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Strategies for scaling out impacts from agricultural systems change: the case of forages and livestock production in Laos

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  • Joanne Millar
  • John Connell

Abstract

Scaling out and up are terms increasingly being used to describe a desired expansion of beneficial impacts from agricultural research and rural development. This paper explores strategies for scaling out production and livelihood impacts from proven technologies. We draw on a case study of forages and livestock production in Laos, a Southeast Asian country undergoing rapid economic and agricultural change. A facilitated learning environment stimulated farmers to adapt forages, livestock housing, and animal health practices to their own situations (scaling out). Regular follow-up visits and on-the-job mentoring for extension staff provided institutional support (scaling up). Within 5 years, the number of villages and households using forages and fattening livestock had increased six fold, with a 50% reduction in the time required for farmers to get significant benefits. The paper concludes that scaling out positive impacts from systems change requires field tested and proven technologies, evidence of significant livelihood impacts, fostering of local innovation, competent field staff, effective peer learning, and ongoing institutional support. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010

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  • Joanne Millar & John Connell, 2010. "Strategies for scaling out impacts from agricultural systems change: the case of forages and livestock production in Laos," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 27(2), pages 213-225, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:27:y:2010:i:2:p:213-225
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-009-9194-9
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    1. Nicholas, Graeme & Srinivasan, MS & Beechener, Sam & Foote, Jeff & Robson-Williams, Melissa & FitzHerbert, Stephen, 2020. "Transferring the impacts of pilot-scale studies to other scales: Understanding the role of non-biophysical factors using field-based irrigation studies," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    2. Hannah Pitt & Mat Jones, 2016. "Scaling up and out as a Pathway for Food System Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-16, October.
    3. María Isabel Palacios-Rangel & Juan Manuel Vargas-Canales & Jorge Aguilar-Ávila & Joaquín Huitzilihuitl Camacho-Vera & Jorge Gustavo Ocampo-Ledesma & Sergio Ernesto Medina-Cuellar, 2018. "Efficiency of small enterprises of protected agriculture in the adoption of innovations in Mexico," Estudios Gerenciales, Universidad Icesi, vol. 34(146), pages 52-62, February.
    4. Hermans, Frans & Roep, Dirk & Klerkx, Laurens, 2016. "Scale dynamics of grassroots innovations through parallel pathways of transformative change," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 285-295.
    5. Shangqian Li & Yutian Liang & Xin Deng & Weipan Xu & Xun Li, 2023. "Exploring the Spatial Heterogeneity of Rural Development in Laos Based on Rural Building Spatial Database," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-15, November.
    6. Bradley T. Hiller & Peter M. Guthrie & Aled W. Jones, 2016. "Overcoming Ex-Post Development Stagnation: Interventions with Continuity and Scaling in Mind," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-26, February.
    7. Agnès Bernis-Fonteneau & Rima Alcadi & Marco Frangella & Devra I. Jarvis, 2023. "Scaling Up Pro-Poor Agrobiodiversity Interventions as a Development Option," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-16, July.
    8. Cook, Brian R. & Satizábal, Paula & Curnow, Jayne, 2021. "Humanising agricultural extension: A review," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    9. Murat Sartas & Marc Schut & Frans Hermans & Piet van Asten & Cees Leeuwis, 2018. "Effects of multi-stakeholder platforms on multi-stakeholder innovation networks: Implications for research for development interventions targeting innovations at scale," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, June.
    10. Pacín, Fernando & Oesterheld, Martín, 2015. "Closing the technological gap of animal and crop production through technical assistance," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 101-107.
    11. Giulio Fusco & Marta Melgiovanni & Donatella Porrini & Traci Michelle Ricciardo, 2020. "How to Improve the Diffusion of Climate-Smart Agriculture: What the Literature Tells us," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-15, June.

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