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32. Effect of virtual social networks on entrepreneurial behaviour of agriculture students in Iran
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Farani, Ahmad Y. (author), Karimi, Saeid (author), Izadi, Nasim (author), and Ataei, Pouria (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2019
- Published:
- Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 18 Document Number: D10496
- Journal Title:
- Applied Economics
- Journal Title Details:
- 51(21): 2326-2335
- Notes:
- 11 pages., via online journal., The main purpose of this research was to investigate those factors influencing the entrepreneurial behaviour of agriculture students who were members of entrepreneurship learning and training groups in virtual communication networks. In doing this, a conceptual model was developed to examine the effects of characteristics of entrepreneurship virtual social networks and the degree of participation in these networks through entrepreneurial thinking and decision on entrepreneurial behaviour. The study population of this descriptive-correlational research was made up of 180 members of virtual social groups exchanging knowledge of entrepreneurship in WhatsApp and Viber networks. A total of 126 usable questionnaires were collected. Results indicated that participation in virtual social networks had both direct and indirect effects – through entrepreneurial thinking and decisions – on entrepreneurial behaviour. However, characteristics of entrepreneurship virtual networks had only indirect effect on entrepreneurial behaviour via entrepreneurial thinking. The study highlights certain implications for policymakers, (potential) entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship support organizations, researchers and underlines the potential of virtual social networking for promoting entrepreneurship.
33. Empowering farmers to learn and innovate through integration of video-mediated and face-to-face extension approaches: the case of rice farmers in Uganda
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Karubanga, Gabriel (author), Kibwika, Paul (author), Okry, Florent (author), and Sseguya, Haroon (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016
- Published:
- Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 38 Document Number: D10697
- Journal Title:
- Cogent Food & Agriculture
- Journal Title Details:
- 2(1): 1-12
- Notes:
- 12 pages., Article #: 1274944, via online journal., Agricultural extension is perceived as the primary mechanism through which farmers expand their ability to adopt and adapt new technologies and ideas. The use of Information and Communication Technology like videos in extension is being fronted as an alternative to the conventional Face-to face extension approach (F2FEA). A comparison of effectiveness of the Video-mediated extension approach (VMEA) and F2FEA among rice farmers in two districts of Uganda challenges the independent use of the two approaches. A cross-sectional survey of two nonequivalent groups subjected to VMEA in Kamwenge and F2FEA in Hoima districts was conducted with 196 farmers. The results indicate greater potential for integration of VMEA and F2FEA as the two are complementary in the various stages of the farmer learning framework developed. VMEA is significantly better in awareness creation and sharing of knowledge and experiences while the F2FEA is significantly better at enhancing knowledge acquisition and retention and application. The relative strengths of VMEA and F2FEA can best be harnessed through integration of the approaches. The integration will not solve the problem of large farmer to extension ratio common in developing countries but will rather make the extension workers more effective. The integration however calls for rethinking of institutional arrangement, roles of the extension worker, and pragmatic retooling of the extension worker to embrace social learning principles that empower farmers to be more self-directed learners and innovators.
34. Establishing a knowledge sharing network in a region with an oral culture
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Dandache, Layal (author)
- Format:
- Article
- Publication Date:
- 2013
- Published:
- International
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 192 Document Number: D03421
- Notes:
- Online via AgriCultures Network, Wageningen, Netherlands. Written during a workshop to document lessons learnt in rural development in Sudan, conducted by ILEIA [Centre for learning on sustainable agriculture] for IFAD [International Fund for Agricultural Development]., Features experiences of KariaNet (Knowledge Access for Interconnected Areas Network)in establishing a network around relatively new concepts such as knowledge management, knowledge sharing and communities of practice. 4 pages.
