Workshop

In January 2010, ALINe convened a small expert group to discuss how agricultural organisations can improve how they collect and use farmer feedback. It came to five conclusions:

Feedback from farmers can play an important role in improving projects and empowering farmers.
Proven methods are available for agricultural organisations to collect and use feedback.
Feedback methods are not widely used and farmer voice is rarely realised. There are strong disincentives against strengthening farmer voice.
The current system for allocating funds and reporting performance is stable and dysfunctional.
An emerging agenda for change focuses on: leadership, changing incentives, creating simple methods and considering other ways to empower farmers.

Further Information:

Report:

Workshop report - 3 page summary report of the workshop's key learning

Presentations:

Not Learning: Failure of Tools or Culture? - Richard Bond, Consultant and Research Fellow, IDPM
Do NGO staff listen to farmers? - Christie Peacock, CEO, FARM-Africa
Feedback and Performance Management - Gordan Shields, Research Director, JD Power and Associates

Videos:

Ken Caldwell, former Director of International Operations at Save the Children UK, talks about why it is important to listen and respond effectively to farmers

Christie Peacock, Chief Executive at FARM-Africa, discusses what needs to be done to improve the impact of farmers' voices on agricultural development.