| Source of technology and funding | Research conducted by national agricultural research systems (NARS) in the West Asia and North Africa Region (WANA) in collaboration with the International Centre for Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the International Food Policy Institute (IFPRI) and cofunded by IFAD and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) |
| Targeted group: | National and international institutions; development planners; project implementers; extension agencies; farm communities |
| Expected Benefit: | Building human resources capacity in low-rainfall areas; strengthening local capacity to plan and manage development |
| Production Systems: | Mixed crop–livestock production systems; rangeland production systems |
| Agro-ecological zones: | Arid and semi-arid zones (rainfall 200–350 mm/yr) |
| Target region and countries: | West Asia and North Africa. |
| Keywords: | Resource-poor farmers; low-rainfall areas; human resources development. |
In most countries of WANA, agricultural research and extension are still
separate public institutions, with different mandates and different ways
of operating. The predominant model for the generation and transfer of
agricultural technology is based on a linear model: researchers are expected
to develop new technology, mainly superior genetic material and improved
production techniques, which they then turn over to extension staff for
demonstration and diffusion to farmers. This top-down model does not allow
good feedback from farmers to researchers, nor good communication between
research, extension and development. This lack of effective links between
research, extension and farmers has impeded the development and transfer
of technology appropriate for small-scale, resource-poor farmers, particularly
those in low-potential, heterogeneous agro-ecological areas. Indeed, these
farmers have no effective organizations through which to make their needs
known.
Farming systems research (FSR), and especially on-farm research, has been
promoted as a way of developing appropriate technology and adapting it
to the specific agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions of smallholders.
ICARDA, in collaboration with NARS in WANA, and with financial support
from IFAD, AFESD and UNDP, has conducted transfer-of-technology programmes
since the late 1980s. These programmes created new paradigms, and researchers,
extension workers and farmers worked together in a new model: the technology
triangle, linking farmers, technology-transfer agents and agricultural
researchers. Policy and institutional aspects were later incorporated
into the model.
The Mashreq–Maghreb Project (M&M) – Development of Integrated Crop–Livestock Production Systems in Low Rainfall Areas of the Mashreq and Maghreb Regions – promoted a human resources development approach to building up the capacity of local populations to plan and manage local development.
Breaking down the barriers between research and extension
On-farm research teams, comprising researchers and extension workers, are the critical link. Extension agents are working with research scientists and farmers in technology development and transfer. Extension workers are trained in the new technologies and approaches to conducting on-farm research.
Addressing the needs of target clients
The diagnosis of farmers' conditions and needs is the basis for setting priorities and planning research. Informal and formal surveys, on-farm trials, meetings, field days and other special events all provide opportunities for researchers to learn from farmers. Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) and on-farm diagnosis trials have been used to assess the farmers’ needs and target the technology transfer.
Capacity to transfer relevant technology
By developing on-farm research programmes, researchers have taken on new responsibilities to work with farmers. Flexible recommendations resulting from on-farm research are adjusted to suit local variations in agro-ecology and socio-economic conditions.
On-the-job training: improving farmers’ skills
Farmers are trained in the new technologies directly by research scientists in the presence of extension workers. The farmers therefore learn directly the advantages and difficulties of technologies. This has speeded up adoption of technologies by farmers, who themselves become trainers.
Farmers’ travelling workshops: farmer-to-farmer transfer of technology
Farmers’ travelling workshops within a country, or in the region,
have been an innovation of M&M. Through these workshops, farmers learn
about other farmers’ conditions, production systems and adopted
technologies. This facilitates adoption of new technologies throughout
the region.
Community approach: empowering the local population
The community approach integrates all previous steps. Instead of working with individual farmers scattered in a large region, scientists are working with a community (a village, cooperative, rural community, etc.) as a group. Community needs are determined together and available technologies are targeted to specific needs. The community participates in the choice of technologies, their testing and adoption. It also participates in partial funding of the cost of implementing technologies in the field. The ultimate result is the design of a community development plan that will be defended by the whole community at the level of decision-makers and policy-makers. Public and private development partners can target their actions to match the identified needs of communities.
Impact of the approachThe M&M project implemented a multidisciplinary team approach within countries, with inter-country exchange of material and results, which encourages complementarity and efficiency of research. The networking concept has been the main foundation of the project, which has established a multinational, multidisciplinary network among researchers and extension workers from the eight countries participating in the project. This network has had considerable success in reducing the potential risks inherent in implementing a multinational, multi-institutional technology transfer programme.
Network activities have included information exchange, training, regional study tours and workshops. The personal and professional relationships that have been established among scientists have enhanced the institutional linkages generated by the project activities.
Over three years, 870 farmers participated in demonstrations; 5 682 farmers and technicians attended field days; 854 farmers engaged in training courses; and 4 445 farmers were interviewed during socio-economic and policy studies.
The project recognized the need for greater participation by farmers, not only in the testing and evaluation of new technologies, but also in problem identification and research planning, in order to ensure that the technologies and management strategies developed by the project are appropriate for the circumstances of the intended users.
Figure 1. The community approach to technology transfer
