Farmer Field Schools Research Articles

Survey on farm practices of small-scale vegetable farmers in the Southern Philippines

This study aims to survey the farm practices of small scale vegetable farmers, evaluate gender roles in farming and assess the changes in farm income of farmers engaged in integrated crop management. The respondents of the study include randomly selected small-scale vegetable farmers trained under the farmer field school (FFS) in Bohol, Leyte and Samar. Randomly selected non-FFS farmers serve as control group. Information on farm practices between non-FFS and FFS respondents are used in determining the changes in farm outcomes. Results show that FFS and non-FFS farmers mostly planted eggplant, bitter gourd, beans, sweet pepper, pechay, squash, tomato and okra. The farm areas of surveyed respondents are mostly located around 10 kilometers away from their primary market with an approximate traveling time of half an hour. During the baseline survey, FFS farmers indicated that they are mostly unsatisfied with their current vegetable production in contrast to non-FFS farmers who expressed satisfaction with their current production. However, in the follow-up survey FFS group expressed relatively higher optimism than non-FFS group in terms of their vegetable production suggesting that the project interventions were able to encourage small scale farmers to incorporate necessary improvements in their practices. For gender roles in vegetable production, men are into labor intensive tasks while women focus mostly on record keeping and monitoring sales of vegetables. Lastly, employing the method of difference in difference shows that impact of farmer field school on integrated crop management increases vegetable farm income by around PHP4,300.00 per year per farm.

Junior Farmer Field Schools, Agricultural Knowledge and Spillover Effects: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from Northern Uganda

We analyse the impact of a junior farmer field school project in Northern Uganda on students’ agricultural knowledge and practices. We also test for the presence of intergenerational learning spillover within households. We use differences-in-differences estimators with ex-ante matching and find evidence that the programme had positive effects on students’ agricultural knowledge and adoption of good practices. The project also produced spillover effects in terms of improvements of household agricultural knowledge and food security. Overall, our results point to the importance of adapting the basic principles of farmer field schools to children.

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN NEPAL: EXPERIENCES AND ISSUES

A detail study on the experience of agricultural extension in Nepal was done by discussion with experts, academicians and involved agricultural officers of Nepal along with review of different documents, books and articles on the subject matter. Since from the first effort of extension service, Training and visit, Integrated Rural Development Approach, Tuki Approach, Farming System Research and Extension Approach, Block Production Program were the approaches used in the past. Conventional Educational Approach, Pocket Package Approach, Projectization Approach, Farmers Group Approach, Farmers Field School Approach, Partnership Approach are the approaches being followed presently in agricultural extension in Nepal. The extension efforts in the country are guided by the National Agricultural Extension Strategy. Department of agriculture under ministry of agricultural development is responsible for providing public extension service via District Agriculture Development Office (DADO), Agriculture Service Centre, Contact Centre, Model Agriculture Service Centre and Community Agriculture Service Centre at the farmers level. Farmers Group and cooperatives, International and National Nongovernmental organizations, Community Based Organizations and few private entities are providing the private extension services. major issues found in public extension systems are lack of motivation among the rural youths, farmers; natural resource degradation and climate change and sustainability issues; inadequate number of the extension workers and their qualification and skills; inadequate infrastructure and capacity for use of ICTs among the ground level extension workers; lack of monitoring and assessment of impact of extension activities in rural farmers; low level of need based extension coverage particularly for small farmers; ineffective and weak linkages between stakeholders at different levels; low level of education of farmers; insufficient budget and investment for extension activities; domination of supply driven approaches rather than demand driven; inadequate extension services in parts of value addition and market exposure.

Farmer field school’s training on knowledge level of citrus growers regarding improved production practices

ABSTRACT: The major objective of this paper was to assess the impact of the Farmer field school (FFS) training program on the knowledge level of farmers (citrus growers) regarding improved citrus production practices. Distract Sargodha was the targeted research area for this study being the leading producer of citrus in Pakistan. Quantitative data were collected through interview schedule and analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). It was conclude that young people were more tend towards getting training under FFS program than old age farmers. Educated farmers were in majority in FFS farmers while; conversely illiterate farmers were in majority in the category of non-FFs farmers. In category of FFS farmers livestock farming was their primary income as reported by majority (31.3%) of FFS farmers and in the case of non-FFS farmer’s crop sale was their primary income source as reported by 28.4% of non-FFs farmers. In addition to that both FFS and non-FFS farmers also earn income from nonfarm sources like business, job, foreign remittances and labour. FFS training program had positive and significant impact on the knowledge level of farmers regarding citrus production and protection practices. T-test statistics showed highly significant (P<0.05) difference in knowledge level of FFS farmers and non-FFS farmers.

