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AN OVERVIEW OF FARMER PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH (FPR) IN MATUGGA VILLAGE, DISTRICT,

M.A. Ugen

Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute, P.O. Box 7084, , Uganda.

FPR is a problem-solving research in which farmers and researchers collaborate in problem identification, planning and implementation of research and evaluation of results. It strives to fully utilize the knowledge of both fanners and researchers to efficiently solve problems. The FPR aimed at addressing a wide range of important crop, soil or pest management problems by researchers working intensively on a long-term basis, with farmers in a community that is representative bio-physically and socio-economically of a major production zone started seriously in Matugga village, Mpigi District in 1992. The work started with information gathering using prepared questionnaires and soil sample collection for analysis.

At the beginning, the focus of FPR here was on soil fertility improvement through the use of various organic and inorganic fertilizers. But during the process of problem identification, other problems unrelated to soil fertility were also identified as important although soil fertility happened to be ranked by farmers as the most important problem in the area. This was in relation to stunted growth of banana (main or staple food in the area) alleged by farmers to be weevil damage due to poor soils.

In the 2"^^ season of 1992, we had some inorganic fertilizer, farm yard manure and crotolaris trials on five farms and some bean variety evaluation trials. At first, the management of these trials was poor as farmers thought they would benefit from the trials in monetary form from researchers. In 1993, the number of farmers who became involved in FPR increased and by the end of 1993, there were 25 farmers involved with over 40 trials in total (a m.aximum of 3 trials and minimum of one trial per farmer). By 1994, farmers had understood why FPR was being advocated for and a total of 40 farmers were involved with a total of over 110 trials planted in the village (maximum of 4 trials and minimum of one trial per fanner). Apart from having few trial types in 1992, by 1994 there were a variety of trials which w'ere covering many disciplines and commodity groups. In 1994, the trials included farm yard manure management trial, agroforestry trial, bean variety evaluation trial, flour>' leaf spot trial, integrated pest management trial, inorganic fertilizer trial, /bean intercropping trial, crotolaria as green manure trial, minimum tillage trial and demonstration and multiplication of K131 and K132. Most of these trials are showing promising results and we plan to extend FPR methodology to other areas of Uganda.

Apart from having only agronomists involved in FPR work as was in 1992, by early 1994 we had scientists from pathology, breeding, socio-economics, soil science and entomology disciplines. Collaboration is not only being encouraged within scientists of the same programme but between commodity groups e.g. beans and cassava, beans and agroforestry conducting trials together with the aim of improving farmers' well being and food production. 26

From 1992 to-date (1994), there has been a great change in the attitudes of farmers from being complete receivers of knowledge to participants in research activities. This has created confidence in the farmers to the extent that they are willing to work hand-in-hand with researchers. We have been able to gain farmers' support in this area by:

(a) Constant visits to the area and discussion with the farmers progress on the trials and evaluation of the trials through out the season. Their thinking that they were working for researchers started changing as researchers never removed the outcome of the trials away from the farmers. With constant visits to individual farmers and meeting with a group of farmers, their attitudes are changing as to how they look at researchers and what researchers are carrying out in their areas.

(b) Field tours where both researchers and farmers move from one experiment to another and one field to another to see for themselves what their colleagues are doing. This is more educational for farmers as well as researchers as both are involved in the discussions and exchange of ideas during the tours.

(c) Visit to other districts can be beneficial to the farmers. Recently, a visit was organized for Matugga farmers to visit Ikulwe farmers (130 km away where FPR is also underway) to see what those farmers were doing, exchange views on farming and other farming practices that may be beneficial to them and discuss FPR in the area. Mamgga farmers were impressed with what their friends were doing and were happy to know about cover crops (Macuna and Lablab) and making of compost. In addition, farmers managed to come along with seeds of cover crops, bananas and other crops of interest. The whole trip put a strong tie between the 2 groups of farmers and in addition, site seeing helped increase the interest of these farmers.

Currently, a scientist can take technology from 2 or more commodity groups from a research station to an area at greatly reduced costs of operation rather than each individual scientist moving seperatly. FPR also avoids burdening fanners especially if each researcher is go individually or seperatly. Apart from getting involved in agriculmre or FPR, farmers have many other activities and commitments, and therefore, their time should be properly utilised for maximum benefit of the farmers.

Framers now feel free to discuss with researchers whatever problem they have unlike in the past where the gap between researcher and farmer was very wide. This strengthen the working relationship between farmers and researchers and the extension people. It is now much easier to test a difficult technology on farmers' fields without fear of failure as both parties are aware that this is a trial than a sure case. We hope with proper planning, discussion and constant meetings with farmers to identify problems, set priorities, design experiments, implement the trials and evaluate the results together, FPR will with time be a tool of technology testing and transfer to farmers in Uganda.