Why Do Information Gaps Persist in African Smallholder Agriculture? Perspectives from Farmers Lacking Exposure to Conservation Agriculture

Autor/inn/en	Brown, Brendan; Llewellyn, Rick; Nuberg, Ian
Titel	Why Do Information Gaps Persist in African Smallholder Agriculture? Perspectives from Farmers Lacking Exposure to Conservation Agriculture
Quelle	In: Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 24 (2018) 2, S.191-208 (18 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Brown, Brendan) ORCID (Llewellyn, Rick) ORCID (Nuberg, Ian)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1389-224X
DOI	10.1080/1389224X.2018.1429283
Schlagwörter	Agricultural Occupations; Access to Information; Conservation (Environment); Access to Education; Case Studies; Agricultural Production; Semi Structured Interviews; Foreign Countries; Extension Education; Attitude Measures; Knowledge Level; Statistical Analysis; Individual Characteristics; Gender Differences; Cultural Influences; Costs; Africa; Ethiopia; Kenya; Uganda; Malawi; Zambia; Mozambique + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Agriculture; Occupation; Landwirtschaft; Beruf; Landwirtschaftlicher Beruf; Conservation; Environment; Konservierung; Bewahung; Umwelt; Education; Access; Bildung; Zugang; Bildungszugang; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Production; Produktion; Agrarproduktion; Landwirtschaftliche Produktion; Ausland; Erweitertes Bildungsangebot; Wissensbasis; Statistische Analyse; Personality characteristic; Personality traits; Persönlichkeitsmerkmal; Geschlechterkonflikt; Cultural influence; Kultureinfluss; Cost; Kosten; Afrika; Äthiopien; Kenia; Sambia; Mosambik
Abstract	Purpose: To explore why substantial agricultural information gaps persist in African smallholder farming communities and how to reduce them. Design/methodology/approach: Using conservation agriculture (CA) as a case study, we deeply explore with 29 smallholder farmers why they are yet to obtain sufficient information to enable practice evaluation. Findings: Respondents asserted that their lack of information on CA was not reflective of a lack of interest in obtaining it, but of the unavailability and inaccessibility of learning opportunities. A deeper analysis revealed an underlying passive approach to seeking information and culture of financial expectancy. Practical implications: If extension systems are to catalyse broader sustainable intensification, we find the need for emphasis on (1) more inclusive extension mechanisms; (2) education of farmers about demand-driven extension; and (3) revision of direct input provision to lead farmers. Theoretical implications: While not contesting the value of farmer-to-farmer (F2F) extension systems for those socially connected to lead farmers, we find four research questions for further exploration regarding the practical application of F2F mechanisms that may impede their broader effectiveness, namely (1) Is extension coverage sufficient? (2) Do farmers understand demand-driven extension systems? (3) Do current incentive structures complicate farmer information seeking behaviour? and (4) Do current mechanisms encourage social stratification? Originality/Value: To date, adoption studies have largely utilised quantitative, econometric lenses that generally assume farmers are sufficiently aware of the technologies in question. Due to our in-depth qualitative analysis, we provide novel insights into how to close informational gaps that hamper efforts to increase the food and livelihood security of African smallholder farmers. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01