Achieving scale of farmer reach with improved common bean technologies: the role of village-based advisors

Figures & data

Figure 1. Copy of Agro-dealer poster (in Kiswahili).

Figure 2. Impact pathway of information sharing by VBAs.

Table 1. FGDs conducted in Mbeya and number of participants.

No.	Village name	Ward	Treatment group^a	FGD participants
				Male	Female
1	Idugumbi	Ut’usongwe	4	6	10
2	Isangala	Isangala	3	2	4
3	Itambalila	Maendeleo	1	6	2
4	Izuo	Lyimapinduzi	2	6	4
5	Jojo	Santilya	2	6	1
6	Makwenje	Makwenje	3	5	3
7	Malowe	B/Songwe	1	5	4
8	Mapogoro	Mapogoro	3	11	1
9	Mjele	Njele	2	5	5
10	Mwaselela	Iwindi	4	3	3
11	Simboyo	Ikokoa	4	9	1
	Total			64	38

^aTreatment group based on extension materials received by VBA: 1 = Seeds only (control group); 2 = Seed, comics; 3 = Seed, agro dealer posters, comics, manual, poster on varieties; 4 = Seed, agro dealer posters, comics, manual, poster of varieties, summary cards, leaflets on pests and diseases.

Figure 3. Different ways in which VBAs passed on information to farmers.

Figure 4. Avenues used by VBAs to contact farmers and pass on information.

Figure 5. Information shared by VBAs vs what farmers reported as received from VBAs.

Table 2. Farmers perception of usefulness of information from VBAs and reasons.

Information usefulness	Yes (% of responses)	Reasons (yes)	Reasons (no)
Is information valuable (addresses farmers’ problems, given at the right time)?	82	Information received at the right time, before planting seasons commenced Addressed timely planting, spacing and field crop management which are important aspects of common bean production Different options for pests and diseases management provided	Farmers need own copies of comic and manual for reference
Is information applicable (proposed practices accessible and easy to apply)?	91	Easy estimation of spacing using planting string Spot application of fertiliser using bottle tops doable, and helps rationalize application Seed trial packs (50 gm) provided farmers opportunity to test new varieties on their farms Proposed practices done on small plots with seed trial packs	Seed varieties promoted not available in agro-dealer shops Purchased inputs are too expensive for most farmers to afford
Is information complete (wide-ranging, addressing pertinent problems)?	73	Information provided covered practices along the entire bean cropping cycle Information included harvesting and marketing aspects	Information did not address effective/safe pesticide use
Is information understandable (easy to comprehend even by the less literate farmers)?	82	Information shared in local language and information materials translated Use of visual aids and illustrations VBAs used demonstration and undertook follow ups to ensure farmers understood the messages Demonstration materials such as planting strings were simple and locally available

Figure 6. Farmers’ uptake of trained practices compared to their perceive usefulness.