Integrating indigenous and exogenous communication channels and capabilities through community-based armyworm forecasting

Many development interventions have failed to generate the desired impact among African resource-poor farmers for reasons including the centralised and top-down approach, lack of active community participation, and over-reliance on external information and technology delivery strategies and channels. The migrant African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta, is among the major challenges threatening livelihoods of millions of farmers in East and Southern Africa. Outbreaks occur suddenly and can devastate crops and pasture. National and regional forecasting services have been operational since the 1960s to provide warning of potential outbreaks. This system relies on information from armyworm moth traps usually operated at district level. These centralised services have a number of difficulties and limitations which include: delays in communicating trap catch data to the forecaster; forecasts are not village specific; forecasts do not reach many farmers; lack of responsibility and local ownership of traps. An innovative approach called community-based armyworm forecasting (CBAF) was developed as a response to these limitations. The new approach has been piloted and tested in several East African countries and found to be effective. CBAF establishes a system that allows each village to have its own traps and trained forecasters who collect and interpret data, and provide village specific forecasts. A recent project on CBAF piloted the approach in 10, 5 and 39 villages of Malawi, Zimbabwe and Tanzania, respectively, in the 1 st year, and in a further 25 and 38 villages of Malawi and Tanzania in the 2 nd year. Discussion with stakeholders, field observations and assessments conducted by the authors indicate that the initiative has generated a number of benefits. It built local capacity, and because of the location specific early warning it enabled farmers to combat the pest more effectively. It was noticed by the authors that local communication channels and folk media play an important role in CBAF, complementing and enhancing the effectiveness of exogenous channels. This paper discusses how CBAF makes effective use of different communication channels and capabilities, and highlights preliminary results.Tant d\u2019interventions de d\ue9veloppement n\u2019ont pas pu g\ue9n\ue9rer un impact satisfaisant parmi les fermiers africains sans resources pour de raisons multiples, dont l\u2019utilisation de l\u2019approche coercitive et centralis\ue9e, le manque d\u2019une participation active de la communaut\ue9 et le fait d\u2019avoir plus d\u2019attachement aux informations, aux strat\ue9gies et guides externes de vulgarization de technologies. Spodoptera exempta, une chenille aussi nomm\ue9e \u201cchenille africain migratrice\u201d est parmi les contraintes majeures aux moyens de subsistance de milliers de fermiers d\u2019Afrique orientale et australe. Son \ue9ruption est soudaine et peut d\ue9vaster des cultures ainsi que des pasturages. Les services nationaux et r\ue9gionaux de pr\ue9diction \ue9taient op\ue9rationnels depuis 1960 pour fournir des alertes sur des irruptions potentielles sur base d\u2019informations collect\ue9es sur des pi\ue8ges tendus aux chenilles au niveau du district. Ces services centralis\ue9s pr\ue9sentent un bon nombre de difficult\ue9s et limitations entre autre, le retard dans la communication des donn\ue9es de pi\ue8ges au pr\ue9visioniste, le manqu\ue9 de sp\ue9cificit\ue9 des pr\ue9visions, la lenteur dans la livraison des pr\ue9visions aux fermiers, le manque de responsabilit\ue9 et d\u2019appropriation locale de ces pi\ue8ges. En r\ue9ponse \ue0 ces limitations, une approche innovatrice appell\ue9e pr\ue9diction des chenilles au niveau communautaire (CBAF) \ue9tait initi\ue9e et test\ue9e dans plusieurs pays d\u2019Afrique de l\u2019Est. Cette approche s\u2019\ue9tait av\ue9r\ue9e efficace \ue0 point qu\u2019il avait permis \ue0 chaque village d\u2019avoir ses propres pi\ue8ges et des pr\ue9visionistes form\ue9s pour la collecte et l\u2019interpr\ue9tation des donn\ue9es ainsi que pour fournir des pr\ue9visions sp\ue9cifiques aux villages.Un projet recent sur CBAF avait ex\ue9cut\ue9 cette approche dans 10, 5 et 39 villages de Malawi, Zimbabwe et Tanzanie, respectivement, dans la premi\ue8re ann\ue9e, et dans plus de 25 et 38 villages de Malawi et Tanzanie au cours de la deuxi\ue8me ann\ue9e. Des r\ue9unions avec des partenaires ainsi que des observations et \ue9valuations sur terrain par des auteurs indiquent combien l\u2019initiative avait \ue9t\ue9 b\ue9n\ue9fique. Le renforcement de capacit\ue9 locale avait \ue9t\ue9 realis\ue9 et les alertes localement sp\ue9cifiques ont permis aux fermiers de combattre avec plus d\u2019efficacit\ue9 la peste. Il \ue9tait remarqu\ue9 que les cha\ueenes de communication locale ansi que les \u201cfolk media\u201d jouent un role important dans CBAF par leur compl\ue9mentarit\ue9 et la promotion de l\u2019efficacit\ue9 des cha\ueenes exog\ue8nes. Cet article discute comment CBAF fait bon usage de diff\ue9rentes cha\ueenes de communication et comp\ue9tences, et met en \ue9vidence les r\ue9sultats pr\ue9liminaires

