First Km Reviews
“First Kilometre” Literature Reviews
The “First Kilometre” is a metaphor for reaching, interacting with, listening to, learning from, empowering and enriching smallholders. It is chosen to counter the “top-down” connotations of the more common “last mile” vocabulary.
Research on the topics below will provide background for the Design Team on existing information systems for large and smallholder producers, and a beginning understanding of how they might be improved. While the issues involved are wide-ranging and incredibly complex, we have identified focus areas in which the Design Team would benefit from more in-depth research. Information gathered for these focus areas will inform and help shape the deliberations of the two workshops.
The Design Team has commissioned research analysts to survey the literature, understand the issues of institutional context, and also inventory what is happening on the ground. Each review will result in an approximately 10-page report with a narrative review and list of citations. With emphasis on successes, failures, scalability, incentives, sustainability and replicability, we have surveyed the following 11 areas.
(Please click on the title to read the literature and subject area reviews.)- Alternative extension models (public, private, NGOs)
- Literature Review: Agricultural Extension in Africa and Asia Carl K. Eicher, Michigan State University
- Supermarkets and smallholders (supply chain)
- Literature Review: Farmer to Market Linkages in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, Dr. Tschirley, Michigan State University
- Private sector: First Km best practices (includes local traders)
- Literature Review: The Private Sector and Smallholder Agriculture: Best Practices with Relevance to Mali, Zambia, India, and Sri Lanka, by Steve Reiquam
- First Km incentives
- Literature Review: First Kilometer Incentives, Patrick O'Shea, Harvard University
- Impact of corruption on first km practices
- Literature Review: Corruption and Smallholder, by Chris Weber
- Curriculum enhancement
- Literature Review: Curriculum enhancement, Mywish Maredia, Michigan State University
- Agricultural Information Systems overview
- Literature Review: Major Agricultural Information Initiatives: With Emphasis on Developing Country Services, Barbara Hutchinson, University of Arizona
- Community Knowledge Workers and Village Based Knowledge Systems
- Literature Review: Community Knowledge Workers and Village Based Knowledge Systems, Karim M. Maredia, Michigan State University
- Radio Education: A Review of the Literature
- Literature Review: Radio Education: A Review of the Literature by Patrick O'Shea, Harvard University and Simon Richmond, Education Development Center, Inc.
- Soil Health
- Literature Review: Soil Health and Soil Quality: A Review, by James Kinyangi, Cornell University
- Integrated Pest Management
