Tools and Best Practices - ASK ME
S = Solutions
Step 2. Identify solutions that are beneficial, practical and relevant
Start with the priority needs and opportunities identified in
A = Audience and Needs.
A good solution is not simply one that works. It must work for the intended farmers, in their farming system, with resources they can realistically access.
Think in terms of impact and Actionability
Characteristics of good solutions: Good solutions..
1. Prioritize the problems and opportunities
Think in terms of impact and actionability
Focus first on opportunities where meaningful improvement is both important and realistically achievable.
2. Identify possible solutions
What proven options could address the priority problem?
3. Evaluate and select the best solutions
Will the solution actually work for these farmers?
Consider:
Tools to help
4. Define where and for whom it works
A good solution is rarely appropriate everywhere or for everyone.
Consider:
Think in options, not fixed packages.
Several practices may work well together, but farmers often adopt progressively. Identify the most beneficial and feasible entry points, while showing how additional improvements can be added over time.
Before moving on, you should be able to answer:
What are the priority solutions, what benefits should they provide, who are they appropriate for, and what will farmers need to successfully try them?
Start with the priority needs and opportunities identified in
A = Audience and Needs.
A good solution is not simply one that works. It must work for the intended farmers, in their farming system, with resources they can realistically access.
Think in terms of impact and Actionability
Characteristics of good solutions: Good solutions..
- Are of interest to farmers
They address a problem, need, or opportunity that farmers recognize and want to act on. - Have clear and worthwhile benefits
Farmers can reasonably expect benefits that matter to them, such as increased production or income, reduced costs, labor or risk, or greater resilience.
- Are easy to trial
Farmers can try the solution on a manageable scale without high cost, complexity, resources, or risk, and can see whether it works for them.
1. Prioritize the problems and opportunities
Think in terms of impact and actionability
Focus first on opportunities where meaningful improvement is both important and realistically achievable.
- Impact: If addressed, how much difference could it make to productivity, profitability, resilience, health or other farmer priorities?
- Actionability: Is there a practical solution that farmers can realistically try and implement?
- Which opportunities combine high potential impact with high actionability?
- Which should be addressed first?
2. Identify possible solutions
What proven options could address the priority problem?
- Does a proven solution already exist?
- Does it require local validation or adaptation?
- Is further research needed?
- Identify the true cause and type of problem, e.g., agronomic, technical, economic, institutional or policy.
- Find technologies – Knowledge Repositories
- Build a Knowledge Bank – Manual
3. Evaluate and select the best solutions
Will the solution actually work for these farmers?
Consider:
- Benefit – Is the expected improvement worthwhile?
- Evidence – Is there credible evidence that it works?
- Local fit – Is it appropriate for local conditions and farming systems?
- Affordability – Are costs reasonable relative to expected benefits?
- Feasibility – Are the necessary inputs, labor, skills and services available?
- Ease of trial – Can farmers try it without high cost, difficulty, or risk?
- Compatibility – Does it fit existing practices, resources and priorities?
Tools to help
- Evaluating Recommendations – "Should I Recommend This" tool | Fact Sheet |
Works and pays? Next, see Plan for Scale and check it with the tool Can This Scale? - Identifying Good Technology – Trainer Exercise
- Combined Technology and Economic Assessment – Assessment Sheet
4. Define where and for whom it works
A good solution is rarely appropriate everywhere or for everyone.
Consider:
- Which farmers and farming systems does it suit?
- Under what production and environmental conditions?
- What resources, inputs or services must be available?
- Where or for whom might it not be appropriate?
- Recommendation Domains: Where and Who Does the Solution Suit? – Fact Sheet
Think in options, not fixed packages.
Several practices may work well together, but farmers often adopt progressively. Identify the most beneficial and feasible entry points, while showing how additional improvements can be added over time.
Before moving on, you should be able to answer:
What are the priority solutions, what benefits should they provide, who are they appropriate for, and what will farmers need to successfully try them?
