1. Integra(ng Innova(ve and Interac(ve
Methodologies in Popular Extension
Approaches: The Biovision Farmer
Communica(on Program in Africa
David Amudavi
Programme Coordinator, Biovision Farmer Communica(on Program
Presented at The World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, 15 March 2011

2. CONTEXT
a. A mix of historical land use challenges, climate variability and ongoing climate
change has rendered livestock and crop produc;on systems too weak to prevent
widespread and environmental degrada;on, increasing poverty, food insecurity, poor
nutri;onal feeding prac;ces.
b. Further popula;on growth con;nues to increase unabated – Kenya’s popula;on has
reached about 40 million, supported by 23% of the land’s arable land.
c. Sustainable agriculture (SA) is important for mee;ng local food requirements while
providing protec;on and sustainable use of locally‐available natural resources.
d. SA is par;cularly appropriate for the rural communi;es that are currently most
exposed to food shortages.
e. There is need to boost agricultural produc;vity and add value in the agri‐food chain
in sustainable ways that will reduce food insecurity and malnutri;on among the
vulnerable households living in rural communi;es.
f. Access to informa;on on relevant technologies and prac;ces is central – Extension is
cri;cal to this process.

3. What is Extension?
 Advisory services ‐ to assist farmers to make decisions on solving problems
 Extension educa(on ‐ educa(onal ac(vity which seeks to teach people how
to solve problems by providing and extending informa(on
 Technology transfer ‐ ac(vity which facilitates the transfer of research results
for scien(sts by extension officers into agricultural knowledge and then
implementa(on into useful farm prac(ces, in local condi(ons
 Human resource management ‐ ac;vity for capacity building
Extension can be used to describe the broad func;on of communica;on of
informa;on from all relevant sources to assist in the process of change and
innova;on in different fields (agriculture, health, coopera;ve, etc) including
people’s capacity and self‐sufficiency in resolving problems and making
integrated management decisions.

4. Common Elements in Defini(ons of Extension
Extension:
• Is an interven(on – plays func(on
• Uses communica(on as instrument to induce
change
• Can be effec(ve only through voluntary change
• Focuses on target processes and outcomes ‐ adult
and con(nuing educa(on of men and women
producers
• Deployed by any person or public or private
ins(tu(on technically qualified in the subject of
extension

5. Common Elements in Defini(ons of Extension
1. Extension as an Interven0on
 It is a goal‐oriented, planned, programmed, and systema;cally designed,
ac;vity
 Intervening in terms of formula;ng objec;ves, designing and tes;ng strategy,
deploying resources, implemen;ng and evalua;ng.
2. Extension uses communica0on as instrument to induce change
 Communica;on instrument used in extension for inducing change; uses
subsidies or regula;ons;
 Communica;on involves the use of symbols, packages of maTer/energy which
can elicit meaning.
3. Extension can be effec0ve only through voluntary change
 Effec;veness depends on people’s willingness to be persuaded, on the extent
to which they see extension as serving their own interests and benefit –
purposive assistance to decision‐making and opinion forma;on.
 The logic of extension requires that one seeks to induce voluntary change.

6. Common Elements in Defini(ons of Extension‐ cont’d
4. Extension focuses on different target processes and outcomes
 At individual level – targets behaviours, aVtudes, knowledge,
decision‐making, opinion forma;on, etc.;
 At social or collec;ve level ‐ adver;sing, poli;cal agendas, publicity,
advocacy, etc.
 Target processes – e.g. cheap and quality food for consumers,
nature conserva;on, preven;ng health hazards, reducing birthrates,
ensuring a sustainable use of the environment, emancipa;on, greater
equity, energy conserva;on.
5. Extension is deployed by an ins0tu0on
 Extension requires finance, it is a professional ac;vity, and it must
be paid for.
 As an instrument extension is deployed by ins;tu;ons such as
government ins;tu;ons, voluntary agencies, commercial companies,
member organiza;ons/associa;ons.

7. Evolution of the Agricultural Extension Service
The agricultural extension system in Kenya has evolved through
various stages since colonial and post -independence eras.
A) Pre-Independence Period Extension Approaches
• Mainly tailored towards settler and commercial farming systems.
• Well packaged programs that combined extension services with
credit and subsidized inputs.
• However, the extension approach used for indigenous Africans, who
were mainly engaged in subsistence farming and pastoralism, was
coercive in nature and therefore not readily accepted.

