Download - QAToCA - a qualitative expert assessment tool for CA adoption in Africa. Hycenth Tim Ndah
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
QAToCA
a Qualitative expert Assessment Tool for CA adoption in Africa
- selected applications in Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia
Ndah, HT1; Schuler, J1; Uthes, S1; Zander, P1; Triomphe, B2; Apina, T3; Corbeels, M2
1 Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Institute of Socio-Economics, Germany.
2 Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), France.
3 African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT), Kenya
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Introduction
In spite of the large amount of available literature on constraints to CA
adoption in Africa,
a comprehensive self-assessment tool is lacking that allows a
systematic evaluation of the determinants in the CA adoption
process from field, farm to regional scale and for use in a variety
of regional contexts.
This knowledge gap motivated us to develop a Qualitative expert
Assessment Tool for the assessment of CA adoption (QAToCA),
QAToCA, pronounced [ka:toka:])
Developed in EU-funded project ‘CA2Africa’ (www.ca2africa.eu).
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
CA2Africa scales of implementation and QAToCA Coverage
Source: adapted from Corbeels et al (2009) CA2Africa DoW
QA
ToC
A
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Overall goal of QAToCA
QAToCA is designed to assess in a semi-qualitative manner conditions under the following three themes that promote or hinder the adoption of CA in the heterogeneous farming contexts of Africa.
Socio-economic
conditions
Institutional
conditions
Cultural
conditionsQAToCA
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Specific questions of QAToCA
The following issues are considered through cross comparison amongst the CA2Africa case studies:Which region(s) have higher or lower CA adoption potential?Which thematic area within the CA innovation system or component of a particular case study is likely to be influencing the adoption status? What are some of the key determinants of the observed adoption status?
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Further use of outcomes
Outcomes can be used as a basis for restitutions and discussions with stakeholders of the case studies as this will assist in….
providing new insights into the specific CA development and diffusion programs and projects, and in
providing entry points for planning /adjusting some of the on-going and future CA-related actions.
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Material and methods
The following steps have assisted in the development of the tool:
A review of selected adoption theories and conceptual models of
innovation systems
Inspiration from the ScalA –Tool: Tool for the assessment of
sustainability, climate relevance and scaling-up potential of project
approaches (Bringe et al (2006)
used by GTZ (http://www.gtz.de/) and Sustainet (
http://wwww.sustainet.org/)
CA2Africa experts evaluation and feedback. Pretesting and feedback in
CA2Africa 1st regional workshops with CA experts and stakeholders
(Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Morocco, Madagascar, Zimbabwe)
-Origin and development of QAToCA-
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Theories and concepts used as framework
A list of adoption theories and conceptual models have acted as a framework for this tool, e.g.:
The adoption and diffusion theories put forward by Hruschka (1994); Rogers (2003); Hoffmann (2005) and Triomphe et al (2007)
The conceptual models of innovation proposed by Lundvall (2004); World Bank (2006); OECD (1997); Callon and Latour following Law and Hassard (1999)
NB: For a more detailed and comprehensive list and description of these theories and concepts, see deliverable report D2.2 of CA2Africa: An inventory of bio-physical, socioeconomic and conceptual models of innovation systems for assessment of agricultural (Innovative) practices
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Structure of QAToCA
Questions are grouped under specific thematic areas
Consideration is given to differerent scales of implementation of a project from Farm level to Village/Local and Regional levels:
Object of Adoption (CA)
Capacity of implementing organisation
Attributes of Scaling up
Political/Institutional framework at Regional Level
Political/Institutional framework at Village level
Economic Conditions
Community’s attitude towards CA
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Object of Adoption (CA)
Issues relating to the characteristics of CA as an object of adoption. Subjective measurement of issues such as:
Trialability of CA, complexity, compatibility with societal norms and customs, observability
Divisibility
Financial requirements of CA
Knowledge intensive nature
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Capacity of implementing organization
Targets the CA implementing organizations
Checks on the overall philosophy of the organization
The type and quality of staff
Leadership quality
Connectivity of the institution or the level of network
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Attributes of Scaling up
Measurement of the diffusion strategy of the promoting organizations is the main focus of this theme
Overall objective of diffusion
Organization’s level of documentation
Monitoring and evaluation
Type and quality of communication channels; organization’s level of involvement in capacity building
Use of incentives in stimulating adoption
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Political/Institutional framework at regional level
This theme is focused on subjectively checking on the political or institutional frame conditions of the region
Level of political stability
Tolerance level of the civil society towards CA
The system of administration and its effect on CA promotion
Nature of administrative set up
Type of policies as well as their possible influence on the CA adoption
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Political/Institutional framework at village level
Questions under this theme are focused on assessing:
Compatibility of CA as an emerging innovation with local customs and traditions
Issues of land access and
Land ownership
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Economic Conditions
The theme addresses issues related to
Market availability and access
Availability of basic infrastructures such as farm to market roads and irrigation possibilities
Level of other economic actors’ engagement in CA promotion
Availability of quality control measures and implementation
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Community’s attitude towards CA
Questions that fall in this theme check issue of acceptability of CA by:
The entire community,
Village leaders and
Other influential persons in the decision making process of the village
Young farmers vs. elderly farmers
Measure of the dynamic and innovative level of the CA community under consideration
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Procedure
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Evaluation Scale for QAToCA
Three possible statements for each operational question
The scale from 0-2 indicates the strength of the suggested statements
with respect to their influence on the potential of adoption
With:
0 = not influential, has no/negative effect on adoption likelihood
1 = little influence, has limited positive effect on adoption,
2 = highest influence, has maximum positive effect on adoption likelihood
N = if non of the statements is appropriate [including a comment]
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Example: decision rule
Step 1 Step 2Step 5
2
Step 6Step 3 Step 4
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Who should fill in the tool to ensure a reasonable degree of scientific quality?
