Inclusive Extension Programs’ Positive Impacts on Smallholder Farmers in Tunisia

Inclusive Extension Programs’ Positive Impacts on Smallholder Farmers in Tunisia

In a study by Dhebibi et al. (2021) in Tunisia, around 700 farmer households were invited to participate in four extension treatments as  part of a development project by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). They are focusing on the adoption of an improved variety of barley called “Kounouz” in semiarid Tunisian lands where farmers have limited resources.

Using a randomized control trial (RCT) approach, agricultural, economic, and organizational trainings were done with a female empowerment aspect to evaluate its impacts on the farmers’ livelihoods and technology adoption rates. Information dissemination was participatory. With the gender-sensitive trainings in two of the treatment groups, adoption rates were higher. This highlights the importance of equitable access to extension programs to increase productivity for rural households.

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Reference: Dhehibi, B., Dhraief, M., Ruediger, U., Frija, A., Werner, J., Straussberger, L., & Rischkowsky, B. (2022). Impact of improved agricultural extension approaches on technology adoption: Evidence from a randomised controlled trial in rural Tunisia. Experimental Agriculture, 58, E13. doi:10.1017/S0014479722000084

Photo: (c) FAO

Article contributed by Charlene Esteban, ComDev Asia intern

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