At the onset of the project, selected rice farmers from Doho rice irrigation scheme were actively involved in the project research work that aimed to increase food, nutrition and income security of smallholder lowland rice farmers through testing and recommending best micro-macro nutrient fertilizer strategies for optimum yields and nutritional quality.
Scientists at the Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII) successfully set up rice experimental plots with the involvement of Farmer’ Research Groups (FRGs) that actively participated in a series of the project research activities including planning, implementation, trial monitoring and evaluation of the experiments results. These were trained for their efficient involvement in evaluating the experiments, and selecting the best fertilizer combinations and management practices for the best rice yields, and also integrate these into their current management practices.
The FRGs were selected through a transparent farmer led process during a meeting in which they nominated the representatives to host the experiments on their blocks. The conditions were that selected reps were not a member of the Board of Governors of the scheme and must be willing to share knowledge acquired to fellow members on their blocks. The Doho Farmer Research Group (DFRG) that comprised 13 members including 3 technical people was then established and the members thoroughly trained by the project technical team, and engaged in the planning of all field experiments. They were trained on and participated in fertilizer application and got to understand what each of the nutrients contributed to the plant growth; participated in harvesting the experimental plots and also taught on how to minimize post-harvest losses and advised to use tarpaulins as they thresh their harvest. They were also involved in monitoring and evaluation of the field experiments throughout the growing period, collected data on the different plots to understand the crop performance and also scored the different modes of application based on the ease of application.
Mr. Higenyi Azalea (gesturing) trains visiting farmers to his trial plot on the best rice management practices for increased yield.
The project successfully introduced climate smart technologies in rice production for increased yields and the farmers have since appreciated and adopted the innovations demonstrated to them and applied the skills and knowledge from the trainings and participation in the research work. They have realized the benefits and are reaping big from the experience obtained. They have also gone as far as extending the knowledge and skills to fellow farmers not directly involved in the project, and these have appreciated the technologies and are excited to apply them to also sustain productivity of other crops as well, like Maize.
To attest to this, Mrs. Janat Hamayo says “I have gained exposure as a model farmer to others. Whenever the farmers visited my block, they were amazed by what they saw and admired my rice fields because I properly managed them and applied all the best practices extended to me under the project to obtain good yield. I have even gained more courage to fearlessly speak in public because I am often approached by large crowds of farmers, about 30, seeking information on how I achieved my results. I then take them through the process on what to do, so as to be like me. (she smiles)”.
Mr. Kabaasa Dan, another host farmer says. “We appreciate AfrII and partners for including us in this research. We have been trained on the best technologies including line planting, timely transplanting, weeding and application of fertilizer and micro nutrients to the fields to improve yield productivity. I used to plant my rice the rudimentary way of broadcasting it and the variety I always planted was low yielding. But now, with this new knowledge, am greatly benefitting”.
Now, from the experience, knowledge and skills gained through their involvement in the research, the farmers have vowed to transform and register their FRG as a Community Based Organization (CBO) named Doho Farmer Research Organization (DoFAR). DoFAR will continuously conduct simple experiments based on the knowledge already obtained and engage experts in different stages of the rice value chain to for new innovations, and share the knowledge obtained through field schools targeting large number of farmers. It will also provide services to the rice growing communities including genuine inputs. One of the farmers, Mr. Hapeli Dauson vowed to start up an agro in puts dealership in quality fertilizer in order to extend the quality services to the farmers.
The Doho Scheme Technical Manager, Mr. Sagula Wilberforce was assigned to drive the plans further. “We believe that as an organization, we shall move together. We shall also have the capacity to reach out to bigger numbers of rice farmers beyond the project. We want more people to be aware of all that has been going on and also benefit like we have, from all this knowledge. We commit that by end of July this year-2019, we shall have constituted a fully-fledged leadership to steer our plans further as a standing CBO.”
Mr. Sagula Wilberforce relays to fellow farmers the importance of growing the FRG into an organization.
The farmers appealed to the project partners to continuously engage with and link them to more opportunities in innovations to thrive rice productivity in the region and beyond. The farmers say that they are proud to be associated with the ‘researchers’ terminology within the communities since they are now ambassadors of the research work and commit to further the work beyond the project.
