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TitleBridging information gaps between farmers, policy-makers, researchers and development agents : paper presented at the regional conference on agroforestry impacts on livelihoods in Southern Africa : putting research into practice, Aventura Warmbaths, South
Publication TypeMiscellaneous
Year of Publication2003
AuthorsWesseler, G, Brinkman, W
Secondary TitleCTA Working Document
Volumeno. 8030
Paginationiv, 41 p. : 1 tab.
Date Published2003-07-01
PublisherTechnical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA)
Place PublishedWageningen, The Netherlands
Keywordsagriculture, communication, economic development, forestry, information dissemination, rural development, sdicom
Abstract

Information is a prerequisite for development. Without the exchange of information, innovation dissemination would not be feasible. If we accept this hypothesis, then information gaps are direct impediments to development and need to be overcome.

This working document elaborates the role of information and communication in agricultural and rural development. In agricultural research in general, and agroforestry research in particular, a number of promising initiatives have been developed, and examples of successful solutions are presented here. Some of the large number and variety of topics that have been launched already cover the topic of agroforestry; others have been designed in different fields but could easily be applied to agroforestry issues as well.

However, the examples presented in this working document cannot be taken as a blueprint to be copied blindly elsewhere. The key to success appears to be a tailor-made approach, combining different and locally appropriate means of communication. A key factor seems to be that stakeholders’ interests are addressed - collaboration and communication between different stakeholder groups will only work if there is something to be gained by all concerned. A better two-way flow of information, to and from these stakeholder groups, should make it more receptive to the voices from rural areas, and provide mechanisms for these voices to be heard.

Notes9 ref.
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Themes

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