Fact Sheet

ASEM/2014/052 Project Information 2017

Name of the project

Smallholder farmer decision-making and technology adoption in southern Lao PDR: opportunities and constraints

ACIAR project number

ASEM/2014/052

Start date and duration (years)

1 January 2016 (4 years)

Location

Southern Laos

Budget

$1,048,686

Project leader and Commissioned Organisation

Dr Kim Alexander

James Cook University

Partner country project leaders and their institutions

Dr. Thavone Inthavong: National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI)

Dr Silinthone Sacklokham: National University of Laos (NUOL)

Mr Somxay Sisanonh: Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture Extension and Cooperatives

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Dr Jayne Curnow

Overview

The project reviews the drivers and constraints influencing smallholder farmers’ decisions to adopt proven technologies and management systems to improve farm productivity. When farmers contemplate adoption of new technologies and management innovations their decision-making processes are influenced by many factors including; economics, politics, technology, social tradition and the biological environment. The project builds on the outcomes of several previous ACIAR projects involved in rice-based systems research in southern Laos and also works in conjunction with current projects. It investigates how further advantage can be taken of the opportunities to enhance the livelihood of smallholder farmers through their adoption of proven technologies and determine how stakeholder networks can be engaged and mobilised to better enable smallholder farmers to apply proven technologies.

Research

The project aims to research the gap between aspirations and reality with respect to technology adoption impacts and thence improve smallholder livelihoods. The project will review the drivers and constraints influencing smallholder farmers’ decisions to adopt proven technologies and management systems to improve farm productivity. Of particular interest are the influence on farming decisions of complex interactions between economics, politics, technology and the biological environment with ethnicity, local social traditions, personal motivation and leadership. This project will work in conjunction with four current projects. It will investigate how further advantage can be taken of the opportunities to enhance the livelihood of smallholder farmers through their adoption of proven technologies and determine how stakeholder networks can be engaged and mobilised to better enable smallholder farmers to apply proven technologies

Key elements of the project:

· The guiding research question is “What influences smallholder adoption of proven technologies?”

· The primary objective is to identify the drivers and constraints affecting smallholder decision-making with respect to adoption of proven technologies.

· The secondary research question is “How can stakeholder networks be engaged and mobilised to enable smallholder farmers to apply proven technologies?”

· The secondary objective is to develop solution strategies/methods to improve use of proven innovations by farmers

Initial results on the influences on adoption have been synthesised into a research discussion tool consisting of the key adoption drivers, enablers, opportunities and barriers. The Tool has guided discussions about the introduction of technologies and investigated villages that would be suited to an introduced technology. Nine areas were identified that also impact on the extent of adoption including; proposal process, markets, private sector, extension effectiveness, training, farmer organisations, policy support, institutional organisation, and monitoring and evaluation. Lao project partners are developing research proposals detailing activities to be conducted to improve overall adoption of new technologies by addressing specific research issues within the nine areas and by using the research discussion tool.

Achievements

· All scheduled activities/milestones have been successfully completed

· The project has generated significant interest amongst key stakeholders.

· Communications will inform the development community and other donors

· Regular project updates on progress

· A series of reports, conference abstracts and publications have been generated, available at https://sites.google.com/view/acrtechnologyadoption/home

· Inclusive research activities have underpinned our objectives. By collaboratively conducting research exercises with our Lao team, they have been able successfully to replicate research exercises independently in another southern Lao Province, extending the sample frame and generating valuable additional research data

· Capacity building exercises have benefited Lao research staff and Provincial and district government officers.

· Capacity building exercises are being designed to improve skills and knowledge of emerging Lao researchers

· The Research Discussion Tool and specialised research methods have been used by other ACIAR projects to test efficacy

· Sound collaborative relationships with Lao and Australian partners are enabling Lao partners to co- design future research activities

Impact story

Lao partner staff and government officers have been trained in research methods and have independently conducted research activities. Lao partners are developing research proposals detailing activities to address the barriers and constraints and opportunities arising from the study. We are forging partnership model co-designing research activities and building capacity within agricultural institutions in Laos.