Patrick kasangaki contributing to extension - the question and answer service voucher system

Contributing to Extension – The Question and Answer Service

Voucher SystemPatrick Kasangaki

Rural Empowerment Network – (REN)

Authors

Vivienne Oguyavoguya@gmail.com

and

Patrick Kasangakiren_empower@yahoo.com

Presentation Layout

Introduction

Project Objective

Project Outreach

Materials, Methods, Data Sources

Outputs

Impact

Conclusions and Recommendations

IntroductionIntroduction

• QAS – “traditional” information service

• Provided to broad user base for several years

• 2006 service to primarily serve farmers & extension

• Proactive approaches e.g. vouchers introduced to QAS

• QAS Voucher System introduced to Uganda in 2006Partners : REN, NARO-ARIS, CTA and BLE-ISICAD

Introduction

• Uganda: public sector rural advisory services (RAS) are underfunded and underperforming, reaching only a fraction of farmers

• Gaps to fill to strengthen the RAS, e.g. • Appropriate policy advocacy • Capacity development support and • Application of new extension approaches e.g.

QAS VS

Project Objective and PurposeProject Objective and Purpose

Objective

•Contribute towards improved agricultural productivity food security and rural livelihoods in Uganda

Purpose

•Timely and accurate responses to farmers’ questions on best practices provided

Project OutreachProject Outreach

• 900 small-scale farmers reached directly in 7 Districts: • Kayunga, Soroti, Wakiso, Mityana,

Kyenjojo, Kasese and Nebbi

• Millions more reached indirectly• radio

• local communication

• farmer listening groups

• and local archives

Materials, Methods, Data SourcesMaterials, Methods, Data Sources

• Vouchers – right given to a farmer to ask a question and receive customised answer

• Field Agent – distributes vouchers to farmers, takes photos, explains answer in local language to farmer

• Rural Information Broker – person with ICT skills. Online communication e.g. publishing farmers questions online

• Answering Service – involves experts who answer questions

Materials, Methods, Data SourcesMaterials, Methods, Data Sources• Farmers – prioritise on questions to ask,

evaluate answers. Key to payment of actors

• Internet platform – database of questions and answers, monitoring base used for controlling agent and development partners

• Radio – increases project outreach, improves cost effectiveness. Scripts on FAQs developed and broadcasted as 15 minute programmes in 5 languages

Farmer

request

Field agentRural Information Broker (Internet)

www.isicad.org/cta

Expert

response

Library

Internet

Payment after

delivery

!

Answer service

The QAS-VS……

OutputsOutputs• Provided timely and accurate responses to 900 farmers’ questions on best practices.

•Increased usability of research outputs by linking farmers and extension to research scientists.

•Generated online knowledge• content and shared it widely.

• Catalysed communication among farming communities for purposes of agricultural and rural development.

Outputs

• QAS VS introduced to 40 local authorities and 900 farmers.

• 15 Field Agents trained.

Outputs

• Database of 35 subject matter specialists developed.

• Existing expertise was mobilised. (>70 people)

• Local archives established at 15 sites.

Outputs

Increased outreach - 72 radio programmes broadcasted.

744 recordings distributed to listening groups at 15 sites

Impact• Structured questionnaire used to interview 150 randomly

selected farmers• SPSS used for data analysis

Impact….

Increase in Productivity (%)

< 0 0-25 26-50 51-75 76-99 100 > 100TOTAL

Crop Production 5 15 20 65 25 17 3 150

Animal Production

2 9 8 37 8 15 6 85

Aquaculture 0 1 1 4 2 0 0 8

Effect on Productivity by enterprise

Impact….

Thematic Scope

< 0 0-25 26-50 51-75 76-99 100 > 100 TOTAL

Marketing 5 15 60 22 30 15 3 150

Post Harvest Processing

4 10 63 13 34 12 14 150

Pest Control

3 20 57 32 17 16 5 150

Increased Engagement by Thematic Scope (%)

Conclusions and Recommendations• The QAS VS is an effective approach to extension.

• Use the QAS VS as one of several extension approaches.

• Island of success that needs to be publicised and up scaled to more regions in Uganda and other countries

• Government involvement urgently needed to move it from project to sustainable extension intervention

• Data from the service can be used by governments to improve evidence base of prioritising on farmers needs

• In built transparency and accountability checks makes it attractive to development partners and governments seeking these qualities in extension models

THANK YOU