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Strengthening 'folk ecology': community-based learning for integrated soil fertility management, western Kenya
- Source :
- International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability. 4(2):154-168
- Publication Year :
- 2006
-
Abstract
- Farmers and researchers in western Kenya have used community-based learning approaches to jointly develop a `dynamic expertise¿ of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM). This transformative learning approach builds on farmers' `folk ecology¿ and outsiders' knowledge, taking action research on natural resource management beyond methods that are descriptive (ethnopedology) or curriculum-driven (farmer field schools). The paper presents insights from a project's experience of applying the strengthening `folk ecology¿ approach in western Kenya, with emphasis on the community-based learning process, collective and individual experimentation, the power dynamics of farmer research groups, and learning from the farmer¿researcher interface. Farmer groups have been empowered by this approach but diversification into non-soil activities highlights the limitations of experimentation and the challenges of scaling up participatory action research
- Subjects :
- experimenteel veldonderzoek
natuurlijke hulpbronnen
knowledge
hulpbronnenbeheer
field experimentation
farmers
CERES
afrika
bodembeheer
research workers
Leerstoelgroep Technologie en agrarische ontwikkeling
boeren
africa
onderzoekers
Technology and Agrarian Development
resource management
indigenous knowledge
natural resources
soil management
traditional technology
kennis
inheemse kennis
traditionele technologie
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14735903
- Volume :
- 4
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
- Accession number :
- edsair.dris...00893..9c31de43f276a469107b3603756b3a74