This paper examines the performance of rural-based community groups in Central Kenya and addresses the methodological issues and challenges faced in doing this. Performance measures included subjective and objective ratings of success, including more objectively verifiable measures at household and group levels, derived from a survey of 87 groups and 442 households within four sites. Empirical evidence regarding explanatory factors for relative performance levels is presented using a special sample of 40 groups involved in tree nursery activities, with both descriptive analysis and regression models.Collective action is desired and practised for many tasks. The incredible number, diversity and dynamic nature of groups make it difficult to standardise and measure achievement. Choice and level of performance measures matters in explaining differences in group achievement. Focusing on groups undertaking similar activities allows deeper analysis of performance drivers. Examining different types of groups engaged tree nurseries found that performance was not linked to any easy-to-measure group characteristic, implying that for this task dissemination need not be targeted towards particular types of groups.

Traditional cash crop production in Tanzania has been declining with time. While some natural, infrastructure and marketing factors have been known to contribute to low agricultural productivity, reasons related to accountability on the part of officials managing different organs have been little known. This paper discusses emerging accountability issues on the part of government and other service providing institutions as far as cotton production in Kilosa District and more specifically in Malui Village is concerned. A cross-sectional research design that allows collection of information at one point in time was adopted covering several cases. Data for the study were collected through interviews of key informants and farmers, physical observations, documentation and meeting with village government. The emerging findings show that limited access of smallholders to sufficient and fertile land, appropriate farm inputs and reliable markets due to lack of effective accountability on the part of local government, cotton board, cooperatives and private traders has been among the responsible factors for the declining production of cotton. Establishing the right structures and enforcement mechanisms for accountability can disentangle smallholder agriculture from persistent, chronic dissatisfactions of farmers.

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