Extension staffs' perceptions of factors affecting co-ordination and partnerships in agricultural extension services in Rakai district, Uganda

In Uganda's Rakai District, (with a population of about 400,000) there are over a dozen organizations involved in delivery of agricultural extension services. To improve service delivery, a model for inter-organizational coordination of extension services is proposed. The model stipulates that coordination depends on ; (a) perception of need for coordination, (b) planning for coordination, (c) communication and information systems, and (d) organizational and societal structures. The model is used to design a survey instrument to determine factors affecting coordination of agricultural extension services in the District. All extension staff (N = 173) was requested to complete a questionnaire that was developed after discussions with selected extension staff, farmers, and extension and local leaders. Results, from 149 respondents (86% response rate) are summarised as follows: The most outstanding means of coordination that were used by extension organizations in the District include: (a) working with farmer development committees; (b) involving politicians in planning ; (c) strengthening relevant associations; and (d) coordination mechanisms at the District level. Various reasons why coordination was important were identified, notably the following: harmonisation of programmes to avoid duplication of services ; sharing of experiences for effective and efficient service delivery ; development of systematic procedures for delivery of services; and it minimises wastage of resources. Finally, the following recommendations for improving coordination were perceived as the most efficacious: harmonisation of plans among organisations to avoid contradictions, duplications, or conflicts ; establishing a common forum for exchange of information ; and establishing co-ordination mechanisms at District, sub-county and parish levels

DETERMINANTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AMONG MALE AND FEMALE HEADED FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN EASTERN UGANDA

Adaptation is considered an appropriate response to climate change and variability, especially for the smallholder farmers. However, the response decisions and actions of male and female farmers may be influenced by various factor and factor combinations that are not adequately understood. We hypothesized that both male and female farmers are climate change conscious and responsive; and that there is a gender dimension to the choice of a climate change adaptation strategy. We utilised a combination of descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis to study the factors that influence the choice of a decision to adapt to a climate change scenario. Using cross-sectional data collected from 136 households in eastern Uganda, we undertook the analysis at two levels; pooled sample analysis and a gender disaggregated analysis. Contrary to perceived wisdom and evidence from other empirical studies, the factors that influence the climate change adaptation decision vary considerably between male and female household heads. Climate change adaptation decisions of female heads depended on and were sensitive to more covariates compared to the decisions of male heads of household. Furthermore, climate change adaptation decisions of female heads were influenced by more liquid household assets, while those of male heads were influenced by real estate, especially land. Additionally, beyond gender, other demographic factors appeared to play no significant role in the decision to adapt to climate change.L\u2019adaptation est consid\ue9r\ue9e comme \ue9tant une r\ue9ponse appropri\ue9e au changement et \ue0 la variabilit\ue9 climatique, sp\ue9cialement pour les petits fermiers. Par ailleurs, les d\ue9cisions de la r\ue9ponse et les actions entreprises par les hommes et les femmes seraient influenc\ue9es par des facteurs vari\ue9s et une combinaison des facteurs on encore ad\ue9quatement compris. Nous avons pos\ue9s des hypoth\ue8ses selon lesquelles les fermiers hommes et femmes sont conscients du changement climatique et y r\ue9agissent cons\ue9quemment. Aussi, il existe une dimension du genre face au choix d\u2019une strat\ue9gie d\u2019adaptation au changement climatique. Nous avons utilis\ue9 une combinaison de la statistique descriptive et l\u2019analyse de la r\ue9gression logistique pour \ue9tudier les facteurs qui influencent le choix d\u2019une d\ue9cision d\u2019adaptation \ue0 un scenario de changement climatique. En utilisant des donn\ue9es transversales collect\ue9es dans 136 m\ue9nages \ue0 l\u2019Est de l\u2019Uganda, l\u2019analyse \ue9tait faite en deux niveaux : l\u2019analyse des \ue9chantillons group\ue9s et l\u2019analyse du genre d\ue9sagr\ue9g\ue9. Contrairement \ue0 la sagesse et l\u2019\ue9vidence per\ue7ues d\u2019autres \ue9tudes empiriques, les facteurs qui influencent la d\ue9cision pour l\u2019adaptation au changement climatique varient consid\ue9rablement entre hommes et femmes responsables des m\ue9nages. La prise des d\ue9cisions par les femmes responsables des m\ue9nages d\ue9pendait de plusieurs co-variantes en comparaison aux d\ue9cisions prises par les hommes. En plus, les d\ue9cisions prises par les femmes \ue9taient influenc\ue9es par des biens liquides de m\ue9nages, la prise des d\ue9cisions par les hommes \ue9tait dict\ue9e par des avoirs tels que la terre. Additionnellement, au del\ue0 du facteur genre, d\u2019autres facteurs d\ue9mographiques ont jou\ue9 un r\uf4le bien que non significatif dans la prise des d\ue9cisions pour l\u2019adaptation au changement climatique

