Dissemination Of Agricultural Technologies Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of Researchers’, Extension Agents’ and Farmers’ Perception of the Use of Entertainment- Education (EE) for Agricultural Information Dissemination in South-Western Nigeria

Entertainment- Education (EE) seeks to purposefully use entertainment media to educate targets about development intervention. Though, an innovative communication approach for addressing development related issues, its use and potentials for dissemination and adoption of agricultural technology has not been fully harnessed. The study was conducted to compare the perception of researchers, extension agents and farmers in southwestern Nigeria on the use of EE for agricultural information dissemination. One hundred and sixty one respondents were sampled using multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using questionnaire and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Majority (72.1%) of the researchers had a high perception of the use of EE. More than half (54.7%) of the extension agents and about two-thirds (61.1%) of farmers had a low perception towards the use of EE strategy. However, there was an overall high perception of EE by 50.3% of the total respondents. Researchers, extension agents and farmers differed (F = 5.779; P < 0.05) in their perception of the use of EE for agricultural information dissemination. The overall favourable perception of use of EE for agricultural technology dissemination implies that if conscious efforts are made it offers a potent medium for agricultural information dissemination. Keywords: Entertainment-education, Perception, Agricultural information dissemination

Can Post Offices of Rural India be the Driver for Agricultural Technology Dissemination? Experiences of Action Research

Action research on validating the linkages with post offices in the dissemination of farm technology was done. Post offices and their personnel (50) at the district, block and villages levels in Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh, were contacted. Organizational analysis of Indian Postal Department helped identify the scope for entering into linkages for the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. Seeds of improved varieties were disseminated and different possible dissemination modes were experimented. The trend analysis of post office works showed sharp decline (about 50%) in the mail and delivery of ordinary post. Similarly, the sale of postal stamp and revenue stamp had declined to the same extent. The collaborative activities through tie-ups with other agencies like SBI, ICICI, mutual fund agencies, Oriental Insurance, etc. had increased (15-20%), which provided the opportunity for establishing linkages. Up to summer/zaid 2013, more than 1900 farmers under 18 post offices in five states covering 181 villages have been reached through this innovative technology dissemination model. The major crops included in the programme are wheat, paddy, pigeon pea, bajra, mustard, bottle gourd, pumpkin and okra. The farmer-to-farmer diffusion of improved variety of wheat was found to be 32 times of the total area originally covered by seed quantity disseminated through post offices. The cost sharing and capacity building of farmers and post office personnel were the other innovative interventions to make the linkages more successful. Based on the experiences and lessons learnt, future action plans have been suggested.

Factors influencing willingness to participate in multi-stakeholder platform by smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana: implication for research and development

Innovation platforms are established to facilitate open communication and collaboration among various actors usually within a value chain to promote collective resource management. The concept of innovation platform as a strategy of entry point for operationalization, validation and dissemination of agricultural technology have received much attention in recent times among researchers in Ghana. However, very limited information exists on the factors that influence willingness of farmers’ participation. The present study identified the factors influencing willingness to participate in innovation platform and also tested the level of agreement among the identified constraints associated with participation using the Probit model and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance respectively. Data for the study was collected from a cross sectional primary observations of 250 smallholder rice farmers in northern Ghana. The study observes, inter alia, that age of household head, household size and household income significantly influenced willingness to participate on the platform. The Kendall’s coefficient of concordance value indicated that there was 21 percent agreement between the rankings of the participation constraints faced by the sampled rice farmers. Income-earning and younger household heads must be targeted coupled with situation of the platforms close to smallholder farmers to encourage participation.

Effects of Social Network Structure on the Diffusion and Adoption of Agricultural Technology: Evidence from Rural Ethiopia

This paper investigates the effects of social network structure on the diffusion of agricultural technologies using household-level panel data from Ethiopia. We correct for possible biases due to the endogeneity of social networks using a social experiment in which we provide mobile phones to randomly selected households. We find that the diffusion of information on a complex technology is not promoted by simply knowing an extension agent but by knowing an agent that a particular household can rely on and by clustered networks in which most friends of the household are friends of each other.