8. b) Post Independence Period extension Approaches
After independence, more persuasive and educational approaches and
methods were adopted.
• Establishment of Farmer and Pastoralist Training Centres (FTCs &
PTCs) in the 1960s and 1970s
• Integrated agricultural development (IAD) approach.
• Farming Systems (FS) and Training and Visit (T&V) approaches in the
1980s and 1990s .
• “Commodity specialised approach” used in the large export
commodity sub-sector spearheaded by commodity boards and private
companies
Generally, all the approaches were essentially top-down and
lacked participation in articulating farmers’ demands.

9. c) Current Popular Extension Approaches
Lessons learnt from the previous approaches, have led to more participatory and demand-
driven extension approaches in recent years.
These are intended to tap farmer participation and private sector contribution in providing
extension services. Examples:
• Focal Area Approach (FAA) – ( Use of common interest groups (CIGs)
• Farmer Field Schools – Farmer to farmer extension
• Commodity-based approach - Commercial enterprises
• Multidisciplinary Mobile Extension Teams especially in ASAL areas
Whereas extension has emphasised on increasing production, it is now acknowledged
that linking production with processing and marketing is a prerequisite in transforming
agriculture from subsistence to commercial enterprise.

10. Extension Reform Principles and Interven(ons
o Par(cipa(on o Staff mo(va(on
o Gender‐sensi(vity o Broader technical mandate
of extension in line with
o Client‐focus global developments
o Demand‐driven o Development and applica(on
of informa(on
o Pluralism
communica(on technology
o Priva(za(on (ICT) tools
o Decentraliza(on o Monitoring, evalua(on and
impact assessment
o Loca(on‐ and purpose‐
specific o Ins(tu(onal linkages

11. Biovision in Kenya and Eastern Africa
a. Biovision Founda(on for Ecological Development ‐ Bridges the gap between
research and the applica(on and dissemina(on of research results through
environmentally sound, economically viable and technologically appropriate
agricultural methods to overcome hunger and poverty, and also supports co‐
opera;on stakeholders in this process. Its strategic focus lies in the
dissemina(on of natural and locally available solu;ons in the 4‐H areas,
applied and taught in model projects and oYen led by partner organisa;ons.
b. Biovision Ac(vi(es in Eastern Africa – Diversified efforts – malaria control
and preven;on, Camel programme for climate change, Push‐pull strategies
for soil fer;lity improvement and striga control, long‐term system control,
IPM against fruit flies, Income genera;on ac;vi;es, Biodiversity conserva;on
& ecosystem services,
c. Biovision Africa Trust ‐ The BVAT was established by the Biovision Founda;on
in 2009 to focus on developing and suppor;ng processes that put into use
innova;ons that can lead to market‐led sustainable agriculture for welfare
improvement of resource poor small‐holder farmers in East Africa and
beyond.

12. Farmer Communication Programme (FCP)
Ini;ated in 2010 by icipe and Biovision Founda;on to
address the synergies between the different
informa;on projects to ensure that knowledge,
informa;on and findings are rolled out in a prac;cable
format to reach farmers and other users.

13. Goal, Vision and Mission of FCP
Goal: Improve the livelihoods of small scale farmers in
Africa by systema;c applica;on of scien;fically and
experien;ally validated research and educa;on.
Vision:Sustained and produc;ve smallholder
agriculture of the highest quality in terms of enhanced
food produc;on, nutri;on, incomes, as well as
sustainability.
Mission: Advance and improve access to informa;on
on sustainable agriculture through innova;ons that
improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life.

14. Objec(ves of the FCP
1. Enhance synergy among the informa;on
communica;ons projects and link them to other
informa;on providers.
2. Create centres of excellence in rural informa;on and
knowledge services linked to livelihood improvement
R&D programmes/projects.
3. Support building of technical capacity of informa;on
change agents in R&D programmes/projects.
4. Engage strategic partners to scale up access to and
u;liza;on of informa;on on appropriate innova;ons in
various sectors of sustainable agriculture.

15. FCP Theory of Change
Informa(on Produc(ve and
Farmer Deficient & Sustainable Farming
Communica(on Programme underperforming System
Farming System
‐
 Enhanced access to
information, findings, • Limited information about  Higher yields
knowledge on innovations technologies, practices,  Higher incomes
(technologies, practices, systems  Improved and stable
systems, etc) • Poor decision making food security
 Efficient information delivery • Low technology adoption  Improved nutrition
infrastructure • Low technology adaptation  Stable environment
 Enhanced access to inputs & • Poor livelihoods  Improved welfare
outputs markets
 STRATEGIC R&D PARTNERS

16. Innova(ons for Informa(on Communica(on
A) Infonet‐biovision (Infonet) ‐ an internet‐based informa;on plaeorm
 An online and also offline system built with the aid of experts from reputable
na;onal and interna;onal research organiza;ons.
 The applica;ons offer trainers, extension workers and farmers quick access to
up‐to‐date and locally relevant informa;on.
 The plaeorm contains detail on PLANT, HUMAN, ANIMAL and ENVIRONMENT
HEALTH. For example, it covers more than 40 crops and a range of issues such
as environmental management, malaria control, and nutri;onal illnesses.
 The programme envisages to have the website linked to market applica;ons to
inform/update farmers on latest market condi;ons and the buyers (the
market) on what is available.
 Contributes to one of the Na;onal Agricultural Sector Extension Policy (NASEP)
objec;ves of encouraging and strengthening use of informa;on and
communica;on technology (ICT) in extension delivery.

