Use of Participatory Farmer Groups Model to Transfer Agricultural Technology: Is it making any difference in the Tanzanian agriculture?
2013
Kadigi, Reuben M.J.
A study was conducted between June and October 2012 in the District Agricultural Sector Investment Project (DASIP) supported areas in Tanzania to evaluate what has worked and what has not worked in the implementation of the DASIP Participatory Famer Groups (PFGs) model. Specifically the study evaluated the rate of adoption of improved crop farming practices among PFGs and non-PFGs members; identified and analyzed the factors and variables that explain variations in adoption of improved technologies. In addition the extent to which the DASIP PFGs model has influenced production in the project area was assessed. Lessons from this study suggest existence of an array of economic, institutional and human capital constraints that hinder the wide adoption of agricultural technology or Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). Important in this regard is the lack of working capital to purchase inputs. Many farmers would wish to adopt GAPs in their farms and use inputs as trained - but they need money to purchase the required inputs, a resource which many farmers lack. They also lack strong in- stitutions that would help them increase their bargaining power. Overall, these drawbacks notwithstanding, the DASIP inter- ventions have significantly improved farmers' productivity and food security in the project area. Although the rate and intensity of adoption were generally low, yield and status of food security indicated statistically significant differences between PFG and non-PFG member households.
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