Impact of households’ membership of farmer groups on the adoption of agricultural technologies in Uganda: Evidence from the Uganda Census of Agriculture 2008/09

ABSTRACTThis study examines the impact of the adoption of agricultural technologies by households that are members of farmers’ groups using the Uganda Census of Agriculture (UCA) of 2008/09. It employs the two-step control function approach to impact evaluation. Results show plausible evidence of the positive impact of households’ membership of farmers’ groups on the adoption of improved technologies, particularly in the adoption of techniques such as making use of improved seeds, organic fertilizer and improved livestock breeds. However, for farmers to start making use of inorganic fertilizer, the impact is insignificant unless the farmer decides to use both organic and inorganic fertilizers simultaneously. Farmer group participation and household retention in groups in Uganda should thus be encouraged and should be used as an avenue for the dissemination of agricultural technologies in Uganda.

ICTs as Enabler in the Dissemination of Agricultural Technologies: A Study in the East Akim District, Eastern Ghana

This study reports on the availability, use and information seeking behaviour of farming communities with specific reference to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Eastern Ghana. It fills a research gap by examining what people do with a medium when they have access to it, while also looking at barriers surrounding the use of ICTs arising due to differential access and capabilities. The study was conducted in the East Akim District of the Eastern Region of Ghana and sought insights into intentions and factors surrounding the use of various media by farmers. The study also threw more light on the socio-cultural context within which information seeking and use occurs in the district and tried to explain the reasons behind the use of ICT by farmers over other available sources. It was observed that accessing agriculture information by farmers through ICT’s was not popular and needed to be given a boost. The farmers mostly relied on friends and relatives, and other local sources for agricultural information and this has been a drawback to the adoption of agricultural technologies. The need for pragmatic measures to bring about the use ICT by farmers in seeking agricultural information was Short Research Article

Innovative Agricultural Technology Dissemination: Finding a New Use for Motor Tricycles

Aims: Even though screening of videos to create awareness about agricultural technologies may not be a novelty, adaptation of a motor tricycle for that purpose is an innovation. The study therefore, sought to identify the awareness creation technique that is most preferred by farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana, estimate the per unit cost of creating awareness using various techniques and as well, examine the socio-economic factors that are likely to influence farmers’ decision to patronize Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) video shows as an awareness creation technique. Study Design: Primary data collected through farmer interviews formed the basis for analysis in this study. Qualitative and quantitative data generated from the questionnaire administration included types and quality of awareness creation techniques utilized by farmers, farmers socioeconomic characteristics among others. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in eight districts in the Northern Original Research Article American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 4(11): , 2014 1289 Region of Ghana in September 2013. The eight districts fall naturally (based on culture) into two ethnic groups, which are the Dagombas and Gonjas. The groups (Dagbon and Gonja Land) formed two strata from which respondents were sampled for the study. Methodology: A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 322 farmers who were interviewed. Data collected and observations made were subjected to descriptive and logit statistical analysis as well as Friedman test in order to generate results for discussion. Results: The Friedman test indicates that on-farm demonstration (1.49) was unanimously ranked by the respondents as their most preferred method of receiving ISFM information. On-stage drama (3.0) and radio (3.0) were ranked as the least preferred methods of receiving information on ISFM technologies in Dagbon and Gonja Land respectively. Video show (2.81) was ranked by the respondents as the third most preferred method of receiving information on ISFM technologies. Use of video show and on-farm demonstration were respectively found to be the least and most expensive methods of disseminating ISFM technologies to farmers. Whereas it costs about 1 Ghana cedi (GH¢1.09) to screen an ISFM video to a farmer, it costs about thirty times (GH¢31.10) more to expose a farmer to ISFM by establishing and managing an on-farm demonstration. Results of the logit analysis indicates that being male (0.09), belonging to a relatively large household (0.02), not having access to extension (0.20) or being relatively young (0.01) are factors that are likely to positively influence farmers’ decision to patronize ISFM video shows. Conclusion and Recommendation: The study concludes that agricultural technology interventions should employ either on-farm demonstrations or video shows, especially when constrained to adopt only a single awareness creation technique. Projects that are cash constrained should opt for video shows by specifically relying on motor tricycle video vans in order to reduce cost. For maximum impact, female farmers, members of relatively small households and elderly farmers should be targeted. Future studies should focus on the effectiveness of different awareness creation techniques and their interactive effects.

