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Patrick kasangaki
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Contributing to Extension – The Question and Answer Service
Voucher SystemPatrick Kasangaki
Rural Empowerment Network – (REN)
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
