|
MATF promotes the uptake
of innovative agricultural technologies for smallholder
farmers in East Africa. Every round of projects
generates a wealth of lessons about what makes an
innovation work for farmers and how these innovations
can be made to survive or expand beyond project
duration. It has resulted in the ‘TAESSTI’
approach which promotes good scaling-out practices: |
|
T |
echnology support |
|
The
innovation starts with a good and tested idea
which improves farm productivity or value addition.
|
A
|
ppropriate
dissemination methods |
| Large
numbers of farmers and households need to benefit
from the technology. Some dissemination methods
focus on the transfer of information such as mass
media or extension leaflets. Other methods are much
more interactive, such as Farmer Field Schools.
|
E
|
nhancing
market access |
| Farmers
will need to produce what they can sell in stead
of trying to sell what they have produced. Apart
from a mind shift it also requires a better understanding
of the product value chain, and new business partnerships. |
S |
trategic partnerships |
| Weak
links in the existing value chain can apply to productivity,
value addition processes, or markets. An MATF supported
project needs to understand the whole chain, while
attempting to strengthen the weak links. Depending
on the type of link, and thus the type of intervention,
strategic partnerships need to be formed. |
S |
aving
and credit systems |
| If
an agricultural innovation requires substantial
individual capital investments, a credit system
might be necessary to ensure equitable farmer participation.
MATF aims at engaging services of professional micro-finance
institutions who are available at local level. |
T |
argeted
capacity building |
| Farmers
often need new skills to improve their agricultural
practices. In other cases, farmer groups need enhanced
skills to manage the pooling of farm products to
gain access to better markets. |
I |
ntegrated
natural resource management |
| Increased
agricultural productivity also implies increased
use of soil nutrients. Soil fertility needs to be
managed either through organic practices (manure,
compost, or legumes) or through use of fertilisers.
There are many ways to sustainably use agricultural
land. |
For further enquiries concerning the Maendeleo
Agricultural Technology Fund, Contact:
The
Fund Manager, MATF,
PO Box 49502, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +254-20-2732044/2203/1664
Fax: +254-20-2732086
E-mail:
info@maendeleo-atf.org |