Role of Mass Media in Dissemination of Agricultural Technology among the Farmers of Jaffarabad District of Balochistan

Agricultural extension is essentially a message delivery system organized to convey the latest findings ofagricultural research to farmers. Effective communication is therefore, the prime requirement in extension work. This study conducted during 2013 attempted to examine the role of mass media in dissemination of agricultural technology among the farmers of Jaffarabad district of Balochistan province of Pakistan. The results revealed majority of the respondents were male (80%), belonged to the age group of 31-40 years (45.35%), and with formal education of (31%). Information regarding agricultural farming revealed that three-fourth (75%) of the respondents owned personal land, medium size of farms (12.5-50.0 acres) were more common (52%). Majority (70.93%) of the respondents perceived that the sources of media used in the area are highly conventional. About two third (66.28%) of the respondents perceived that the sources of media for agricultural information was highly accessible. Relative majority of the respondents (40.70%) supposed to prefer listening to agricultural programs between 8 pm to 12.00 am; 33.72% respondents showed preference for listening to agricultural programs from 4.00 -8.00 pm. Majority (70.93%) of the respondents considered the information receiving through mass media is highly relevant in solving agriculture problems. Majority (41.86%) of the respondents reported infrastructural development due to agricultural information received through mass media and 22.09 percent found that agricultural information received through mass media was helpful in capacity building. Regarding major obstacles in receiving information, 31.40 percent respondents reported power failure, followed by high cost (24.42%), and poor signals (12.79%).

The collaboration pattern, trust relationship, and transferring and learning willingness: evidence of China's agribusiness and farmers

Agribusiness, as a representative of the private sector, has played an important role in agricultural technology diffusion. However, little research focuses on agricultural technology extension between private sector and farmers. In this paper, we try to explore the impact of collaboration pattern and trust on the learning willingness of the farmers and the agribusiness’s knowledge transfer intention. The survey and literature research methodology are employed. One hundred seventy six valid questionnaires were collected and OLS regression analysis is applied to answer whether collaboration pattern and trust have an impact on the learning willingness of the farmers and the agribusiness’s knowledge transfer intention. The findings show that the trust between the farmers and agribusiness impacts the learning willingness of the farmers and the enterprises’ knowledge transfer intention positively. The collaboration pattern affects the agribusiness’s knowledge transfer intention significantly. The tighter the cooperation between the farmers and agribusiness, the stronger the agribusiness’s knowledge transfers intention. The farmers’ learning willingness has no significant difference under different collaboration patterns.

아프리카의 농업기술보급체계와 농업기술협력 전략 -에티오피아와 우간다를 중심으로-

본 연구는 아프리카 지역의 농업기술보급체계를 진단하고, 보급체계의 발전방향 및 개발원조 전략을 제시함으로써 ODA(Official Development Assistance)를 통한 아프리카 농업기술전수의 효과성 제고에 기여하고자 한다. 기존의 대(對)아프리카 농업원조는 아프리카의 농업이 내포하고 있는 '다양성'과 '복잡성'의 가치를 간과한 채 진행되어 왔으며, 막대한 원조금액의 기대와 달리, 아프리카의 농업발전은 답보 상태에 놓여 있다. 본 연구는 농업기술보급체계 및 ODA사업 전략의 아프리카화(Africanization) 논의를 제기하고 있으며, 설문조사 일변도의 미시적 시각에서 나아가 사례국가별 농업기술보급체계의 거시적 특성을 분석하고 있다. 연구 결과, 사례국가의 기술보급체계는 조직과 기능에 따라 상이한 특성을 지니고 있으며, 이에 기술보급체계의 주체별 역할 세분화와 기능별 역량 분석 내용 또한 차별적으로 구성되었다. 에티오피아의 경우, 정부조직의 규모별로 하향식 농업기술보급체계가 구축되어 있으며, 전달체계의 최종행위자인 농민집단의 참여가 확대되고 있다. 그러나 여전히 기술전달을 통한 생산성 향상 등의 기능보다는 농가경영적인 측면에 치중되어 있어, 전달 기술의 효과적인 활용이 결여되어 있는 실정이다. 반면 우간다의 사례에서는 전 기관을 포괄하는 참여적 지도체계가 구축되어 있으나, 기술지도의 시급성에도 불구하고 지도 역할보다는 연구 기능의 확대에 투자가 집중되어 있음이 규명되었다. 상기 연구결과는 현 농업기술보급체계의 개선과 이를 토대로 한 농업기술전수사업의 수행이 아프리카 농업 농촌 ODA사업의 효과성 제고와 농업침체의 문제를 해결하기 위한 필요조건임을 논증하고 있다. The purpose of the present study is to improve the effectiveness of Korea's ODA projects on agricultural technology transfer to Africa. This study investigates agricultural extension system of African countries and provides a direction of the systematic strategies of the Korean ODAs on agricultural technology. This study pays particular attention on Africanization of agricultural technology transfer of the Korean ODA strategies. Unlike the previous studies focusing mainly on micro level investigation on the ODA strategy development, the present study incorporates the agricultural technology dissemination system of Ethiopia and Uganda in a macro perspective to develop a desirable form of the ODA strategy. The findings illustrate that the technology dissemination systems of the case countries have different characteristics depending on the function and organization of extension agency. And their functional capability and role segmentation by the extension agency are differently configured, too. In case of Ethiopia, top-down structure for the agricultural extension system has been built. Farmers' group and field agent of the information delivery system has expanded their participation into the system. However, we also find that the system of Ethiopia still lacks effective use of its existing technology, since it puts more emphasis on management aspects than improvement of agricultural productivity for farmers. On the other hand, even though Uganda has established participatory extension system that encompasses the entire agencies of the extension system, government efforts to enhance the extension system are still concentrated on expanding research functions rather than technical dissemination. The results imply that promoting and strengthening localization of the ODA strategy has to be developed to make localization policy of the Korean ODA. The present study concludes with some specific policy implications for necessary conditions of the agricultural development in African countries.

