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A MANUAL OF TOOLS FOR PARTICIPATORY R&D IN DRYLAND CROPPING AREAS Compiled and edited by R. John Petheram A MANUAL OF TOOLS FOR PARTICIPATORY R&D IN DRYLAND CROPPING AREAS A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Compiled and edited by R. John Petheram Institute of Land and Food Resources University of Melbourne, Creswick, Victoria June 2000 RIRDC Publication No. 00/… RIRDC Project No. UM38A © 2000 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 0 642 (…RIRDC to assign) ISSN 1440-6845 Tools for participatory R&D in dryland cropping areas Publication No. 00/ Project No. UM38A The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the organizations they represent. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher contact details R. John Petheram Creswick Campus Institute of Land and Food Resources University of Melbourne Creswick, Victoria 3363 Phone: 03 53214101 Fax: 03 53241194 Email: [email protected] RIRDC contact details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON, ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 Kingston, ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4539 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in June 2000. Graphic design Themeda. Printed by ……… ii FOREWORD Agricultural research and development (R&D) agencies, private sector consultants and industry organizations in Australia are embracing new paradigms in their efforts to manage change, and to overcome the perceived failings of traditional R&D methods. Some of the new approaches, such as farming systems research and participatory action research have been adapted from the field of international agricultural development, while others such as benchmarking, are drawn from other industries or from the field of management. One common feature of the new order of approaches in agricultural R&D is client participation. Another characteristic is the emphasis on co-learning between farmers and researchers and extension agents—and a movement away from reliance only on teaching and technology transfer. The outcome of this project is a Manual of Tools for Participatory R&D in Dryland Cropping Areas. The intended audience is research and extension agents and other facilitators of rural change, who seek ideas for making their experiential learning activities with farmers more participatory. The term ‘tool’ here is used very broadly, to cover a range of activities, equipment or materials that have application in participatory learning processes—from kits for testing soils, to computer software, to interactive workshops, farm trials and other events. It is intended that this manual will provide a source of ideas, materials and contacts for extension agents and other facilitators of rural change, who strive to develop more participatory and effective learning activities with farmers. The summary review of participation and extension provided in the Introduction to the manual will help users to gain an understanding of the principles of designing participatory processes in their extension work. This project was funded mainly from RIRDC Core Funds which are provided by the Federal Government. This Manual is a new addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 450 research publications, forms part of our Human Capital, Communication and Information Systems R&D program, which aims to . enhance human capital and facilitate innovation in rural industries and communities. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: . downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/Index.htm . purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/cat/contents.html Peter Core Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks are due to a large number of extension agents, consultants, and other rural professionals across Australia who offered advice on the concept, contents and layout of this manual. Those who submitted descriptions of suitable tools for the project are acknowledged as authors of papers within this ‘edited’ manual. Many declined to submit papers but supplied materials or publications, which are mentioned in the appendix. Some of the material submitted was not utilised directly in the manual but helped to give a picture of the scope of participatory (and non-participatory) extension activity across Australia. The Australasian Pacific Extension Network Newsletter and editorial staff were helpful in advertising the concept of the Manual and in seeking contributions and comment. Brendan Williams of GPS Ag and DNRE staff at Bendigo provided initial support and advice on the concept of the manual. Staff at Longerenong College and David Lawrence in Queensland have been valued colleagues in providing encouragement and useful advice. Robin Jean has been a source of valuable information and ideas on layout and presentation. iv ABBREVIATIONS AKIS Agricultural knowledge and information system AWB Australian Wheat Board BMP Best management practice CCN Cereal cyst nematode CFA Country fire authority CRC Cooperative research centre DNRE Department of Natural Resources and Environment (Victoria) DSS Decision support system EC Electrical conductivity GM Gross margins GRDC Grains Research and Development Corporation IPM Integrated pest management LIC Lower income country LMS Land Management Society LNC Lime and Nutrient Calculator NRM Natural resource management NLP National Landcare Program OHT Overhead transparency PAR Participatory action research PI Political instrument PIRD Producer initiated research and development (grants) PAR Participatory action research PRA Participatory rural appraisal RBM Rural business management RIM Ryegrass integrated management RIRDC Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation R&D Research and development TOT Transfer of technology SARDI South Australian Research and Development Institute SAS kit Salinity, acidity, sodicty kit SOI Southern oscillation index VIDA Victorian Institute for Dryland Agriculture WCFA Wimmera Conservation Farming Association WFP Whole farm planning WUE Water use efficiency v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The project commenced in 1998 with a review of the scattered and relatively recent Australian literature on ‘tools’ in effective use by extension agents and other rural facilitators in gaining participation by farmers in R&D activities. Although participatory tools and farmer learning processes are regarded by many R&D professionals as a ‘cutting edge in current R&D activity’ in the development of farming systems, little information on this topic finds its way into formal scientific publications in Australia. Therefore, much of the work for this project involved contacting agencies and individuals reported to be active in this area, and seeking their ideas and contributions of ‘descriptions of tools’—for the Manual of Tools which is the major output of this project. Rural extension professionals across Australia were invited to contribute descriptions of tools with which they had personal experience in their work with farmer or community groups. The descriptions submitted were edited in a fairly standard four-page format, for presentation in the Manual of Tools for Participatory R&D in Dryland Cropping Areas. The authors were asked to supply information on original sources of materials used in their tools, and on references and contact addresses. The term ‘tool’ is used here very broadly, to cover a wide range of activities, equipment or materials that have application in participatory learning processes—from kits for testing soils, to computer software, to interactive workshops and other events. Two main criteria were adopted in the selection of tools for the manual: . evidence of previous successful use in farmer learning activities; and . evidence of a clearly participatory process. Some tools were excluded because they were considered to represent examples of interactive teaching, rather than participatory learning. Advice was received form extension professionals and rural consultants on application of these criteria, and on the concept, design, and format of the manual. The tools are arranged in the manual under ten categories: . crop nutrition and disease; . weed management; . pasture management; . community planning and natural resource management; . soil management; . farm monitoring; . on-farm trials and demonstrations; . farm family business, marketing and skills; . climate and risk; . participatory field visits. vi Although the objective of this project was to produce a manual of tools, the research revealed interesting information on the range of tools being used, some trends in participatory R&D and the importance of process versus technical tools themselves. Tool types encountered in the study included: . kits containing equipment for use by farmers in measurement of key farm variables, in a group—and in some cases at home (e.g. soil monitoring kits); . mechanical models for use by groups learning about a complex concept (e.g. the SOI); . icons for use in explaining a mechanical concept (e.g. sponges for soil water