EDIAIS : Conference papers

The Andean region is beset by low endowments of 'geographic capital' (natural, social, human and physical capital) and rural poverty is endemic. In recent years structural adjustments have led to a dismemberment of classical agricultural extension and research services to the extent that they are unable (or unwilling) to serve the needs of smallholder farmers. Since the late-1990s, ITDG, a non-governmental organisation, has been working with farming communities in the Andes to improve livelihood security. The work has included the training of farmer-to-farmer extension agents who in turn are able to address the veterinary and agriculture needs of smallholder farmers. Extension agents have supplied appropriate medicines and vaccinations for farm animals and have worked with farmers on improving agricultural practices. Local farmers pay the extension agents for their services in cash or in kind. The provision of unsubsidised farmer-to-farmer extension services has been a success. Farmers who have paid for advice and technical assistance have reported an increase in family income through increased production and sales of animals and crops. Due to the lack of a participatory impact monitoring system, however, ITDG failed to measure systematically some of the other benefits perceived by the farmers themselves. These include an increase in social and human capital. Guided by the sustainable livelihoods framework, ITDG and local farmers are now developing a three-stepped and easily replicable approach to measuring the impact of the farmer-to-farmer extension process on local people's livelihoods. The approach involves comparing achievements to the work plan and logical framework, identifying the likely impact of the project in terms of the five livelihood assets, and lastly using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research tools to measure changes in these assets.

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