This document summarizes a study on the use of volunteer farmers (farmer trainers) to disseminate dairy feeding technologies in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. The study found that over 2,000 farmer trainers have been recruited across the three countries. Farmer trainers cover long distances on foot or bicycle to conduct training sessions and have trained thousands of farmers. While the approach provides benefits like knowledge gain and social status, farmer trainers also face challenges like transportation costs and high farmer expectations. The study recommends providing incentives and support to farmer trainers to improve the sustainability and effectiveness of this voluntary extension approach.

1. Farmers Teaching Farmers: Challenges and Opportunities of Using Volunteer Farmers in Technology Dissemination E. Kiptot, B.Lukuyu, S.Franzel and F.Place World Agroforestry Centre and International Livestock Research Institute

9. Study sites and number of farmer trainers who participated Country Site Male trainers Female trainers Total Kenya Mweiga 18 5 23 Olkalou 10 3 13 Kipkaren 8 1 9 Cheptalal 8 2 10 Longisa 5 6 11 TOTAL 49 17 66 Uganda Jinja 11 6 17 Mukono 1 2 3 Mityana 7 2 9 TOTAL 19 10 29

13. Technologies disseminated Technology Kenya % FTS (N=54) Uganda % FTs (n=22) Rhodes grass ( C.guyana ) 37 - Napier grass ( P.purpureum) 61 64 Silage making 54 23 Calliandra calorthysus 33 68 Sweet potato vines ( I. batatas ) 28 5 Forage sorghum ( S.vulgare ) 35 - Lucerne ( Medicago sativa ) 30 - Giant setaria (Setaria sphacelata) 6 32 Lablab ( Dolichos lablab) - 36 Mucuna pruriens - 36 Centrocema pubescens - 18 Hay making 28 -

14. Costs and benefits Costs Benefits Snacks/drinks Acquire new knowledge Transport/fare/maintenance of bicycles Improved social status/fame/popularity Training materials Increased social networks Airtime (mobile phones) Monetary benefits( sale of seed, fodder and charge for services) Lunch Self satisfaction Opportunity cost for family labour Exposure Time Gain self confidence Trampling of their crops during farmer visits An Availability of improved feeds to own animals

15. Monetary benefits Type of seeds sold and services offered Unit Cost (US$) Rhodes grass 6.5/kg Calliandra seedlings 0.1/seedling Calliandra seeds 32/kg Silage making (service) 10.75/tonne Hay baling (service) 1/bale Sale of hay 2.6/bale Sweet potato vines 0.1/bundle Napier canes 0.1/cane Forage sorghum seed 1.6/kg Columbus grass (Sorghum x almum) 2/kg

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