AND SURVEY PROCEDURES FOLLOWED TO
CHAPTER 7: IMPACT EVALUATION OF THE ON-FARM RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DISSEMINATION PROGRAMME
4.2 Methodology used in the diagnostic survey
The main events that took place during the diagnostic stage are summarized in Table 4.1.
4.2.1 Identification of respondents
At the third community meeting, held in February 1998 to discuss the methodology of on- farm research, all those (n = 20) present volunteered to be interviewed. Not one of those present had completed a questionnaire before. It was agreed at the meeting that the FSRS staff, Extension staff and the farmer eo-workers would be referred to in future as the FSR team. At the meeting it was felt by the researchers (the FSRS staff) and Extension staff that the information to be obtained from the 20 people should give an overview of the prevailing farming systems and the constraints experienced by people in the community. Although the
sample was small, it was felt by the present author that the 20 people who volunteered to participate in the diagnostic study were the ones who showed interest in the process that was communicated to them and to which the larger community was invited. On its results the on- farm research and technology dissemination was to be based (Chapter 5). A name list was compiled, interview dates were discussed and appointments made.
Table 4.1 Main events that took place in Obonjaneni during the diagnostic stage Date of event
February 1998 March 1998 April 1998 May 1998
17 June 1998 August 1998 September 1998 Early 2000
Event Community meeting Interviews
Community meeting
Meeting between Extension and FSRS staff
Meeting with the tribal authority
Meeting with the tribal authority
Community meeting
Interviews with community garden members
Purpose of events
To identify the respondents for interviews To conduct the diagnostic survey
To present and discuss information gained from diagnostic survey
To discuss findings of survey and future programme
To discuss findings of survey and the control of livestock movement
To give feedback of diagnostic survey to the tribal authority
To discuss solutions or alternatives and the on-farm research programme with farmers To conduct a diagnostic survey in the Phuthumani Community Garden
The non-random sample used in this study has two negative implications (Van Vuuren &
Maree, 1999). Firstly, statistical theories of probability do not apply to non-random samples, making it impossible to know the degree of accuracy to which properties of the sample can be used to describe properties of the population. Secondly, since the researcher plays a role in the sample selection, bias can easily be introduced. However, this non-random sampling of respondents does provide researchers with a feeling about the population, which is, at times, sufficient justification for using the method (Shaneret al., 1982).
4.2.2 Structured questionnaire survey
Staff of the FSRS developed a formal (or 'structured') questionnaire survey to be used in diagnostic studies (Appendix A). The questionnaire consisted of the following sections: (i) general information about the farmer, (ii) a listing of farming enterprises practised by the household and (iii) sections on specific information on farming enterprises: cattle - beef, cattle - dairy, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, vegetables and fruit, crop production, and medicinal and craft plants.
The questionnaire was drafted by staff members of the FSRS, with the following people also contributing to its development: Prof J van der Ploeg (Wageningen University, The Netherlands), Prof P Lubout (University of Zululand), Regional Directors of the Department of Agriculture, Research and Extension staff from the Department, and eight small-scale farmers from the Memela and Nxamalala Wards in KwaZulu-Natal.
4.2.3 Interview process
Interviews took place over two days during March 1998, five months after the initial introduction of the FSRS to the community. During the two days, 17 of the 20 people (nine women and eight men) were individually interviewed at their homesteads. Extension staff or the eo-worker farmers who assisted in finding the homesteads were not able to locate the remaining three people who, therefore, were not interviewed.
Staff of the FSRS, the Head of the District, the Head of Extension and the Agricultural Development Technician of the sub-ward attended the first interview. This was held with the Chairman of the Amazizi Maize Association and was used as a training session to clarify possibly unclear aspects of the questionnaire for the teams involved.After the first interview, the group formed three teams, which were made up of FSRS staff (each team led by either one of the two Animal Scientists or by an FSR Crop Scientist) and an Extension staff member, to conduct the interviews (see Plate 4.1). In addition to conducting the interviews during the visits to the homesteads, observations were made to establish the infrastructure of the community. The scientist led the interview by asking the questions in English and the Extension staff translated the question into Zulu. The answer or response was translated back into English and written on the questionnaire survey form by the scientist. An interview took on average 90 minutes,with the range being from 60 to 125 minutes.
4.2.4 Analysis of survey results
The survey data were captured on Quattro Pro and MS Excel spreadsheet programmes. The data were subjected to descriptive analyses of simple percentages and proportions.Due to the small number of respondents and the non-random nature of the sample, the information was not subjected to any statistical analysis, although mean, median and standard deviation calculations were done on some of the data. The information obtained from the male and female respondents was analysed separately, to establish any gender differences.
4.2.5 Involvement in the Phuthumani Community Garden
At the time of the diagnostic study, despondent garden members invited FSRS and Extension staff to the garden to assist in solving constraints such as poor growth of crops, poor yields, pests and diseases and the poor quality of seedlings which they purchased (see Plate 4.2).
Problems and possible solutions were discussed at a follow-up meeting between FSRS staff, Extension staff and garden members.
A follow-up to the lime demonstration was an informal survey conducted during February 2000 among the members of the community garden (Mpanza, 2000). The 17 respondents interviewed during the diagnostic survey (mentioned under 4.2.3) did not include any members of the community garden. The objectives of this study were to describe and understand the way in which the members of this community garden operate, to identify production problems and constraints or missed opportunities and to address them through research and demonstration programmes. Six of the 10 members were interviewed.