Assessment of the consultancy for agricultural productivity enhancement (CAPE) program of the Department of Science and Technology VIII / Evelyn Bacarra Tablante

Year : 2012

Number of Pages : 95 leaves

Adviser : Dr. Roger D. Posadas

Executive Summary

Low production in small-scale agriculture and rising unemployment rates evoke that the government efforts in technology diffusion has not resulted to commensurate increases in the income of farmers. Farmers in Eastern Visayas face the perennial problem of low farm productivity, which is accounted to the lack of technology infusion in farm operation. The Consultancy for Agricultural Productivity Enhancement (CAPE) Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) seeks to address this problem by providing farmers expert advice on appropriate technologies to enhance farm productivity including the management of technologies at farm-level. The program essentially involves the deployment of a technical team or an expert consultant to assist farmers in identifying and implementing technical solutions to farm production problems. This study assesses the CAPE Program implementation of DOST Region 8 in Eastern Visayas in a span of five (5) years from 2006 to 2011. Specifically, it aims to evaluate its performance in terms of the attainment of its stated goals and the factors that contribute to its success or failure. The program implementation processes and practices were reviewed taken into account the various activities that include the selection of beneficiaries, engagement of the consultants, and the adoption of the recommended technological improvements or innovations at the farm level. The inward technology transfer framework proposed by Trott (2008) serves as the theoretical basis in program evaluation that identifies the sequential phases in the diffusion and the acquisition of knowledge by firm or organization that includes awareness, association, assimilation and finally successful application. Both primary and secondary data were gathered to obtain all relevant information to enable an assessment of the program. The secondary sources of information were reports submitted by the consultants and those from the periodic monitoring of the DOST VIII technical team. The primary data were obtained from the interviews with two sets of respondents, the farmer beneficiaries and the technical consultants using instruments specifically designed for each set of respondents. A focus group discussion was also undertaken with consultant teams from partner academic institutions to discuss key issues regarding the program and its implementation in the region.

The observations and findings discussed in this study are based on the available secondary information and the primary data gathered in November 2011 to February 2012 from the interviews, focus group discussion, and field assignments. A total of sixty nine farmer beneficiaries and fifty eight consultants participated as respondents and key informants. Since the data gathered were descriptive and qualitative, the analysis was interpretive and inferential in nature from which key issues, factors and prevailing conditions of the program were identified and the conclusions were drawn. As of February 2012, the CAPE program recorded a total of ninety farmer beneficiaries. Sixty nine farmer beneficiaries graduated the CAPE program, of which fifty were considered as successful and nineteen as unsuccessful. The success parameter of the program is based on quantifiable benefits derived by farmer-beneficiaries on the recommended technical improvements which are translated into increase in productivity and income. The higher proportion of successful from unsuccessful project implies an effective overall program design and implementation protocol. However, the factors that are attributed as reasons for the failure of some projects need to be considered further as they offer insights on possible areas for improvement in program execution, and the scope of assistance required by farmers in the region to ensure appropriate assimilation and application of technologies. The study revealed that lack of financial capability was the primary reason of the inability of farmers to implement the recommended technical intervention(s). Other factors associated with unsuccessful project implementation were unfavourable climatic conditions (bad weather or force majeure), and non-receptiveness and noncommittal behaviour of the beneficiaries. In the case of association as beneficiary, mostly internal organization problems hinder project implementation. Also, beneficiaries with many other priorities cannot focus in the implementation of the project leading to its failure. Based on the gaps, problems and issues identified, the study offers recommendations that the DOST Regional Offices and TAPI may consider to improve CAPE program implementation in order to enhance its effectiveness in improving farm productivity. The process and criteria on selection of beneficiaries need to be strengthened to ensure commitment to adopt recommended technical innovations. Since financial capacity is a deterrent in the eventual adoption of technologies and innovations by farmers, assistance in accessing funding should be provided such as facilitating linkage of farmer's with financial institutions. To ensure all necessary assistance required by farmer beneficiaries, DOST VIII should also initiate networking/collaboration with other institutions that undertake agricultural productivity enhancement initiatives such as the Department of Agriculture and the BFAR. To further enhance the capabilities of farmers in farm management and entrepreneurial skills, trainings and other capability building programs should be provided. The study also proposes that the duration of the consultant engagement should not be fixed at six (6) months period as in the current practice, but should be dependent on the nature of the technical assistance, the specific commodity being addressed, and the activities to be undertaken. In horticulture, for instance, the 6-months period is found not sufficient. In any technology diffusion initiative, knowledge transfer is an important component. Thus, to ensure that required technical skills, know-how and learnings are acquired by beneficiaries, monitoring and evaluation of farm technology adaptation even beyond the formal project duration has to be undertaken. This would enable the provision of other assistance that can further enhance farmer's absorptive capabilities and ultimately upgrade technical skills and knowledge.