Bringing sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies to scale through campaign-based extension approaches: lessons from Africa Soil Health Consortium

Open Access Article; Published online: 19 Sep 2021Sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) practices have been developed with the aim of increasing agricultural productivity. However, most of them are not achieving their potential because of low adoption, linked to limited extension support to make them known and accessible by end-users. This paper reviews the effectiveness of the Africa Soil Health Consortium (ASHC) extension-based campaigns, contributing knowledge for formulating novel and cost-effective extension approaches. Results show that ASHC campaigns achieved scale of farmer reach and spurred adoption of promoted SAI technologies. Adoption levels for a range of practices were at least 20%, which favourably compares with reported adoption rates for the training and visit extension approach; 1-7% and 11-21% for complex and simple practices respectively. In comparison to a single channel, exposure to multiple communication approaches was associated with higher uptake of promoted practices and technologies, and also increased participation of men, women and youth, by addressing inherent differences in access to, proficiency with, and preferences of communication channels. Success factors associated with ASHC campaigns were; the deployment of multiple and complementary information channels; harnessing public-private partnerships to establish sustainable input supply chains; and development of localized content and fit-for-purpose information materials to facilitate information diffusion

Farmer awareness, coping mechanisms and economic implications of coffee leaf rust disease in Uganda

Coffee leaf rust (CLR) still remains a serious threat to the economics of coffee farming in Uganda. The disease is more severe on Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) at mid and low altitude (1500 m and below) where crop losses is up to 50%. The objective of this study was to document farmers’ knowledge about the disease, economic implications and coping strategies across the Arabica growing zones in Uganda. A stratified random sampling procedure was adopted. The main data collection tool was a semi-structured questionnaire for face-to-face interview and checklist for focus group discussions (FGDs). SPSS for windows (Version 16) was used for statistical analysis. Overall, 83.8% had knowledge on the disease. The disease reportedly causes premature defoliation and loss of photosynthetic surfaces, leading to appearance of pale yellow spots on the lower surface of the leaves (72.3%) and expanding berries failing to fill up and young berries shedding off (11.5%). The most susceptible variety reported was SL14; while KP423 was reportedly tolerant. Results further revealed that rust incidence led to a significant (p ≤ 0.01) reduction in Arabica coffee productivity and income by 49.5%. As cope up strategies, farmers practiced timely weeding (81.5%), chemical spraying mainly using Bordeaux mixture (20.8%), phyto-sanitary methods (8.1%), concoctions (10.4%), fertiliser application (12.4%) and planting tolerant varieties (9.2%). The use of concoctions and phyto-sanitary methods significantly (P ≤ 0.01) reduced the impact of the disease on annual production per ha by 1139 and 1255 kg, respectively.Keywords: Coffee Leaf Rust, Indigenous knowledge, economic implication, Ugand

Going digital in agriculture: how radio and SMS can scale-up smallholder participation in legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies in Tanzania

Open Access Article; Published online: 14 Apr 2020In 2016, a study was conducted in Tanzania to assess the impact of radio and SMS in scaling-up smallholder participation in legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) practices and technologies. The study aimed to answer the following research questions: (i) does participation in the campaign enhance farmers’ knowledge of legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies? (ii) what is the impact of the campaign on the adoption of legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies?; (iii) does exposure to multiple ICT-enabled channels result in larger gains (in terms of knowledge and adoption) than exposure to only one channel? (iv) is it more cost-effective to use radio or SMS alone or use them in combination? The results show that both awareness and adoption are boosted if SMS supports radio campaigns. However, radio alone is the most cost-effective approach. Each dollar spent on the radio campaign results in 2.1 farmers that have adopted at least one new practice, compared with 0.5 farmers for SMS and 0.4 farmers for radio and SMS combined. Other factors were also important in facilitating uptake of legume-based SAI practices, such as gender, age, education and land size, but were not statistically significant when rated against the communication channels used

