Browsing by Author "Senkondo, E.M.M."

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Adoption of rainwater harvesting technologies 'by farmers in Tanzania. with particular reference to the western pare lowlands
(1999) Senkondo, E.M.M.; Lazaro, E.A.; Kajiru, G.J.
Adoption of technology is an important factor in economic development. Successful introduction of technologies in the developing countries requires an understanding of the priorities and concerns of the smallholder farmers at the grassroots. This paper presents experiences of adoption studies in the Western Pare Lowlands, identifying the factors affecting adoption, constraints to adoption and methodological problems in studying adoption of RWH technologies. A survey approach was the main method used to collect the data from a sample of 86 farmers. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and estimation of empirical model to determine the factors affecting adoption of RWH technologies. The empirical model used was logit regression, Important factors affecting the adoption of RWH were identified as number of plots owned by farmers and the sex of the head of household. Constraints in the adoption of RWH technologies were noted including constraints facing those who are already using the RWH technologies. Problems facing the users include difficulties with water distribution. Two important recommendations are made: First because adoption of technologies by farmers takes time, there is a need for collecting a series of data (separated in time) about adoption rather than depending on single season static data. The models used in evaluating adoption should also consider the time element, Secondly, since the main constraints to adoption is lack of technical knowledge, it is recommended that training of extension workers in RWH techniques and including RWH in the district extension package will reduce the problem of availability of technical knowledge to farmers .
A Small Push Goes a Long Way: Farmers' Participation in Rainwater Harvesting Technology Development
(1999) Lazaro, E.A.; Senkondo, E.M.M.; Bakari, A.; Kishebuka, S.R.; Kajiru, G.J.
Farmer partieipation in decision making at various phases of project implementation contributes very.highly to project success. The Soil-Water Management Research Programme (SWMRP) has gained valuable experience in the involvement offarmer in all phases during the implementation of the programme .. The programme used the following instruments to ensure farmer participation: • Socio-economic ~urvey~~ including Participatory and Rapid Rural Appraisals. • Farmer participation in onjarm experimentation. • Participatory technology evaluation through workshops and seminars aimed at monitoring project ppformanqe and getting feedback from stakeholders. The process of farmer participation evolved over the duration of the project.·l!essons learnt at the begin.ning were incorporated in the research process over time. Initially, the planning of the ex-' periments did not fully allow jor farmer participation. This shortcoming was lat'er rectified, and more farmer participation was allowed. Among the achievements of the project is the construction of a water diversion canal worth about Tanzanian Shillings 1.28 million in Hedaru village, Same DistTict. The structure is currently supplying water to about 45 hectares in the village. The programme contributed only 18 % of the total cost in terms of materials (6%) and technical'supp01t (12%). Farmer participation enabled mobilization of resources w01th the remaining 82% of the total cost. The contributions were in the form of cash, labour, materials and decision making. This paper analyses the process offarmer participation in this programme and how it has influenced the pe~fo17nance of the programme. It is concluded that, with effeCtive participation, minimum extemal support (small push) can result into substantial achievements.