Inclusivity of on-farm demonstration: gender, age, and geographic location

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the inclusivity of on-farm demonstration across Europe, in relation to age, gender, and geographical location of participants. Methodology: The paper is based on a survey of 1162 on-farm demonstrators (farmers and organisations) and three supraregional workshops. Findings: Overall, on farm-demonstrations were found to be engaging young(er) farmers who are at a career stage of being able to implement long-term innovations. However, across Europe demonstrations were primarily attended by men. On-farm demonstrations were most common in Northern Europe, where advisory services brought together multiple AKIS actors. There were fewer on-farm demonstrations in Southern Europe, where demonstrations were more likely to be led by research institutes or individual farmers. Eastern Europe is notable for greater diversity in terms of gender and age of demonstration participants. Within countries, on-farm demonstrations occurred more frequently in regions of high agricultural profitability; more remotely located farmers had fewer opportunities to participate. Practical implications: Demonstrations led by public and privately funded advisory services appear to attract primarily male farmers, thus reinforcing gendered patterns of participation in European agriculture. The location of advisory services and research institutes in high profitability locales disproportionately privileges farmers located there. More targeted efforts are required to ensure the participation of farmers who are female, older and located in less productive regions. Theoretical implications: The paper draws attention to the lack of inclusivity of on-farm demonstration, developing a conceptual framework based on Lukes' three faces of power. Originality: The paper utilises the first European-wide inventory of on-farm demonstration to assess inclusivity.

On-farm demonstration: enabling peer-to-peer learning

“…The impact of the demonstration activity also reflects its perceived viability, which is best demonstrated on a successful commercial farm. Farmers can readily identify the 'good farmers' that they would emulate (Burton et al 2021). Unfortunately, the desire to be seen as a 'good farmer' also leads to unwillingness to share mistakes; competitiveness can also limit willingness to provide access to accurate financial accounting of commercial achievements.…”

“…Ingram et al's analysis suggests that while many organisations adapt to the absence of public funding, they could benefit from support targeted towards systems for enabling mechanisms for farmer involvement in demonstration programme governance and for planning and delivering coherent learning for farmers with an integrated approach supported by mentors and advisers in the longer term. Sutherland et al (2021) consider how the organisation of on-farm demonstration by different actors is reflected in the participation at these events. The inclusivity of contemporary agricultural advisory services, in general, has been the subject of considerable recent concern, with attention drawn to the practices and drivers (particularly privatisation) which disadvantage some farming cohorts (e.g.…”

“…One option is to consider who is likely to benefit from on-farm demonstration. While on-farm demonstrations are arguably reaching those farmers who are best positioned to implement innovations, Sutherland et al (2021) argue that publicly funded advisory services may be perpetuating patterns of marginalisation for women, older farmers and those located in remote regions. This is a structural issue relating to demonstration promotion, more so than an issue with event design; Alexopoulos et al (2021) found that once at the event, the learning experience of participants did not reflect differences in age, gender or farming experience.…”

Knowledge Enhancement of Field School Participants and Perception on Shallot Multiple Production Program (Proliga) in Sigi District

“…[14] suggested that the age of farmers is one indicator of farm success. A person of productive age in general has a fairly high willingness to develop knowledge and skills in accepting new innovations [15]. Farmers of productive age tend to have the spirit to want to know things that are not yet known so that farmers will try to more quickly adopt innovations even though they actually have no experience in implementing these technological innovations.…”

“…More experienced mean more knowledge get in managing farm. Furthermore [15] stated that farm-demonstrations were found to be involving later generation of farmers who are in stage of being able to implement long-term innovations.…”