The Farmer Field School in Senegal: does training intensity affect diffusion of information?

摘要

This article examines if the training intensity of Farmer Field School (FFS) is vital in analyzing knowledge diffusion effects of FFS in Africa. OLS and logistic models are applied to identify the impact of training intensity on diffusion of information from FFS participants to non-participants. A survey was conducted in 2004 on 194 farmers in Keu Abdou Ndoye and 147 in Gollam. Results showed that the share or percentage of trained farmers in a community is a decisive factor for diffusion of information. The results of this study have implications for defining a crucial mass of trained farmers per village to attain effective dissemination of information and to generate positive stimuli for adoption and learning among non-participants of FFS.