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