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: D00527
Notes:
Pages 70-73 in Charles T. Hein and Keith K. Kanyogonya (eds.), Rural press for village post-literacy literature. Afrolit Paper No. 5. Fifth Biennial Afrolit Society Pan-African Literacy Workshop Report, Afrolit Society, Nairobi, Kenya. 93 pages