TY - JOUR
T1 - Academics among farmers
T2 - Linking intervention to research
AU - Brookfield, Harold
AU - Gyasi, Edwin A.
PY - 2009/3
Y1 - 2009/3
N2 - Geographers and other academics whose reputations and advancement depend on their work among developing country farmers have an obligation to assist the farmers in tangible ways. A project of the United Nations University which did this in 1993-2002 (PLEC)is described, with particular reference to Ghana, together with a follow-up project in the same country. Best methods of resource management were sought among the farmers themselves, and expert farmers were encouraged to instruct others in their methods. Moreover, in a project concerned with the conservation of biodiversity on farm, the farmers were also assisted in enterprises creating added value from biodiversity. Getting behind the farmers in their own enterprises can enrich academic research.
AB - Geographers and other academics whose reputations and advancement depend on their work among developing country farmers have an obligation to assist the farmers in tangible ways. A project of the United Nations University which did this in 1993-2002 (PLEC)is described, with particular reference to Ghana, together with a follow-up project in the same country. Best methods of resource management were sought among the farmers themselves, and expert farmers were encouraged to instruct others in their methods. Moreover, in a project concerned with the conservation of biodiversity on farm, the farmers were also assisted in enterprises creating added value from biodiversity. Getting behind the farmers in their own enterprises can enrich academic research.
KW - Developing country farmers
KW - Ghana
KW - Interventions
KW - Land management
KW - On-farm biodiversity
KW - Research among farmers
KW - Researchers' obligations
KW - United Nations University
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=60849089322&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.geoforum.2008.09.006
DO - 10.1016/j.geoforum.2008.09.006
M3 - Article
SN - 0016-7185
VL - 40
SP - 217
EP - 227
JO - Geoforum
JF - Geoforum
IS - 2
ER -