Rwanda study shows the success of farmer-to-farmer learning system
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) have virtually launched the agriculture human capital investment case study carried out in Rwanda.
This case was part of a global study started in early 2020 aimed to provide governments, international financing institutions, the private sector and other partners with the evidence and analysis needed to make more and better investments in agriculture human capital.
“Today more than ever, farmers face profound changes – from climate change, labour shortages and global pandemics such as COVID-19, to an explosive rise in digital technologies, shifting diets and rigorous global and national food safety standards,” said John Preissing, the Deputy Director – FAO Investment Centre.
“Agricultural producers need the capacity to analyze, innovate and respond, to keep up with this rapidly changing environment to optimize their efforts. At the same time, they must manage their own businesses,” he added.
Strengthening skills and capacities
Agriculture is the backbone of economic growth in Rwanda and the main or only source of income for most rural households. The country’s farmers are also relatively young, with an average age of 44 years.
Twigire Muhinzi – meaning ‘self-reliance in farming’ – is Rwanda’s homegrown, decentralized and farmer-oriented agricultural extension system.
By combining local farmer promoters and farmer field schools, the system is helping Rwandan farmers sharpen their skills and knowledge and become more empowered. This, in turn, is leading to greater uptake of technologies and practices that can improve farmers’ livelihoods and incomes.
Twigire Muhinzi trains farmers rather than government or NGO staff as farmer field school facilitators, and relies on farmer promoters who provide local demonstrations. The system focuses on developing the capacity of a critical mass of frontline extension agents and empowering farmers to make smart decisions based on experimentation, observation and analysis.
“Farmers and field school facilitators interviewed across four provinces have gained a range of technical, social and functional skills. These run from increased competencies in livestock management and cropping practices to cooperation and market analysis. Farmers were in a better position to plan their agricultural activities and negotiate higher prices for their produce,” said the lead author, Lucy Mwangi, Highland Centre for Leadership and Development, Rwanda: Institutionalizing farmer field schools – Twigire Muhinzi National Extension System in Rwanda.
The farmer field schools and lead promoters allowed for greater reach, and created first hand understanding of farmers’ needs across the community. This success propelled Twigire Muhinzi to be integrated into the national system.
Importance of investing in agriculture human capital
Agriculture plays an important role in feeding the country and other countries Rwanda exports to, and in generating income for those working in the food value chain.
Investing in farmers – or agriculture human capital – is therefore crucial to addressing challenges in our agrifood systems. There is growing evidence that when you invest in farmers, their capacity and motivation to produce food profitably and sustainably increases.
The global study showed that investments in developing the human capital of smallholder producers resulted in new technical, business capacities and empowered farmers with various useful skills. This led to increased incomes, yields and the inclusion of marginalised groups.
Human capital, as an economic term, refers to assets that improve individual productivity. These include skills development, training and education, as well as public health and migration. They also include more abstract aspects such as self-esteem, empowerment, creativity, increased awareness and mindsets.
In addition to Kenya, Rwanda, the study also included cases from Cameroon, Chile, India, Indonesia, Peru, the United States of America, and West and Central Africa, along with the global report.
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