Tillage systems on annual crops in Brazil: figures from the 2006 Agricultural Census

As informações sobre a área em plantio direto no Brasil nos últimos 30 anos foram baseadas exclusivamente em estimativas realizadas pela Federação Brasileira de Plantio Direto na Palha (FEBRAPDP), utilizando dados secundários da EMATER-RS/ASCAR, da Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária e Extensão Rural de Santa Catarina (EPAGRI), do Instituto Paranaense de Assistência Técnica e Extensão Rural (EMATER-PR), da Coordenadoria de Assistência Técnica Integral (CATI-SP), da FUNDAÇÃO MS e da Associação de Plantio Direto no Cerrado (APDC). No entanto, com a publicação do Censo Agropecuário de 2006, do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), em 2009, informações mais precisas foram disponibilizadas sobre a utilização desse sistema e de outros tipos de preparo de solo nas lavouras temporárias no Brasil. Enquanto a estimativa dava conta da existência de 25,6 milhões de hectares de plantio direto na palha no Brasil em 2006, o presente estudo indica que, para o mesmo ano, de acordo com tabulações avançadas do Censo Agropecuário, tal área era de 17,8 milhões de ha. Ainda pelo Censo Agropecuário 2006, foram totalizados 3,8 milhões de ha em cultivo mínimo, 3,1 milhões de ha em sistemas mistos de cultivo mínimo e preparo convencional e 11,8 milhões de ha em preparo convencional, nos 36,6 milhões de ha de lavouras temporárias no país.

Agricultural Technology Diffusion in a Post-Conflict Setting: Evidence from an Experimental Study in Eastern Turkey

This paper considers the impact of an agricultural extension program, The Ozyegin Rural Development Program, implemented in eastern Turkey, on rates of agricultural technology adoption. Using a uniquely designed experimental panel survey collected in treatment and control villages before and after program implementation, the paper analyses the heterogeneous impact of this agricultural extension program, on the adoption rates of different groups in the villages. The main results in the paper are consistent with the predictions of the model presented, whereby in the early stages of adoption, the existence of the agricultural extension program increases the adoption rates in the villages significantly for all households: treatment is associated with an increase in the rate of adoption of inoculation of fruit trees by 26.2-31.4 percentage points depending on the empirical specification. The paper also finds evidence for the inclusiveness'' of the NGOs efforts by looking at the heterogeneous impact of the program of adoption rates of the groups using various economic and political exclusion criteria. the paper also considers the role of social networks in access to information and rates of adoption of new technologies and finds that even in the presence of inclusive policies that reach out to economically or politically vulnerable sub-sections in the villages, those who do not have many social interactions with the rest of the village community may remain excluded from the benefits of the program.

