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“Here we give advice for free”: the functioning of plant clinics in Rwanda Development in Practice

Published: August, 2018

Journal article

Bellancile Uzayisenga, Conny Almekinders, Jean Claude N. Majuga, Jean Pierre Kalisa, Solveig Danielsen

Although plant clinics are considered an important mechanism in the service delivery to farmers, not much is known about their functioning in the daily reality of plant doctors and farmer-clients. This article reports on an exploratory study describing the functioning of eight plant clinics in Rwanda. Personal and organisational commitment, publicity, and proactive communication with farmers and local leaders are key factors explaining higher attendance of some clinics. Farmer attendance is under-reported by 40–50%. Data management needs improvement to make clinic records reliable tools for decision-makers. This type of assessment can help improve operations and realise the plant clinics’ potential.

“Here we give advice for free”: the functioning of plant clinics in Rwanda Development in Practice

DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2018.1492515

Type Journal article

Published in Development in Practice, 28(7)

Language English

Year 2018