Design and development of a digital farmer field school. Experiences with a digital learning environment for cocoa production and certification in Sierra Leone

This article reports on the design and development of the Digital Farmer Field School (DFFS). The DFFS offers a tablet-based digital learning environment for farmers and extension agents for knowledge sharing and knowledge co-creation. It provides an alternative to conventional agricultural extension training and monitoring. The prototype DFFS applies Farmer Field School (FFS) learning principles and is designed and developed following user experience (UX) design principles and user interface (UI) design principles from a responsible innovation perspective, using existing FFS material and tailored films which support and enrich the content. The prototype DFFS has been tested in Sierra Leone to assess its success in providing a substitute for face-to-face voluntary sustainability standard certification training for cocoa farmers. Results show that the DFFS as an off-line, telephonically connected and regular on-line updated learning platform offers an appropriate environment in which collective and individual learning is stimulated and facilitated. The DFFS prototype was socio-culturally and technologically appropriate and fitted the operational and strategic communication skills of cocoa farmers and other value chain stakeholders. Films capturing the testing are available as additional learning media.

Impact of Farmer Field Schools in Rwanda

Impact of Farmer Field Schools in Rwanda

Survey of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Practice in Vegetable Crops of Rupandehi District, Western Nepal

In the present study, documentation of farmer’s knowledge on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was carried out in Rupandehi district during the year 2016. The objective of this paper is to assess the knowledge of farmers about IPM and its effectiveness in this district. It was carried out by conducting semi-structured interview with the participants of IPM FFS, vegetable growing farmers, stakeholders and local people with the help of standard questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and key informant interview. The IPM program is found to be conducted by an international non-government organization viz. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and government organizations viz. Plant Protection Directorate (PPD), Agronomy Development Directorate (ADD) and District Agriculture Development Organization (DADO) through Farmer’s Field School (FFS) in this district. In total forty IPM FFS was conducted from 1998 to 2015 which provided training about IPM in rice and vegetable crops to 1057 farmers in which 393 were male and 664 female. Although a significant difference has been found in the knowledge about the amount of pesticide used, biological method of pest control for IPM by FFS participant and nonparticipant farmers, it is not observed in their behavior during the cultivation of crops in the farm. The result showed that only 5% of participants of Farmer’s Field School (FFS) are following IPM practices in their own farm after taking training. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(2): 237-242

Promoting Lifelong Learning and Satisfying Farmers' Social and Psychological Needs Through Farmer Field Schools: Views From Rural Greece

ABSTRACTFarmer field schools (FFS) represent an alternative lifelong learning approach aimed at enhancing farmers' competences and skills through nonformal education. In this study we examined if farmers' participation in FFS is motivated by their social-psychological needs and whether these needs can be fulfilled through participation in FFS. Findings revealed that the possibility to participate in FFS is higher for farmers who experience lower levels of closeness and connectedness with their community peers and for those who score low on belongingness satisfaction. Furthermore, our analysis confirmed that FFS attendance increases felt community acceptance and facilitates the satisfaction of the belongingness need.

Utilization Pattern of Extension Tools and Methods by Agricultural Extension Agents

A study was conducted in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu state to understand the utilization pattern of extension tools and methods by the agricultural extension agents. As ICT revolution is slowly conquering the rural sector, it becomes imperative that the agricultural extension agents transform themselves to the changing times and develop competencies in utilizing these ICTs. The study explored the usage of various extension tools and methods by the change agents and the constraints faced in utilizing them. The findings revealed that the extension functionaries frequently used the individual contact methods viz., telephone, office calls and farm and home visits in the process of transfer of technology. Least efforts were shown in sending SMS based communication. Meetings were the common and frequently adopted group contact method. Demonstrations, farmer field school, farmer’s interest groups, field trips and farmer training programmes were moderately adopted. Posters, leaflets and pre-season campaigns were the widely adopted mass contact methods. They possess least skill in utilizing farm magazines, presenting television and radio programmes, which are among the most popular and most efficient mass contact methods. The extension functionaries need to be trained adequately on the wider use of electronic communication methods like e mails, and SMS in the local language. Efforts should be taken up to sensitize the importance and train the extension agents in the usage of different group and mass contact methods.

