University for Development Studies,

Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Sciences Department of Agricultural Extension, Rural Development &

Gender Studies

Concept Paper On Participatory Extension Video For Improving

Rural Farmers Access To Agricultural Information

Submitted

to

Presbyterian Agricultural Station

By

Hudu Zakaria Department of Agricultural Extension Rural Development & Gender Studies Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Sciences University for Development Studies, Ghana (+233) 0242980581 azakariahudu@gmail.com or zakariahudu75@yahoo.com

February, 2014

1

CONCEPT PAPER ON PARTICIPATORY EXTENSION VIDEO FOR IMPROVING RURAL FARMERS

ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION

1.0 Background

Within the context of research and development practices, several methods and techniques have been

adopted in the dissemination of technology and appropriate innovative practice to bring about desire

social change among rural farming communities. The paradigm shift in innovation dissemination practice

from a transfer of technology to a demand driven approach has been accompanied by a plethora of new

extension methods implemented through a variety of institutional arrangements involving state

institutions, private sector agencies, farmer based organizations and farming communities (David et al,

2011)1. Ensuring all inclusiveness; reaching different farmer categories (the poor, marginalized farmers,

women farmers etc.), called for the adoption of combination of technological and institutional supportive

and facilitative services, and effective participatory methods that involve end users as active participants

in the social change process.

Video as an audiovisual instructional technology, which combines both visual and verbal communication

methods in disseminating information, appears to be an appropriate extension tool for less developed

countries because of its suitability for the transmission of skills, information and knowledge for low literacy

populations (Vidya and Chinnaiyan, 2010)2. Despite the enormous popularity of film shows such as

African movies for entertainment purposes and the fact that research had confirmed the effectiveness of

video, specially participatory video, as a means of instruction in schools and rural communities (Isiaka

2007)3, video has been underutilized in many parts of Africa as a tool for disseminating technical

agricultural information to farmers (Ovwigho et al. 2009)4.

It is against this backdrop that One Media player Per Teacher (OMPT), a Non-governmental Organization, engage in capacity building for NGO staffs on video technology so that they can reach more remote communities and has a larger, longer- lasting transformation through video documentary. OMPT visits NGOs in-country to deliver a three-day hands-on training workshop as well as provision of the necessary equipment for making, editing, and disseminating video. The workshop is customized to fit the needs of the NGO and prepares the staff to gain the skills necessary for producing and showing culturally sensitive and locally relevant material. It is the conviction of OMPT that video breaks down barriers of:

• illiteracy: people can visualize the message • electricity: OMPT equipment uses solar and alternative power allowing it to be used anywhere • access: remote places can be reached with ease since content is portable and the equipments

are mobile • culture/language: content is locally created and appropriate • content: viewers can all engage in presentations at the same time, reducing the need for printed

materials

1 David, S. and C. Asamoah.. (2011). The impact of farmer field schools on human and social capital

2 Vidya, P. And M. Chinnaiyan. (2010). Development of an educational interactive video-DVD

3 Isiaka, B. (2007). Effectiveness of video as an instructional medium in teaching rural children

agricultural and environmental sciences. 4 Ovwigho B.O, P.A Ifie., R. T. Ajobo. and E. Akor. (2009). The availability and use of information

communication technologies by extension agents in Delta Agricultural Development Project, Delta State, Nigeria.

2

2.0 Rational As a faculty member of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Rural Development and Gender Studies, of the Nyankpala campus of University for Development Studies (UDS), I had been having discussions with OMPT after I have been contact by their program Coordinator – Madam Claire Pelley to develop position paper on agricultural extension service provision in northern Ghana and the appropriateness of participatory video in agricultural information dissemination.

OMPT had tasked me to liaise with agricultural extension service organization operating in Northern Ghana and facilitate their collaboration with the organization in the areas of capacity building of extension field staffs and provision of high quality portable easy-to-use solar powered camcorders and projectors to enable extension service providers reach more remote communities and provide agricultural information to bring about desire improvement in the livelihood of rural farmers. We (Myself and OMPT) have agreed to collaborate with the organization in undertaking ‘Action Based Research’ on participatory video documentary as way of contributing to knowledge on the best practice and innovative way of reaching out to the marginalized in society, particularly the women farmers, with agricultural information. I suggested participatory video documentary on soil fertility management to them as a means of improving women farmers’ adoption of best practice in soil fertility improvement on their fields as an interesting area for the proposed ‘Action Based Research’. 3.0 Relevance of the proposed Action Based Research Constraints to women’s’ access to agricultural productive resources, especially land is a key underlying cause of household food insecurity in Northern Ghana (Apusigah, 2010)

5. “Women account for about 70

percent of total food production and marketing in Ghana, making them central to food security and economic development. However, women’s empowerment and gender equity are constrained by their lack of access, ownership, and decision-making power related to land, participation and representation in agriculture and natural resources groups, and influence on intra-household decision-making. Women’s contributions are often overlooked or ignored by husbands, fathers, brothers and sons, as well as community leaders, extension workers, agricultural planners and policy makers.”(CARE, 2008)

6.

As results of gender insensitive cultural practices in northern Ghana, while men are able to access land due to inheritance, women must negotiate with fathers and husbands to obtain land for agricultural production (Aryeetey et al, 2007)

7. By this arrangement, women farmers usually farm on fragile and

infertile lands and the declining soil fertility in the north is further worsening the plight of women farmers and exacerbating the already existing gender income inequality.

