Combining experiential and social learning approaches for crop disease management in a smallholder context: a complex socio-ecological problem

Abstract

Effective management of crop diseases is a key precondition for sustainable crop production and to improve food security globally. However, learning approaches that improve smallholder farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices to deal with crop diseases by fostering social and technical innovations are seldom studied. A study was conducted to examine: (1) how a combination of experiential and social learning approaches influences potato farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices in bacterial wilt and its management in Ethiopia and (2) the implications of combining the two approaches for complex crop disease management in smallholder context. Data were derived from face-to-face in-depth interviews, reflective workshops, and participant observations. The findings showed that farmers’ knowledge and perceptions about disease incidence, the pathogen that causes the disease, its spreading mechanisms, host plants, and disease diagnosis were changed. Farmers’ practices in management of the disease were also improved. Learning about the cause of the disease stimulated the identification of locally relevant spreading mechanisms and the feasibility of a range of recommended disease management methods. Moreover, farmers recognized their interdependency, role, and responsibility to cooperate to reduce the disease pressure in their community. We conclude that learning interventions aiming to improve smallholder farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices to deal with complex crop diseases need to combine experiential and social learning approaches and consider farmers’ local knowledge.

A Public Bad Game Method to Study Dynamics in Socio-Ecological Systems (Part II): Results of Testing Musa-Game in Rwanda and Adding Emergence and Spatiality to the Analysis

“…Participants repeatedly expressed their sense of gratitude and excitement because they learned both about technical aspects of the disease as well as interdependencies and collective action requirements. Our findings aligned with Tafesse et al (2020), who found a need for learning approaches that support the diffusion of both technical disease aspects as well as giving attention to the existence of interdependencies and needs for collective action [37]. Given the feedback that we received from farmers, our method met those characteristics in that it let farmers actively experience their interdependence while also teaching them technical disease information.…”

More than what meets the eye : factors and processes that shape the design and use of digital agricultural advisory and decision support in Africa

“…Participants repeatedly expressed their sense of gratitude and excitement because they learned both about technical aspects of the disease as well as interdependencies and collective action requirements. Our findings align withTafesse et al (2020) who found a need for learning approaches that support the diffusion of both technical disease aspects as well as giving attention to the existence of interdependencies and needs for collective action. Given the feedback that we received from farmers, our method meets those characteristics in that it lets farmers actively experience their interdependence while also teaching them technical disease information.…”

Association between Soil Acidity and Bacterial Wilt Occurrence in Potato Production in Ethiopia

“…This necessitates strengthening of the capacity of seed potato cooperatives to become effectively involved in quality declared seed production through a robust monitoring system. Improving farmers' knowledge and practices through experiential and social learning approaches should be prioritised to foster collective action involving both seed and ware potato growers [57]. Developing quarantine systems could also support efforts to control the disease in the country's smallholder potato production.…”