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Participatory research: A farmer's perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Gordon Watkins
Gordon Watkins
Affiliation:
Organic farmer, Rivendell Gardens, Route 1, Parthenon, AR 72666.
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Abstract

U.S. land grant institutions currently follow? “top-down” model of research and extension in which farmers are the passive recipients of research results based on perceived needs which have been identified, prioritized, and investigated by scientists with little input from the end users. This exclusionary approach was designed to meet the needs of large scale, mono-cultural farming systems. However small scale, diversified, integrated systems are better served by a more participatory approach to research and extension in which farmers are actively involved as peers of researchers and extensionists in identifying research needs, designing and implementing experimental protocols, and delivering research results. This paper provides a brief outline of an alternative to the top-down approach termed “Farmers-First-and-Last”, developed and tested by Robert Chambers of the Institute of Developmental Studies, which has been effective in working with diversified farmers in developing countries.

Keywords

participatory researchpeer level participationclient orientationfarmers-first-and-lastRobert Chambers
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 5 , Issue 4 , December 1990 , pp. 161 - 162
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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References

1.Chambers, R., and Ghildyal, R. P.. 1985. Agricultural Research for Resource-Poor Farmers: The Farmer-First-and-Last Model. Agricultural Administration 20:1–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Chambers, R., and Jiggins, J.. 1986. Agricultural Research for Resource-Poor Farmers: A Parsimonious Paradigm. IDS Discussion Paper 220, Institute of Developmental Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.Google Scholar
3.Chambers, R. 1988a. Farmer First: A Practical Paradigm for the Third Agriculture. Institute of Developmental Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.Google Scholar
4.Chambers, R. 1988b. To Make the Flip: Strategy for Participatory R and D for Undervalued Agriculture. Institute of Developmental Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.Google Scholar