AGRA Village-Based Advisors Evaluation: Phase 1 Report

The VBA program recruits respected lead farmers from local communities to be trained on good agricultural practices and other income-generating activities Implementing partners also connect VBAs to input providers and offtakers so that farmers can access improved inputs and find a market for their produce. In the process, VBAs have the opportunity to generate income and even start their own agri-enterprises. In this mixed-methods evaluation, which covered Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania, we conducted 35 focus group discussions and surveyed over 1,000 VBAs.  We found that the VBA program was effective in extending the reach of public extension programs and that half of VBAs earned additional income from the program. While VBAs expanded input suppliers’ market share and reach, market transactions were still limited by high prices, lack of access to credit, and poor infrastructure.