Shamba Shape Up Series 14 Impact of viewing farmers Knowledge, Attitude and Practices
2024
Shamba Shape Up (SSU) has maintained its established presence in Kenya, with Series 14 airing from March 8th to September 29th, 2024. The Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) study for Series 14 employed a different methodology from Series 13, shifting from computer-aided telephone interviews to face-to-face surveys. Working with Aereton Blue, we conducted surveys with 578 farmers in October 2024, complemented by engagement data from iShamba's call center and social media platforms.
The study reveals strong continuity in SSU's impact, with 83% of viewers ranking television, particularly SSU, as their most trusted source of agricultural information. Key topics that resonated with viewers included soil fertility, livestock management, and maize cultivation practices. The program continues to drive behavioral change, with 50% of viewers implementing new farming practices based on SSU content.
Notable findings include increased financial literacy among smallholder farmers and growing interest in sustainable practices, such as indigenous tree planting and solar irrigation adoption. The series maintained its dual role of education and entertainment, while expanding its reach through multiple platforms.
The study demonstrates SSU's sustained influence in agricultural development, showing particular strength in practical farming applications and technology adoption. Like Series 13, which showed high engagement with topics such as animal feed and vaccination schedules, Series 14 continues to effectively combine educational content with entertainment value.
DownloadShamba Shape Up Series 13 Impact of viewing farmers Knowledge, Attitude and Practices
2023
The series 13 Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey (KAP) was based on computer-aided telephone interviews (CATI). Respondents were selected randomly from a database after seeking their consent before the interview. African Stats used its existing database, which was developed using random digit dialling.
Shamba Shape Up (SSU) has been running for the past 13 years in Kenya. Data for series 13 was collected only as endline with most of the topics being part of the previous series.Small holder farmers said all the topics they had watched were interesting. The top three topics were said to be how to diligently follow vaccination schedules for chicken (83%), how to grow/make one’s own animal feeds (78%), and how to choose the right type of feeds to give (72%).Findings from the youth segment show very positive mindset about agriculture: 87% said they would like to engage in it as a business, while three quarters (75%) said they would change the crops /livestock they are currently growing or keeping
Based on the findings of this survey, the Shamba Shape Up programme plays an important role in improving knowledge, attitudes and practices while entertaining the audience. Over the years, viewership has continued to improve with almost 4 in 10 respondents having been viewing the programme for more than 5 years, also, it is important to note that 19% said they only viewed the programme in the past year, which shows continued growth.
DownloadEdutainment’s Positive Influence on Social Norms and Behaviours.
2022
Working in collaboration with IFPRI, Mediae created a short drama called Wise Woman targeting farming families, which concluded Series 12 of Shamba Shape Up Kenya.
The short drama follows the story of two young couples, who have very different approaches to making decisions around farming. Through this, the drama highlights the value of joint decision making and sharing of information around agriculture within the household. It further shares key messages on crop insurance, the benefits of using certified drought resistant seeds and critically addresses the issue of intimate partner violence (IPV) while debunking gender stereotypes.
Research conducted by IFPRI and Wageningen University following the screening of the short drama found that Wise Woman “sparked a substantial amount of discussion amongst farmers about the gender issues that were central in the movie. Themes like the benefit of joint decision-making, the importance of respecting a woman’s opinion, and the costs of domestic violence (which is widely accepted in the study context) were prominent in the transcriptions”. It further shows that women's input in productive decision-making increased by 5 percentage points (IFPRI & Wageningen University 2022).
DownloadShamba Shape Up Series 12 Impact of viewing farmers Knowledge, Attitude and Practices
2022
Shamba Shape Up (SSU) series 12 was broadcast nationally on Kenya’s leading television channel, Citizen TV, between March and September 2022. The series was shot in a variety of locations in key agricultural areas and covered a range of topics; farm financing to livestock husbandry, nutrition and climate change adaptation.
SSU aims to raise knowledge of good farming and nutrition practices, promote positive attitudes towards improved farming methods and ultimately change the ways in which farmers improve their production of crops and livestock, adopt healthy eating practices and adapt their practices to accommodate climate change.
DownloadShamba Shape Up Series 11 Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Report
2021
Shamba Shape Up (SSU) series 11 was broadcast nationally on Kenya’s leading television channel, Citizen TV, between March and September 2021. The series was shot in a variety of locations in key agricultural areas and covered a range of topics, from soil conservation to farm financing and livestock husbandry.
The series adopts an edutainment format and is based on ‘make-overs’ filmed on smallholder farms across the country. The aim of the series is to illustrate new methods and solutions and to give farmers advice to help them increase production and turn their farms into viable businesses.
DownloadShamba Shape Up Series 10 Knowledge, Attitude and Practices survey Report
2020
Shamba Shape Up (SSU) series 10 was broadcast nationally on Kenya’s leading television channel, Citizen TV. The series was filmed in a variety of key agricultural locations and covered a range of topic.
