? This book relates the sometimes unexpected outcomes and benefits of the programme among the farmers and their children. Farmer's Choice should be read by all those interested in improving the food security and incomes of poor farmers in the Global South: agricultural scientists, anthropologists, staff of NGOs, researchers and students of development studies. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Introduction / Helene Bie Lilleør Lilleør, Helene Bie, Ulrik Lund-Sørensen Lund-Sørensen, Ulrik 1

Part I RIPAT implementation and evaluation design

Presentation of RIPAT: core components and project implementation / Catherine W. Maguzu Maguzu, Catherine W., Dominick Ringo Ringo, Dominick, Jens M. Vesterager Vesterager, Jens M. 7

2.1 Introduction 8

2.2 The RIPAT concept 9

2.3 Core components of RIPAT 11

2.4 RIPAT implementation to date 17

2.5 Conclusion 21

3 Evaluation methods / Steffen Jöhncke Jöhncke, Steffen, Ulrik Lund-Sørensen Lund-Sørensen, Ulrik 23

3.1 Introduction 24

3.2 The combination of methodological approaches 25

3.3 Data collection tools 26

3.4 The impact study 26

3.5 The implementation study 29

3.6 The context and adoption study 30

3.7 Conclusion 33

Part II Evaluation studies

4 The context for RIPAT: taking regional history and development policy into account in the interpretation of project processes and success / Quentin Gausset Gausset, Quentin, Steffen Jöhncke Jöhncke, Steffen, Eva Kaas Pedersen Pedersen, Eva Kaas, Michael A. Whyte Whyte, Michael A. 35

4.1 Introduction 36

4.2 The study area in brief 37

4.3 History: people, power, and produce in the RIPAT 1 area 37

4.4 Adapting to change 39

4.5 RIPAT in a development context 40

4.6 The RIPAT answer to the challenge 42

5 The impact of RIPAT on food security and poverty / Anna Folke Larsen Larsen, Anna Folke, Helene Bie Lilleør Lilleør, Helene Bie 47

5.1 Introduction 48

5.2 The RIPAT objectives and how we measure outcomes 49

5.3 RIPAT households and comparison household 51

5.4 How was the RIPAT basket of option received? 53

5.5 The impact of RIPAT on food security and poverty 55

5.6 Conclusion 61

6 Evaluation of the RIPAT concept / Charles Aben Aben, Charles, Deborah Duveskog Duveskog, Deborah, Esbern Friis-Hansen Friis-Hansen, Esbern 63

6.1 Introduction 64

6.2 Key components and implementation strategies 65

6.3 Relevance 66

6.4 Effectiveness 69

6.5 Efficiency 74

6.6 Sustainability 75

6.7 Conclusion 76

7 Household dynamics and gender politics: female farmers in RIPAT 1 / Hanne O. Mogensen Mogensen, Hanne O., Eva Kaas Pedersen Pedersen, Eva Kaas 79

7.1 Introduction 80

7.2 The study site 80

7.3 Social organization 81

7.4 Women as farmers and women doing business: 'following the water' 83

7.5 Gender politics: 'who owns the bananas?' 85

7.6 Negotiating roles and rights: 'when the project is behind it' 86

7.7 Women's freedom of action: constraints and opportunities 87

7.8 Conclusion 88

8 The RIPAT groups / Helene Bie Lilleør Lilleør, Helene Bie, Eva Kaas Pedersen Pedersen, Eva Kaas 91

8.1 Introduction 92

8.2 The main selection criteria in the formation of the groups 93

8.3 Who leaves the groups and why? 94

8.4 What characterizes the inactive groups? 97

8.5 The benefits of being in a group 97

8.6 The role of the RIPAT groups in the village 98

8.7 Conclusion 100

9 Local adoption of social and agricultural technologies / Quentin Gausset Gausset, Quentin 103

9.1 Introduction 104

9.2 Adoption as an indicator of the success of RIPAT 1 104

9.3 The adoption of perennial crops (bananas and trees) 105

9.4 The adoption of conservation agriculture and annual crops 107

9.5 The adoption of farmer groups and savings groups 108

9.6 Conclusion 110

10 Social constraints on the adoption of improved banana varieties in Arumeru District / Quentin Gausset Gausset, Quentin, Anna Folke Larsen Larsen, Anna Folke 113

10.1 Introduction 114

10.2 Methodology and population 114

10.3 The adoption of banana cultivation 115

10.4 Water 116

10.5 Labour and household types 117

10.6 Wealth and hunger 118

10.7 Education 121

10.8 Gender 122

10.9 Conclusion 122

11 RIPAT, RECODA and government institutions / Charles Aben Aben, Charles, Deborah Duveskog Duveskog, Deborah, Esbern Friis-Hansen Friis-Hansen, Esbern 125

11.1 Introduction 126

11.2 The RECODA Academy 126

11.3 Influencing local government and its agricultural policies 129

11.4 Conclusion 131

12 Summary and concluding remarks / Helene Bie Lilleør Lilleør, Helene Bie, Ulrik Lund-Sørensen Lund-Sørensen, Ulrik 133.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

ISBN:

185339775X

9781853397745

1853397741

9781853397752

OCLC:

811602132

Publisher Number:

99966263611