English

Farmer Field Schools (FFS) can empower farmers through meetings at demonstration sites to promote agricultural production because of discovery learning. This study empirically investigated the FFS’s diffusion of knowledge and its impact on the smallholder farmer’s adaptation to climate change in Kiboga district characterised by low rainfall pattern. A cross-sectional research design was adopted where a total of 120 FFS-members and 60 non-FFS-members were randomly selected and interview using a validated household survey questionnaire. Data was analysed through descriptive statistics and Chi-test (2) to the relationship between the FFS and the member’s adaptation to climate change. The findings revealed that drought, hailstorms, changes in onset and cessation of seasons were the main seasonal manifestations of climate change experienced in the district. The FFS majorly diffused adaptation knowledge and skills through establishment of comparative studies (28%); establishment of commercial enterprises (21%) and training of the members (18%); distribution of inputs to the FFS (10), examination of performances of distributed inputs (8%), FFS exchange-visits (6%), graduation of FFS members (4%), field days (3%) and integration of village savings into FFS (2%) throughout the seasonal calendar.The FFS-members aggressively adapted to the manifestations of climate change through the application of micro-irrigation, early planting, mulching, seed multiplication, the sale of livestock, construction of barns and planting of drought-tolerant crop and pasture varieties during the eventualities on their farmlands. The FFS significantly contributed to the adaptation to climate change (drought and shifts in seasons) by the smallholder farmers (p<0.05) throughout the season in the study area.The FFS enabled the farmers to validate and adopt new technologies in their fields that were a success. The FFS-members increased their innovations and use of local resources in adaptation to climate change. The FFS’s promotion of adaptation options to climate change improves the farmer’s seasonal food security status. Key words: Climate change, farmer field schools, smallholder farmers, diffusion.

Maximizing farm-level uptake and diffusion of biological control innovations in today’s digital era

When anthropologists interviewed Honduran and Nepali smallholders in the mid-1990s, they were told that “Insects are a terrible mistake in God’s creation” and “There’s nothing that kills them, except for insecticides”. Even growers who maintained a close bond with nature were either entirely unaware of natural pest control, or expressed doubt about the actual value of these services on their farm. Farmers’ knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards pests and natural enemies are of paramount importance to the practice of biological control, but are all too often disregarded. In this study, we conduct a retrospective analysis of the extent to which social science facets have been incorporated into biological control research over the past 25 years. Next, we critically examine various biological control forms, concepts and technologies using a ‘diffusion of innovations’ framework, and identify elements that hamper their diffusion and farm-level uptake. Lastly, we introduce effective observation-based learning strategies, such as farmer field schools to promote biological control, and list how those participatory approaches can be further enriched with information and communication technologies (ICT). Although biological control scientists have made substantial technological progress and generate nearly 1000 papers annually, only a fraction (1.4%) of those address social science or technology transfer aspects. To ease obstacles to enhanced farmer learning about biological control, we describe ways to communicate biological control concepts and technologies for four divergent agricultural knowledge systems (as identified within a matrix built around ‘cultural importance’ and ‘ease of observation’). Furthermore, we describe how biological control innovations suffer a number of notable shortcomings that hamper their farm-level adoption and subsequent diffusion, and point at ways to remediate those by tactical communication campaigns or customized, (ICT-based) adult education programs. Amongst others, we outline how video, smart phones, or tablets can be used to convey key ecological concepts and biocontrol technologies, and facilitate social learning. In today’s digital era, cross-disciplinary science and deliberate multi-stakeholder engagement will provide biocontrol advocates the necessary means to bolster farmer adoption rates, counter-act surging insecticide use, and restore public trust in one of nature’s prime services.