Farmer experience of pluralistic agricultural extension, Malawi

Purpose: Malawi’s current extension policy supports pluralism and advocates responsiveness to farmer demand. We investigate whether smallholder farmers’ experience supports the assumption that access to multiple service providers leads to extension and advisory services that respond to the needs of farmers. Design/methodology/approach: Within a case study approach, two villages were purposively selected for in-depth qualitative analysis of available services and farmers’ experiences. Focus group discussions were held separately with male and female farmers in each village, followed by semi-structured interviews with 12 key informants selected through snowball sampling. Transcripts were analysed by themes and summaries of themes were made from cross case analysis. Findings: Farmers appreciate having access to a variety of sources of technical advice and enterprise specific technology. However, most service providers continue to dominate and dictate what they will offer. Market access remains a challenge, as providers still emphasize pushing a particular technology to increase farm productivity rather than addressing farmers’ expressed needs. Although farmers work in groups, providers do not seek to strengthen these to enable active interaction and to link them to input and produce markets. This limits farmers’ capacity to continue with innovations after service providers pull out. Poor coordination between providers limits exploitation of potential synergies amongst actors. Practical implications: Services providers can adapt their approach to engage farmers in discussion of their needs and work collaboratively to address them. At a system level, institutions that have a coordination function can play a more dynamic role in brokering interaction between providers and farmers to ensure coverage and responsiveness. Originality/value: The study provides a new farmer perspective on the implementation of extension reforms

GENDER DIMENSIONS OF FARMERS’ PERCEPTIONS AND KNOWLEDGE ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN TESO SUB - REGION, EASTERN UGANDA

Perceptions and knowledge play a key role in shaping individual and collective response to climate change. Understanding gender dimensions of climate change perceptions and knowledge contributes to effective climate change adaptation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate male and female farmers’ perceptions, knowledge as well as its (knowledge) determinants with respect to climate change in the Teso sub-region, eastern Uganda. Data from male- and female-headed households were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-Square, linear and multinomial logistic regression. Results showed that all farmers, men and women, were aware of climate change. Male and female farmers’ perceptions of climate change did not differ significantly on all the parameters except on frequency of droughts with women more likely to perceive increased drought frequency compared with men. Further, sex of the household head was found to be the sole significant determinant of knowledge of the cause of climate change. Female-headed households were more likely either not to know the cause or to have erroneous information. Significant gender gaps in education levels and access to sources of information, namely, radio, extension and groups are cited as possible factors that could explain women’s lower knowledge levels compared to men. Climate adaptation interventions should, therefore, put into consideration gender based variations in perceptions and knowledge for equitable and sustainable climate change adaptation.Les perfections et connaissances jouent un rôle clé dans l’orientation des réponses individuelles et collectives au changement climatique. La compréhension des dimensions genre en matière de des perceptions et connaissance sur le changement climatique contribue à une adaptation effective au changement climatique. L’objet de cette étude était d’évaluer les perceptions des fermiers sur base du genre (hommes et femmes) ainsi que les déterminants de leurs connaissances sur le changement climatique dans la Sous-région de teso à l’est de l’Ouganda. Les données issues des hommes et femmes chefs des ménages étaient analysées par la statistique descriptive, le K-Carré et la Régression logistique linéaire et multinomiale. Les résultats ont montré que tous les fermiers, homme et femmes étaient au courant du changement climatique. Les perceptions des hommes et femmes sur le changement climatique ne différaient pas significativement eu égard à tous les paramètres mesurés à l’exception de la fréquence de la sécheresse où plus des femmes que des hommes ont mentionné une augmentation de la fréquence de la sécheresse. En outre, le sexe du chef de ménage était trouvé le seul déterminant significatif de la connaissance de la cause du changement climatique. Les femmes responsables de ménages connaissaient ou pas la cause du changement climatique ou bien possédaient une information erronée. Des lacunes significatives en matière des niveaux d’éducation et l’accès aux sources d’information telles que la radio, la vulgarisation et les groupes sont ici cités comme des facteurs potentiels influençant les niveaux bas de connaissance chez les femmes en comparaison avec les hommes. Des interventions d’adaptation climatique pourraient, en conséquence, être mises en considération les variations dans les perceptions et connaissances sur base du genre, pour une adaptation équitable et durable au changement climatique

DETERMINANTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AMONG MALE AND FEMALE HEADED FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN EASTERN UGANDA

