SIERRA LEONE - ADAPTIVE CROP RESEARCH AND EXTENSION

ACTIVITIES WILL BE CONCENTRATED IN UPLAND PORTIONS OF 5 AREAS, EACH HAVING A RADIUS OF 25 MILES. A CROP PRODUCTION ADAPTIVE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER WILL BE ESTABLISHED AT NJALA COLLEGE, AND A FARM-LEVEL DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS EFFORT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF SMALLHOLDER DECISION-MAKING, BEHAVIOR AND CONSTRAINTS. INITIAL RESEARCH OPERATIONS WILL CONSIST OF IDENTIFYING, TESTING, AND MODIFYING TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. CONCURRENTLY, ADAPTIVE RESEARCH WILL BE INITIATED TO DEVELOP APPROPRIATE AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY. ALTERNATIVE (NON-CHEMICAL) TECHNIQUES OF MAINTAINING AND INCREASING SOIL FERTILITY AND CONTROLLING WEEDS, DISEASE, AND INSECTS WILL BE EMPHASIZED. EXTENSION TECHNICIANS WILL BE TRAINED AT MAKALI INDUCTION TRAINING CENTER IN DATA COLLECTION, CROPPING SYSTEMS, BASIC AGRONOMY, SOIL FERTILITY AND MANAGEMENT, AND BASIC EXTENSION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES. SUBSEQUENTLY THEY WILL RECEIVE IN-SERVICE TRAINING EITHER ON-THE-JOB OR AT OTHER CENTERS. 30 RESEARCH/EXTENSION TECHNICIANS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE 5 PROJECT AREAS. EACH TECHNICIAN WILL DEAL DIRECTLY WITH 10 FARMERS, THREE OF WHOM WILL CONDUCT ADAPTIVE RESEARCH, WHILE THE REMAINING 7 WILL CONDUCT EXTENSION DEMONSTRATIONS ON THEIR FARMS. THE MULTIPLIER CONCEPT WILL BE EMPLOYED, USING EXTENSION DEMONSTRATIONS AS THE FOCAL POINT FOR REACHING A MINIMUM OF 100 NEIGHBORING FARMERS AT EACH DEMONSTRATION. AS IMPROVED PRACTICES ARE IDENTIFIED, THEY WILL BE RELAYED TO RESEARCHERS AND EXTENSION TECHNICIANS SO THAT MODIFICATIONS CAN BE MADE, IF NECESSARY TO SUIT LOCAL CONDITIONS. A RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP PROGRAM WILL ALSO BE ESTABLISHED TO TRAIN 9 SENIOR AND/OR GRADUATE STUDENTS IN GRAINS, ROOT CROPS, AND VEGETABLE CROPS AT NJALA COLLEGE. IN ADDITION, A 10-YEAR COUNTRY-WIDE RESEARCH/EXTENSION PLAN WILL BE COMPLETED. PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF AGR AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND NJALA COLLEGE UTILIZING EXISTING STAFF AND FACILITIES OF BOTH ORGS.