Journal
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
Volume 125, Issue -, Pages 63-73Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2013.12.002
Keywords
Agriculture; Pastoral farmers; Learning; Innovation; Community of practice; Adoption
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Funding
- Massey University
- Gravida (the National Research Centre for Growth and Development)
- C Alma Baker Trust
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Historically, farmers are slow to adopt new and evidence-based pastoral farming practices. While there is a long history of research on extension and technology transfer to farmers, a fresh and innovative approach is needed to ensure that farmers learn about, adopt and adapt highly effective technologies. Little is known about how pastoral farmers learn about new evidence-based ideas - insights that need to inform the design of new models of extension. An 18-month pilot study brought together agricultural scientists and social scientists to investigate how farmers learn and effective ways to support their learning. An innovative participatory programme was designed for 18 farmers to promote improved management practices of herb-mix pastures containing chicory, plantain and red and white clover. Results showed that farmers' learning was promoted when they: (1) participated in a learning community with agricultural scientists, (2) made connections between evidence-based ideas and their own farming systems, (3) were interested in the learning focus and became part of a shared inquiry, and (4) revisited important concepts and engaged in a range of multi-sensorial activities that were aligned to important pastoral outcomes. These findings are examined against contemporary educational theories to suggest a set of principles to develop educationally-informed and innovative approaches to farmer learning. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved,
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