17. Innova(ons for Informa(on Communica(on
B) Print: The Organic Farmer (TOF)
The magazine is produced every month and
distributed to a readership of over 200,000
receiving concrete guidance and prac;cal ;ps on
how to use simple, cost‐effec;ve and
environmentally friendly prac;ces.
C) Radio: TOF Radio
 A weekly radio show in Swahili trea;ng relevant
topics in coordina;on with TOF Magazines.
 TOF Radio is received in Kenya and Tanzania and
has up to 5 million listeners.

18. Integra(ng and Adap(ng ICT Services
• Farmer learning resource centers/ i‐TOF Centres:
 Community‐anchored and run informa;on service
 Equipped with computers and laptops (OLPC) that use solar panels – to overcome
problems of ICT infrastructure landscape
 Facilitate processes of learning and acquiring technical knowledge on certain
agricultural prac;ces as well as business management skills
 Provide entry points for farm‐to‐market‐chain‐links (FMCL) – ICTs in the centre could
be used in the short to mid term in improving access to markets.
 Such centres could easily graduate to offer services such as fax, internet, typing,
prin;ng, scanning, and they are informa;on centres, more like a research library.
 Through this market‐farmer‐extension service interac;on, high yielding input and
innova;ve prac;ces can be communicated to farmers, and major agricultural markets
can inform farmers on required product specifica;ons.

19. Farmers Learning & Resource Centre in KARI Katumani

20. Extension Outreach
Training Farmers on
the Use of Digital
Informa;on Access

21. Integra(ng and Adap(ng ICT Services – Cont’d
• Interfaces to mobile phones and call centres – ASK TOF
 Taking advantage of the provision of very affordable mobile phone
services that are widespread, the FCP programme has established a
call‐in system for addressing FAQs.
 Undertakes capacity building to other projects to use best available
technology (e.g. Safaricom) thereby scaling up its impact beyond its
own reach
 Envisages to partners with others involved in enhancing marker
access to link farmers to markets by providing informa;on on
product/service price, quan;ty, quality, and loca;on
• Through partners
Currently several outreach ac;vi;es, using Infonet as an informa;on
base, take place through a range of different partners – NALEP,
KENFAP, NGOs, CBOS, etc.

22. Technologies in applica(on

23. Projected Ingredients for FCP Growth
To achieve a sound and sustainable FCP, strategic efforts and
partnerships will be needed in terms of:
1. Content development and quality control processes –
(Solid Research)
2. Outreach ac;vi;es to enhance farmers’ access to informa;on
and communica;on tools (e.g. Farmers’ resource centres,
informa;on hubs, call centres) – (Strong Farmer
Par(cipa(on)
3. Technical capacity building in informa;on sourcing, packaging
and dissemina;on – (Competent Change Intermediaries)
4. Resource mobiliza;on of both technical and financial
resources ‐ advocacy, networking and mul;‐sectoral
collabora;on – (Commided Support from Donors and
Policy makers)

24. Marke(ng and Sustainability of the FCP Cont’d
The programme will be supported by:
1. Biovision Founda;on of Switzerland
2. Icipe
3. Biovision Africa Trust
4. Founda;ons and Ins;tu;ons
5. Research & Development Ins;tu;ons
6. Member donors (individuals)
7. Back donors

25. Biovision Africa Trust (BVAT)
Objec(ves:
1. Fund sustainable projects and ini;a;ves in the agro sector that
focus on genera;on and dissemina;on of informa;on on ecologically
sound and useful methods to improve human, animal, plant and
environmental health;
2. Undertake research into the special problems facing small‐holder
farmers in Kenya and other countries in Africa in order to provide
useful and prac;cal solu;ons thereby allevia;ng poverty;
3. Undertake educa;onal programs amongst the targeted small‐holder
communi;es either individually or in partnership with other players
(public, private, civil society);
4. Provide leverage (Grants, assistance, etc) to other public charitable
trusts or ins;tu;ons established for similar objec;ves.

26. FCP Networking Na(onally, Regionally & Globally