Sustainable farmer-to-farmer extension – the experiences of private service providers in Zambia

ABSTRACT

To improve and sustain farm productivity, farmers require information on inputs, postharvest management and markets, and exposure to new technologies and best practices. Traditionally public agricultural extension agents are the knowledge brokers for farmers. However, government extension has received much criticism due to limited reach and relevance, and poor resourcing. This paper examines the use of a private extension approach that is supporting and educating farmers in groups in two districts of Zambia through farmer-to-farmer extension. This paper shares the experiences and perspectives of farmers who provide the extension services. In doing so, it highlights the tensions within the role of farmers as private service providers and three emergent dilemmas for sustainability of the approach.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Farmer-to-farmer extension
• private service providers
• user-pays
• social entrepreneurship
• sustainability

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the PSPs who met with the research team multiple times over 4 years and generously shared their experiences. Thanks to CRS for funding and partnering with the researchers to explore its market-based approach. We also acknowledge the work of the research team (Drs. Catherine Mthinda, Charles Masangano, Stanley Kahila, John Davis), research assistant Leila Nasr and implementing NGOs in Zambia.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) through the AusAID Development Research Awards Scheme under an award titled Improving the ability of smallholder farmers in southern Africa to engage with markets [Grant Agreement number 66421].

Notes on contributors

Davina Boyd

Davina Boyd is a research fellow with the Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems at Murdoch University. She is an applied social researcher, community development practitioner and not-for-profit director. Working in the research for development space, her research combines interests in capacity development, sustainable intensification, rural livelihoods and agricultural extension.

Rochelle Spencer

Rochelle Spencer is a founding co-director of the Centre for Responsible Citizenship and Sustainability at Murdoch University and a co-chair of the Research for Development Impact Network. Her research spans the anthropology of development, gender and rural livelihoods, Indigenous social enterprise, capacity development and development tourism.