Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems in Hagaz, Eritrea

by Chris Garforth,
International and Rural Development Department
The University of Reading, The United Kingdom
c.j.garforth@reading.ac.uk

A move to farmer-responsive extension and advisory services requires a continuing dialogue between farmers and advisors and analysis of farmers' needs. The article by Chris Garforth of the University of Reading, UK, presents a study of local agricultural knowledge and information systems (AKIS) in Eritrea. The study was carried out in March 2001 with the SDRE Communication for Development Group and DANIDA/Eritrea. The study set out to develop methods for analysis that can be used by advisors in dialogue with farming communities. Findings highlighted local variations in AKIS, the key role played by farmers in introducing and adapting new agricultural technology, and the importance of market opportunities in driving successful innovation. Opportunities for improving the functioning of the AKIS included training to meet specific farmers' needs, participatory adaptive research, improving the reliability of information exchanged through farmer-to-farmer interaction, and the planned use of existing informal channels for enhancing the two-way flow of information between advisors and farmers.

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