scholarly journals Evaluating the impact of agricultural extension programmes in sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and prospects

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailemichael Taye
Keyword(s):  
Impact Evaluation ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), impact evaluation has been used to assess whether agricultural extension interventions have brought the intended result or to establish causal linkages between interventions and outcomes. However, there is some scepticism about the validity and reliability of the results of the impact evaluation reports due to some contradictory and exaggerated results.Objectives: This article analyses some impact evaluation studies conducted in SSA as to why contradictions and exaggerations are manifested in some reports and what would be the future prospects of impact evaluation of agricultural extension programmes in the region.Methods: Impact evaluation reports and results of agricultural extension programmes from 10 SSA countries were reviewed and analysed based on impact evaluation principles and theories.Results: The results show that most of the evaluations reported positive impacts. There are also conflicting reports on extension performance. The fact that the overwhelming majority of impact evaluation reports claim positive extension impacts is not in line with the reports on agricultural productivity growth in the region. There are various reasons for over estimated impacts and contradictory results, which include use of poor impact evaluation methodologies, lack of reliable data and insufficient capacity to conduct rigorous impact evaluations.Conclusion: Due to these challenges and the shift in agricultural research and extension approaches, it is recommended that rather than investing effort in trying to prove impact, greater attention should be given to improving impact as well as using other innovative monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and learning tools that consider the dynamic nature of agricultural development.

scholarly journals Public-private cooperation and agricultural development in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review of Nigerian growth enhancement scheme and e-voucher program

Food Security ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Olatunbosun Benjamin ◽  
Oreoluwa Ola ◽  
Hannes Lang ◽  
Gertrud Buchenrieder
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Living Standard ◽  
Growth Enhancement ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Voucher Program ◽  
Economy Of Scale ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe Growth Enhancement Scheme and e-voucher program, rolled out across Nigeria in 2011 by the federal government, provided the institutional basis for private agro-dealers to engage in the distribution of subsidized fertilizer, improved seeds and extension services to farmers. However, the impact of this policy on different modes of extension service delivery is still missing in literature. We apply an Ordinary Least Squared and Difference-in-Difference methodology on the (2010 and 2012) Living Standard Measurement Study of the World Bank. The results suggest that extension visitations as well as public extension services positively influence farm revenue. Furthermore, a substantial increase in fertilizer expenditure by farmers was observed, due to the e-voucher program, which could have contributed to the improved agricultural output witnessed in Nigeria post-Growth Enhancement Scheme era. Governments across Sub-Saharan Africa should implement policies that harness the economy of scale and scope of the private sector as well as information and communication technologies in delivering on time and adequate agricultural inputs to farmers.

scholarly journals African agriculture in the context of COVID-19: Finding salvation in the devil

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 302-310
Author(s):  
Guy Blaise Nkamleu ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Food System ◽  
Free Trade Area ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

The world is facing unprecedented challenges from COVID-19, which is disrupting lives and livelihoods. The pandemic could profoundly affect the African continent and wipe out hard-won development gains, as sub-Saharan Africa heads into its first recession in 25 years. Beyond the multispatial impact of the coronavirus in Africa, its effects on the agriculture and food system is of particular interest, as food security could be the most affected area and, at the same time, agriculture could be the sector that could help African economies recover quicker from the impact of COVID19. This paper supports the view that COVID-19, as devilish as it may be, offers an opportunity to revive interest in the agricultural sector. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed immense pressures on African countries to raise additional resources, and consequently Africa’s growing public debt is again coming back to the centre stage of the global debate. The conversation on African debt sustainability has begun to dominate the scene and will flood the debate in the near term. While the observed, growing calls for debt relief for African countries are legitimate, we support in this paper that one should not divert attention from the long-term solutions needed to strengthen Africa’s resilience. These long-term solutions lie where they always have: in agriculture. With COVID-19, shipping agricultural inputs and food products from other continents to Africa has become disrupted and is accelerating the trend towards shortening supply chains. This will leave a potential market for inputs and food produced on the continent. COVID-19, together with the launching of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), have aligned the stars in favour of a decisive transformation of the agriculture sector on the continent. Agriculturalists and development experts need to be aware of their responsibility at this time, as they need to advocate for the topic of agricultural development to return to the centre and the heart of the agenda of discussions on how to respond to the consequences of Covid-19 in Africa. In this sense, and unexpectedly, COVID-19 is an opportunity for the agricultural sector.

Political stability as a factor affecting growth in agricultural sub-Saharan African countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 160-176
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Świerczyńska ◽  
◽  
Filip Kaczmarek ◽  
Łukasz Kryszak ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Gdp Per Capita ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

The agricultural countries of sub-Saharan Africa remain the least economically advanced region of the world, with the relatively lowest quality of life. The agricultural sector plays a particularly important role in the economies of these countries. However, it is underdeveloped as a result of factors such as inadequate agricultural policy, institutional instability, chronic droughts, epidemics, deterioration of the environment, deteriorating infrastructure and insufficient investment in agricultural research in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of the paper is to examine the impact of political stabilization on the economic growth in these countries. We were also inclined to determine what the interdependences were between political stability and factors important for agricultural activity for both agricultural and non-agricultural sub-Saharan counties in the 1995–2017 period. The methods used in this research included panel models with fixed effects, non-parametric tests and quantile regression. It was found that stabilizing the political situation and lowering the level of conflict risk contributed to the growth of GDP per capita in both agricultural and non-agricultural countries. However, in agricultural countries, it also influenced the modernization of agricultural production methods and a shift in the proportion of agricultural production in the total volume of imports and exports. Furthermore, it was found that political stability contributed to a greater extent to the improvement of GDP per capita in the lowest income countries.

