INADES formation

Final PES covers the period 8/81-3/83 and is based largely on questionnaires and interviews with farmer beneficiaries in Touboro, Cameroon. All 20 cotton, corn, peanut, and wet rice farmers who were interviewed had completed 1 year of the correspondence course and 20% had completed 4 years. Agricultural techniques learned were applied by the following percentages of farmers interviewed: preparation of land (30%); purchase of selected seed (60%); seed spacing in rows (90%); anti-erosion techniques (15%); use of SODECOTON - a parastatal extension organization - chemicals (40%); and livestock nutrition (70%). Courses also served as theoretical backup to practices promoted by extension agents. Lack of water, time, and financial resources precluded use by farmers of some techniques for irrigation, erosion control, animal traction, and livestock care. Information on agriculture, development, domestic affairs, and accounting was provided to 40%, 30%, 25%, and 20% of participants respectively during follow-up visits by INADES-Formation (the project grantee) staff members. Lack of knowledge of French prevented some farmers from participating. While hard data are not available, 35% of interviewees attributed increased production yields to the course. Farmer relations with extension agents were improved in 80% of cases; 25% even claimed that they were now better informed than extensionists. Although 90% of interviewees claimed their wives have adopted the new techniques, learned via farmer-wife communication or observation of improved crop yields, lack of involvement of women is considered a serious project shortcoming. Also, little progress was made in group participation by farmers. Although results appear promising, the small number of trainees brings into question the cost-effectiveness of the program. It is recommended that training be reoriented toward agricultural enterprise management and the support of precooperatives and village groups. Other recommendations address involvement of women, socioeconomic baseline data collection, and translation of teaching materials.