Yuko Nakano|Takuji W. Tsusaka|Takeshi Aida|Valerien O. Pede
Is farmer-to-farmer extension effective? The impact of training on technology adoption and rice farming productivity in Tanzania
University of Tsukuba|Asian Institute of Technology|Japan External Trade Organization|International Rice Research Institute
agricultural training potentially effective method diffuse relevant new technologies increase productivity alleviate rural poverty subsaharan africa ssa however since prohibitively expensive provide direct training farmers ssa critically important examine extent technologies taught small number farmers disseminate nontrained farmers paper investigates technology dissemination pathways among smallholder rice producers within rural irrigation scheme tanzania innovative feature compare performance three categories farmers key farmers receive intensive preseason training local training center intermediate farmers trained key farmers ordinary farmers collecting analyzing unique fiveyear householdlevel panel data set estimate differenceindifferences models assess gap performance evolve technologies spill trained farmers ordinary farmers disentangle technology spillover process also examine extent social geographical network key intermediate farmers influences adoption technologies ordinary farmers incorporating social relationship variables spatial econometric models found ordinary farmers relative residential neighbor key intermediate farmer likely adopt new technologies result key farmers technology adoption rates rose immediately training nontrained ordinary farmers caught belatedly technologies disseminated paddy yield key farmers increased 31 53 tons per hectare yield ordinary farmers increased 26 37 tons per hectare results suggest effectiveness practical potential farmertofarmer extension programs smallholders ssa cost effective alternative conventional farmer training approach