Abstract:
Adaptation trials, Smallholder farmers, Local monitoring Committee
Researchers have developed number of improved varieties as well as appropriate management practices for orphan crops, but relatively few farmers have access to and use these technologies. The purpose of this study was to assess innovative approach for enhancing adoption of technological innovations for orphan crops among smallholder farmers in three districts in Uganda. A total of 120 participatory adaptation trials were established in Tororo (60), Mukono (30) and Ntungamo (30) starting from the second season of 2010 to the first season of 2012. The improved technologies introduced included high yielding varieties, row planting, and pest control practices. One year after the trial ended, in the second season of 2013, tracking of adoption was carried out by interviewing 300 randomly selected farmers. Of the innovation adopters, the majority (71.3%) had participated in the adaptation trial phase. However, the remaining 28.7% of adopters had not participated in the adaptation trials – indicating considerable spill-over. In addition, 67% of farmers stated that the local monitoring and evaluation committees set up during the adaptation trials (which consisted of five committee members per sub-county), were very useful and had motivated them to adopt the improved technologies. In addition, pre-existence of farmer groups, especially in Tororo district, positively influenced technology adoption in the district with 89% of adopters having belonged to a farmer group. These findings indicate that the method used to introduce the technologies, participatory adaptation trials, was effective and could be considered for increasing the adoption of other technologies. For efficient technology transfer among resource poor smallholder farmers, we therefore recommend the use of participatory adaptation trials, combined with the formation of local monitoring committees, as well as ensuring that researchers work with established farmer groups, where they exist.