35. Exchanging knowledge to improve organic arable farming:an evaluation of knowledge exchange tools with farmer groups across Europe
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Bliss, Katie (author), Susanne Padel (author), Beth Cullen (author), Charline Ducottet (author), Samantha Mullender (author), Ilse A. Rasmussen (author), and Bram Moeskops (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2018-12
- Published:
- Springer
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 138 Document Number: D11505
- Journal Title:
- Organic Agriculture
- Journal Title Details:
- 9:383–398
- Notes:
- 16 pages., via online journal., Organic farming is knowledge intensive. To support farmers in improving yields and organic agriculture systems, there is a need to improve how knowledge is shared. There is an established culture of sharing ideas, successes and failures in farming. The internet and information technologies open-up new opportunities for knowledge exchange involving farmers, researchers, advisors and other practitioners. The OK-Net Arable brought together practitioners from regional Farmer Innovation Groups across Europe in a multi-actor project to explore how online knowledge exchange could be improved. Feedback from the groups was obtained for 35 ‘tools’, defined as end-user materials, such as technical guides, videos and websites informing about practices in organic agriculture. The groups also selected one practice to test on farms, sharing their experiences with others through workshops, exchange visits and through videos. Farmers valued the same key elements in face-to-face exchanges (workshops and visits) as in online materials. These were the opportunity for visual observation, deeper understanding of the context in which a practice was being tried and details about what worked and what did not work. Videos, decision support tools and social media can provide useful mechanisms for taking knowledge exchange online, enabling farmers and researchers to share experiences and practical implications. Visual information, economics, details of the context, successes and failures were considered to be critical factors in good knowledge exchange tools. Online platforms and forums should not be expected to replace but rather to complement face to face knowledge exchange in improving organic farming.
36. Experiencing biodiversity as a bridge over the science-society communication gap
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- MEINARD, YVES (author), QUÉTIER, FABIEN (author), and Gereco, Espace Saint-Germain Bâtiment le Saxo, 30 avenue du Général Leclerc Institut für Evolutionsbiologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Zürich Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, UMR 5553 du CNRS, Université Joseph Fourier, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 09 Biotope, 22 Boulevard du Maréchal Foch, BP 58
- Format:
- Journal article
- Language:
- English with Spanish / English abstract
- Publication Date:
- 2014-06
- Published:
- USA: Wiley-Blackwell
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 164 Document Number: D08304
- Journal Title:
- Conservation Biology
- Journal Title Details:
- 28 (3): 705-712
37. Exploring Science Communication Effectiveness in the U.S. Federal Government Research Process: A Case Study with the U.S. Livestock Producers’ Antimicrobial Use Research
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Abrams, Katie (author), Bonser, Chelsea (author), and McCord, Amber (author)
- Format:
- Journal Article
- Publication Date:
- 2020-12
- Published:
- United States: New Prairie Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12028
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Applied Communications
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol 104, Issue 4
- Notes:
- 20 pages, Several U.S. federal government agencies collect and disseminate scientific data on a national scale to provide insights for agricultural trade, research, consumer health, and policy. Occasionally, such data have potential to provide insights to advance conversations and actions around critical and controversial issues in the broad agricultural system. Such government studies provide evidence for others to discuss, further interpret, and act upon, but to do so, they must be communicated well. When the research intersects with contentious socio-political issues, successful communication not only depends on tactics, but as this study illuminates, it also depends on relationship quality between research producers, study participants, and end-users. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducted first-of-its kind national studies on cattle and swine producers’ use of antimicrobials. The use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture is considered a critical and controversial issue pertaining to antimicrobial resistance. In recognition of the anticipated wide-ranging interests in these studies, APHIS sought to understand stakeholders’ perceptions and experiences of the federal government research process and products with aim of improving their science communication and relations. This study reports on findings from in-depth interviews with 14 stakeholders involved in the antimicrobial use studies to make recommendations for improving communication and relations between the agency and its stakeholders. From this research, we draw implications that are transferrable to numerous types of government science communication efforts within agricultural sectors.
38. Exploring Science Communication Effectiveness in the U.S. Federal Government Research Process: A Case Study with the U.S. Livestock Producers’ Antimicrobial Use Research
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Abrams, Katie (author), Bonser, Chelsea (author), and McCord, Amber (author)
- Format:
- Journal Article
- Publication Date:
- 2020-12-01
- Published:
- United States: New Prairie Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12092
- Journal Title:
- Journal for Applied Communications
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol 104, Issue 4
- Notes:
- 20 pgs., Several U.S. federal government agencies collect and disseminate scientific data on a national scale to provide insights for agricultural trade, research, consumer health, and policy. Occasionally, such data have potential to provide insights to advance conversations and actions around critical and controversial issues in the broad agricultural system. Such government studies provide evidence for others to discuss, further interpret, and act upon, but to do so, they must be communicated well. When the research intersects with contentious socio-political issues, successful communication not only depends on tactics, but as this study illuminates, it also depends on relationship quality between research producers, study participants, and end-users. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducted first-of-its kind national studies on cattle and swine producers’ use of antimicrobials. The use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture is considered a critical and controversial issue pertaining to antimicrobial resistance. In recognition of the anticipated wide-ranging interests in these studies, APHIS sought to understand stakeholders’ perceptions and experiences of the federal government research process and products with aim of improving their science communication and relations. This study reports on findings from in-depth interviews with 14 stakeholders involved in the antimicrobial use studies to make recommendations for improving communication and relations between the agency and its stakeholders. From this research, we draw implications that are transferrable to numerous types of government science communication efforts within agricultural sectors.
