Developing sustainable farmer-to-farmer extension: Experiences from the volunteer farmer–trainer approach in Kenya
The reform of agricultural extension institutions in developing countries has in the past decade seen the implementation of many donor-supported farmer-to-farmer extension (F2FE) programs that are participatory and client-oriented. Their effectiveness in disseminating agricultural information is wid...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Taylor and Francis
2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171236 |
| _version_ | 1855526329775030272 |
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| author | Kiptot, Evelyne Franzel, Steven |
| author_browse | Franzel, Steven Kiptot, Evelyne |
| author_facet | Kiptot, Evelyne Franzel, Steven |
| author_sort | Kiptot, Evelyne |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | The reform of agricultural extension institutions in developing countries has in the past decade seen the implementation of many donor-supported farmer-to-farmer extension (F2FE) programs that are participatory and client-oriented. Their effectiveness in disseminating agricultural information is widely documented. However, most of these F2FE approaches only survive as long as funding support continues. Scant information exists on what can make externally initiated F2FE approaches sustainable. Drawing on lessons from a F2FE program known as the volunteer farmer–trainer (VFT) approach in an externally funded project in Kenya, this paper examines what makes such programs sustainable. The findings are based on the experiences of four dairy producer organizations (POs) that, three years after the end of project support, still had strong VFT programs. The paper highlights the importance of four drivers of sustainability: local institutional support, social capital, technical backstopping and motivation of farmer trainers to work voluntarily. Strong POs and farmer groups, coupled with the existence of an informal, multi-institutional network that supported the creation of knowledge and learning processes were key components contributing to the sustainability of the VFT program. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace171236 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publishDateRange | 2019 |
| publishDateSort | 2019 |
| publisher | Taylor and Francis |
| publisherStr | Taylor and Francis |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1712362025-02-19T14:36:17Z Developing sustainable farmer-to-farmer extension: Experiences from the volunteer farmer–trainer approach in Kenya Kiptot, Evelyne Franzel, Steven agricultural extension sustainability farmers extension producer organizations The reform of agricultural extension institutions in developing countries has in the past decade seen the implementation of many donor-supported farmer-to-farmer extension (F2FE) programs that are participatory and client-oriented. Their effectiveness in disseminating agricultural information is widely documented. However, most of these F2FE approaches only survive as long as funding support continues. Scant information exists on what can make externally initiated F2FE approaches sustainable. Drawing on lessons from a F2FE program known as the volunteer farmer–trainer (VFT) approach in an externally funded project in Kenya, this paper examines what makes such programs sustainable. The findings are based on the experiences of four dairy producer organizations (POs) that, three years after the end of project support, still had strong VFT programs. The paper highlights the importance of four drivers of sustainability: local institutional support, social capital, technical backstopping and motivation of farmer trainers to work voluntarily. Strong POs and farmer groups, coupled with the existence of an informal, multi-institutional network that supported the creation of knowledge and learning processes were key components contributing to the sustainability of the VFT program. 2019-11-02 2025-01-29T12:57:53Z 2025-01-29T12:57:53Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171236 en Open Access Taylor and Francis Kiptot, Evelyne; and Franzel, Steven. 2020. Developing sustainable farmer-to-farmer extension: Experiences from the volunteer farmer–trainer approach in Kenya. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 17(6): 401-412. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2019.1679576 |
| spellingShingle | agricultural extension sustainability farmers extension producer organizations Kiptot, Evelyne Franzel, Steven Developing sustainable farmer-to-farmer extension: Experiences from the volunteer farmer–trainer approach in Kenya |
| title | Developing sustainable farmer-to-farmer extension: Experiences from the volunteer farmer–trainer approach in Kenya |
| title_full | Developing sustainable farmer-to-farmer extension: Experiences from the volunteer farmer–trainer approach in Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Developing sustainable farmer-to-farmer extension: Experiences from the volunteer farmer–trainer approach in Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing sustainable farmer-to-farmer extension: Experiences from the volunteer farmer–trainer approach in Kenya |
| title_short | Developing sustainable farmer-to-farmer extension: Experiences from the volunteer farmer–trainer approach in Kenya |
| title_sort | developing sustainable farmer to farmer extension experiences from the volunteer farmer trainer approach in kenya |
| topic | agricultural extension sustainability farmers extension producer organizations |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171236 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kiptotevelyne developingsustainablefarmertofarmerextensionexperiencesfromthevolunteerfarmertrainerapproachinkenya AT franzelsteven developingsustainablefarmertofarmerextensionexperiencesfromthevolunteerfarmertrainerapproachinkenya |