Why targeting matters: a systematic review of farmer field schools targeting

Targeting in any development intervention is critical, as it impacts programmes outcomes. This review studies targeting in farmer field school (FFS) programmes. It covers how these programmes are targeted, whether targeting is successful (did programmes reach their intended beneficiaries) and how targeting affects outcomes of interest.

The authors, Daniel Phillips, Hugh Waddington and Howard White, find that while some FFS programmes include equity criteria to target the poorest and most disadvantaged farmers, a majority of the programmes use effectiveness to promote inclusion of farmers with more resources, more education and greater social agency. Programmes emphasising effectiveness were found to have greater impact on yields and did better on adoption of practices. At the same time, studies also showed poorer farmers benefitted more when they participated directly in FFS programmes than when they received knowledge indirectly.