Linking research institute with post offices for dissemination of agricultural technologies: an action research

Action research on establishing linkages with post office in dissemination of agricultural technology was conducted. In the first phase of the study, the post offices and their personnel (n=50) at district, block and villages levels in the district of Sitapur of Uttar Pradesh were contacted to explore the linkage possibility. The trend analysis of post office works showed that during last 10 years (since the popularization of mobile phone), there was sharp decline (about 50%) in the mail and delivery of ordinary post. Similarly, the sale of postal stamp and revenue stamp had declined to the same extent. However, the collaborative activities and tie-up with other agencies like bank, investment agency, insurance departments, etc had increased (15–20%) considerably which was the opportunity for establishing linkage. The major possible linkage activities as felt by the post office personnel was dissemination of quality seed and related package of practices of IARI. Based on the findings of first phase, up to rabi 2011–12, 1 014 farmers under seven post offices in two blocks namely Sidhauli and Kasmanda covering 30 villages were reached through this approach. The major crops included in the programme are wheat, paddy, pigeonpea, bajra, mustard, bottle gourd, pumpkin and okra. It was observed that more than 90% of the farmers received the seed of above crops sent through post office within 4–6 days of despatch from IARI. With a particular case of wheat, total 780 kg seed of IARI wheat varieties (HD 2733 and HD 2824) was sent by post to the farmers of the study area during rabi 2009–10. Survey was conducted with the identified farmers (n=200) to analyse the feedback of the farmers regarding IARI seeds, seed sending mechanism and related issues. The performance of IARI crop variety was found superior as compared to prevailing popular varieties. Farmers as well as village post office personnel found this approach very effective and successful means for making the improved agricultural technologies available in the rural areas in relatively lesser time and cost. The economic viability of this approach was found superior for low volume-high value crops than high volume crops. Capacity building of farmers and post office personnel was done to enhance their level of agricultural knowledge; and cost sharing for high volume crops further helped to improve the sustainability dimension of this approach. Based on the findings, empirical model was emanated.

Effectiveness of development agents performances in agricultural technology dissemination: The case of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS), Ethiopia

Although the Government of Ethiopia has developed a grand Five-Year Growth and Transformation Plan (FYGTP) for economic development, aspiring to achieve a middle income country status by the year 2025 through a transformation of the economy of the agriculture led industry, the shift of focus in the role of development from agriculture to industrialization has not altered the objective of enhancing agricultural production and productivity. To this end, the agricultural extension service which is determined by its institutional effectiveness and competency of the development agents (DAs) at field has pivotal role to derive the transformation process. This study was based on data collected from 108 DAs in SNNPR from 12 Woredas using structured questionnaire. Results indicated that manmade and natural factors are affecting the DAs effectiveness on their job performance. The challenges were found to have three categories, namely DAs capacity based challenges, farmer based constraints and infrastructure/ service based constraints. On the job training that would build the knowledge, skill and commitment level of the expertise and improve the working environment of DAs including availability of logistics, incentives in kind and promotion is recommended. Key words: Development agent, effectiveness, performance, technology dissemination.

Analysis of Communication and Dissemination Channels Influencing the Adoption of Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Western Kenya

Purpose: The following study was carried out to evaluate the socio-economic factors influencing access to Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) information and knowledge among farmers in western Kenya, and subsequent ISFM uptake with a view to assessing communication gaps. Design/Methodology/Approach: Structured questionnaires were administered to 120 farmers from Vihiga and Siaya districts. In Vihiga, farmers were sampled in a systematic random manner from farmer groups lists, whereas in Siaya, farmers were selected based on randomly selected diagnostic trial sites of the Africa Soil Information Service (AfSIS) project. Findings: Community-based and mass media channels were found to be significantly advantageous to farmers. Farmers’ preferred information sources and channels included own experiences, farmer field days and farmer groups, respectively. A probit regression model indicated that off-farm income, education level, distance from nearest information centre, livestock value, and district of residence were the socio-economic variables that significantly influenced farmer access to ISFM information and knowledge, and subsequent uptake. In conclusion, farmer field days and farmer groups should be promoted as vehicles for agricultural information communication and dissemination. Practical Implications: The study has practical implications for dissemination of agricultural technologies, especially in small-holder farming regions, characterized by high poverty and poor infrastructure. Originality/Value: The study is original because channels for communication and dissemination of ISFM technologies are poorly documented or non-existent in western Kenya, and in most small-holder farming systems in Africa. The adoption behaviour of ISFM technologies in relation to socio-economic factors by farmers is still poorly understood.

