Assessing Participatory Development Communication as a Strategy for Agricultural Information Dissemination in Uganda

This study assessed Participatory Development Communication (PDC) effectiveness as a strategy for agricultural information dissemination (indicated in the dissertation as "AIDS", the acronym is used in this summary as well) in Uganda. It is based upon how banana researchers of the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) implemented PDC in Mukono and Rakai districts between 2001 and 2007. The intention was to identify components of an AIDS, explore the extent to which the PDC initiatives addressed those components, and establish the challenges and benefits in the PDC initiatives.

The study, done in Ddwaniro and Kimenyedde, Uganda, employed a social survey design of 128 participants, comprising: 120 small-scale farmers who participated in the PDC initiatives with NARO banana researchers and 8 key informants consisting of banana researchers, extension workers, local leaders, and district agricultural officers. Methodology notes from the abstract: "It collected both qualitative and quantitative data through document study, semi structured questionnaires that were administered to the respondents in a group setting, focus group discussions, observation checklists, and key informant interviews. Qualitative data was analyzed progressively, while quantitative data was analysed using Epidata, Microsoft Excel and SPSS statistical packages. Data is presented through descriptions, quotations, tables, figures and representative percentages."

Details on AIDS components and qualitative data collected on PDC include, among others, the following:

• Farmers, as mobilisers, plan for the implementation of activities and are involved in problem identification and in generation of appropriate technology information, including incorporation of farmers’ indigenous knowledge (IK) in generating technology information, thus becoming stakeholders in the AIDS. This involved "teaching farmers how to work together; involving both theory and practical, facilitating farmer to farmer information sharing, availing farmers with relevant information on a continuous and friendly basis, using local languages and visual teaching materials, and, enabling clarifications to be made to farmers." Farmer motivation for participation included the desire: "to teach fellow farmers, to get friends, to learn how to work in a group, and to become famous."

• Included in information sharing through each AIDS are the goals of "avail[ing] scientifically approved information to farmers, lead[ing] to farmers’ sustained utilization of availed information, revitalization and improvement of banana yields, food security, improved farmers’ standard of living, improved income generation, change farmers’ knowledge, attitude and practice, ...add[ed] value and [ability] to find market for the farm yields, improved productivity and overall yield..." as well as links with policy makers.

• "Ddwaniro farmers like those in Kimenyedde, said that away from the PDC initiatives, they get their agricultural information from diverse sources, including the extension worker, fellow farmer(s), and organizations like World Vision, MADO, from radio, newspapers and researchers. The farmers said that there was no difference between how men and women acquired agricultural information." However, through each AIDS, researchers worked closely with farmers, and information clarification was possible.

• Some information in the AIDS was delivered through plays, which farmers found was an engaging and relaxing way to receive information. Accessibility of training sites was deemed important. When the AIDS training moved out of reach of one farmer: “I resorted to copying what other farmers were learning....”

• Partnership formulation was needed in the planning process more than was foreseen, in that farmers hoped that "partners in the PDC initiatives would avail farmers’ needed resources that the NARO banana researchers could not offer", but, in fact, partners could not address certain needs like lack of access to land and farming inputs.

Among the conclusions are the following: "The study found that the PDC initiatives availed appropriate banana management information to farmers, and that despite finding challenges, the banana farmers utilized the availed information for a long time. The availed information contributed to the control of the spread of BBW [Banana Bacterial Wilt] in Kimenyedde, and in increased banana yields in Ddwaniro. Farmers obtained more benefits than information alone." Farmers found that dividing themselves into groups by expected outcomes allowed for each like-minded group to engage more deeply in the PDC process and facilitated information sharing. "It was important that farmers got involved in problem identification, technology generation and dissemination, utilization, monitoring, evaluation."

"PDC as an agricultural information dissemination strategy was effective in achieving positive change in a group of farmers; although it focused on one crop or one problem at a time, and it did not address individual farmers’ information needs. MAIIF [Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries] and universities should in future support more studies in PDC, for example, to establish the performance of PDC in annual crops, and animals."

Recommendations include: the development of a manual to explain the PDC model; training of farmers and a cadre of facilitators; further investigation of PDC by MAAIF and universities; and identification and promotion of farmers’ positive achievements in PDC as a way of attracting farmers, including skill sharing among women farmers.

Please request a copy of this dissertation from the author listed in the contact field or see link below.