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REVISED Outline of Extension Research Proposal
REVISED Outline of Extension Research Proposal
Guidelines
Pre-extension demonstration and Popularization research
proposal
(based on the Institute Guideline)
April 2017
Addis Ababa
Contents
1. Purpose of the guidelines.........................................................................................................................4
2. Working Definitions................................................................................................................................4
2.1. Pre-extension demonstration......................................................................................................4
2.2. Popularization/Popularization........................................................................................................5
2.3. The Minimum Area.........................................................................................................................6
2.4. Clustering farm or village................................................................................................................6
3. Details of Pre-extension demonstration research proposal template............................................................8
3.1. Title: activity/project title.............................................................................................................8
3.2. Background and Justification........................................................................................................8
3.3. Objectives..................................................................................................................................8
3.4. Methodology (Materials and Methods)..........................................................................................9
3.5. Location and Farmers selection..................................................................................................11
3.6. Duration..................................................................................................................................11
3.7. Work plan................................................................................................................................11
3.8. Budget by code.........................................................................................................................11
3.9. Expected output.......................................................................................................................11
3.10. Responsibility:..........................................................................................................................12
3.11. Monitoring and evaluation Matrix...............................................................................................12
3.12. Reference.................................................................................................................................12
4. Details for Popularization research proposal template..............................................................................13
4.1. Title........................................................................................................................................13
4.2. Background and justification......................................................................................................13
4.3. Objectives................................................................................................................................13
4.4. Methodology (Materials and methods)........................................................................................14
4.5. Location and farmers selection...................................................................................................15
4.6. Duration..................................................................................................................................16
4.7. Work plan................................................................................................................................16
4.8. Budget by code.........................................................................................................................16
4.9. Expected output.......................................................................................................................16
4.10. Responsibility...........................................................................................................................16
4.11. Monitoring and evaluation matrix...............................................................................................16
4.12. Reference.................................................................................................................................17
1. Purpose of the Guidelines
The purpose of this guidelines is to provide simple guide for agricultural extension researchers to
design pre-extension demonstrations and Popularization of research proposals/activities. In so
doing, agricultural extension researchers demonstrate the required skills in developing fundable
projects and standard research proposals.
2. Working Definitions
2.1.Pre-extension Demonstration
Agricultural Technology Demonstration and popularization is the key strategy to promote and
scale up new technologies in the research system. On-farm demonstrations give us opportunity to
work with farmers and frontline extension workers to get feedback on technologies and also the
easiest mechanism to develop confidence and create effective demand for new technologies.
The term 'Pre-extension demonstration' is used in the research system to indicate that it is the first
stage of the extension phase where newly recommended agricultural technologies are
demonstrated to the farmers for their technical and economic viability so that it will further
enhance the rapid diffusion and adoption of the new technologies in a wider areas. Pre-extension
demonstration is normally carried out in a specific location for a period of 1 to 2 cropping seasons
depending on the uptake and nature of the technologies
Even though demonstrations are powerful mechanisms its variability in application in EIAR by
different processes entails the need to establish a standard design to be followed. Considering
demonstrations take different forms and uses different methods we have designed a common
working modality in EIAR so that we can communicate easily and set standard of planning. Except
for the agronomic technology demonstrations, we need not have a control or farmers
plot/practices.
For the purpose of this based on our own long experiences working with different technologies
and agro ecologies and some literature we have proposed a design and standard of demonstration
activities by number of districts to be addressed and number of demonstration site as well as the
size of the demonstration area.
Each demonstration plot cannot be less than 0.25ha in open fields. For some technologies like
horticulture and in some fragmented land ownership areas we have to cluster adjacent farms to
maintain the minimum.
Table 1: Types of technologies and area coverage
Based on the number of participating farmers, the necessary amount of inputs will be prepared
and delivered to the target host farmers. Here, the participating farmers will receive the
technology on a revolving scheme basis so that more farmers are further reached with the new
technology. For instance, for crop varieties, the research will provide the initial seed while the
participating farmers will manage to handle other necessary inputs for effective implementation of
the demonstration. Hence, the demonstration activities are also meant to serve for technology
multiplication. Prior to the actual implementation of the demonstrations, farmers and other
stakeholders will be given training on the characteristics and management aspects of the new
technology.