Marginal revenue of land and total factor productivity in Chinese agriculture: Evidence from spatial analysis

This paper attempts to explore the temporal and spatial nature of the marginal revenue of land, total factor productivity (TFP) change and its three components: technical change (TC), technical efficiency change (TEC) and scale efficiency change (SEC) as seen in Chinese agricultural production from 1995 to 1999. Based on county-level data, the study utilized both stochastic frontier and mapping analyses methods. The results show that growth in the marginal revenue of land was diverse across various regions, where most gain occurred in eastern coastal zone, while loss was in Northwest and North China. China has experienced moderate decreases in annual TFP change (-0.26%) with considerable regional variations. Specifically, the administrative intervention in grain production and the deterioration of the agricultural technology diffusion system led to a moderate drop in annual TFP change. County-level mapping analyses took into account interregional variances in TFP and its components. Regarding components of TFP, TEC differences explain the majority of regional dispersions in TFP. As developed areas in China, the Huang-Huai-Hai region and the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan economic zone face the challenges of land conversion and grain security amidst the process of urbanization.

Does social capital build women's assets? The long-term impacts of group-based and individual dissemination of agricultural technology in Bangladesh

This paper investigates the long-term impact of agricultural technologies, disseminated using different implementation modalities on men's and women's asset accumulation in rural Bangladesh. Panel data spanning a 10-year period are used to examine the effects of the adoption of new vegetable varieties and polyculture fish pond management technologies on household resource allocation, incomes, and nutrition. A difference-in-differences model combined with nearest-neighbour matching is used to compare changes in husbands and wives' assets within the same household. The results show women's assets increase more relative to men's when technologies are disseminated through women's groups, suggesting that implementation modalities are important in determining the gendered impact of new technologies. These findings are robust to controls for unobserved household-level characteristics. These results suggest that social capital, as embodied through women's groups, not only serves as a substitute for physical assets in the short run, but helps to build up women's asset portfolios in the long run.

Modelling the faddish, fashionable and efficient diffusion of agricultural technologies: A case study of the diffusion of wool testing technology in Australia

This study investigates the nature of innovation diffusion in an agricultural context. The dominant agricultural diffusion models assume that an economically rational choice is made to adopt or reject agricultural technologies. However, recent studies of agricultural innovation highlight the ‘irrational’ and potentially ‘inefficient’ nature of the diffusion in this context. To investigate how and why agricultural technologies are adopted or rejected, we examine the diffusion of wool testing technologies in the Australian wool industry using the Bass diffusion model and Abrahamson's diffusion and rejection typology. The results show that diffusion of agricultural innovation is not simply an efficient choice made to close observable performance gaps. The findings suggest that the adoption of inefficient innovations and the rejection of efficient innovations can be driven by an adopter's social context, powerful external influences and imitation within an adopter group and that these drivers change over time, suggesting an evolutionary social process underlies the diffusion of agricultural technologies.

The Role of Neighborhood Effects on Agricultural Technology Diffusion: The Case of Crossbred “Aigamo” Duck Farming Technology in Japan

The Role of Neighborhood Effects on Agricultural Technology Diffusion: The Case of Crossbred “Aigamo” Duck Farming Technology in Japan

Comparing Farmer-to-Farmer Video with Workshops to Train Rural Women in Improved Rice Parboiling in Central Benin

This article deals with the comparison of the conventional training based on two day community workshops and farmer-to-farmer video used as methodologies for the dissemination of improved rice parboiling process in Benin. From November 2007 to May 2008, we interviewed 160 women and 17 women groups who had been exposed to both, one or other of the methodologies. Data were analysed using ANOVA and logistic binomial regressions. Video reached more women (74%) than conventional training (27%). The conventional training was biased by participant selection, stakes in per diem payment and monopoly by the elite class. Video helped to overcome local power structures and reduced conflict at the community level. More than 95% of those who watched the video adopted drying their rice on tarpaulins and removed their shoes before stirring the rice, compared to about 50% of those who received traditional training and did not watch the video. Group use of the improved equipment was significantly higher for those who watched the video (p< 0.05). By 2009, the various rice videos had been translated into over 30 African languages by Africa Rice Centre (Africa Rice) partners and involved 500 organizations and over 130,000 farmers. This study helps to give a better understanding of the role that farmer-to-farmer video could play in agricultural extension. This comparative analysis is an opportunity for a better understanding of how farmer-to-farmer video improves farmers’ practices and attitudes in agricultural technology dissemination.