Communication for Development: Research into Practice
Forum on Communication for Development & Community Media for Family Farming
October 23, 2013
CGIAR works from award winning science to impact on the ground
Charity Mutegi, CGIAR scientist winning the Norman Borlaug Field Award for her work on aflatoxins
Farmers Field Day on aflatoxins in Nigeria
Participatory evaluation The We RATE clearinghouse
Evidence :
• formed a stakeholder platform • developed into an organization of 26 farmer
associations and Kenyan NGOs• stakeholder platform uses face-to-face
communication (e.g. farmer field days) and mobile phones
• works at the grassroots level for testing and applying new farm technologies
• operates in partnership with county extension, the private sector and research organizations
Participatory evaluation The We RATE clearinghouse
Constraints::• Limited access to information• Non-appropriate communication tools proposed by development
and research agencies (hi-tech, low impact)• Local media are ignoring farmers’ needs• Limited development from evaluation to research design
Needs:• Data on farmers’ needs• Development of inclusive research programs• Strengthening of ground-up communication• Include farmers in communication tools development (e.g. testing)