2.2. Popularization/Popularization
The phrase ‘popularization’ is coined to identify selective and integrated technology promotion
business approach spear-headed by research institution. Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural
research has shaped this term to represent a strategic approach that helps to push best
technologies for market oriented production system.
Usually, popularization is implemented on relatively medium scale after technologies prove their
performance under demonstration. The main goal is to sort out the ideal pathways (models) that
can widen the reach and impact of the technology. Popularization requires engagement of a
number of potential actors who could be categorized as partners (those who work on the premise
of mutual benefit); stakeholders (those who claim to have a stake in the process) and customers
(users) of product and services. It is followed by large scale dissemination and commercialization
of those technologies, often implemented by extension offices and industry actors.
In the agricultural research system in general, and in this document in particular, 'popularization' is
defined as a process of modeling pathways for scaling up and commercialization of modern production
technologies to pave the path for impact. Thus, its main target is identifying and testing pragmatic
working models (institutional arrangement) by which potential crop technologies go to wider scale.
Popularization business fit-in the technology generation and promotion continuum. It overlaps marginally
with the on-farm1demonstration-as it is expected to have larger spill-over effect-and sufficiently push the
scaling up business- as full scale can take over even before the task of popularization is over.
1
In general, the main purpose of both activities is to show under farmers conditions that the recommended
technologies are superior to the local practices so that farmers’ awareness and wider technology adoption
will be increased and the interface between technology utilization and commercialization will be created. In
order to increase the awareness and adoption of improved agricultural technologies by smallholder
farmers and improve their livelihoods, the Directorate of Technology Transfer and Commercialization will
implement pre-extension demonstration and popularization/scaling up of technologies (crop, livestock and
forage, natural resource management and irrigation, farm mechanization, food science, etc). The activities
will be implemented after approval by each respective center, and followed by endorsement at the annual
national research review. Each research activity should be based on the demand obtained from the
Agricultural Development Partners Linkage Advisory Council (ADPLAC) and specific farmers, pastoralists
and agro-pastoralists needs of the respective research center.
3. Details of Pre-extension demonstration research proposal template
3.1. Title
Title should be brief, short and catchy. Avoid details on title such as through…..
3.3. Objectives
State the proposed purpose of the project in clear and measurable terms that can be achieved by
the proposed activity/intervention;
Each objective is usually related to a need identified in the introduction section, activities in the
methodology section and activities in the evaluation section;
Preferably, have at least one production and one learning objectives;
o Production objectives are related to economic terms like yield, income, reduce post-
harvest loss, productivity, etc;
o Learning objectives are related to farmers learning or change in behavior (knowledge,
skills and attitude) as a result of using extension methods and approaches such as
awareness creation and attitude change, improve knowledge and skills; attitude change
The following objectives can commonly be used for on-farm demonstration activities. But, this
does not mean that these are the only ones.
To evaluate yield performance and socio-economic feasibility of the technology under farmers’
management
To create awareness on the availability and importance of the technology
To improve yield of maize/sorghum from xxx to xxx kg using improved management practices
To enhance farmers’ knowledge and skill of application/use of the technology
Research design (includes number of treatments, number of replications and plot size)
Treatments: At least two treatments; the improved practice/technology and the local/standard
check.
Replications: At least three or four demonstration plots per location (village). There should be
sufficient demonstration fields per village to create wider awareness and demand as well as to
conduct location specific statistical analysis as required
Plot size: Minimum of 0.25 ha. But, the size could vary depending on availability of land and nature
of the technology.