- SSU 10 saw a weekly audience of at least 6.8 million adults aged 16+ in Kenya
- 9/10 of the farmers who took part in the survey said that SSU was the TV programme they trusted the most to provide agricultural and farming information•
- As a result of the changes they made, almost two-thirds (63%) reported better yields and incomes•
- Almost all (96%) SSU 10 viewers said they had learnt something new from watching the programmes.
GeoPoll and Mediae, The Digital Farmer: A study of Kenya's Agricultural Sector
2018
The agricultural sector in Kenya continues to be the main source of livelihood for a large proportion of the country's population. But beyond the perennial rainfall, what other factors affect farming?
Our survey was undertaken in September 2018 via SMS. Respondents were drawn from GeoPoll's farmer panel (partnered with Mediae) in Kenya and we relied on the FAOSTAT land use statistics to only target respondents in arable lands.
DownloadShamba Shape Up Series 9 Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Report
2019
Series 9 focused on a range of issues including Animal Feed and Hygiene Products, Agrochemicals for Pests & Diseases, Reducing Post Harvest Losses in Mango and Maize, Farm transportation and equipment, Conservation Agriculture, Kitchen Gardens, Tied Ridges, Clean Cookstoves and Agricultural Insurance.
Shamba Shape Up Series 9 was successful in providing audiences with information that enable them improve their farming practices. Viewers are able to remember topics aired in the show, indicating interest in additional topics recommended.
DownloadShamba Shape Up Series 8 Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Report
2018
Series 8 focused on a range of issues including Maize, Pig feeding, Soil Testing, Profit Story, Watermelon, Dairy, Fish Feed, Solar System, Certified seeds, herbicides, coffee, Potatoes, Fertiliser, onions, Chicken, Mangoes, Oranges, Home Biogas, Cabbages, Tea, Tomatoes, Post Harvest, Farm Transport and Lion Lights.
This KAP study however focuses entirely on Mango and Maize Harvest Practices, as this was a key issue tackled throughout the programme.
A positive change can be observed amongst SSU Viewers who prune and cut off branches of Mango Trees between pre and post broadcast. After broadcast there were a higher number SSU Viewers who reported using the stick and attached net bag method, as recommended on SSU. There were more Non-Viewers claiming to shake and let the mango fruit drop to the ground, which was not recommended on SSU
DownloadSeries 6 Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) Report
2016
Series 6 focused on poultry farming, dairy, beef cattle, soil health, maize, nutrition, post harvest loss management, financial literacy, solar lights, greenhouses, Conservation Agriculture and organic farming.
46% of viewers claim to have learnt something new about poultry farming from watching the show. This is the topic with the most sought after information on the program.
DownloadSeries 5 Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) Report
2015
Series 5 covered a range of topics which include tomatoes, poultry, dairy, agrochemicals, soil health, maize, nutrition, potatoes, sunflowers, financial literacy, solar lights, sweet potatoes, apples, mobile phones, gender and rice.
There has been a consistent increase in the number of people adopting new practices each series. For Series 5, 50% of the audience made changes in farming practices particularly in soil conservation, financial literacy, agrochemicals and potato growing.
DownloadSeries 4 Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) Report
2014
Series 4 looked at a range of farming topics such as dairy, poultry, climate change adaption, vegetables, maize, soil fertility, sorghum, Orange Flesh Sweet Potatoes, solar lights, farmer groups and groundnuts.
Rates of learning something new and adopting a new practice were high. Of the adopters, over 80% said that the change had resulted in more income, produce or food for their households.
University of Reading Impact Report
2014
The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) commissioned a study, led by the University of Reading, to investigate the impact of Shamba Shape Up on small-scale agriculture in Kenya.
The report estimated that over 428,000 households in Kenya directly benefited from the program after adopting a practice they learned and generated benefits totalling US$24,000,000. This is the highest development impact from a single project in the AECF portfolio.
DownloadSeries 2 and 3 Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) Report
2013
Series 2 and 3 covered a wide range of topics which include poultry, goat farming, dairy, water harvesting, climate change adaptation, maize, amaranth, fuel efficient jikos, soil fertility, solar lights, composting, vegetables, financial literacy, coffee, sorghum, tomatoes, fruit trees, silage and farmer groups.
Shamba Shape Up is considered as the most trusted source of agricultural information. Viewers rated it as much more useful than radio, newspapers, agrodealers and extension officers.
Series 1 Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) Report
2012
The first series focused on soil fertility, solar lighting, poultry, seed procurement, maize, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, fodder, use of pesticides and chemicals, fake chemicals, dairy and financial literacy.
The first series attracted an estimated audience of 3.5 million television viewers – reaching around 20% of Kenyan television viewers. Viewers gained more knowledge about dairy farming in comparison to non-viewers.