As part of improving agricultural productivity and considering the fragile and poor nature of soil fertility in the northern ecological zone, soil fertility improvement activities is being promoted by Savannah Agricultural Research Institute through the AGRA Soil Health Project, Integrated Soil Fertility Management activities implemented under the Northern Rural Growth Project and Compost and Organic Soil Fertilization Learning initiative implemented under the UDS Farming for the Future programmes.

5 The Gendered Politics of Farm Household Production and the Shaping of Women’s Livelihoods in

Northern Ghana 6 A place to grow – empowering women in CARE’s agriculture programming (CARE, 2008)

7 Aryeetey E, Ayee JRA, Ninsin KA, Tsikata D (2007). ‘The Politics of Land Tenure in Ghana: From the

Crown Lands Bills to the Land Administration Project’

3

The AGRA Soil Health Project have established Farmer Learning Centres and demonstration farms in most part of northern Ghana, to help teach farmers, especially women farmers who due to their general lack of access to productive lands are left without choice but to farm on poor infertile lands abandoned by men, integrated soil management practice and promote the adoption of such practice to ensure sustainable increase in crop productivity. Similar initiative is being implemented under the Northern Rural Growth Project by the District Agricultural Development Units under the Ministry of Food Agriculture (MOFA) in all the Districts in the three northern regions, as well as a host of NGOs operating in the area of agricultural development in Northern Ghana. However, due to logistical and technical constraints on the part of implementing organizations, and social and gender issues limiting women movement and access to information, women farmers, who depend largely on these poor infertile fragile lands, are not able to attend such learning sessions or visit demonstration farms and this hinder their adoption of such technologies. I therefore see the concept of participatory video documentary using high quality portable device to capture and produce quality video showing the processes and activities involve in integrated soil fertility management practices and compost organic fertilization activities. Such video documentary can then be showed to women farmers at their convenient time and place. Therefore the concept of One Media Player per Teacher (OMPT)'s basic idea of reaching out to the underprivileged and underserved rural communities with the innovative use of specialized, portable, audiovisual devices to deliver relevant information and educational programs is imperative in helping improve the adoption of soil fertility

improvement practices among women farmers in northern Ghana.

Notwithstanding, further studies by way of Action Based Research in the form of adaptive trials, will help generate relevant empirical information on best practice regarding video extension taken into consideration site specific and socio-cultural issues which are imperative in innovation dissemination and adoption. Such research will help generate knowledge to inform the organization in its desire to adopt innovative way of reaching out to the unsaved rural women farmers and improving their adoption of improved technology to help ensure holistic development of rural populates.

4.0 Nature of Proposed Collaboration Presbyterian Agricultural Station with its wide coverage and depth experience in agricultural extension and rural development in Northern Ghana will be more than wealthy partners in collaborating with OMPT in the areas of:

• Capacity Building of Extension Agents on video capturing, editing and preparing video documentaries.

• Provision of High quality portable, easy-to-use camcorders and projectors for use in participatory extension video.

• Conducting Action Based Research on participatory video as a means of improving women farmers’ access to agricultural information and facilitating the adoption of innovation for improved agricultural productivity.

This kind of collaboration in my view, is in line with the Presbyterian Agricultural Station mission of ‘continuously provide Participatory, Innovative and continuously proven Agricultural Development services that respond to the immediate and strategic needs of farmers in Northern Ghana in an effort to attain food and income security in a sustainable farming environment’. It will also adds to the vision of the Station being ‘a key player in development cycles and a centre of excellence in the provision of quality development services in Partnership with other Actors in Northern Ghana’

4

5.0 Project Goal:

Improved food and income security of farmers (women) in Ghana using participatory extension video. 5.1 Project Objectives

• To enhance the capacity of Extension Agents on video capturing, editing and preparing video documentaries.

• To support organizations through the provision of high quality portable, easy-to-use camcorders and projectors for use in participatory extension video.

• To conduct action based research on participatory video as a means of improving women farmers’ access to agricultural information and facilitating the adoption of innovation for improved agricultural productivity

5.2 Project Expected Results Outcomes:

• Increased access to information by women farmers • Increased production and productivity of food and cash crops • Increased agric extension agents capacity to conduct participatory extension video in

communities Outputs

• At least 10,000 farmers with 70% women targeted • 80% of farmers adopt innovations for improved productivity through participatory extension video • 20 agric extension agents trained in the audio video equipments. • X equipment supplied to agric stations for information dissemination • X participatory extension video broadcasted in communities.

5.3 Project Activities

• Equipments and logistics procurement and supply • Train AEAs in participatory extension video • Organize community level participatory extension video • Conduct action based research on the project • Project monitoring and evaluation

6.0 Conclusion

Until agricultural information dissemination strategies are tailored to the need and circumstance of women

farmers and other marginalized groups in society, they will always be left out in technology adoption and

improve agricultural productivity. Women farmers by the virtue of their domestic responsibilities and

social restrictions on their movement cannot fully benefit from the current strategies of disseminating soil

fertility management practices through farmers learning centres and demonstration farms. A portable high

quality video equipment capable of capturing and recording the process, steps and procedures involve in

integrated soil fertility improvement practices and later shown to women farmers in small groups at their

own convenient time and location will in no doubt impact greatly on women farmers adoption of soil

fertility improvement practices.

X = to be decided on by the partners

5

7.0 Project Consultants

Hudu Zakaria Lecturer and Researcher on Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Department of Agricultural Extension Rural Development & Gender Studies Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Sciences University for Development Studies, Ghana (+233) 0242980581 azakariahudu@gmail.com or zakariahudu75@yahoo.com