Does farmer-to-farmer extension increase women’s participation and access to advisory services? Lessons from Kenya, Cameroon and Malawi

Gender balance in agricultural extension is a key problem noted by many observers (World Bank, FAO & IFAD, 2009; World Bank, 2012). The two related issues usually mentioned in this regard are that women make up only a small proportion of extension staff and women farmers have less access to extension than men farmers. Farmer-to-farmer extension, “the provision of training by farmers to farmers, often through the creation of a structure of farmer trainers” (Scarborough, Killough, Johnson & Farrington, 1997) is a common extension approach throughout the tropics (Masangano and Mthinda 2012; Wellard, Rafanomezana, Nyirenda, Okotel &Subbey, 2013). Numerous studies of farmerto-farmer extension have documented the approach’s advantages, such as its costeffectiveness, its sustainability, its promotion of farmer innovation, and that farmers often learn more effectively from their peers than from extension agents (Hellin & Dixon, 2008; Amudavi, Khan, Wanyama, Midega, Pittchar & Nyangau, 2009; Lukuyu, Place, Franzel & Kiptot, 2012. Others have noted the approach’s limitations, for example, that it is less appropriate in low population density areas, and for complex, risky practices (Kiptot, Franzel & Kirui, 2012). However, no study was identified that assessed the approach’s effect on gender balance.

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