39. Extension and training practices: challenges for smallholder cattle farmers' community in Thailand
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Jiumpanyarach, W. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2018
- Published:
- Pakistan: eSci Journals Publishing
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 124 Document Number: D11225
- Journal Title:
- International Journal of Agricultural Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 6(2): 117-127
- Notes:
- 11 pages., ISSN : 2311-8547, via online journal., The objective of this study was to analyze the impacts of an extension program (education and training practice) as perceived by smallholder cattle farmers to develop their smallholder farm practices and reduce the costs of production. The study used data from 22 participant smallholder farmers with backgrounding cattle systems. In-depth interview questionnaires were used and collected before and after providing the extension program in Saraburi province, Thailand. Two leaders of this group were selected for observation and as farm models. Environmental differences were investigated during the rainy, winter and summer seasons. This study detailed the socioeconomics of the smallholders, the characteristics and management of livestock farms. The satisfaction levels of the extension programs were also analyzed. The benefits and costs of this program were examined and developed after the program finished. The study found backgrounding cattle farms was a major livelihood within the community. The community was of low income and living in poverty. The farmers were at high levels of risk in terms of feeding costs and cattle market. The program provided knowledge to be enable the farmers to understand and develop the farm systems. Most of the smallholders agreed on the good-practice farming and group activities. The farm leaders influenced their perceptions. The farmers were encouraged to do activities together: learning cattle market information, good-practice cattle farms, and cattle rations management. The success of the extension program improved the economic community, community relationships, and community attitudes. The extension program applied to a pro-active policy. Collaboration learning activities for smallholders benefit the farmers' community. This program improves economic relationships, attitudes, and builds a sustainable agricultural community.
40. Factors affecting performance of agricultural extension: evidence from Democratic Republic of Congo
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Ragasa, Catherina (author), Ulimwengo, John (author), Randriamamonjy, Josee (author), Badibanga, Thaddee (author), and International Food Policy Research Institution Washington, DC office Western and Central Africa Regional Office
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-04
- Published:
- Netherlands: Taylor and Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 108 Document Number: D10953
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 22(2) : 113-143
- Notes:
- 32 pages, via online journal article, Purpose: As part of the institutional reforms and agricultural restructuring in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this paper provides an assessment of the performance of the agricultural extension system as well as factors explaining it. Method: This paper involves key informants’ interviews and surveys of 107 extension organizations and 162 extension agents in randomly selected 156 villages, analyzed using qualitative and logistic regression methods. Findings and Practical Implications: Results show that despite having one of the highest extension agent-to-farmer ratio and a pluralistic extension system, DRC fails to deliver knowledge and technologies to rural areas due to lack of coordination, no unified and clear policy and mandate, lack of funding, aging and low competencies of agents, and lack of mobility and interactions of agents with key actors. This paper complements findings by other studies that number of agents is not a sufficient indication of performance, but an effective system needs to focus on the enabling environment for agents to be motivated to work as mandated. In this paper, enabling conditions that are found to be statistically significant are external funding, enforcement of performance targets, systems of rewards and sanctions, mobility to foster linkages, and skills development. Originality: This paper contributes by: (1) analyzing a cross-section of various organizations and agents to identify factors that explain variations in performance in a statistical and systematic approach; (2) providing insights on how to prioritize investments and options for a fragile state like DRC, with weak infrastructure and institutional capacity and with a long history of neglect for their national extension system; and (3) illustrating how a rich and well-cited conceptual framework can be implemented empirically to provide policy options for a country like DRC.