Demonstrations, Field days, Visits and Tours

Farmers like to see how a new idea works and what effect it can have on their crop or livestock production. This can be done by means of an on-farm demonstration. A good, practical demonstration is an invaluable method in extension work. It is a particularly powerful method to use with farmers who do not read easily and who therefore cannot rely on print media for up to date agricultural information. A demonstration can give such farmers an opportunity to observe, at first hand, the differences between a recommended practice and their own current practices. The strength of the demonstration should lie in its simplicity and its ability to present the farmer with concrete results. Demonstrations to groups of farmers also helps to build farmer-to-farmer links.

Method demonstration Result demonstration Field days Tours References and Further Reading

Demonstrations may be aimed at showing and promoting a "method" of technique, or can be of the results from a particular new recommendation or way of doing things. These two types of demonstration are briefly described below.

A "method demonstration" basically shows farmers how to do something. Farmers are shown step by step how, for example, to trim a sheep's hoof, condition score a goat, plant and maintain a living fence or hedge, or how to control intestinal worms using an improved diet and locally available materials such as Mucuna pruriens pods as an anthelmintic. The agent will probably be dealing with farmers who have already accepted the particular practice being demonstrated - or at least have heard about it - but who now want to know how to do it properly themselves.

The main advantage of the method demonstration is that extension agents can explain livestock husbandry and other farming skills to several people at one time, thus increasing their overall impact and efficiency. Moreover, as farmers are able to participate, there is a greater chance that they will benefit from the demonstration than if they were passively hearing about the practice in a talk or lecture. People learn skills by practicing them. They learn more quickly and more accurately if there is someone there to tell them how to improve their performance and to correct any mistakes at the beginning. People learn faster when several senses and faculties are working together - in this case, seeing and doing, as well as hearing.

The main limitation to a method demonstration is that, if there are too many farmers present, only a small number may get a chance to see clearly what is being shown and to practice it for themselves - the ones at the front of the group. It is therefore important that the demonstration be well thought out and planned. The demonstration is a learning experience the event should be prepared accordingly. When properly handled, an interaction between agent and farmers, and between the farmers themselves, can create a very effective learning environment.

Furthermore, practical demonstrations in a group may also provide valuable feedback from the group to the people doing the demonstration - for example on the constraints to a particular method or locally applicable problems in adoption of a technique. ...."Yes, we understand all that, but we are not able to do it like that because..... "

Until farmers have seen the results of a recommended practice for themselves, they may not be convinced by previous recommendations. Seeing the actual results of a new practice recommended can help to create confidence among the farmers and can greatly encourage them to try the practice for themselves. Explaining the economic aspects of the demonstration may be particularly important. By emphasising the increased value of a crop or livestock enterprise as a result of following the demonstrated practice, or the reduced costs of inputs, the extension agent will be providing farmers with the kind of information they need in order to reach a decision for themselves about adopting it or not.

A result demonstration is an ideal way to present to farmers with a comparison between traditional and new practices. It can also help to establish general confidence in more advanced farming methods and in the ideas originating from research stations. However the technology demonstrated need not come only from a research station. Farmers experiment with and adapt their own technologies. The extension agent should be aware of farmers in the area who have been particularly successful in their farming activities and consider whether their farms could be used as a result demonstration, to show other farmers what can be achieved using the available resources and technology.

The major limitations of result demonstrations is that they can take a long time to develop. To ensure a successful demonstration, time needs to be spent in checking its progress, perhaps as the season progresses, and in making sure the farmer is correctly carrying out all the operations required for the method to succeed, and at the appropriate times. If in the end, for whatever reason, the new practice should fail, it could of course have serious consequences for the credibility of the extension agent and for the willingness of farmers to take part in demonstrations in the future. Failures are also likely to occur which are outside the control of the farmer and the agent, such as those due to a lack of rain or a disease outbreak.

Both method and result demonstrations are activities which require a lot of thought, careful planning and efficient execution. Although the two types differ somewhat in their purposes, they share a lot of common points and, in terms of preparation and planning can be considered together.

Field days

Field days can be seen as opportunities to hold demonstrations on a slightly larger scale. The purpose is often to introduce a new idea or a new crop, and to stimulate the interest of as many farmers as possible. Experimental stations or other government centres may be used for field days, but where the new crop or technology is already being used by some farmers in the area, it is more effective to hold them on the land of a local farmer. There is a greater chance of making an impact if the field day is held on a local farm, and if the farmer plays a part in running it and explaining the technology, crops or practices that are being shown. On the other hand, a field day may be held at an experimental station with the explicit objective of making farmers aware of promising technologies that have not yet been fully tested, as part of an effort to foster greater interaction and mutual respect between farmers and researchers.

Field days can therefore range in size from a small group at a result demonstration site, to annual events attracting hundreds of farmers. Since the aim is not to explain the technology in detail or for farmers to practice and learn a new skill, there is less need to be concerned about numbers than at a method demonstration. The extension agent's role on the field day is to support the farmer on whose land it is being held, to offer general guidance to ensure that things run smoothly and to be available to answer questions. It is probably better not to over organise the field day but to try to create an atmosphere in which visiting farmers can inspect, inquire, question and generally get to know what is available.

When field days are arranged in conjunction with a result demonstration, two or three may be held at the demonstration site during the season. With a crop demonstration, these could take place at planting or sowing time, at mid-season to compare crop growth and condition between demonstration and control plots, and at harvest where farmers can compare yields and discuss the economic and financial outcome with the demonstrator farmer.

Although the agent will try to encourage an open and informal atmosphere for the field day, there is still a considerable amount of preparation needed to ensure it runs well. The issues which the agent must consider are similar to those noted under demonstrations and will not be repeated here. It may be useful, however, to bear a few additional points in mind, particularly in relation to field days at demonstration sites.

A field day is a day out for farmers and is often a welcome relief from their daily hard work. The agent should, therefore, provide an interesting and well presented display, suitable refreshments time to rest, and generally create an atmosphere in which the farmers will feel at ease and be eager to know what is going on.

A field tour is an ideal method of involving farmers and of stimulating genuine interest in extension activities. It is also very useful in bringing farmers together to discuss common problems and to gain useful experiences of other areas.

Farmers can learn a great deal from visiting farms in other districts to see how they work, what they grow and what kinds of problems the farmers there are facing. A tour is in effect a series of field demonstrations on different farms, or at different centres, and can often attract a lot of interest from farmers. The tour gives farmers from one area a chance to see how other farmers manage their farms and an opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with them. It is important, therefore, that the area to be visited is in some way similar agriculturally to that of the visiting farmers.

As with all other forms of extension, tours have to be well thought out, planned, prepared and conducted. The five stages of determining the objectives, planning the content, preparing the arrangements, conducting the tour and arranging for appropriate follow-up will be a guide to the extension agent. In addition, the following points may be useful.