PROJECT ASSESSMENTS - Science for Agriculture and Rural Development in Low-income Countries - page 161

• EROAHI Report 1: Tools Description: describes in detail the developed tools

and the potential use of the tools in the current extension approaches.

• EROAHI Reports 2, 3 and 4: PhD theses.

• Okoba, BO., 2005. Farmers' indicators for soil erosion mapping and crop yield

estimation in central highlands of Kenya. Doctoral Thesis Wageningen University.

• Tenge, A.J.M., 2005. Participatory appraisal for farm level soil and water

conservation planning in West Usambara highlands, Tanzania. Doctoral Thesis
Wageningen University.

• Vigiak, O., 2005. Modelling spatial patterns of erosion in the West Usambara

Mountains of Tanzania. Doctoral Thesis Wageningen University.

• Five additional papers were presented at international scientific conferences.

2) Dissemination of output/results (examples of dissemination: papers + articles;
policy briefs; policy workshops; scientific conferences and workshops; website)

The methods were developed not only together with the farmers but also together
with representatives of the extension services in Kenya and Tanzania, since they are
the end-users of the methods. In other words: the project worked with the clients
from start to end. The extension services and the researchers developed a strategic
vision on how the tools can be used in the current approaches for natural resource
management in Kenya and Tanzania
A four day final workshop was held at the end of the project were farmers and
extension services explained the problems and questions they had when starting the
project, the project team presented the results of the project and the extension
service developed the strategic plan for effective utilization. This was generally
perceived as a very effective dissemination strategy. Both extension services are
currently using the methods in their daily work with the farmers to combat soil and
water erosion.

F) Lessons learned

What lessons have you learned from science, policy-oriented and capacity building
activities that could improve:

Address a real need

This project addressed a real need of the extension services. Their method to plan
SWC measures was evaluated and drastic improvements were proposed. These
improvements required scientific input, which was provided by the project.

Lesson learned : know what the needs of the stakeholders are, reason from their
perspective while designing a project. This also requires a long term presence of a
research organization in a specific area, in order to have the insight, overview and
contacts.