Assessment of efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of farmer-to-farmer extension approach at mogabiri farm extension centre (MFEC), Tarime District- Mara Region, Tanzania
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Date
2001
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture.
Abstract
One of the several extension approaches used by NGOs in agricultural extension
in Tanzania is farmer-to-farmer extension approach. This is the approach in which
farmers are the primary extension agents and professionals only facilitate their
work. Using project villages in Mogabiri Farm Extension Centre as study area, the
efficiency,
effectiveness
and
sustainability
of
farmer
to-farmer-extension
approach was studied. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a randomly
and purposively selected sample size of 75 respondents. Three types of
questionnaires were developed and administered to 60 farmers, 10 FAMOs and 5
WEOs working in the project villages. The results of the study revealed that in
one month period, FAMOs visited 88.3% of respondents interviewed for 1 to 5
days. Similarly, in three months period, 80% of FAMOs attended over 75% of
project farmers using various extension tools. This implies that farmer-to-farmer
extension approach is efficient in terms of supervision frequency and coverage.
However, FAMOs were incompetent in solving some of the farmers' problems
particularly control of common animal and crop diseases, pregnancy diagnosis
and dystocia. Results further revealed that project farmers who adopted
recommended practices realised a substantial increase in milk, coffee and cereal
yields. The observed increase in yields substantiate the effectiveness of farmer-
to-farmer extension services. Implementation of improved practices, growth of
farmers group members and elements of cost sharing in farmer-to-farmer
extension approach at MFEC show that this approach will sustain after the
termination of the project. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended
that FAMOs should be given appropriate and adequate training suitable in solving
common problems encountered by farmers in the project areas. It is also recommended that short and long term solutions to the lack of reliable market for
milk and coffee should be considered. Furthermore, it is recommended that in
order to come up with sustainable extension approach, strategies should be
designed to ensure that challenges like replacement of old extension facilities,
shortage of working facilities and lack of incentives to FAMOs have permanent
solutions.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
farmer extension, mogabiri farm, extension centre, Tarime District, Agricultural extension, Farmer-to-farmer extension