Quantifying farmers preferences: Can it be done? Steven Franzel Use of the bao game for getting farmers’ assessments of alternative trees. Combine –Accuracy, precision, and ability to generalize –User-friendliness of participatory research

Tools for getting farmer evaluations of technologies 1. Scoring questionnaires –Rating on a ‘1 to x’ basis gives quantitative data, but is problematic in rural, third world setting Because farmers’ involvement is passive, they become bored

Tools for getting farmer evaluations of technologies 2. Matrix ranking: diagram with alternatives on one axis, criteria on the other.

Matrix ranking: Maize varieties LocalINIAP 180Imported Yield/ha Resistance to pests Mkt. Price Taste Prod. Cost

Advantages of matrix ranking: –Farmers control process –Visual tool, facilitates discussion and correction But it is not used for collecting quantitative data (Maxwell 1997)

Bao game case study Overall research objective: Combine advantages of scoring questionnaires and matrix ranking. Case study : Burundi. Objective.: Find out how farmers evaluate trees in an on-farm trial.

First you need to get farmers’ criteria Tour the farm asking about the uses, advantage and disadvantage of each tree List the farmers’ criteria Break off a branch of each tree

Find a comfortable place for the farmer to use the bao game to score different trees

Watch out, a crowd quickly forms!

Burundi case study 45 farmer interviews. They rated 8 trees for timber and firewood across 7 criteria Ratings from 1(low) to 5 (high)

Farmer criteria Tree management and growth – Compatibility with crops – Speed of growth – Resistance to pests Use for timber – Wood appearance – Straightness Use for firewood – Quick in drying – Durability of fire

Burundi case study: Main findings Eucalyptus and Grevillea, the most common species, also the highest rated –Grevillea for fast growth and compatibility –Eucalyptus for fast growth and firewood Two other high-rated species, Cedrela and Maesopsis, not commonly grown due to lack of planting material

Conclusions Bao game combines strengths of scoring questionnaires with those of matrix ranking Bao game is useful for generating quantitative data –Accurate –Precise –Permits generalization, hypothesis testing Quantitative data on farmer criteria and preferences are key inputs into tree improvement program.