Personalities and the Performance of Lead Farmers: A Case of Projects Applying the Rural Initiatives for Participatory Agricultural Transformation Approach, Tanzania

Abstract

Voluntary adoption and expanding use of lead farmers (LFs) under the farmer-tofarmer extension (F2FE) approach by organizations, in the absence of any direct
external promotion, confirms its effectiveness in responding to extension delivery
needs. Although the F2FE approach has been used by many organizations and
projects in Africa, there have been few studies €”and limited promotion €”using this
approach when compared to the farmer field school (FFS) approach. This paper
explores the needed personalities fit for LFs ' career, and the way they can be
improved. Using a cross-sectional research design, a sample of 384 farmers was
selected through systematic sampling from a population of 1800 project beneficiaries;
whose list was obtained from the RIPAT project managers. Primary data were
analysed using the SPSS app, whereby variables related to personalities fit for LFs in
leadership and facilitation skills were analysed using cross-tabulation. Checklists
were used in collecting qualitative data through FGDs and KIIs, and were analysed
through content analysis. The results show that the most needed personalities and
associated soft skills to LFs include integrity (58.6%), being courageous (54.3%) and
volunteerism (37.2%). The contribution of personalities to the performance of LFs
includes helping them to become role models, increasing their reliability in the
community, and enabling them in bringing group harmony. It was learned that the
improvement of LFs ' personalities can be achieved through setting goals for
developing good relationship with others and practical training, which entails
mentorship and coaching. It is concluded that the needed personalities and
associated soft skills of LFs are related to leadership and facilitation skills. Therefore,
it is recommended that these personality traits be considered in complementing the
hard skills of LFs when it comes to F2FE.