Tag: advisory services
Mbale Rural Resource Centre: A community based approach to deliver agroforestry technologies to rural farmers in Eastern Uganda
Rural Resource Centres (RRCs) are community-managed centres that offer farmers access to knowledge, quality planting material, interactive learning and linkage to networks among farmers, private sector, NGOs, and government departments. Given the importance of RRCs in delivering agroforestry technologies to farmers and other stakeholders, the Trees for Food Security Project (TFSP) implemented by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and the National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFORRI), with funding from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has established a centre in Mbale District, Eastern Uganda.Building on a previously existing structure of the lead partner NaFORRI, a Rural Resource Centre (RRC) was initiated and completed with funding from the ACIAR, becoming operational in October 2015. On the other hand, NaFORRI have offered technicians to train farmers and nursery attendants to support seedlings production; nursery maintenance, establishment of demonstration plots and long term tree trials on behalf of the local community.ICRAF role covers technical back-stopping on seed and seedlings acquisition and delivery. ICRAF has also posted interns and volunteers at the RRC to work directly with the local communities. The RRC has installed facilities such as, a tree nursery, shaded area (with shade nets), propagators for grafting and budding, seed stands, a resource centre with a training room, three offices and separate store for seeds and equipment.
Batu Rural Resource Centre: A community based approach to deliver agroforestry technologies to rural farmers
Batu RRC (geographical location: Lat. 07°56’27”; Long. 038°43’16”; elevation 1642 m.) situated at Jido Kombolcha Woreda, was established early March 2015 and inaugurated by the Australian ambassador to Ethiopia, H.E. Mark Sawers on 31 March 2016. The centre has facilities such as seedling production area (with shade net), soil and manure storage area, area for demonstration plots, fruit tree mother blocks, training hall, library, store, reliable water connection and working spaces. Batu RRC is run by landless farmers registered as a cooperative named “Magarissa”.
Looking back to look ahead: insight into the effectiveness and efficiency of selected advisory approaches in the dissemination of agricultural technologies indicative of Conservation Agriculture with Trees in Machakos County, Kenya
Sub-Saharan Africa is facing a challenge of low agricultural productivity, which threatens the ability to achieve food security for the continent’s growing population. The low productivity has been attributed to a number of factors including climate variability and low soil fertility. Agricultural practices such as Evergreen Agriculture show promise in improving soil fertility and production in a sustainable way. One form of Evergreen Agriculture is Conservation Agriculture with Trees (CAWT), which combines the principles of Conservation Agriculture with tree-crop intercropping. The promotion of complex agricultural practices such as CAWT requires agricultural advisory approaches that are both effective and efficient. Effective in their ability to increase diversity of crop enterprises, productivity of staple crops and adoption of promoted relevant practices. Advisory approaches are also considered effective if they provide useful information and build social networks in the community. The approaches also need to be efficient, that is, be able to mobilize the community and provide training in a costand- time appropriate fashion.