Review of the agricultural extension modes and services with the focus to Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract This review paper is based on secondary information. It presents the external (policy, technical assistance, public institutions and the private sector) and internal (institutional structures, objectives/programmes) factors that impact on agriculture development in general in developing countries with special focus on Pakistan. The contents carry the literatures that deal with such factors, starting with discussion on the comprehensive analysis of the role of extension services accompanied by its pros and cons, as well as the meager agricultural services in developing countries. This is followed by concrete discussions and the analysis of different approaches/modes of the extension services adopted/implemented worldwide; such as, Training and Visit Approach, Transfer of Technology (ToT), the Farmer Field School approach, and finally, the roles of agricultural research and extension services in promoting sustainable agriculture development. There was a great difference between extension policy and practice in the study area; therefore, there an emerging need to effectively implement policy (2004) providing the required facilities such as, adequate budget, trained extension officials, logistic/transportation facility, trainings, field unit office and to ensure farmers’ participation in problem-solving ( Table 3 ). The old policy of requiring farmers to visit extension agents may need to be changed in order to improve farmers’ access to extension services, particularly in rural areas where public transportation is not easily available. Following the principles of participatory extension services, the new policy needs to be effectively implemented in order to require extension officials to work in cooperation with the farmers. Agricultural extension policy needs to be revamped and then effectively implemented according to the farmers’ needs and problems encountered. The blueprint decentralized extension policy needs to be effectively implemented.

Knowledge and adoption of SRI method paddy growers

The present study was undertaken in Dharwad and Kalaghatgi talukas of Dharwad district of Karnataka state having large area under cultivation of paddy, from selected talukas the list of villages was prepared and five villages from each taluka were selected on the basis of highest area under paddy crop. From selected villages, the list of farmers was prepared village wise and 15 farmers from each villages were selected by random sampling technique. Total 150 respondents were selected for the study. The data were collected by personal interview. Based on the finding of the study majority of the respondents were having medium level of knowledge, followed by high level and low level of knowledge. While in case of adoption, that majority of the respondents had medium level of adoption, followed by high and low level of adoption. Among various personal, socio-economic profile characteristics of the respondents, education, land holding, area under SRI method, family income, social participation, mass participation, had highly significant relationship with at 5 per cent level of adoption whereas experience in SRI method, innovative proneness, risk orientation, extension contact, participation in training, cosmopoliteness, farmers field school, had highly and positively significant relationship with at 1 per cent level of adoption whereas only age had non-significant relationship with the knowledge and adoption of SRI method paddy growers.

Women's Empowerment, Prevention of Malnutrition in Children under 2 Approach, and Agricultural Interventions Improved Household Dietary Diversity and Household Food Insecurity in South Kivu, DR Congo

BackgroundFood insecurity remains a major factor contributing to poor nutritional status of many populations, but approaches to improving household food insecurity have not been widely evaluated, especially in severely food insecure settings.ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness of a US Agency for International Development Office of Food for Peace‐funded multi‐year assistance program (Jenga Jamaa II) in improving indicators of household food security.MethodsThe study enrolled 1,820 households. The intervention groups were Women's Empowerment Groups (WEG), Prevention of Malnutrition in Children under 2 Approach (PM2A), Farmer Field Schools (FFS), and the Farmer to Farmer approach (F2F). The interventions were implemented by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Uvira and Fizi territories, South Kivu, DR Congo. The indicators assessed were Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) (the number of food groups consumed by members of the household in the previous day, range 0–12), achieving Target Household Dietary Diversity (consumption of > 4 food groups the previous day), and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) score (range 0–27, higher scores indicating greater food insecurity). An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) approach was used to estimate differences between intervention groups and a control group at the end of the study, adjusting for baseline values of each indicator, geographic territory, and agricultural zone. The adjusted prevalence of achieving Target HDDS at the end of the study was estimated separately for each group, and compared to the control group using a doubly‐robust weighted least squares estimator approach.ResultsData were available from 1,479 (81.2%) households. Mean HDDS was significantly greater than the control group for three of the intervention groups: WEG (0.72, 95% CI: 0.36–1.08), PM2A (0.78, 95% CI: 0.43–1.13), and FFS (0.80, 95% CI: 0.45–1.15), p<0.001 for all. The adjusted difference in prevalence of achieving target HDDS compared to the control group was 14.9% for WEG (95% CI; 6.6–23.1%), 20.0% for PM2A (95% CI: 12.0–28.0%), and 20.2% for FFS (95% CI: 12.2–28.2%), p<0.001 for all. HFIAS score was lower for all intervention groups compared to the control group, indicating less food insecurity: WEG (−3.91, 95% CI: −4.85–−2.98), PM2A (−3.87, 95% CI: −4.78–−2.96), FFS (−4.39, 95% CI: −5.31–−3.48), and F2F (−1.83, 95% CI: −2.77– −0.89), p<0.001 for all.ConclusionWomen's Empowerment, PM2A, and Farmer Field School interventions had a significant effect on improving household dietary diversity and food security. The Farmer to Farmer approach was less effective compared to the other interventions but did reduce food insecurity compared to the control group.Support or Funding InformationThe parent study was funded by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency. This funding was made available through a USAID Office of Food for Peace Cooperative Agreement (AID‐FFP‐A‐11‐00006).