Ideally, one QAToCA file should be filled in by several experts for one case study, assuming that no single expert has knowledge about all levels considered by the tool. The best selection would be
a researcher, an extensionist/promoter of CA, a farmer (with appropriate knowledge), who
adopted, and if possible a farmer, who adopted, but stopped
practicing, or who considered adoption, but then didn't go for it.
Target group for QAToCA
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
CA-SARD case studiesRegion Bungoma, Kenya Karatu, Tanzania
Location Western Kenya Arusha Region, northern part of Tanzania
Elevation 1200 – 2000 m 1000 - 1900 m
Rainfall 1250 - 1800 m 400 – 1200 mm
Temperature 20.0-22.5° C in the southern part to about 5.0-10.0° C
15 C° (forest) to 24 C° at the level of Lake Eyasi
farming systems
subsistence agriculture with Maize, Sunflower, Sugarcane, Coffee, Tobacco, Potatoes, Beans and cotton
maize, beans and paddy (rice), also wheat, barley, beans, maize, coffee, flowers, pigeon pea, sorghum, finger millet and sunflower.
CA systems cover crops, dolichos lablab, pigeon peas
sub-soiler, rippers and direct seeders or planters
wider row spacing
cover crops, (mucuna, lablab, sunn hemp, pigeon peas)
sub-soiler, rippers and direct seeders or planters
Results and Discussion: CA-SARD project
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
For Bungoma (Kenya):
Attributes of scaling up (C=100%),
Political and institutional frame conditions at village and regional levels (D and E=100% each) and
Community’s attitude towards CA (G=100%)
were all observed to have outstanding positive influence on CA adoption potential
but...:
Characteristics of CA as an object of adoption (A=59%) and
CA inputs plus market conditions (F=80%)
were seen to be negatively influencing CA adoption potential
Results and Discussion
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
For Karatu (Tanzania)Capacity of implementing institutions (B=100%)
was observed to have a major positive influence over CA adoption potential in the region.
but..:Attributes of scaling up (C=79%) and
Characteristics of CA (A=79%)
were observed as having negative influence over CA adoption potential for the region.
Some results from Tanzania:
Results and Discussion
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Visualisation of results from Kenya and Tanzania
Bungoma, Kenya
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Legend: +Supporting factor; - Hindering factor
Overview of supporting and hindering factors to CA adoption in Kenya and Tanzania
Case study regions Thematic area ID Indicator Karatu,
Kenya Ndindikuru, Tanzania
A01 Cost of CA and liquidity issues - - A02 Availability of CA knowledge - - A03 Complexity of CA - - A04 Labour requirements vs. endowments - - A05 Availability of social networks/org. - - A06 Residue and seeds requirements vs. availability + - A07 Machinery + fuel requirement and availability - - A08 Land requirement and availability + + A09 Observability of CA + + A10 CA yield response and time - - A11 Relative economic risk + - A12 Trialability + + A13 Flexibility/adaptability + + A14 CA and social status + prestige of farmers + -
A Object of Adoption (CA)
A15 CA and conflict over resources + - B1 Concept of organisation + + B2 Availability and quality of human resources + + B3 Leadership and reputation + + B4 Organisational linkage to other CA organisations
in the region + -
B5 Organisational linkage with target group + +
B Capacity of the implementing organisation
B6 Organisational linkage with stakeholders in the CA innovation systems
+ +
C01 Scaling up area, target groups and characteristics + + C02 Clarity of scaling up strategy + + C03 State and level of documentation, monitoring and
evaluation - +
C04 Usage of established communication channels + + C05 Diffusion strategy + + C06 Compatibility of selected diffusion strategy with
the target groups - +
C07 Linkage of promoting organisation with farmers - + C08 Organisation and level of involvement in
capacity building + +
C09 Type of communication channel - +
C Attributes of Scaling up
C10 Usage of incentives in the diffusion process - + D1 Political state of the region + + D2 Availability of enabling government policies + + D3 Government attitude towards CA research + + D4 State/level of administrative set up - + D5 System of administration practiced in the region - +
D Political/ institutional framework at regional level
D6 Civil society and social freedom + + E1 Availability of local level governance structures - + E2 Presence of supportive local organisations + + E3 Compatibility of CA to local customs and/or
