Are Your Research Results Reaching the End User

Abstract

In Tanzania, forestry research is conducted mainly by the Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI), and party also by the Faculty of Forestry, Sokoine University of Agriculture; Institute of Resource Assessment (IRA), University of Dar es Salaam; and the Ardhi Institute. For the research to be accomplished, the technologies invented must be accepted and applied by the users, who include forestry extension officers, forest managers, policy makers, farmers, pastoralists, forest industries, educational institutions and others. The methods used to disseminate research results are: local and international journalists; books, booklets and pamphlets; papers presented at conferences, symposia, seminars and workshops; annual meetings; invisible colleges; Demonstration plots; farmer schools; individual methods; and mass methods. The most effective method in Tanzania is the Demonstration method, followed by the farmer schools. The reasons why research results often fail to reach the end users include: lack of interaction between them and the researchers, the language barrier, lack of research officers trained in extension, lack of funds earmarked for dissemination of information, and also the fact that not all research projects are demand-led. Some recommendations are presented to remedy the situation.