Agricultural knowledge and information systems in Kenya: implications for technology dissemination and development.
Agricultural knowledge and information systems in Kenya: implications for technology dissemination and development.
复制标题
肯尼亚的农业知识和信息系统：对技术传播和发展的影响。
DOI：
--
复制
发表时间：
2000
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
R. Joldersma
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
D. Rees;M. Momanyi;J. Wekundah;F. Ndungu;J. Odondi;A. O. Oyure;D. Andima;M. Kamau;J. Ndubi;F. Musembi;L. Mwaura;R. Joldersma
本文报道了肯尼亚农业研究所和农业部开展的一项农业知识和信息系统（AKIS）研究。在肯尼亚的四个地区（包括高潜力地区和牧区）进行了实地研究，以记录和评估不同行为者和组织作为农业技术的潜在吸收/传播途径的重要性，并考虑如何改善这些地区的知识和信息系统的性能。编制了四个地区涉及农业的组织、机构和行动者的数据库，并在每个地区选定的分地点和司内与农业有关的人员进行了一系列参与性和快速评估工作。肯尼亚小农的AKIS是多样而复杂的，因农业企业、农业生态和地区而异。农业综合企业在内罗毕附近的Kiambu地区的AKIS中发挥着重要作用，而政府和非政府机构是西波科特牧区的主要“外部”行动者。非政府组织和教会组织在霍马湾特别活跃，但他们的覆盖范围有限。外部机构和组织之间的联系，无论是政府机构还是非政府组织，通常都很薄弱，协调不佳。小农的主要知识来源是当地（邻居、家庭、市场和以社区为基础的组织）。40%至70%的答复者报告说，政府推广是一个重要的信息来源，尽管农民和推广人员本身都对其互动的质量和频率表示不满。非政府组织在其活跃的领域也是重要的信息来源。在某些地区，教堂、酋长的barazas（社区会议）和农业公司是重要的信息来源。大多数农民认为，他们最迫切的信息需求没有得到充分解决，是关于农业技术细节的信息（例如，化学品施用量、如何管理马铃薯晚疫病、在哪里获得认证种子、特定地点最适合的品种、牲畜的住房和管理等）。人力资源不足（政府和非政府推广）和糟糕的地方领导（特别是基层组织）被认为是农民有效信息流的最严重障碍，而政府和非政府组织推广人士强调缺乏动员社区的资源，以及与研究人员沟通不端导致信息失真。潜在的交付系统和知识传播的切入点已列成表格，但各不相同，需要有针对具体地区和具体商品的战略。提倡在提供推广和研究服务方面更多地利用网络和多元化，以提高农业发展的成本效益、公平和效率。许多研究参与者都强调了参与式学习方法的重要性。政府研究机构可以通过加强与其他发展机构的战略联盟，编写旨在促进参与性学习的教材，以及为农民和推广人员编写“一篮子选项”信息材料，在未来的AKIS中发挥关键作用。
This paper reports on a study of agricultural knowledge and information systems (AKIS) undertaken by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute and the Ministry of Agriculture. Field research was conducted in four districts of Kenya, including high-potential and pastoral areas, to document and assess the significance of different actors and organisations as potential uptake/dissemination pathways for agricultural technologies, and to consider ways to improve the performance of the knowledge and information systems in the districts. Databases of the organisations, institutions and actors involved in agriculture in the four districts were compiled, and a series of participatory and rapid appraisal exercises were carried out with people concerned with agriculture in selected sub-locations and divisions within each district. The AKIS of Kenya’s smallholder farmers are diverse and complex, varying with agricultural enterprise, agroecology, and from district to district. Agribusiness plays a major role in the AKIS of Kiambu district near to Nairobi, whilst government and non-government agencies are the major ‘external’ actors in the pastoral areas of West Pokot. NGOs and church organisations are particularly active in Homa Bay, but their coverage is limited. Links between external institutions and organisations, for both government organisations and NGOs, are generally weak and poorly coordinated. The major sources of knowledge for smallholders are local (neighbours, family, markets and communitybased organisations). Between 40 and 70 per cent of respondents reported government extension as an important source of information, though both farmers and extension personnel themselves expressed dissatisfaction with the quality and frequency of their interactions. NGOs are also important sources of information in those areas where they are active. Churches, chief’s barazas (community meetings) and agricultural companies are significant information sources in some locations. Most farmers considered that their most pressing information requirement which was not being adequately addressed was information on technical details of farming (e.g. chemical application rates, how to manage late blight in potatoes, where to get certified seed, the most appropriate varieties for a given location, housing and management of livestock, etc.). Inadequate human resources (government and non-government extension) and poor local leadership (particularly for CBOs) were seen as the most serious barriers to effective information flow by farmers, whereas government and NGO extensionists stressed lack of resources to mobilise communities, and poor communications with researchers leading to information distortion. Potential delivery systems and entry points for knowledge dissemination were tabulated, but were quite diverse – district-specific and commodity-specific strategies are needed. Increased use of networking and pluralism in provision of extension and research services are advocated to increase cost-effectiveness, equity and efficiency of agricultural development. The importance of participatory learning approaches was emphasised by many of the study participants. Government research institutes could capture a pivotal role in the AKIS of the future through increased emphasis on strategic alliances with other development agencies, the production of teaching materials designed for facilitating participatory learning, and the production of ‘basket-of-options’ information materials for farmers and extensionists.