278
F2FE programs have a long history, having been used in the Philippines since the
1950s and in Central America since the 1970s (Selener et al. 1997). They have
grown tremendously in Africa in recent years (Simpson et al. 2015) and are now
quite common, with 78% of a sample of 37 development organizations using the
approach in Malawi (Masangano and Mthinda 2012) and 33% using it across seven
regions of Cameroon (Tsafack et al. 2014). At least two public extension systems—
those of the Rwanda Agricultural Board and the Ministry of Agriculture in Malawi—
each work with over 12,000 farmer-trainers.
The objective of this paper is to assess the potential of F2FE to promote CSA,
based on experiences in Cameroon, Kenya and Malawi. Specifically, we assess the
approach based on the following four criteria:
• Extension program managers’ perceptions of the approach
• The effectiveness of the approach as a means for training farmers
• The efficiency of the approach, as judged by comparing its costs per trained
farmer with the costs of an approach in which extension agents train groups of
farmers
• The potential of the approach for improving the proportion of female extension
providers
First, we describe the methods used in the study and the main features of the
F2FE approach as it is applied in the three countries. Next, we examine each of the
four criteria in turn. Finally, we focus on the implications of the results for using the
F2FE approach to promote CSA, especially those CSA practices that are complex
and knowledge-intensive.
24.2 Methods
This study relied on semi-structured surveys of extension program managers to
assess 80 development organizations’ experiences with F2FE in the following
countries:
• Cameroon (25 organizations operating in the 5 southernmost of the country’s 8
regions) (Tsafack et al. 2014)
• Kenya (30 organizations in Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza provinces) (Franzel
et al. 2014)
• Malawi (25 organizations across all three of the country’s administrative regions)
(Kundhlande et al. 2014)
The organizations included international non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) (39%), national or local NGOs (35%), government agencies (14%), producer organizations (10%) and private companies (2%). Most of the sampled extension program managers were using not only F2FE but also three or four other
S. Franzel et al.
F2FE programs have a long history, having been used in the Philippines since the
1950s and in Central America since the 1970s (Selener et al. 1997). They have
grown tremendously in Africa in recent years (Simpson et al. 2015) and are now
quite common, with 78% of a sample of 37 development organizations using the
approach in Malawi (Masangano and Mthinda 2012) and 33% using it across seven
regions of Cameroon (Tsafack et al. 2014). At least two public extension systems—
those of the Rwanda Agricultural Board and the Ministry of Agriculture in Malawi—
each work with over 12,000 farmer-trainers.
The objective of this paper is to assess the potential of F2FE to promote CSA,
based on experiences in Cameroon, Kenya and Malawi. Specifically, we assess the
approach based on the following four criteria:
• Extension program managers’ perceptions of the approach
• The effectiveness of the approach as a means for training farmers
• The efficiency of the approach, as judged by comparing its costs per trained
farmer with the costs of an approach in which extension agents train groups of
farmers
• The potential of the approach for improving the proportion of female extension
providers
First, we describe the methods used in the study and the main features of the
F2FE approach as it is applied in the three countries. Next, we examine each of the
four criteria in turn. Finally, we focus on the implications of the results for using the
F2FE approach to promote CSA, especially those CSA practices that are complex
and knowledge-intensive.
24.2 Methods
This study relied on semi-structured surveys of extension program managers to
assess 80 development organizations’ experiences with F2FE in the following
countries:
• Cameroon (25 organizations operating in the 5 southernmost of the country’s 8
regions) (Tsafack et al. 2014)
• Kenya (30 organizations in Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza provinces) (Franzel
et al. 2014)
• Malawi (25 organizations across all three of the country’s administrative regions)
(Kundhlande et al. 2014)
The organizations included international non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) (39%), national or local NGOs (35%), government agencies (14%), producer organizations (10%) and private companies (2%). Most of the sampled extension program managers were using not only F2FE but also three or four other
S. Franzel et al.