Organizing Demonstrations in Seed Sector Development

Demonstration plots and field days are widely used in seed sector development, especially where farmers want to see, compare and discuss innovations before deciding whether to adopt them. Developed under the Ghana Seed Partnership, this knowledge product brings together practical lessons for companies and partners organising demonstrations in Ghana’s seed sector. It emphasises that a good demonstration is not simply a good-looking field, but a learning activity that helps farmers understand what is being compared, why it matters, and what it would take to apply it on their own farms.

This guide focuses on four key parts of the process: selecting a suitable partner farmer, choosing a representative and accessible site, setting up and managing the trial, and using field days effectively. Across these chapters, it highlights five goals that should guide any demonstration: credibility, relevance, visibility, practicality and actionability. With practical recommendations on site selection, treatment design, documentation, farmer mobilisation, communication and follow-up, the publication supports demonstrations that are realistic, understandable and useful for farmers and seed sector stakeholders.