The role of farmer learning platforms in enhancing smallholder farmer use of improved crop production technologies in Mityana District, Central Uganda

Abstract

In the recent past, participatory extension approaches have been credited for improving access and use of agricultural technologies. Farmer Learning Platform (FLP) is a participatory extension approach, where selected farmer groups are engaged to know where to access and how to use technologies using demonstrations and other methods to increase their uptake. However, the low number of farmers using the technologies despite trainings has implications and raises questions on the contribution of the approach in improving technology use. The objective of this study was to examine the role of the FLP and their contribution in enhancing farmer use of crop production technologies for increased yield. Specifically, the study focused on the crop production technologies used by smallholder farmers, farmers perceived usefulness of the FLPs in influencing use of crop production technologies, how FLP processes and methods influence use of crop production technologies, and the role of stakeholders in increasing use of crop production technologies.

The study was conducted among smallholder farmers that participated in the FLPs and employed a cross-sectional research design. Data was collected from 174 respondents randomly selected from 91 crop specific FLPs. Semi structured interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and physical observations were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) and STATA while constant comparison analysis was applied to the qualitative data.

It was found out that improved crop variety was the most (42%) used crop production technology under bean FLP due to ease of access to and affordability of improved seed. Fertiliser was the least used crop production technology, by 15% of farmers in the FLP due to cost and labor demand at application. About 93% of smallholder farmers under maize FLPs perceived the FLP as a useful approach in promoting awareness on the availability, access and use of crop production technologies because of the different methods used. The FLP processes of selecting sub counties with minimal extension services resulted into provision of information of how to use the technologies to the right audience, but the inadequate time to prepare CBFs affected learning on how to use the technologies. Use of a combination of FLP training methods were perceived to be useful in providing information on where to get and how to use crop production technologies. The major role of stakeholders was to train (75%) farmers on the use and advising them on availability, and access to crop production technologies. Therefore, there is need to support CBFs with capital and also link them to input companies to access the required inputs at affordable prices and sell them to the farmers. There is also need for the FLP implementers like extension workers to adequately prepare CBFs to be able to train farmers on where to access and use of crop production technologies.