scholarly journals Beyond Diffusion of Improved Technologies to Promoting Innovation Creation and Information Sharing for Increased Agricultural Productivity: A Case Study of Malawi and Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-92
Author(s):  
Fallys Masambuka-Kanchewa ◽  
Kevan Lamm ◽  
Alexa Lamm
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovations ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Productivity ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Communication Process ◽  
Service Delivery Systems ◽  
Technology Dissemination ◽  
Sub Saharan

For several decades, various sub-Saharan Africa governments have been proactive in revamping their agricultural extension service delivery systems through establishment and revisions of their agricultural extension policies. Despite the existence and implementation of these policies, productivity in small holder farms in these countries is still low several years later. The need to enhance agricultural production is still cited as a challenge, with low adoption of improved technologies being found as the major contributing factor. This study used a qualitative approach to examine farmers’ perceptions regarding the role of extension agents in the diffusion of innovations and its implications on sustainable agricultural development in Malawi and Kenya. Increased focus on using agricultural extension as an improved technology dissemination tool was found to be one of the factors contributing to low agricultural productivity. This among others was as result of failure by extension to tap valuable information, useful knowledge, skills and resources which was found to be available among farmers in both countries. The findings imply farmers no longer value their local knowledge and are uncomfortable sharing it amongst themselves. However, addressing the challenge of low agricultural productivity (heavily impacted by climate change) in these countries requires a shift in approach when delivering agricultural extension services. These changes include the use of interactive Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to solicit feedback and input from farmers and to enhance the two-way communication process. Keywords: diffusion of innovations; extension education; improved technologies; policy

scholarly journals Agricultural Revitalization Through Extension Knowledge to the Community Regarding the Socio-Economy of Agriculture

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-14
Author(s):  
Mbemba Garenba
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Agricultural Technology ◽  
Economic Research ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Agricultural Research Institute ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Reciprocal Process

This article discusses the revitalization of agriculture through the knowledge of the extension agents to the community about the socioeconomic of agriculture. The interesting thing is that the potential of each region to develop agribusiness is very different. Therefore, to develop extension services that support the development of agribusiness, it is necessary to examine carefully the potential of each region. So that the diversity of extension materials must be made possible by innovation. Agricultural extension is expected to be the central point of agricultural development. However, in agricultural extension it must be remembered that extension is a form of intervention against farmers. Progressive and effective agricultural extension workers must be supported and collaborate closely with the Agricultural Research Institute including socio-economic research on agricultural extension which simultaneously conducts monitoring and evaluation of agricultural extension continuously. In disseminating information, the extension worker must carry out a reciprocal process, namely conveying information in the form of researchers' findings to farmers. Sustainable agricultural development really requires the support of strong agricultural technology and socio-economic research results. Without this, agricultural development will stagnate. Therefore, people's participation in planting knowledge needs to be increased.

scholarly journals ‘Good Farmers’ in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evolving Narratives

2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Sumberg
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Cocoa Production ◽  
Sub Saharan

In this paper, the example of cocoa production in Ghana is used to explore how the narratives portraying African farmers have changed over the last 70 years. These evolving narratives are explored through the notion of a ‘good farmer’. The argument is that, as the image of African farmers has been progressively rehabilitated (from ignorant and tradition-bound to skilled and research-minded), the image of formal research and extension has suffered. This reversal was associated with the progressive disempowering of formal agricultural research. With the recent renewed interest in agricultural development, narratives about African farmers are again evolving: ‘good farmers’ are now increasingly being defined as those who approach their farming as a proper business.

scholarly journals INNOVATION PLATFORMS: EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR INSTITUTIONAL EMBEDDING IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT

2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 537-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARC SCHUT ◽  
LAURENS KLERKX ◽  
MURAT SARTAS ◽  
DIEUWKE LAMERS ◽  
MARIETTE MC CAMPBELL ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Regime Theory ◽  
Paradigm Change ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Business As Usual ◽  
Institutional Embedding

SUMMARYInnovation Platforms (IPs) are seen as a promising vehicle to foster a paradigm shift in agricultural research for development (AR4D). By facilitating interaction, negotiation and collective action between farmers, researchers and other stakeholders, IPs can contribute to more integrated, systemic innovation that is essential for achieving agricultural development impacts. However, successful implementation of IPs requires institutional change within AR4D establishments. The objective of this paper is to reflect on the implementation and institutionalisation of IPs in present AR4D programmes. We use experiences from sub-Saharan Africa to demonstrate how the adoption and adaptation of IPs creates both opportunities and challenges that influence platform performance and impact. Niche-regime theory is used to understand challenges, and anticipate on how to deal with them. A key concern is whether IPs in AR4D challenge or reinforce existing technology-oriented agricultural innovation paradigms. For example, stakeholder representation, facilitation and institutional embedding determine to a large extent whether the IP can strengthen systemic capacity to innovate that can lead to real paradigm change, or are merely ‘old wine in new bottles’ and a continuation of ‘business as usual’. Institutional embedding of IPs and – more broadly – the transition from technology-oriented to system-oriented AR4D approaches requires structural changes in organisational mandates, incentives, procedures and funding, as well as investments in exchange of experiences, learning and capacity development.

The impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa

Food Policy ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arega D. Alene ◽  
Ousmane Coulibaly
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Principles of effective collaboration in agricultural development and research for impact.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Ndunguru ◽  
Fred Tairo ◽  
Laura M. Boykin ◽  
Peter Sseruwagi
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Smallholder Agriculture ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Global Partnerships ◽  
Effective Collaboration ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract This paper shares the experiences gained in the course of designing and implementing global partnerships, that have been key to building effective collaboration for impact in smallholder agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. It describes 'principles of effective collaboration' and lists guidelines to capturing agricultural research project impacts.

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