Sustainable Agriculture Extension Manual

On-farm technology testing

This extension approach involves farmers in testing and selecting technologies, such as varieties of a crop. This section describes how to do trials of crop varieties. A similar approach can be used for other types of trials, for example testing pest-control measures, fertilizer applications, or (as in one of the examples later in the section) dates to plant various crops.

On-farm trials may be conducted by researchers or extensionists, or by farmers:

• If they are conducted by outsiders, the farmers' involvement is small: it may be confined merely to providing land and labour.
• The trials can also be conducted by the farmers themselves, possibly with the assistance of an outside facilitator such as an extension worker or researcher. They can be part of a participatory technology development approach (see the section on Participatory technology development in this book). In such cases, the farmers take the initiative and responsibility for the trials: for example, they may decide that they wish to test varieties, select the varieties to test, design and implement the experiment, and evaluate the results. Outsiders can provide guidance in this process.

There are many gradations between these two extremes. The most appropriate approach will depend on the particular circumstances. This section describes an approach where the initiative for the tests comes from outsiders, but the farmers themselves have a high level of involvement and management.

Advantages

• The approach helps in developing and testing the most suitable technologies for the community. For this reason, these technologies are likely to be adopted quickly by other farmers.
• Farmer participation in on-farm trials enables them to be involved in evaluating and selecting farm technologies right from the beginning.
• It develops farmers' analytical skills. After conducting one such trial with the guidance of outsiders, they will be encouraged to do further tests on their own.
• It enables farmers to develop a sense of ownership of the technologies, since they choose which are to be promoted.

• It provides researchers with valuable information about farmers' preferences and the problems they face.

Disadvantages

• Farmers' organizations may find it difficult to get sufficient support from research stations and extension services to enable them to use this approach.
• On-farm trials require considerable organizational skills, and may require literacy and numeracy. The farmer groups may lack these. Considerable guidance from the outsiders may be needed.
• Planting material is sometimes not available on time.
• Trials may be disrupted by pests and unreliable weather.

Location

This approach is useful in almost all areas. However it may be difficult where the community has been used to handouts.

Procedure

This description assumes that the decision to test crop varieties has come from the outside organization such as a research institute or extension agency. But it may also be expressed by the farmers themselves through participatory appraisal methods, or during long-term work with the community.

1. Inform community members of the wish to test crop varieties, and seek their agreement and help in this.
2. Assess the local environment, farming systems, natural resources and the characteristics of the local crop varieties.
3. Decide which crop varieties to test. The local farmers may suggest the ones they are familiar with; the outsiders may suggest others. You should test at least two local varieties as well as the introduced ones.
4. Obtain seeds from research centres and the community. Avoid hybrid varieties of cross-pollinated crops, because after the first generation of seed, their performance goes down and they produce low yields.
5. Ask a group of farmers to volunteer to take part in the trials. Their plots should be representative of the local soils and land types on which you want to test the varieties.
6. Identify at least four separate sites for the trials, so you can replicate the trial four times. You need to do this to make sure that the results from one site are not because of chance (such as the soil in one plot being more fertile than the other plots, or the crop in one plot being destroyed by pests or a flood). An easy way to do this is to ask four different farmers to run the trials on their fields.

7. Lay out the trial plots. Each plots should each measure, say 10m x 10m (Picture 1). At each of the four sites, you will need as many plots as there are varietiesto test. Plan to plant one variety in each plot. Extension workers should assist the farmers in laying out the plots.
8. Train the farmers how to manage the varieties: planting time, seeding rates, weeding, etc
9. Plant the copy varieties in the plots.
10. Maintain the plots according to plan. as far as possible, treat all the plots the same: the same amount of irrigation water, weeding pest contol, and so forth. This will mean that the results from the different plots can be compared directly with each other.
11. Together with the farmers, decide how to evaluate the varieties. The things to measure will depend on the type of crop being tested, but might include the germination percentage, vigour, resistance to drought and pests, flowering time, maturity, yield, theshability and harvestability. After harvest, they may include the cooking quality, taste, and quality of by-products. Note that the farmers may choose different criteria from the researchers, and they may put different weights on the same criteria. For example, the farmers may put more emphasis on drought-tolerance, while the researchers may stress total yield.
12. Monitor the varieties throughout the growing season. Both the outsiders and the farmers should do this. Organize field days at the different stages of crop growth so the farmers can see for themselves how the varieties are performing (Picture 2).

13. Harvest the plots and weigh the yield.
14. After harvest, evaluate how the varieties have performed, using the criteria agreed on earlier. You can use participatory appraisal methods such as matrices to do this (Picture 3).
15. On the basis of the evaluation, reach agreement with the farmers on which varieties should be promoted. You may decide to test some varieties further in the next season.
16. Organize seed-growers' groups of 10-15 farmers each. Train them how to manage the new varieties and grow seeds for distribution to their neighbours. Provide them with extension support so they can produce enough seeds to supply the local needs.
17. Report the results of the tests to the research institution. Make sure you report disappointments (such as crop failure) as well as positive results.

Testing sweet-potato varieties in Ethiopia

In 1996 and 1997, a local-level seed-production project was carried out in Kutcha and Baroda districts in southern Ethiopia by Agri-Service (a local NGO). The project's main aim was to ensure that drought-tolerant, disease-resistant, high-yielding varieties of sweet potatoes were available to overcome food shortages in the area.

Agri-Service held community meetings to discuss what resources and crop varieties were available. The community chose a group of representative farmers, who identified specific problems associated with the sweet potatoes varieties.

