With a declining number of extension officers in Kenya, a study by the World Agroforestry Centre shows how volunteer farmers can successfully train others without being paid for their services.
In the study, scientists Evelyne Kiptot and Steven Franzel analyzed 7 sites where volunteer farmer trainers have been working the longest, mostly through the East Africa Diary Development Project.
The volunteer farmer trainers are chosen by the community, and while they are not paid, they receive professional training and are able to make small amounts of money selling farm inputs and seedlings to those they train. The study found that volunteer farmers are motivated by altruism, gaining skills, income, social benefits and project benefits.
"Farmers themselves have an in-depth knowledge of local conditions, culture, and practices, and are known by the other farmers," says Dr Kiptot. She and Franzel believe their findings are applicable to other similar programs in the region.
Currently there is 1 extension officer for every 1,200 farmers in Kenya. Using volunteer farmer trainers does require initial investment in time and resources, but has been shown to pay off in the long term. There are however some challenges with the approach such as mistrust, farmers who drop out and lack of respect for some trainers because of their background.
Read the story on All Africa: Volunteers Can Become Extension Officers
Download the study: Voluntarism as an investment in human, social and financial capital: evidence from a farmer-to-farmer extension program in Kenya
