1. Evaluating Recommendations – Fact Sheet (PDF) 

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Should I Recommend This?

A quick check of whether an agricultural recommendation addresses an important problem and is practical for farmers.

Use this before promoting a recommendation. A good technical idea is not enough. It should address a real problem, deal with the true cause, work under relevant conditions, and be practical for farmers to adopt.

Where this fits: the Needs Assessment & Scale Planner helps you choose which problem to work on. This tool checks the solution you would promote for it.

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What are you assessing?

Write it down before you judge it. A recommendation you cannot state in a sentence is usually not ready to be judged.

The recommendation or solution Optional, but the rest of the questions are easier to answer once it is written down.

1. Is the problem worth addressing?

Think about importance to farmers, not just whether the problem exists.

How many farmers are affected? Select…FewSomeMany

How serious are the losses or consequences? Select…LowModerateHigh

How often does the problem occur? Select…OccasionallyRegularlyVery frequently

Do farmers consider it important? Select…Low importance to farmersModerate / mixedHigh importance to farmers This one carries extra weight. Farmers rarely adopt a solution to a problem they do not consider a problem.

2. Is this a good recommendation?

Judge the recommendation itself, not just the seriousness of the problem. The bottom option on the next five questions stops a recommendation until it is resolved.

Does it address the true cause — the reason the problem keeps happening? Select…No — it treats the symptomUncertain / needs checkingYes — it removes the reason Finish the sentence: “This problem happens because…”. If your recommendation changes what comes after because, it addresses the cause. Calves dying is the symptom; calves not getting colostrum in time is the cause.

Has it been shown to work under relevant farmer conditions? Select…No / little relevant evidenceSome evidenceGood evidence

Are the likely benefits worthwhile? Select…LowModerateHigh Consider yield, profit, labour savings, resilience, health, quality or other relevant benefits.

Can farmers realistically access the required inputs, finance and services? Select…Difficult / major barriersPossible, but there are constraintsGenerally accessible

Does it fit farmers' resources, labour and farming system? Select…PoorlyPartly / needs adaptationWell

Are the risks or negative effects acceptable? Select…Significant concernsSome concerns / needs managementLow or acceptable risk Consider financial, production, labour, health, environmental and market risks.

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Assessment

Summary

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This tool supports professional judgement. It does not replace local testing, farmer consultation, or appropriate technical advice.