Use of Transformational Development Indicators (TDIs) to Measure the Social Impacts of Home Gardening Projects: Lessons Learnt from Weeraketiya Area Development Programme

Abstract

Although, the twenty indicators developed by the Department of Agriculture to measure the performance of home gardening activities based on the input use efficiency and materialistic outcomes measure physical aspects of the home gardens, they are not sufficient to measure the social impacts of home gardening activities. This paper focuses to discuss the use of Transformational Development Indicators (TDIs) to measure the social impacts of home gardening projects. Area Development Program of World Vision Lanka has launched a project to develop the area of Weeraketiya DS Division of Hambantota District and one of the component was home gardening which implemented in 2003. Objective of this study is to measure the social impacts of the home gardening project using TDIs. Information on TDIs was collected by a questionnaire survey from a sample of 426 households in Weeraketiya DS division. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and direct observations were made in addition to the sample survey. TDIs were observed under categories of child development, gender issues, family resilience and transformation, community transformation and system transformation. All indicators were measured in the five point scale from -2 to +2. The non-parametric Wilcoxon Raked Sign Test was employed to analyze the data. Results revealed that although many of the indicators of input use efficiency have not been significantly improved in home gardens during Jast five years, the TDIs shows significant improvements in the aspects of child development, gender related issues and family resilience. It can be concluded that incorporating TDIs in conventional indicators of performance measurement of home gardens and agricultural development programs, invisible but important aspects of development such as social values can be effectively captured to make a better picture.