The adoption of alley farming and Mucuna : Lessons for research, development and extension

This paper evaluates the utility of the `learning selection' model of the early adoption process, based on a constructivist conceptual framework, to explain farmers' adoption and rejection of two soil-improving technologies alley farming and the use of Mucuna cover crops. The analysis showed that Mu...

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Autores principales: Douthwaite, Boru, Manyong, Victor M., Keatinge, J.D.H., Chianu, Jonas N.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2002
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44151
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author Douthwaite, Boru
Manyong, Victor M.
Keatinge, J.D.H.
Chianu, Jonas N.
author_browse Chianu, Jonas N.
Douthwaite, Boru
Keatinge, J.D.H.
Manyong, Victor M.
author_facet Douthwaite, Boru
Manyong, Victor M.
Keatinge, J.D.H.
Chianu, Jonas N.
author_sort Douthwaite, Boru
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper evaluates the utility of the `learning selection' model of the early adoption process, based on a constructivist conceptual framework, to explain farmers' adoption and rejection of two soil-improving technologies alley farming and the use of Mucuna cover crops. The analysis showed that Mucuna was more successful than alley farming because: (1) early research and extension took farmers' perceptions more into account when changing from recommending Mucuna for soil improvement to weed suppression; (2) it was then introduced into areas where there was a real need for the technology; (3) it gave short-term benefits; and (4) it was more amenable to farmer modification and adaptation. The analysis also provided support for the conclusion reached elsewhere that separate trials are needed to gather biophysical data, where researchers need to keep a high degree of control, as opposed to adoptability trials where farmers must be able to manage the technology as they wish. The paper also used the learning selection model to derive research and extension guidelines. The close match between these guidelines and the literature suggests that a constructivist perspective in general, and the learning selection model in particular, can provide a useful `road map' to plan and carry out research and extension.
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spelling CGSpace441512024-08-29T11:41:25Z The adoption of alley farming and Mucuna : Lessons for research, development and extension Douthwaite, Boru Manyong, Victor M. Keatinge, J.D.H. Chianu, Jonas N. alley cropping mucuna cover plants farmers innovation adoption farmer participation technology transfer extension activities learning cultivo entre líneas plantas de cobertura agricultores adopción de innovaciones participación de agricultores transferencia de tecnología extensión aprendizaje forestry This paper evaluates the utility of the `learning selection' model of the early adoption process, based on a constructivist conceptual framework, to explain farmers' adoption and rejection of two soil-improving technologies alley farming and the use of Mucuna cover crops. The analysis showed that Mucuna was more successful than alley farming because: (1) early research and extension took farmers' perceptions more into account when changing from recommending Mucuna for soil improvement to weed suppression; (2) it was then introduced into areas where there was a real need for the technology; (3) it gave short-term benefits; and (4) it was more amenable to farmer modification and adaptation. The analysis also provided support for the conclusion reached elsewhere that separate trials are needed to gather biophysical data, where researchers need to keep a high degree of control, as opposed to adoptability trials where farmers must be able to manage the technology as they wish. The paper also used the learning selection model to derive research and extension guidelines. The close match between these guidelines and the literature suggests that a constructivist perspective in general, and the learning selection model in particular, can provide a useful `road map' to plan and carry out research and extension. 2002 2014-10-02T08:33:20Z 2014-10-02T08:33:20Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44151 en Limited Access Springer
spellingShingle alley cropping
mucuna
cover plants
farmers
innovation adoption
farmer participation
technology transfer
extension activities
learning
cultivo entre líneas
plantas de cobertura
agricultores
adopción de innovaciones
participación de agricultores
transferencia de tecnología
extensión
aprendizaje
forestry
Douthwaite, Boru
Manyong, Victor M.
Keatinge, J.D.H.
Chianu, Jonas N.
The adoption of alley farming and Mucuna : Lessons for research, development and extension
title The adoption of alley farming and Mucuna : Lessons for research, development and extension
title_full The adoption of alley farming and Mucuna : Lessons for research, development and extension
title_fullStr The adoption of alley farming and Mucuna : Lessons for research, development and extension
title_full_unstemmed The adoption of alley farming and Mucuna : Lessons for research, development and extension
title_short The adoption of alley farming and Mucuna : Lessons for research, development and extension
title_sort adoption of alley farming and mucuna lessons for research development and extension
topic alley cropping
mucuna
cover plants
farmers
innovation adoption
farmer participation
technology transfer
extension activities
learning
cultivo entre líneas
plantas de cobertura
agricultores
adopción de innovaciones
participación de agricultores
transferencia de tecnología
extensión
aprendizaje
forestry
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44151
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