Leo Aroga Kepa - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
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The Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) Limited of Papua New Guinea (PNG) adopted the Farmer Demand... more The Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) Limited of Papua New Guinea (PNG) adopted the Farmer Demand Driven Extension (FDDE) approach in 2003 to address the low production and inconsistent supply of coffee by smallholder farmers. Through a Participatory Rural Appraisal and Planning process, the lack of knowledge and skills in agronomy and postharvest were identified. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the agronomy and postharvest training programs in facilitating acquisition of agronomic and postharvest innovations by the farmers. The study had three assessment categories: needs, processes and outcomes. Seven sub-objectives were developed to investigate the appropriateness of: (i) the training needs analysis (TNA) techniques used; (ii) the topics covered during the training programs; (iii) the training methods used during the training programs; (iv) the training aids employed during the training sessions; (v) the evidence that the farmers have learnt during the training programs; (vi) the adoption of acquired innovations; and (vii) impediments to innovation adoption. One hundred smallholders coffee farmers were randomly selected from six groups: three groups who have participated in the agronomy training and three in postharvest. Three of the groups were from the Eastern Highlands Province while three groups were from Chimbu province. Fifty-one farmers were randomly selected from the agronomy groups and 49 farmers from the postharvest groups. The farmers' core motives for attending the training programs were to acquire new information in order to increase production and improve the quality of coffee so that they could realise an improved income. The study found that the agronomy and the postharvest training programs were suitable in facilitating acquisition of required knowledge by the farmers. In addition, the training programs were also beneficial to the farmers in a number of ways: (i) the TNA survey had made them realise their core motives to participate in the training program in addition to consolidating the group members; (ii) the use of the training aids had given the farmers the confidence to actually use them on their farms; and (iii) the farmers were observing positive results: vigorous tree growth, increase in yield and improvements in the colour and weight of the parchment. On the other hand, the study identified some areas in the training program which required improvements: (i) the TNA and follow-up exercises were not necessary as farmers were able to learn without them; (ii) the training providers (TP) lacked in-depth knowledge on pest and disease, pulper repair and maintenance and coffee calendar; (iii) handouts and posters were written in English, making it difficult for illiterate farmers to understand; and (iv) effective application of acquired innovations were impeded by a lack of price incentives for quality and cherry theft. It is recommended that the CIC modifies the training programs by: (i) recalling the TNA and follow-up exercises and save the money. The follow-up activities should be a core function of the contract management unit at the CIC provincial offices; (ii) provide in-service programs v to the TPs on pests and disease, coffee pulper and coffee calendar; (iii) the handouts and posters be translated into Tok Pisin and; (iv) for future use, the agronomy and postharvest curriculum be developed in collaborations with the CIC, the TPs and the farmers. It is also recommended that the CIC facilitates linkages with the farmer groups and existing traders (exporters) with the aim of developing a long-term strategic alliance between the traders and the groups so that the farmers may directly transect their improved quality coffee to the traders for a better price. vi Acknowledgments My deepest gratitude to the following: Professors Peter Batt and Roy Murray-Prior, for their invaluable support, supervision and mentoring during the course of the thesis. I owe them a lot, for they have made me realise my potential. They were also instrumental in securing for me the prestigious John Allwright Fellowship. Professor Rola-Rubzen for supervising me towards the end of the thesis. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) for generously offering me the prestigious John Allwright Fellowship. The Papua New Guinea Coffee Industry Corporation for granting me study leave. Mr. Potaisa Hombunaka, the former General Manager of the Coffee Research and Grower Services Division of the Coffee Industry Corporation for nominating and encouraging me to take the prestigious John Allwright Fellowship.. Staff and students at the School of Agriculture & Environment-Muresk Campus Northam, for their generosity towards my family while at Muresk. Mr. Gordon Wallangas and family for the team spirit while at Muresk. The Northam Faith Christian Fellowship for their spiritual and financial support to the Arogas while at Muresk.
The Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) Limited of Papua New Guinea (PNG) adopted the Farmer Demand... more The Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC) Limited of Papua New Guinea (PNG) adopted the Farmer Demand Driven Extension (FDDE) approach in 2003 to address the low production and inconsistent supply of coffee by smallholder farmers. Through a Participatory Rural Appraisal and Planning process, the lack of knowledge and skills in agronomy and postharvest were identified. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the agronomy and postharvest training programs in facilitating acquisition of agronomic and postharvest innovations by the farmers. The study had three assessment categories: needs, processes and outcomes. Seven sub-objectives were developed to investigate the appropriateness of: (i) the training needs analysis (TNA) techniques used; (ii) the topics covered during the training programs; (iii) the training methods used during the training programs; (iv) the training aids employed during the training sessions; (v) the evidence that the farmers have learnt during the training programs; (vi) the adoption of acquired innovations; and (vii) impediments to innovation adoption. One hundred smallholders coffee farmers were randomly selected from six groups: three groups who have participated in the agronomy training and three in postharvest. Three of the groups were from the Eastern Highlands Province while three groups were from Chimbu province. Fifty-one farmers were randomly selected from the agronomy groups and 49 farmers from the postharvest groups. The farmers' core motives for attending the training programs were to acquire new information in order to increase production and improve the quality of coffee so that they could realise an improved income. The study found that the agronomy and the postharvest training programs were suitable in facilitating acquisition of required knowledge by the farmers. In addition, the training programs were also beneficial to the farmers in a number of ways: (i) the TNA survey had made them realise their core motives to participate in the training program in addition to consolidating the group members; (ii) the use of the training aids had given the farmers the confidence to actually use them on their farms; and (iii) the farmers were observing positive results: vigorous tree growth, increase in yield and improvements in the colour and weight of the parchment. On the other hand, the study identified some areas in the training program which required improvements: (i) the TNA and follow-up exercises were not necessary as farmers were able to learn without them; (ii) the training providers (TP) lacked in-depth knowledge on pest and disease, pulper repair and maintenance and coffee calendar; (iii) handouts and posters were written in English, making it difficult for illiterate farmers to understand; and (iv) effective application of acquired innovations were impeded by a lack of price incentives for quality and cherry theft. It is recommended that the CIC modifies the training programs by: (i) recalling the TNA and follow-up exercises and save the money. The follow-up activities should be a core function of the contract management unit at the CIC provincial offices; (ii) provide in-service programs v to the TPs on pests and disease, coffee pulper and coffee calendar; (iii) the handouts and posters be translated into Tok Pisin and; (iv) for future use, the agronomy and postharvest curriculum be developed in collaborations with the CIC, the TPs and the farmers. It is also recommended that the CIC facilitates linkages with the farmer groups and existing traders (exporters) with the aim of developing a long-term strategic alliance between the traders and the groups so that the farmers may directly transect their improved quality coffee to the traders for a better price. vi Acknowledgments My deepest gratitude to the following: Professors Peter Batt and Roy Murray-Prior, for their invaluable support, supervision and mentoring during the course of the thesis. I owe them a lot, for they have made me realise my potential. They were also instrumental in securing for me the prestigious John Allwright Fellowship. Professor Rola-Rubzen for supervising me towards the end of the thesis. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) for generously offering me the prestigious John Allwright Fellowship. The Papua New Guinea Coffee Industry Corporation for granting me study leave. Mr. Potaisa Hombunaka, the former General Manager of the Coffee Research and Grower Services Division of the Coffee Industry Corporation for nominating and encouraging me to take the prestigious John Allwright Fellowship.. Staff and students at the School of Agriculture & Environment-Muresk Campus Northam, for their generosity towards my family while at Muresk. Mr. Gordon Wallangas and family for the team spirit while at Muresk. The Northam Faith Christian Fellowship for their spiritual and financial support to the Arogas while at Muresk.