norms and rules + +
E4 Land access, ownership and used - +
E Political/ institutional framework at village level
E5 Household spatial distribution and effect on CA adoption
+ +
F1 Availability of Market for CA products + - F2 Accessibility of markets for CA produce' + + F3 Availability of interest from CA economic actors + + F4 Availability of basic infrastructure for CA
adoption target group - -
F Economic conditions
F5 Availability of quality control structures e.g. Certification
- +
G1 Acceptability of CA by community - + G2 Acceptability of CA by village leaders/elders + + G3 Acceptability of CA by young farmers - + G4 Acceptability of CA by target group (farmers) + + G5 Social acceptability of individuals engagement in
CA + +
G Community’s attitude towards CA
G6 Availability of a dynamic and innovative community
+ +
* a close look reveals a certain dominance of supporting factors over hindering
factors hence a much better chance for CA adoption in the region.
* improving on the needed basic infrastructures : market access and roads, credit facilities and adapted CA
equipments to this region are key measures to effecting a scaling up of the technology
Results for thematic area A:
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Conservation Farming Units case study
Region Zambia
Location Most provinces of Zambia
Elevation 1000 - 1900 m
Rainfall 800 – 1000 mm
farming systems Focus on maize and cotton
CA systems hand hoe planting basin systems dry-season ripping mechanized minimum tillage methods with
leguminous crop rotations
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Some results from Zambia[Conservation framing Unit (CFU-Zambia)]
Thematic contribution to CA adoption potential in Zambia
Thematic area (A….G)Maximum possible points
Total points achieved
Percentage achieved (unweighted) (Points achieved/total points)
Percentage achieved (weighted with equal strength for each level)
A Object of Adoption (CA) (ObjofAdoptFarmVillLev) 30 23 77% 77%
B Capacity of implementing institution (CapacityofImplInstVillRegLev) 12 11 92% 92%
C Attributes of dissemination strategy (AttrOfDissemStraVillRegLev) 20 17 85% 85%
D Political/Institutional framework (PolInstFramRegLev) 12 9 75% 75%
E Political/Institutional framework (PolInstFramVillLev) 10 5 50% 50%
F CA products & inputs Market conditions (ProInpMarkCondVillRegLev) 10 6 60% 60%
G Perception of community towards CA (PercepCommVillRegLev) 12 9 75% 75%
Total 106 80 75% 73%
Thematic areas with significant negative influence over adoption potential in Zambia
Thematic areas with significant positive influence over adoption potential in Zambia
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Results from Zambia cont.
Organisational linkage of CFU to other CA organisations in the region
CFU leadership and Reputation
Availability and quality of human resources employed by the CFU
Concept, philosophy and organisational structure of the CFU
CFU’s diffusion strategy and use of CA champions (lead farmers)
An existing enabling environment and good linkage of CFU experts with CA farmers
CFU’s involvement in capacity building
Main supporting factors to CA adoption potential (QAToCA analysis)
Scattered settlement pattern in farming communities hence, negative effect on CA dissemination activities
Limited land access, ownership and used especially for women
No compatibility of CA to local customs and/or norms and rules in some cases e.g. the use of herbicides for weeding is not welcomed by some communities.
Limited availability and accessibility of markets for CA products
Main hindering factors to CA adoption potential (QAToCA analysis)
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
Have fun with QAToCA!!
Photo by: Ndah HT; Basins preparation in Kafue district (Zambia)
We wish to thank especially: • all the CFU team-Zambia for the moral and logistic support
during the field visit and • all stakeholders of CA2Africa for their contributions during
the QAToCA workshops
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany
For more insight and references, see:
• Ndah, HT.; Schuler, J.; Uthes, S.; Zander, P.; Triomphe, B.; (2010): The concept of the Qualitative expert Assessment Tool for CA Adoption (QAToCA). Manual/working paper; ZALF Muencheberg, CIRAD France
• Uthes, S.; Ndah, HT.; Triomphe, B.; Schuler, J.; Zander, P. (2011): D2.2 Report on inventory of bio-physical and bio-economic models and conceptual models of innovation systems for assessment of agricultural (innovative) practices. ZALF Muencheberg, CIRAD France
Thank you for your attention!