Assessing farmer involvement in collective action for enhancing the sorghum value chain in Soroti, Uganda

Farmer associations have been widely promoted in Uganda to bridge institutional gaps among smallholder farmers, however, their role in the sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) value chain and factors influencing membership to these associations have not been well documented. This study was conducted to assess the role of these farmer associations and socio-economic factors influencing membership. A survey questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of 120 sorghum farmers in six sub-counties of Soroti, Uganda, where associations are established. A binomial logit regression model was employed to ascertain socio-economic factors that influenced membership to farmer associations. Results showed that 65% of respondents belonged to a farmer association. Regarding benefits of farmer associations, 55.8% of the respondents received training in sorghum agronomy, 39.2% were trained on postharvest management, 35% engaged in collective marketing, 43.3% received credit and 3.3% processed sorghum as part of value addition for increased income. Gender and extension contacts significantly (P<0.05) influenced membership to farmer associations. Even with adequate resources (human and financial), the most critical factors in the process of building functional farmer associations is gender and extension contacts.Keywords: Collective action, farmer associations, sorghum, value chain, socio-economic factors, extensio

The transfer of intergenerational family knowledge for sustainable commercial farming in Mpumalanga province of South Africa: lessons for extension

This study focuses on intergenerational knowledge transfer in commercial family farms as a tool for sustainable agriculture. The rationale is two pronged; the need for smallholder farmers to learn from the commercial enterprises; and extension professional to assess how these experiences can be integrated into practice. The key research questions addressed are; what key intergenerational knowledge sustains commercial farming? What are the modes of knowledge transfer? What are key learning points for smallholder farmer extension practice? A case study approach was applied and data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire and research on family histories. Key knowledge themes that were identified as critical for intergenerational transfer include; maintaining a business mindset; investment and diversification decisions; planning and implementing operational plans; valuing human resources; genetic preservation; adapting to changing climatic conditions and risk taking. The key modes of knowledge transfer were continuous engagement, discussions and networking. The study concludes that smallholder farmers need to incorporate these lessons in commercialising their enterprises.Keywords: Intergenerational knowledge, sustainable agriculture, family farms, Mpumalang

Assessing evaluation education in African tertiary education institutions: Opportunities and reflections

The demand for knowledge from evaluations to inform evidence-based policy making continues to rise in Africa. Simultaneously, there is increased recognition of the role tertiary education institutions can play in strengthening evaluation practice through high quality evaluation education. Within this context, this paper explores the status quo of evaluation education in selected tertiary institutions in Anglophone African countries. The paper utilizes a mixed methods research methodology that blends secondary data review, an online survey using a structured questionnaire and two regional workshops. Data was collected from 12 Anglophone African tertiary education institutions. Findings indicate that evaluation education in Anglophone African tertiary institutions is mostly in the nascent stages and there are mixed feelings on the appropriate entry levels (undergraduate or postgraduate). The study highlights the need for developing a specialized evaluation curriculum as evaluation education still borrows from theories and methodologies from the North. Institutional, operational and policy-related challenges are highlighted as well as the potential for collaboration among various stakeholders in strengthening the design and implementation of evaluation education. Key tenets for strengthening evaluation education are highlighted and discussed

Ch. 6. Critical Systems Heuristics: The Idea and Practice of Boundary Critique

Critical systems heuristics (CSH) is a framework for reflective professional practice organised around the central tool of boundary critique. This chapter, written jointly by the original developer, Werner Ulrich, and Martin Reynolds, an experienced practitioner of CSH, offers a systematic introduction to the idea and use of boundary critique. Its core concepts are explained in detail and their use is illustrated by means of two case studies from the domain of environmental planning and management. A particular focus is on working constructively with tensions between opposing perspectives as they arise in many situations of professional intervention. These include tensions such as ‘situation’ versus ‘system’, ‘is’ versus ‘ought’ judgements, concerns of ‘those involved’ versus ‘those affected but not involved’, stakeholders’ ‘stakes’ versus ‘stakeholding issues’, and others. Accordingly, boundary critique is presented as a participatory process of unfolding and questioning boundary judgements rather than as an expert-driven process of boundary setting. The paper concludes with a discussion of some essential skills and considerations regarding the practice of boundary critique

Assessing socio–economic factors influencing adoption of legume-based multiple cropping systems among smallholder sorghum farmers in Soroti, Uganda

