Waters-Bayer, Ann (author), van Veldhuizen, Laurens (author), and Reij, Chris (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
2001
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D01215
Notes:
Pages 347-354 in Waters-Bayer (eds.), Farmer innovation in Africa: a source of inspiration for agricultural development. Earthscan Publications, Ltd., London, England. 362 pages.
7 pages, Agricultural extension is the medium through which external agricultural technologies have been transferred to and transplanted in Africa to improve agricultural performance. Over a period of close to a century, different agricultural extension models have been proposed but their structure and content has virtually been the same: top-down, linear, non-participatory transfer of technology with no feedback loops for reverse diffusion. This presumably explains the poor performance of Africa’s agriculture and the scale of food security challenges facing the continent. In this review paper, we trace the history of agricultural extension and examine various agricultural extension delivery models to identify their major strengths and weaknesses, using Ghana and Burkina Faso as case studies. We then review the most recent literature in the field about the philosophy, scope, content, delivery, and outcomes of agricultural extension. The conclusion that agricultural extension has consistently remained out of sync with the needs and aspirations of stallholder farmers was reached. Smallholder farmers are now calling for new agricultural extension delivery models that are truly farmer-led, indigenous knowledge-based, context-specific, culturally-relevant and environmentally-sustainable to guarantee efficient farming systems into the future.
Evans, cited reference, A were conscious effort to develop appropriate research methodology in developing countries is advocated to provide alternatives to conventional social science methods. It is incumbent upon the people asking questions to use elicitation techniques which are appropriate to the cultural context and tailored to the abilities and requirements of the local community. In this way, interactions between interested parties can be structured so that the initiative and answering questions rests with local people. Field trials at Oluwatedo,, Oyo State, Nigeria, adapted Ayo board to elicit farmers perceptions of weeds and pest. Ayo is the Yoruba version of a popular African game, which has its roots in the aged Egyptian game of men cannot Ayo board format was used and conjunction with repertory grid methodology to focus discussion on farming problems. Numerous scenarios can be devised using the format to generate genuine dialogue between farmers and outside research workers.
traditional knowledge, Evans, cited reference, This paper focuses on the environmental knowledge of farming communities in Africa. How can the researcher investigate such knowledge? How could be used in rule development processes? The scope in limitation of farmers, knowledge concerning agricultural pests is illustrated in the case study. The process of knowledge formation is a consequence of the kinds of observation, the former is able to make. Inaccuraacies may stem from observational limitations. On the other hand, the farmers own point of view reflects dimensions of experience of which the research or extension agent may be unaware. These dimensions may be vital to the success or failure of rural development schemes, and should be systematically incorporated into research and development process. This in itself implies new approaches to eliciting information, which hand over the initiative and interviews to respond reportory credit analysis is discussed as an example of a relevant methodology.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C22092
Notes:
Pages 215-226 in Charles Okigbo and Festus Eribo (eds.), Development and communication in Africa. Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Lanham, Maryland. 249 pages.
