PROJECT ASSESSMENTS - Science for Agriculture and Rural Development in Low-income Countries - page 142

represent major contrasting agro-ecological zones and farming systems. A represen-
tative catchment was selected and community workshops organized to introduce the
project, assess interest and willingness to participate, identify existing groups or
willingness to form new groups. In total four FFS groups were formed: Kamugi FFS
(30 farmers; 50% women) and Munyaka FFS (31 farmers; 74% women) in Mbeere;
Kibichoi FFS (30 members; 40% women) and Ngaita FFS (26 members; 56%
women).
An overview of the trends and challenges in the agricultural sector in both
districts was conducted. This was followed by base-line surveys at the 4 sites to
diagnose and describe the current farming system practices, to create an under-
standing of farmer's soil fertility management practices, challenges and possibilities
and capture farmer's dynamics of farm management. Consequently all FFS members
participated in a participatory diagnostic activity using the NUTMON approach and
covering the farm management activities in the period March - August 2000.
Results of the NUTMON activity were discussed at FFS level and individual farm
households were supplied with a diagnostic report covering soil fertility manage-
ment and economic performance indicators.
These activities formed the initial steps
of the learning cycle of the FFS and were
followed by a curriculum programme con-
ducted for five seasons consisting of: ex-
perimental design session, central plot and
individual experiments, Agro-Eco Systems
Analysis (AESA), monitoring and obser-
vations, special topics sessions and group
dynamics implemented in FFS meetings
every two weeks. The experimental design
was an integrated process whereby farmers,
research, extension staff where sharing views on options to address the identified
constraints and whereby the FFS finally decided about the options for learning and
experimentation. Much attention was paid in the FFS session to the process of
experimentation and aspects such as having a control, the location of experimental
plots, the design, the advantages of repetitions, and the formulation of simple hypo-
theses. Monitoring, observations and evaluation of the experiments was conducted
by the FFS using earlier documented AESA, various pictorial and scoring tools. The
FFS agreed upon the various indicators for qualitative observations such as yields,
pest and diseases, leaf colour, plant health, soil moisture, weeds incidence, plant
vigour and labour. FFS members were encouraged to make quantitative measure-
ments on yields, inputs, costs and benefits. Based upon the observations and results
of the seasons experiment a new cycle of experimental design is started for the
following season. Furthermore the FFS determined the curriculum for special topics
during the season and jointly with the facilitators, resource persons were identified.
Soon after the start of the FFS, members explored the possibilities of imple-
menting commercial activities to generate income for the group and its individual
members. Where necessary the facilitators assisted the group members in planning
and connecting to external resource persons or inputs suppliers. A graduation