Despite the numerous benefits of legume-based multiple cropping systems in soil fertility management, most smallholder sorghum farmers have not adopted them. The aim of this study was to examine socio-economic factors influencing adoption of legume-based multiple cropping systems among smallholder sorghum farmers in Soroti, Uganda. A survey questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of 120 respondents. Logistic regression analysis was performed to ascertain socio-economic factors influencing adoption of legume-based multiple cropping systems. Focus group discussions were also conducted to triangulate the findings. Results showed that 51.7% of the respondents had adopted sorghum-legume rotations compared to only 8.3% who adopted sorghum-legume intercropping. Number of extension contacts had a positively significant (p<0.05) effect on adoption of sorghum-legume rotations whereas family size had a negatively significant (p<0.05) effect on adoption of sorghum-legume intercropping. From focus group discussions, market access to legume crops also emerged as a barrier to adoption of legume-based multiple cropping systems. The study recommends strengthening legume value chains; improving extension service delivery and conducting a cost-benefit analysis of adopting legume-based multiple cropping systems. The implication to extension service delivery is that extension agents should focus their technology dissemination messages on technologies that are accepted and feasible in their farming communities.Keywords: Adoption; legumes; multiple cropping; socio-economic factors; extension servic

The Role of Traditional Food Systems in Rapid Urbanization: Facilitating enterprise development around the production and/or supply of traditional fruit and vegetables

This Briefing Note is the fourth in the series. Our research project “The Role of Traditional Food Systems in Rapid Urbanization” was designed to investigate the challenge of food insecurity in cities as experienced by migrant communities, specifically asking how knowledge of the production, trade and consumption patterns of traditional fruit and vegetables (TFVs) in urban (im)migrant communities can help design local and national policies to enhance consumption of fruit and vegetables to combat the growth of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The purpose of this brief is to summarise our findings on the patterns and barriers of TFV production and trade in Johannesburg and present policy recommendations on how to stimulate sustainable enterprise development to enhance availability, accessibility, and affordability of TFVs within the city to help tackle the problem of urban food insecurity and malnutrition. The following recommendations are made: 1) Promote information on the benefits of TFVs; 2) Develop and support urban farming initiatives, training, entrepreneurship and partnerships; and 3) Promote business along the TFV supply chain

The Role of Traditional Food Systems in Rapid Urbanization: Scope, methods and high-level findings

This Briefing Note is the first in a series of four. It discusses the purpose of the project, its methodology and some of the high-level findings from the study, specifically the fieldwork conducted between May and July 2023 in two field sites in the City of Johannesburg Metropole (CoJ), South Africa. Based on these high-level findings, we propose the following policy recommendations: 1) Deeper interdisciplinary research on the contribution of traditional fruits and vegetables (TFVs) to food and nutrition security and how nutritional properties can be enhanced; 2) Greater collaboration amongst various actors and stakeholders to enhance public awareness of the various benefits of TFVs; and 3) Reworking parallel systems of production and trade

The Role of Traditional Food Systems in Rapid Urbanization: Improving the Maintenance of Indigenous Knowledge around the Significance of Consumption and Preparation of Traditional Fruit and Vegetables

This Briefing Note is the third in a series of four. It discusses knowledge about the consumption and preparation of traditional fruit and vegetables (TFVs) and explores opportunities to retain and spread this knowledge and thereby increase consumption of nutritious food. This Briefing Note argues that existing knowledge on the preparation and storage of TFVs should be enhanced and widely disseminated, thereby increasing awareness and consumption of TFVs. Recommendations include that the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) municipality supports multi-stakeholder partnerships to: 1) Increase awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of TFVs; and 2) Enhance knowledge of TFVs amongst youth, who are less likely to consume TFVs in contrast to older residents

Reducing Barriers to the Consumption of Traditional Fruits and Vegetables by Migrant Communities in Johannesburg: Recommendations for Urban Policy and Planning

This Briefing Note is the second in a series of four deriving from research conducted between May and July 2023 in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) at two research sites: the Central Business District and Soweto South. The research explored the role of traditional fruits and vegetables (TFVs) in the lives of local and cross-border migrant communities. This Briefing Note reports key findings on the drivers of, and barriers to, the consumption of these TFVs on the part of migrant communities. It then proposes a series of policy and planning recommendations for national and local government, civil society organisations and communities in order to foster increased consumption of these products, given their cultural and nutritional value. This is important in the context of a city in which more than one-third of residents have recently experienced food insecurity