Turning the wheels of technology
A novel trial design is allowing scientists working in Malawi and Zimbabwe to improve communication between researchers, extension staff and farmers, by enabling scientists to conduct accurate scientific experimentation whilst simultaneously meeting the needs of farmers. Named by one farmer as 'Mother and baby' trials, the design essentially involves a large centrally located trial site surrounded by a number of smaller, satellite trial sites. The central (mother) site allows researchers to test the widest range of technologies using a conventional experiment design. At the same time, the smaller (baby) trials allow participating farmers to select the technologies they are specifically interested in and those which are best suited to their needs.
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| credit: Sieg Snapp |
Two-way process
The approach has several advantages. The trials involve considerable participatory work involving discussions on crop and management preferences, labour availability and gender-related issues. And decisions are made by the farmer themselves, not the researchers. These consultative methods thereby allow farmers to experience first-hand what labour and management inputs are needed for different technologies whilst also providing an opportunity for researchers to incorporate farmer assessment early, qualitatively and at regular intervals.
Working with a number of NGOs, ICRISAT is using this approach and achieving good results at four case study sites in Zimbabwe and Malawi. Dr Sieg Snapp, who is responsible for the concept of the 'Mother and baby' trials, has been using them to test soil fertility management technologies in Malawi which, she says, is usually top of farmers' priorities. "We are becoming more aware of the range of resources which farmers would like to integrate. They want the biggest return for their investment, whether they are using a small amount of fertilizer, adding in legumes or adding in manure," she says. And, to the scientists' surprise, farmers have been found to focus on aspects that the researchers' had not initially appreciated.
For instance, in central Malawi, the integrated options included adding pigeonpea to the farming system to provide more free nitrogen in addition to the small amounts of inorganic fertilizer being used. Whilst the scientists were preoccupied with measuring how much available nitrogen was in the system, the farmers liked the approach because the introduction of the legume had reduced the incidence of weeds, including the parasitic weed striga or 'witchweed' which seriously reduces maize yields. The pigeonpea also acts as a bonus crop, which the farmers are able to sell or feed to their children. In response to the farmers' observations, weed research has now been incorporated into the project in order to provide farmers with further feedback.
The best approach
Through these participatory on-farm experiments, 'best-bet' options can be identified that are appropriate to farmers in their particular region. For example, through a farmer survey conducted in Malawi, it was discovered that due to low livestock density in the country, very little livestock manure was used. Of the manure that was used, it was mostly goat manure. However, livestock are more common in Zimbabwe and the use of manure is more feasible and can be included as an option to farmers for their consideration. Now a wide range of soil fertility options are currently being investigated in both Malawi and also now in Zimbabwe, where the focus in this particular region is high risk, drought prone environments.
The 'mother and baby' trials have also been taken up by national breeding programmes in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia where the central trial is used to compare many different varieties whilst the baby trials only compare a few. However, the smaller, farmer plots provide researchers with farmer rankings on their preferences for particular varieties, which is as important as obtaining good yields.
On-farm trials are commonly used to ensure that a new technology is appropriate for farmers and provides good results in a more 'realistic' environment. However, through these small, individual farmer sites, trials can be made to be more relevant and directly useful to the participating farmers. And, although these types of 'mother and baby' trials are still at an early stage of development, Dr Snapp feels confident that this innovative design will be appropriate for a variety of applications in many regions.
