Combining experiential and social learning approaches for crop disease management in a smallholder context: a complex socio-ecological problem

Effective management of crop diseases is a key precondition for sustainable crop production and to improve food security globally. However, learning approaches that improve smallholder farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices to deal with crop diseases by fostering social and technical innovat...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Tafesse, S., Mierlo, B. van, Leeuwis, Cees, Lie, R., Lemaga, B., Struik, P.C.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/111217
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author Tafesse, S.
Mierlo, B. van
Leeuwis, Cees
Lie, R.
Lemaga, B.
Struik, P.C.
author_browse Leeuwis, Cees
Lemaga, B.
Lie, R.
Mierlo, B. van
Struik, P.C.
Tafesse, S.
author_facet Tafesse, S.
Mierlo, B. van
Leeuwis, Cees
Lie, R.
Lemaga, B.
Struik, P.C.
author_sort Tafesse, S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Effective management of crop diseases is a key precondition for sustainable crop production and to improve food security globally. However, learning approaches that improve smallholder farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices to deal with crop diseases by fostering social and technical innovations are seldom studied. A study was conducted to examine: (1) how a combination of experiential and social learning approaches influences potato farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices in bacterial wilt and its management in Ethiopia and (2) the implications of combining the two approaches for complex crop disease management in smallholder context. Data were derived from face-to-face in-depth interviews, reflective workshops, and participant observations. The findings showed that farmers’ knowledge and perceptions about disease incidence, the pathogen that causes the disease, its spreading mechanisms, host plants, and disease diagnosis were changed. Farmers’ practices in management of the disease were also improved. Learning about the cause of the disease stimulated the identification of locally relevant spreading mechanisms and the feasibility of a range of recommended disease management methods. Moreover, farmers recognized their interdependency, role, and responsibility to cooperate to reduce the disease pressure in their community. We conclude that learning interventions aiming to improve smallholder farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices to deal with complex crop diseases need to combine experiential and social learning approaches and consider farmers’ local knowledge.
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spelling CGSpace1112172025-03-11T12:14:31Z Combining experiential and social learning approaches for crop disease management in a smallholder context: a complex socio-ecological problem Tafesse, S. Mierlo, B. van Leeuwis, Cees Lie, R. Lemaga, B. Struik, P.C. bacterial diseases disease control Effective management of crop diseases is a key precondition for sustainable crop production and to improve food security globally. However, learning approaches that improve smallholder farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices to deal with crop diseases by fostering social and technical innovations are seldom studied. A study was conducted to examine: (1) how a combination of experiential and social learning approaches influences potato farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices in bacterial wilt and its management in Ethiopia and (2) the implications of combining the two approaches for complex crop disease management in smallholder context. Data were derived from face-to-face in-depth interviews, reflective workshops, and participant observations. The findings showed that farmers’ knowledge and perceptions about disease incidence, the pathogen that causes the disease, its spreading mechanisms, host plants, and disease diagnosis were changed. Farmers’ practices in management of the disease were also improved. Learning about the cause of the disease stimulated the identification of locally relevant spreading mechanisms and the feasibility of a range of recommended disease management methods. Moreover, farmers recognized their interdependency, role, and responsibility to cooperate to reduce the disease pressure in their community. We conclude that learning interventions aiming to improve smallholder farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices to deal with complex crop diseases need to combine experiential and social learning approaches and consider farmers’ local knowledge. 2020-09 2021-02-09T04:54:01Z 2021-02-09T04:54:01Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/111217 en Open Access Springer Tafesse, S., Van Mierlo, B., Leeuwis, C., Lie, R., Lemaga, B., Struik, P. C. (2020). Combining experiential and social learning approaches for crop disease management in a smallholder context: a complex socio-ecological problem. Socio-Ecological Practice Research. 2(3). pp. 265-282.
spellingShingle bacterial diseases
disease control
Tafesse, S.
Mierlo, B. van
Leeuwis, Cees
Lie, R.
Lemaga, B.
Struik, P.C.
Combining experiential and social learning approaches for crop disease management in a smallholder context: a complex socio-ecological problem
title Combining experiential and social learning approaches for crop disease management in a smallholder context: a complex socio-ecological problem
title_full Combining experiential and social learning approaches for crop disease management in a smallholder context: a complex socio-ecological problem
title_fullStr Combining experiential and social learning approaches for crop disease management in a smallholder context: a complex socio-ecological problem
title_full_unstemmed Combining experiential and social learning approaches for crop disease management in a smallholder context: a complex socio-ecological problem
title_short Combining experiential and social learning approaches for crop disease management in a smallholder context: a complex socio-ecological problem
title_sort combining experiential and social learning approaches for crop disease management in a smallholder context a complex socio ecological problem
topic bacterial diseases
disease control
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/111217
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