Conservation agriculture and sustainable development in Africa: insights from Tanzania

In recent years, conservation agriculture (CA) has been increasingly promoted as the best solution to sustainable agricultural development in Africa. Proponents argue that it offers increased yields, reduced labour requirements, improved soil fertility and climate mitigation benefits. At the same time, a growing number of scholars have questioned its promises, impacts and applicability to small, resource‐poor African farmers. To add to the debate, this paper draws on fieldwork from two case study villages in the Lindi region of Tanzania. It scrutinizes CA farmer field schools’ performances, the impact on villagers’ perceptions of core principles and socio‐economic/institutional constraints related to its adoption. It demonstrates how farmer field schools failed to meet initial expectations because of challenges associated with economic benefits, labour demand, availability and accessibility of inputs, infrastructure, governance, and stakeholder relations. It argues that the applicability to and adoption of CA depends on the transformation of individual perceptions as well as structural constraints, including credit facilities, markets for inputs, infrastructure and availability of labour, which has long been a limitation of donor‐initiated programmes. Under constraining socio‐economic and institutional conditions, questions continue to loom large over the long‐term applicability of CA to African smallholder farmers.

Experience with the system of rice intensification for sustainable rainfed paddy farming systems in India

ABSTRACTPrinciples of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), an agroecological methodology for improving rice crop performance, were introduced in the Dharwad district of Karnataka, India, in 2008 by an NGO wanting to improve the sustainability of rainfed paddy-farming systems. Farmer field schools enabled 82 farmers to adopt and adapt SRI practices in the initial season. SRI’s alternative practices were found to contribute to healthier roots and more productive tillers, the average number of tillers per plant on farmers’ SRI and control plots being 19 and 7, respectively. SRI was found to require 87% less seed than with traditional methods; yet, it gave 40% more yield per unit area in a drought year. The economic returns per hectare were 76% greater. There was some early evidence of soil-fertility improvement, but this can only be assessed over longer periods of time. Three years after introduction, over 3,000 farmers had continued adopting SRI practices in the district. In another 3 years, the number using these new methods had reached almost 29,000 in Dharwad and neighboring districts.

Energy balance in IPM rice farms compared to conventional farms

Abstract Integrated Pest Management based on Farmer Field Schools (IPM/FFS) is a program aimed to guide farmers toward managing agricultural pests in an environmentally responsible manner. This program has been in practice during the recent decade in the north of Iran. A study was conducted to evaluate the overall impacts of IPM/FFS program on energy balance and economic revenue of paddy ( Oryza sativa L.) farms compared with conventional farms (no IPM). The data of inputs, management practices, and output (yield) of 238 paddy farms (135 IPM farms and 103 conventional farms) located in a semi-Mediterranean climate were collected in 2010 and 2011. Total energy input, energy output, energy efficiency, and energy productivity were determined as indicators of energy balance. The total energy requirement for paddy production in IPM system was 48756 MJ ha −1 , indicating that 8% more energy was used in IPM farms than that in conventional farms. It was noticed that IPM program in this region failed to reduce the consumption of chemical pesticides in paddy farms and the conventional system was more energy efficient than IPM system. Although paddy yield of the two systems was similar, the economic net return in IPM system was almost 20% higher than the conventional system due to the higher price of paddy produced in IPM system.

Participatory potato seed production: a breakthrough for food security and income generation in the central highlands of Ethiopia