(This refers to participatory mechanisms such as Innovation platforms (IPs) and Farmers’ research
groups (FRGs) approaches used to enhance stakeholders’ engagement in problem identification, joint
planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Technology evaluation and demonstration methods/techniques ፡ This is all about how the entire
demonstration activities are going to be managed including demonstration techniques/approach to be used
and procedures to be followed in demonstrating the technology to farmers);
Partnership arrangement፡ role of different stakeholders in technology demonstration and modality for
partnership;
Trainings of farmers and other stakeholders፡ number of trainings to be given, number and diversity of
participants, topics/areas on which trainings are going to be given etc;
Field visits/tours and field days፡ When to conduct field visits/field days, participants etc.
Types and methods of Data collection: all forms of data including yield, social and economic data should be
considered (qualitative and quantitative methods)
Appropriate method/s of data collection should be selected and described in view of the objectives.
The following are some of data collection methods:
Observation: gathering primary data by investigator’s own direct field observation/measurements;
Household interview;
Participatory data collection methods including Focused group discussion (FGD), Key Informants
interview,
Knowledge and attitude test: It is a technique used to measure change in knowledge and attitude
using knowledge and attitude test Likert scale;
Data types
Include criteria used to select demonstration sites and participant farmers, FRG establishment.
Consider the following during site selection and farmers selection:
Representativeness of the field in terms of location, soil type, accessibility for more farmers to visit
demonstration plots
Number of sites/locations (districts, PAs, villages and farms): Select adequate number of PAs,
villages and farms
Use of FTCs as one demonstration site
3.6. Duration
Under normal condition a technology can be demonstrated only once. Because we can change hosting
farmers situation and also get seasonality difference we have to plan for two years and /or two seasons.
Demonstration activities cannot be
3.10. Responsibility:
Name of research center
Initiator:
Responsible persons
3.12. Reference
If it is not stated use Harvard referencing Style
4. Details for Popularization research proposal template
4.1. Title
Title should be brief, short and catchy. Avoid details on title such as through…..
4.3. Objectives
State the proposed purpose of the project in clear and measurable terms that can be achieved by
the proposed activity/intervention;
Each objective is usually related to a need identified in the introduction section, activities in the
methodology section and activities in the evaluation section;
Preferably, have at least one production and one learning objectives;
o Production objectives are related to economic terms like yield, income, reduce post-
harvest loss, productivity, etc;
o Learning objectives are related to farmers learning or change in behavior (knowledge,
skills and attitude) as a result of using extension methods and approaches such as
awareness creation and attitude change, improve knowledge and skills; attitude change
The following objectives can commonly be used for on-farm demonstration activities. But, this
does not mean that these are the only ones.
To create wider demand pull by reaching large number of users over relatively wider
geographical area
To enhance institutional and functional linkages with key players through joint actions
and performances
To improve farmers’ knowledge and skill of application of the improved technology
To identify key bottlenecks of wider dissemination of technology
4.2 Types and methods of data collection: all forms of data including yield, social and economic data
should be considered (qualitative and quantitative methods)
4.2.1 Methods of data collection
Appropriate method/s of data collection should be selected and described in view of the objectives.
The following are some of data collection methods:
Observation: gathering primary data by investigator’s own direct field observation/measurements;
Individual interview;
Participatory data collection methods including Focused group discussion (FGD), Key Informants
interview,
Knowledge and attitude test: It is a technique used to measure change in knowledge and attitude using
knowledge and attitude test Likert scale;
Etc
4.2.2 Data types
Yield data (Yield measurement, post-harvest loss estimation)
Economic return/profitability (Income from adoption of the technology)
Total number of farmers participated in training, field visits and field days by gender
Numbers of farmers become aware of the availability and importance of the technology by gender
Role of farmers and other stakeholders in technology demonstration
Change in level of knowledge and skill of farmers
Farmers’ opinion/perception
4.3 Method of data analysis (qualitative and quantitative)
Statistical tools/techniques: Simple descriptive statistics, T-test, ANOVA etc..
Econometric tools/techniques: Partial budget analysis, marginal rate of return (MRR) etc…
4.6. Duration
Plan for three years.
4.10. Responsibility
Name of research center
Initiator:
Responsible persons