Scaling-up Sustainable Land Management Practices through the Concept of the Rural Resource Centre: Reconciling Farmers' Interests with Research Agendas

Abstract

Purpose: Formal agricultural research has generated vast amount of knowledge and fundamental insights on land management, but their low adoption has been attributed to the use of public extension approach. This research aims to address whether and how full participation of farmers through the concept of Rural Resource Centre (RRC) provides new insights for the development of alternative and farmers-based extension methods.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Using the Concept of RRC, this research assesses the role of farmers in on-farm demonstrations and scaling-up of land management practices, and investigates effective ways to enhance beneficial interactions between researchers, extension workers and farmers in view of improving adoption.

Findings: The findings suggest that farmers can effectively participate in demonstrations and scaling-up of agricultural practices. This participation is enhanced by judicious incentives such as higher crop yields that motivate farmers and influence adoption. The current success of the approach stems from the fact that farmers, extension workers and researchers jointly implement the activities and their different aims were achieved simultaneously: scientific results for researchers, better agricultural practices for extension workers, and economic success and free choice for farmers.

Practical implications: This research concludes that farmers have the capacities to play an innermost role in demonstrations and scaling-up of agricultural practices. However, there is a need to build and strengthen their capacities to facilitate their participation and contribution.

Originality/Value: The article demonstrates the value of the preponderant role of farmers in on-farm demonstrations and scaling-up practices by exhibiting the beneficial interactions between researchers, extension workers and farmers.     

Éducation, Dialogue Interculturel et Société de L’information

EDUCATION, INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE AND THE INFORMATION SOCIETY – The present study examines the contribution of education to developing the potentials of intercultural dialogue. The author reflects on educational means for distinguishing between, on one hand, universalization and, on the other, the elimination of particularity at a time of increasing cultural exchange. He presents some thoughts on the fundamentals of ethics for intercultural dialogue at school, examining difficulties in multicultural dialogue or its eventual risks. The study also addresses the conditions for producing and spreading educational messages, their quality, and the content necessary for reinforcing dialogue, as well as the interconnections between education and technology. Finally, the author identifies possible ways to avoid transforming dialogue into an ideological instrument or accepting an exclusive economic, financial or technical logic.     

éducation, Dialogue Interculturel et Société de L’information

EDUCATION, INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE AND THE INFORMATION SOCIETY – The present study examines the contribution of education to developing the potentials of intercultural dialogue. The author reflects on educational means for distinguishing between, on one hand, universalization and, on the other, the elimination of particularity at a time of increasing cultural exchange. He presents some thoughts on the fundamentals of ethics for intercultural dialogue at school, examining difficulties in multicultural dialogue or its eventual risks. The study also addresses the conditions for producing and spreading educational messages, their quality, and the content necessary for reinforcing dialogue, as well as the interconnections between education and technology. Finally, the author identifies possible ways to avoid transforming dialogue into an ideological instrument or accepting an exclusive economic, financial or technical logic.