AbstractQuality seed is one of the major bottlenecks hampering the production and productivity of potato not only in Ethiopia but also in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since the 1970’s, the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research has generated a number of improved potato production technologies such as improved varieties with accompanying agronomic practices, crop protection measures, postharvest handling techniques and utilization options. The developed technologies were promoted from 2013-2015 via technology promotion and popularization to the Wolmera, Adea-Bera and Ejere districts with the objective of creating awareness and up scaling of improved potato production and utilization technologies. The Potato Improvement Research Program and the Research and Extension Division of Holetta Research Center in collaboration with extension staff of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) undertake this activity. The farmers were selected and organized in Farmer Field Schools and all stakeholders were engaged before distributing potato seeds and planting on selected farmers’ fields for demonstrating of potato production technologies. A total of 899 farmers and 40 agricultural experts were trained and 27.7, 9 and 5.5 tons of quality seeds of Gudanie, Jalenie and Belete potato varieties, respectively, were delivered as a revolving seed with their recommended agronomic packages; this amount of seed covered 21.1 ha. A total of 16 farmer groups from Wolmera, 7 from Adea-Berga, and 11 from Ejere participated. They produced over 434 tons of relatively clean seed and constructed 8 diffused light stores. In addition to the demonstration of improved potato varieties, information dissemination was also an important component of the program to raise awareness for a large numbers of potato growers through farmers’ field days, pamphlets, and mass media. Each year about three field days were organized and more than 1500 pamphlets were distributed to farmers invited from neighboring districts and ‘Kebeles’ to enhance speed. Through this intervention farmers are now harvesting a yield of about 26-34 t/ha up from 8t/ha when they were using inferior quality potato seed; this has made the farmers in the intervention area more food secure especially during the usually food scarce months of August to October when cereal crops are generally yet to mature. The farmers are also getting additional income from the sale of excess potato and are able to better meet other necessary costs like school fees, for their children.

A Critical Analysis of Farmers Field School on Nutrient Management, Processing and Value Addition in Little Millet in Tumakuru District of Karnataka, India

A Critical Analysis of Farmers Field School on Nutrient Management, Processing and Value Addition in Little Millet in Tumakuru District of Karnataka, India

Formal and informal seed potato supply systems analysis in Rwanda

Potato production in Rwanda is constantly increasing and represents an important food and cash source for farmers. The potato crop together with maize, wheat, rice, beans and cassava is one of the six priorities crops on which the Crop intensification Program(CIP) is focusing since 2007. Its production is mainly located at high altitudes in the Northern and Western provinces. The Nyabihu, Musanze, Rubavu and Burera districts, due to their favorableclimatic conditions, are the 4 most productive districts,accountingforabout 60% of the national potato production. However, because of the low quality seed use by farmers andlow soilhealth, yields remain low with 11.6 t/ha. The aim of the study was to understand the current situation ofthe formal and informal potato seed supply systemin Rwanda.The study was conductedin the Nyabihu, Musanze, Rubavu and Burera districts from the end of June to the end of September 2016. In order to gather agronomic and socio-economic information,qualitative and quantitative data were collected using 3 social science instruments: formal-informal interviews and expert interviews. Currently, the private sector is the principal actor involved in mini-tubersproduction having a market share of 71%,while the public one has a 29% share. The actual mini-tubersproduction could cover between 13% to30% of the actual Rwandan national demand. However, due to a potato seed leak along the certification process and to a lack of actors who multiplylower seed categories into upper ones, the same figure is not reflected into the actual production of certified seed, which represents5% of the national required demand. Potato cultivation representsthe largest household income source for the sectors with the highest potatoes production levels in the region.In fact, it generates57% of the average gross income per yearper household, which is equal to 621,750 FRw (731 USD). Farmers obtain potato seed from four main sources: his/her own harvest, other farmers, the local markets and the formal seed sector. The large majority (85%) is not able to keep their own seed each season. Indeed, only15% always keeps at least a small part of their potato seed and the remaining quantity is bought off-farm when necessary. On average, the off-farm purchase is done in 57% of the cases showing a high dependency on the off-farm seed sources. Moreover, farmers use certified seed in few cases (3%), because of their unawareness of the certified seed presence in the market, the high price, the low seed availability along with the unwillingness to buy certified seed. Withthe goal of increasing the seed quality among farmers, it is recommended to introduceorextend the utilization of good agronomic practices,positive selection, plot techniques and the use of certified seed. Aiming at increasing the certified seed quantities, primarily we recommend to optimize the current multiplication process by improving the current agricultural practices and by increasing the multiplication bodies exclusively involved in the last certification phases. Only when the last phases are well organized, the mini-tubersproduction can be increased by augmenting the screen housesnumber and/or their exploitation rate. In conclusion, in order to supply Rwandan farmers with high quality seed, the formal and informal systems must be complementary and mutually dependent. The certified seed production must be combined with the development of strong and target linkages (e.g. Farmer Field School) along with the informal seed sector. The promotion of integrated-participative approaches in breeding, seed production and distribution would help increasethe complementarity between the two systems.