1 min
Appropriate knowledge is now a vital asset especially in the agricultural sector where it helps to navigate the complex issues of production, distribution and market access. As the population grows, the need for volume, types and how food is produced are changing. Likewise, farmers need to understand these changes and adjust to them accordingly.
However, it is sad that the majority of farmers, in developing countries, have not really adjusted. And thus, over the years, they are left with little or no changes in their farming methods and practices, resulting in low productivity and poor market penetration of their produce.
Interestingly, there have been several interventions addressing productivity at the farm level but many of the technologies, practices or innovations promoted were either discontinued or abandoned after the project ended. These have been linked to external and internal factors that have these technologies unusable for the farmers. Repeatedly, the farmers complain that these technologies don't necessarily solve their problems -- it increases their costs or complicates their processes. In reality, cost is a major factor that drives adoption; it could be in monetary value, time used, the level of comfort or burden experienced in using the technologies or others.
Therefore, it is important we rethink how farmers are exposed to new technologies or innovations, what specific needs that should be prioritised amongst the needs identified and what strategies to be deployed to ensure that technologies introduced are cost effective, efficient, easy-to-use and aligns to their values. For strategy to be employed to encourage a significant increase in adoption of technologies, practitioners must adopt Behaviour Change Communication (BCC). BCC is the strategic use of communications to encourage individuals and communities to adopt healthier and more sustainable practices. These strategies help to reinforce behaviour, in our own case, technologies, practises or innovations that help improve productivity. And this has to be done in a stepwise manner in order to achieve the required objectives.
In conclusion, knowledge is needed in this sector to drive productivity for growth. And it is important that farmers, who are the main users of technologies, are well equipped with the right information and have the willingness to use them. And with the right strategies like BCC, we can reinforce the use of these technologies to ensure full and continuous adoption. When the technology is right, and the behaviour aligns, then productivity is bound to happen. To achieve food security, we need more farmers who are constantly improving their knowledge to adopt climate resilient and food secured technologies. Our farmers need to be more adopters and the journey begins NOW!
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
Interestingly, there have been several interventions addressing productivity at the farm level but many of the technologies, practices or innovations promoted were either discontinued or abandoned after the project ended. These have been linked to external and internal factors that have these technologies unusable for the farmers. Repeatedly, the farmers complain that these technologies don't necessarily solve their problems -- it increases their costs or complicates their processes. In reality, cost is a major factor that drives adoption; it could be in monetary value, time used, the level of comfort or burden experienced in using the technologies or others.
Therefore, it is important we rethink how farmers are exposed to new technologies or innovations, what specific needs that should be prioritised amongst the needs identified and what strategies to be deployed to ensure that technologies introduced are cost effective, efficient, easy-to-use and aligns to their values. For strategy to be employed to encourage a significant increase in adoption of technologies, practitioners must adopt Behaviour Change Communication (BCC). BCC is the strategic use of communications to encourage individuals and communities to adopt healthier and more sustainable practices. These strategies help to reinforce behaviour, in our own case, technologies, practises or innovations that help improve productivity. And this has to be done in a stepwise manner in order to achieve the required objectives.
In conclusion, knowledge is needed in this sector to drive productivity for growth. And it is important that farmers, who are the main users of technologies, are well equipped with the right information and have the willingness to use them. And with the right strategies like BCC, we can reinforce the use of these technologies to ensure full and continuous adoption. When the technology is right, and the behaviour aligns, then productivity is bound to happen. To achieve food security, we need more farmers who are constantly improving their knowledge to adopt climate resilient and food secured technologies. Our farmers need to be more adopters and the journey begins NOW!
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
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