PARTICIPATION – many dimensions and all

essential for planning

Fayoum, Egypt

Onion Harvest Fayoum, Egypt 2004

Sharing

Talking with family, friends, neighbours

These hands that translate practice into knowledge

If you want to change or develop

agriculture, you need farmers. And if

you want farmers, you need three

things:

1. A group of possible farmers you can identify

and reach.

2. A group of farmers with a problem they want

to solve using a shared solution.

3. A group of farmers with the desire and ability

to spend time & money to solve that problem.

National Regional Farmer

Optional

Collective

Authority

Type of extension approach

Optional

Collective (eg regional planning)

Authority (eg biosecurity)

Providing data the participants are observers

and informants

Interpreting data the participants are interpreters

Planning change the participants are planners and

decision-makers

Implementation the participants are

implementers

Managing the process of data

collection and interpretation

the participants are facilitators

Designing the overall study the participants are researchers

or co-researchers

Being kept informed about the

study and its implications

the participants are recipients

only

Dimensions of participation

After Bob Dick, University Queensland

the participants are informants Who has info, do I need to sample,

what info do I need?

the participants are interpreters Comment on meaning of information

and often the language of participants

the participants are planners and

decision-makers

What do they think might work in their

system – what do they want?

the participants are implementers Who is in the position to do this, and

who is motivated to do it

the participants are facilitators Who has the skills and motivation?

the participants are researchers or

co-researchers

Learning to manage research needs;

simple comparisons; data gathering

the participants are recipients only Sometimes money/resources limiting

so only some interested people can

be involved

Dimensions of participation

After Bob Dick, University Queensland

Site factors – crop,

soil, farmer,

weather,

technology,

finances

Action – crop

program for current

season

Outcome –

productivity,

profitability,

environmental

impact

Output – what we

will do at this site

this year

Decision support

– participatory

management &

adaptive research

FEEDBACK

Participation in Action

General awareness

Conscious decision

to trial the

technology

Modifying and

adapting to suit

local conditions –

ongoing process

Acquiring practical

experiences

Seeking additional

information and

practical

knowledge

Testing

outcomes

Sharing practical solutions

and experiences

Consultation with

local champions;

building credibility for

technology

Additional

information sought

from credible

sources

Confidence to try

technology

generated

Observing what is

happening “over the

fence”; capturing the

practical

General information

providers, media,

consultants, advisers

Real Participation

Dr Jay Cummins, 2010

Develop a participatory culture

Trials to compare new with old to allow rapid visualisation of change

Mix up staff involved in program to share in all experiences

Share change and adaptation tactics with farmers & other stakeholders

Observe and listen to how farmers are responding to new ideas

FarmersNew

opportunity

Simplifying Participation

Arab Republic of Egypt

Australian Government

Rural Solutions South Australia