It was then decided to evaluate two local sweet-potato varieties and two improved varieties from the research station. The aim was to judge the performance of the improved varieties before they were released by the research station. Agri-Service bought improved planting materials from Nazret Research Station, while the farmers provided the local varieties.

After training, the target farmers planted the varieties at six sites. during field days organized during flowering and harvesting, farmers, extension workers and researchers monitored the crop performance. Of the varieites tested, Koka 6 (an improved varieity was chosen for its ease of harvesting, length of vine, stress tolerance and yield.

Agri-Service helped form and train 14 seed-growers' groups and organize their leaders into five committees. As a result, 800,000 cuttings of Koka 6 were distributed to 140 families, who planted them on a total of 14 ha of land. The crop yielded an average of about 2.1 t/ha (40% higher than the local varieties). The yield was so high that it was difficult to store the surplus.

Agri-Service learned that raising awareness and full community participation are crucial for the success of such efforts. This community work should be done during the off-season, when it does not interfere with normal farm work. Agri-Service also learned that farmers are good researchers, and their opinions should be taken into consideration when designing the trials.—For more information, contact Asfaw Tulu, Agri-Service Ethiopia.

Testing planting-dates in Kenya

In 1995, Intermediate Technoloty-Kenya identified late planting as one of the main reasons for low farm production in Maragwa, Tharaka Nithi, in Kenya. As a first step towards identifying the community's problems, IT-Kenya contacted the local development committee. It followed this with efforts to create rapport with the community and to gain local people's confidence. It conducted a participatory rural appraisal to get a better understanding of the existing knowledge and factors affecting crop yields. IT-Kenya and the local people analysed the problems jointly and developed plans for tackling them.

This resulted in an agreement to run a set of trials to test early planting for various crop species and varieties. The farmers set the plot sizes, which ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 ha (0.5-1 acre). Half of each plot was planted as close to the beginning of the rainy season as possible; the other half was planted about 10 days after the rains began. A total of 36 farmers were involved in the trials. Field days were organized regularly to share information on yields with the wider community.

Over 3 years, the project studied 20 varieties of the main short-season food crops: sorghum, millet, grams and cowpeas. The benefits of planting early were impressive: sorghum yielded an average of 42% more if planted early; millet yielded 30% more, grams 20% more, and cowpeas 18% more.

Farmers often do not plant early because of labour shortages, or lack of seed on the market in case the rains fail and replanting is necessary. The project recommended that sifficient seed be made available on the market in case the early rains fail, that ploughing groups be organized to provide ploughs and train oxen, that improved weeding tools be designed, and that further demostrations be conducted to convince farmers of the benefits of early planting.—For more information, contact Eric Kisiangani, Intermediate Technology-Kenya.

Research on agroforestry in Kenya

In 1984-85, CARE-Kenya began an agroforestry extension project in Siaya and South Nyanza districts. In its early phases, the project promoted tree-planting in schools and with women's groups, with CARE providing inputs for tree nurseries. The main technologies promoted were hedgerow intercropping (mainly with Leucaena leucocephala), boundary planting and woodlots. The project extension workers designed the technologies with little regard for what the farmers already knew about agroforestry. The approach depended on heavy incentives in the form of farm and nursery inputs, which helped to ensure farmer participation, but undermined the long-term sustainability of the activities. The project tried to catalyse more intensive agroforesty practices. This involved changing farmers' attitudes, accelerating the rate of tree planting, and improving tree diversity. It did not use a farmer-to-farmer estension mechanism.

The latest phase of the project incorporates lessons from previous efforts. It includes three components; institutional capacity-building, extension and training, and adaptive research. The adaptive research dimension is described below.

Indigenous technical knowledge

The methodology begins with a survey of what farmers already know: their indigenous knowledge on land use and their production practices for crops, trees and animals. A cross-section of farmers are interviewed, especially the elderly.

Farmer selection and training

Using their own criteria, group members select "adaptive-research farmers" who are given an intensive 2-3-day hands-on training focusing on:

• The concept of adaptive research.
• The role of the adaptive research farmer.
• How to conduct a participatory research needs assessment. 

• How to conduct farmer-managed trials
• How to analyse and comunicate the results to other farmers.

Needs assessment

The research and extension staff and the adaptive-research farmers work with the farmers' group to identify its needs, land-use problems, and possible solutions to these problems. Key research topics are identified in each agro-ecological zone; the issues are then prioritized for action. Some of the research areas identified include:

• Sustainable methods of improving soil fertility.
• Effective control of striga weeds.
• Screening of crop varieties (such as maize).
• Screening of tree species for various uses.

Trial design and establishment

The adaptive-research farmers in each agro-ecological zone meet to discuss the design of the proposed technology trials and to decide what parameters to monitor. Project staff and research officers work with them to design the trials. The trial plots are then laid out on their farms. See the boxes below for examples of such trials.

Monitoring and data collection

The adaptive-research farmers are responsible for managing and monitoring the trials. The researchers help them keep records and collect data, and make sure that no data are lost. The group members contribute labour to maintain the trials. Materials for use in the trials can be contributed by the farmers or by the project. Commercial seed companies sometimes donate seeds for variety screening.

Data analysis and dissemination

The adaptive-research farmers and group members analyse the data from the trials. The researcher facilitates the discussion, with the farmer presenting the results. The results are also shared more widely with other researchers and institutions.

Using the results

After the trials are over, group members and the adaptive-research farmers are encouraged to compare their current production practices with the methods tested in the trials. They then make plans for the next season, modifying their practices based on what they have learned. In this way, farmers are encouraged to change their production system based on what they can use on their own farms, and as they gain new information from the trials.

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