Engaging Farmers in a Research Project. Lessons Learned from Implementing the Community of Practice Concept in Innovation Platforms in Irrigated Schemes in Tunisia, Mozambique and Ethiopia

Promoting innovation to improve both productivity and sustainability of irrigated farming systems is crucial for the first question addressed within the Sustainable Development Goals process led by the United Nations. This is a complex task that requires methods and processes which include a diversity of knowledge. For this reason, participatory approaches have been increasingly encouraged. A broad range of methods have been developed in the literature. However, debates on the effectiveness of the results, including questions on how different stakeholders influence results and how the context influences platform processes, remain theoretical. In this article, the authors evaluate the results of a participatory diagnosis aiming to identify the constraints and possible innovations to improve agricultural production in the Brahmi irrigation scheme in Tunisia. The process was implemented with individual interviews and focus groups operationalized through two types of platforms, 'Community of Practice (CoP)' and 'Learning and Practice Alliance (LPA)'. We highlighted that both CoP and LPA offer fruitful platforms for the interaction of all stakeholders. However, the results could be biased by the context and the expectations and strategies of powerful participants. RÉSUMÉPromouvoir l'innovation pour améliorer la productivité et la durabilité des systèmes agricoles irrigués est crucial pour répondre aux premiers objectifs du développement durable promu par les Nations Unies. Cette tâche exige l'effort de diverses disciplines. Les approches participatives ont donc été de plus en plus encouragées et développées dans la littérature. Cependant, les débats sur la qualité des résultats, y compris des questions sur les biais relatifs au type des parties prenantes et au contexte, restent théoriques. Dans cet article, les auteurs évaluent un diagnostic participatif visant à identifier les contraintes et les innovations possibles pour améliorer la production agricole dans un périmètre irrigué en Tunisie. Le processus a été mis en oeuvre d'une part avec des entretiens individuels et d'autre part avec des ateliers collectifs à travers deux types de plates-formes, Communauté de pratique (CoP) et Forum d'échange d'expérience (LPA). CoP et LPA offrent tous deux une plate-forme fructueuse pour l'interaction de toutes les parties prenantes. Cependant, les résultats peuvent être biaisés par le contexte, les attentes et les stratégies des participants puissants. Les entretiens individuels sont complémentaires des ateliers collectifs, en particulier dans les situations où des conflits ouverts ou latents existent.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Participation in a Complex and Conflicting Context: Implementing a Shared Diagnosis in a Northern Tunisia Irrigation Scheme

Hanafi

Marlet

Jamin

et al. 2018

“…As indicated by Dolinska et al (, in preparation), the level of participation in the present case study according to the scale of participation adapted after Pretty () can be considered as giving opinion in the diagnosis and definition of the research agenda, interactive participation in identifying the innovation to be tested and planning of the innovation test, and self organization in conducting the innovation test. This means that there was a progressive increase in the level of participation in the innovation process.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Innovative Soil Fertility Management by Stakeholder Engagement in the Chókwè Irrigation Scheme (Mozambique)†

Sánchez‐Reparaz

Vente

Famba

et al. 2016

Self Cite

Appropriate soil fertility management plays an important role in irrigated systems and can contribute to reducing the yield gap. To that end, abiotic, biotic, management and socio‐economic factors need to be considered and participatory approaches need to be implemented to ensure the sustainability of the interventions. Our objective is to analyse a participatory process conducted in the Chókwè Irrigation Scheme (Mozambique) to trigger agronomic innovation in soil fertility management. Through a method combining interviews with 31 farmers, soil sampling and the organization of communities of practice we studied actual agrarian practices and farmers' knowledge about soil fertility management as well as the social and physical context. This information was the basis for selecting an association in order to promote the innovation process. A participatory planning of the innovation test was conducted. The whole process was evaluated by farmers. Adoption of the majority of the practices is limited mainly by factors related to the socio‐economic status of farmers and not to the lack of knowledge. Farmers did not highly value the participatory process itself, but valued the learning‐by‐doing process and the collaboration with researchers. We consider that the approach increased collective learning and this process triggered the innovation dynamics. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

“…A comparative analysis of case studies from Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tunisia revealed that working on the already existing groups and building on prevalent formal dialogue groups is very helpful to create learning communities (Dolinska et al ., ).…”

Section: Engaging With An Extended Non‐scientific Peer Communitymentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Dolinska et al . () highlighted the readiness, in particular of researchers, to participate in the transdisciplinary process. Important learning has taken place for all participating researchers in the EAU4Food project.…”

Section: Engaging With An Extended Non‐scientific Peer Communitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transdisciplinary Innovation in Irrigated Smallholder Agriculture in Africa

Froebrich

Ludi

Bouarfa³

et al. 2020

Self Cite

Boosting the productivity of smallholder farming systems continues to be a major need in Africa. Challenges relating to how to improve irrigation are multi‐factor and multisectoral, and they involve a broad range of actors who must interact to reach decisions collectively. We provide a systematic reflection on findings from the research project EAU4Food, which adopted a transdisciplinary approach to irrigation for food security research in five case studies in Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, South Africa and Tunisia. The EAU4Food experiences emphasize that actual innovation at irrigated smallholder farm level remains limited without sufficient improvement of the enabling environment and taking note of the wider political economy environment. Most project partners felt at the end of the project that the transdisciplinary approach has indeed enriched the research process by providing different and multiple insights from actors outside the academic field. Local capacity to facilitate transdisciplinary research and engagement with practitioners was developed and could support the continuation and scaling up of the approach. Future projects may benefit from a longer time frame to allow for deeper exchange of lessons learned among different stakeholders and a dedicated effort to analyse possible improvements of the enabling environment from the beginning of the research process. © 2020 The Authors. Irrigation and Drainage published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Commission for Irrigation and Drainage