Participation Of Farmers' In Farmer Research Groups: The Case Of Adama Woreda
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Date
2009-06
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Publisher
AAU
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify the determinants and patterns of farmers' participation in
Farmer Research Groups in Adama Woreda. Statistically significant association between
socio-economic characteristics and farnlers' participation in Farlner Research Groups
were tested.
The specific objectives were to: (1) determine the relationship of the socio-demographic and
economic factors with farmers' participation; (2) describe the patterns of participation in
Farmer Research Groups by farmers and researchers and (3) identify constraints to
farmers' participation in Fam1er Research Groups.
The respondents were selected through a combination of probability proportionate to size
and systematic sampling, and 120 farmers (60 participants and 60 non-participants in
Farmer Research Groups) and 20 researchers were included. The respondents were
selected from 'Awash', 'Batu Degago', 'Ulaga Melka Oba' and 'Wake Miya' peasant
administration.
Focus group discussions, in-depth interviews with key informants, and case studies were
also employed to collect qualitative primary data. Quantitative primary data, on the other
hand, were collected through questionnaire administered by enumerators. Secondary
sources were also adequately referred from recorded archives to support primary data.
The data were analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistics like mean,
frequency, percentage, chi-square, phi-coefficient and point-biserial correlation.
The findings of this study showed that socio-economic and cultural factors such as age,
household size, educational attainment, size of farm land, and gender are significantly
related to farmers' participation in Farmer Research Groups in Adama Woreda. Based on
this finding, it can be concluded that younger farmers relatively participated more in
Farmer Research Groups. Besides, those farmers who had larger households, large size of
farm land and exposition to formal education tend to be more involved in the Farmer
Research Groups.
In addition, the study indicated that the majority of Farmer Research Group members in
Adama Woreda have been involved in consultative and collaborative type of
participation.
There are constraints to farmers and researchers in participation in the Farmer Research
Groups in Adama woreda. Expectations for subsidized inputs, farmers' reluctance to
work with researchers on the site due to the underestimation of their indigenous
knowledge in the research process and inadequate motivation of researchers to use
participatory approach have been the most commonly manifested problems among the
participants in Farmer Research Groups.