Adaptation is considered an appropriate response to climate change and variability, especially for the smallholder farmers. However, the response decisions and actions of male and female farmers may be influenced by various factor and factor combinations that are not adequately understood. We hypothesized that both male and female farmers are climate change conscious and responsive; and that there is a gender dimension to the choice of a climate change adaptation strategy. We utilised a combination of descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis to study the factors that influence the choice of a decision to adapt to a climate change scenario. Using cross-sectional data collected from 136 households in eastern Uganda, we undertook the analysis at two levels; pooled sample analysis and a gender disaggregated analysis. Contrary to perceived wisdom and evidence from other empirical studies, the factors that influence the climate change adaptation decision vary considerably between male and female household heads. Climate change adaptation decisions of female heads depended on and were sensitive to more covariates compared to the decisions of male heads of household. Furthermore, climate change adaptation decisions of female heads were influenced by more liquid household assets, while those of male heads were influenced by real estate, especially land. Additionally, beyond gender, other demographic factors appeared to play no significant role in the decision to adapt to climate change.L’adaptation est considérée comme étant une réponse appropriée au changement et à la variabilité climatique, spécialement pour les petits fermiers. Par ailleurs, les décisions de la réponse et les actions entreprises par les hommes et les femmes seraient influencées par des facteurs variés et une combinaison des facteurs on encore adéquatement compris. Nous avons posés des hypothèses selon lesquelles les fermiers hommes et femmes sont conscients du changement climatique et y réagissent conséquemment. Aussi, il existe une dimension du genre face au choix d’une stratégie d’adaptation au changement climatique. Nous avons utilisé une combinaison de la statistique descriptive et l’analyse de la régression logistique pour étudier les facteurs qui influencent le choix d’une décision d’adaptation à un scenario de changement climatique. En utilisant des données transversales collectées dans 136 ménages à l’Est de l’Uganda, l’analyse était faite en deux niveaux : l’analyse des échantillons groupés et l’analyse du genre désagrégé. Contrairement à la sagesse et l’évidence perçues d’autres études empiriques, les facteurs qui influencent la décision pour l’adaptation au changement climatique varient considérablement entre hommes et femmes responsables des ménages. La prise des décisions par les femmes responsables des ménages dépendait de plusieurs co-variantes en comparaison aux décisions prises par les hommes. En plus, les décisions prises par les femmes étaient influencées par des biens liquides de ménages, la prise des décisions par les hommes était dictée par des avoirs tels que la terre. Additionnellement, au delà du facteur genre, d’autres facteurs démographiques ont joué un rôle bien que non significatif dans la prise des décisions pour l’adaptation au changement climatique

GENDER DIMENSIONS OF FARMERS\u2019 PERCEPTIONS AND KNOWLEDGE ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN TESO SUB - REGION, EASTERN UGANDA

Perceptions and knowledge play a key role in shaping individual and collective response to climate change. Understanding gender dimensions of climate change perceptions and knowledge contributes to effective climate change adaptation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate male and female farmers\u2019 perceptions, knowledge as well as its (knowledge) determinants with respect to climate change in the Teso sub-region, eastern Uganda. Data from male- and female-headed households were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-Square, linear and multinomial logistic regression. Results showed that all farmers, men and women, were aware of climate change. Male and female farmers\u2019 perceptions of climate change did not differ significantly on all the parameters except on frequency of droughts with women more likely to perceive increased drought frequency compared with men. Further, sex of the household head was found to be the sole significant determinant of knowledge of the cause of climate change. Female-headed households were more likely either not to know the cause or to have erroneous information. Significant gender gaps in education levels and access to sources of information, namely, radio, extension and groups are cited as possible factors that could explain women\u2019s lower knowledge levels compared to men. Climate adaptation interventions should, therefore, put into consideration gender based variations in perceptions and knowledge for equitable and sustainable climate change adaptation.Les perfections et connaissances jouent un r\uf4le cl\ue9 dans l\u2019orientation des r\ue9ponses individuelles et collectives au changement climatique. La compr\ue9hension des dimensions genre en mati\ue8re de des perceptions et connaissance sur le changement climatique contribue \ue0 une adaptation effective au changement climatique. L\u2019objet de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019\ue9valuer les perceptions des fermiers sur base du genre (hommes et femmes) ainsi que les d\ue9terminants de leurs connaissances sur le changement climatique dans la Sous-r\ue9gion de teso \ue0 l\u2019est de l\u2019Ouganda. Les donn\ue9es issues des hommes et femmes chefs des m\ue9nages \ue9taient analys\ue9es par la statistique descriptive, le K-Carr\ue9 et la R\ue9gression logistique lin\ue9aire et multinomiale. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que tous les fermiers, homme et femmes \ue9taient au courant du changement climatique. Les perceptions des hommes et femmes sur le changement climatique ne diff\ue9raient pas significativement eu \ue9gard \ue0 tous les param\ue8tres mesur\ue9s \ue0 l\u2019exception de la fr\ue9quence de la s\ue9cheresse o\uf9 plus des femmes que des hommes ont mentionn\ue9 une augmentation de la fr\ue9quence de la s\ue9cheresse. En outre, le sexe du chef de m\ue9nage \ue9tait trouv\ue9 le seul d\ue9terminant significatif de la connaissance de la cause du changement climatique. Les femmes responsables de m\ue9nages connaissaient ou pas la cause du changement climatique ou bien poss\ue9daient une information erron\ue9e. Des lacunes significatives en mati\ue8re des niveaux d\u2019\ue9ducation et l\u2019acc\ue8s aux sources d\u2019information telles que la radio, la vulgarisation et les groupes sont ici cit\ue9s comme des facteurs potentiels influen\ue7ant les niveaux bas de connaissance chez les femmes en comparaison avec les hommes. Des interventions d\u2019adaptation climatique pourraient, en cons\ue9quence, \ueatre mises en consid\ue9ration les variations dans les perceptions et connaissances sur base du genre, pour une adaptation \ue9quitable et durable au changement climatique