- What are the other constraints to increasing food production?
Make notes of replies, such as “Security—crop X is more easily stolen than crop Y”,
“shortage of land, oxen, rain” etc.
about this? Is what they do effective?
Note and describe the problems, and the months in which crops are damaged.- Is fertiliser or compost used, and if so to what extent?
Discover the types of fertilisers and quantities used, when and on which crops, and the
cost. What materials are available for making compost and are these used? Discover
farmers attitudes to the use of compost, manure and fertiliser. - Is intercropping normally practised?
List approximate yields for each crop, and total yields/hectare (See 1Hb, “Mixed
Cropping”, page 66). - Is cooking/heating fuel a problem?
Investigate. If possible, encourage the use of crops that can be eaten raw or with short
cooking times, and the possible establishment of fuelwood lots.
Who does what?
Make sure to ask questions to the right groups/gender, and in a way which does not
influence the answer or give any offence. In many places women cannot talk directly to
male “outsiders”.young people, and why are they not in the fields?
Older people may need help at peak work periods, so crops that require lower labour
inputs may be appropriate. However older people are even less likely to adopt new
practices than the young are.
Large families (more than 4 or 5 average) may indicate a precarious social system,
where security in old age is mainly provided from within the family.- Are the inputs such as seed, tools, agrochemicals and oxen available locally?
the problem is often the shortage of cash not the availability of inputs.
- Are the beneficiaries farming in familiar surroundings or are they displaced?
If they are displaced/refugees, make sure that their skills are combined with the skills
and knowledge of local farmers. Talk with the local farmers about their crops, problems
etc. They have experimented for generations with the crops and farming systems which
work best in their area. - Land Area
family size, or on what? What is the average family size? Who is responsible for
distribution of the land or the right to cultivate the land?
Ask the farmers to show you their land, as they very often do not know the size in
hectares, acres etc. Even if they do know they will normally be reluctant to tell you, or
they will underestimate the area. Ask local agricultural staff, such as the Ministry of’
GROWING FOOD – THE FOOD PRODUCTION HANDBOOK 319
Investigate the local supply (quantity and prices) of the inputs required. The root of- Are there often problems with insects, diseases or birds? What can farmers do
- Is it normally the men or the women who work in the fields and make decisions?
- Do both young and old people work in the fields? If it is the old, where are the
- How much land on average is available for each family? Does this depend on