The role of farmer field and business school (FFBS) in improving access to agricultural extension services to smallholder farmers in iringa rural district, Tanzania
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Date
2025-04-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology
Abstract
Innovative and holistic approaches, such as the Farmers Field and Business School (FFBS), are
essential for advancing agricultural practices and improving smallholder farmer livelihoods. In
Tanzania, while evidence suggests that FFBS enhances access to extension services, its specific
role remains undocumented. This study used an exploratory sequential mixed method to explore
FFBS's role in improving smallholder farmers' access to extension services. The study involved 43 FFBS beneficiaries from CARE International’s FFBS scale-up project, selected through snowball
sampling until data were saturated. This approach was chosen due to the challenges of accessing a
comprehensive list of active participants and of ensuring that diverse perspectives are included.
Data were collected using in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions
(FGD), document review, and observation. Findings suggest that FFBS significantly enhances
access to extension services through capacity-building in agronomy, climate resilience through
sustainable agricultural practices, market linkages, gender empowerment, and information
dissemination. The FFBS programme utilizes innovative experiential learning techniques, including
hands-on training in sustainable agricultural practices, to equip farmers with practical knowledge
and skills. Despite the positive outcomes, FFBS has not fully facilitated the transition of smallholder
farming into large-scale commercial agriculture, highlighting challenges in scaling up production.
The study suggests that all FFBS elements need to be fully applied to realize their innovative
benefits. Policy implications include the need to improve resource access, particularly capital,
technology, and markets for smallholder farmers, integrate FFBS into national extension programs,
and promote gender-inclusive capacity-building to scale up agricultural productivity and
sustainability.
Description
Journal article
Keywords
Farmers business school (FFBS), field and agricultural extension services, smallholder farmers, access improvement
Citation
Wilson, Samuel Talawaly, Respikius Martin, and Rasel Madaha. 2025. “The Role of Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) in Improving Access to Agricultural Extension Services to Smallholder Farmers in Iringa Rural District, Tanzania”. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology 43 (4):99-116. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaees/2025/v43i42722.