Integrating indigenous and exogenous communication channels and capabilities through community-based armyworm forecasting

Many development interventions have failed to generate the desired impact among African resource-poor farmers for reasons including the centralised and top-down approach, lack of active community participation, and over-reliance on external information and technology delivery strategies and channels. The migrant African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta, is among the major challenges threatening livelihoods of millions of farmers in East and Southern Africa. Outbreaks occur suddenly and can devastate crops and pasture. National and regional forecasting services have been operational since the 1960s to provide warning of potential outbreaks. This system relies on information from armyworm moth traps usually operated at district level. These centralised services have a number of difficulties and limitations which include: delays in communicating trap catch data to the forecaster; forecasts are not village specific; forecasts do not reach many farmers; lack of responsibility and local ownership of traps. An innovative approach called community-based armyworm forecasting (CBAF) was developed as a response to these limitations. The new approach has been piloted and tested in several East African countries and found to be effective. CBAF establishes a system that allows each village to have its own traps and trained forecasters who collect and interpret data, and provide village specific forecasts. A recent project on CBAF piloted the approach in 10, 5 and 39 villages of Malawi, Zimbabwe and Tanzania, respectively, in the 1 st year, and in a further 25 and 38 villages of Malawi and Tanzania in the 2 nd year. Discussion with stakeholders, field observations and assessments conducted by the authors indicate that the initiative has generated a number of benefits. It built local capacity, and because of the location specific early warning it enabled farmers to combat the pest more effectively. It was noticed by the authors that local communication channels and folk media play an important role in CBAF, complementing and enhancing the effectiveness of exogenous channels. This paper discusses how CBAF makes effective use of different communication channels and capabilities, and highlights preliminary results.Tant d’interventions de développement n’ont pas pu générer un impact satisfaisant parmi les fermiers africains sans resources pour de raisons multiples, dont l’utilisation de l’approche coercitive et centralisée, le manque d’une participation active de la communauté et le fait d’avoir plus d’attachement aux informations, aux stratégies et guides externes de vulgarization de technologies. Spodoptera exempta, une chenille aussi nommée “chenille africain migratrice” est parmi les contraintes majeures aux moyens de subsistance de milliers de fermiers d’Afrique orientale et australe. Son éruption est soudaine et peut dévaster des cultures ainsi que des pasturages. Les services nationaux et régionaux de prédiction étaient opérationnels depuis 1960 pour fournir des alertes sur des irruptions potentielles sur base d’informations collectées sur des pièges tendus aux chenilles au niveau du district. Ces services centralisés présentent un bon nombre de difficultés et limitations entre autre, le retard dans la communication des données de pièges au prévisioniste, le manqué de spécificité des prévisions, la lenteur dans la livraison des prévisions aux fermiers, le manque de responsabilité et d’appropriation locale de ces pièges. En réponse à ces limitations, une approche innovatrice appellée prédiction des chenilles au niveau communautaire (CBAF) était initiée et testée dans plusieurs pays d’Afrique de l’Est. Cette approche s’était avérée efficace à point qu’il avait permis à chaque village d’avoir ses propres pièges et des prévisionistes formés pour la collecte et l’interprétation des données ainsi que pour fournir des prévisions spécifiques aux villages.Un projet recent sur CBAF avait exécuté cette approche dans 10, 5 et 39 villages de Malawi, Zimbabwe et Tanzanie, respectivement, dans la première année, et dans plus de 25 et 38 villages de Malawi et Tanzanie au cours de la deuxième année. Des réunions avec des partenaires ainsi que des observations et évaluations sur terrain par des auteurs indiquent combien l’initiative avait été bénéfique. Le renforcement de capacité locale avait été realisé et les alertes localement spécifiques ont permis aux fermiers de combattre avec plus d’efficacité la peste. Il était remarqué que les chaînes de communication locale ansi que les “folk media” jouent un role important dans CBAF par leur complémentarité et la promotion de l’efficacité des chaînes exogènes. Cet article discute comment CBAF fait bon usage de différentes chaînes de communication et compétences, et met en évidence les résultats préliminaires