The explanatory power of silent comics: An assessment in the context of knowledge transfer and agricultural extension to rural communities in southwestern Madagascar

Abstract

The distribution of silent comic illustrations can facilitate the communication and transfer of scientific recommendations about sustainable land management (SLM) to local communities in countries where many people are illiterate. However, since there are cross-cultural differences in “visual languages”, visualization styles need to be carefully selected as well as locals’ comprehension of the illustrated recommendation evaluated systematically. Three agricultural recommendations were chosen for comic-style illustrations, distributed to six communities in the Mahafaly region of southwestern Madagascar and evaluated using a three-step, interdependent approach. The silent comics illustrated (i) composting of manure and its application to improve soil fertility; (ii) cautious utilization of succulent silver thicket as supplementary forage; and (iii) sustainable harvesting practices of wild yam. Results revealed that general understandability strongly depended on the community that was surveyed and on the environmental subject that was illustrated. We found a strong relationship between the general understandability of comics and the divergence that exist in communities’ socio-economic structure. Education level was an important factor that explained a better understanding of respondents for the comic illustrating compost production, but not for comics that illustrated sustainable usage of silver thicket and wild yam harvest. Willingness to follow the recommended practice was impaired when respondents valued no change to the improved technique compared to the common one. Effects of respondents’ socio-economic characteristics on the implementation of the recommended practice could not be clarified within this study due to the small subset of data. Based on the evaluation of recurring comments made by respondents and interviewers, we conclude that comics can be a useful communication tool to increase locals’ awareness and comprehension for SLM practices. This, however, requires that drawing details used to facilitate farmers’ ability to adopt a point-of-view inside the comic story are used thoughtfully as they might interfere with the central message.

Visual narrative comprehension: Universal or not?

“…To construe these units as a sequence, a comprehender must track components across images and observe their changes. First, elements in one image must be recognized as the same referential entities in subsequent images (Bornens, 1990;Saraceni, 2001;Stoermer, 2009). Thus, a continuity constraint guides the understanding that each image does not depict different characters, but repeats the same characters across images.…”

“…The development of visual narrative production remains less clear. Comprehension and production skills may be asymmetricalone may be able to read a comic, but not draw one (Stoermer, 2009). Visual narrative production must also be situated within the development of drawing more broadly.…”

“…Explicit instruction and guidance can enhance proficiency beyond passive exposure (Bitz, 2004a(Bitz, , 2004b. Stoermer (2009) found that 7-and 8-years-old students could develop complex stories with clear narrative arcs and developed backstories. Yet, they often had to be "coached image by image in order for the comic to be readable" (Stoermer, 2009, p. 191), particularly for correction of continuity errors across frames.…”

Determination of Effectiveness and Efficiency of Production Factors in Sweet Potato Farming in Lamongan, Indonesia

“…It plays a vital role as a primary food source and the main income source for most rural communities [1]. Sweet potato farming, cassava, corn, and various bean types are the livelihoods of strategic residents in Madagascar, and most of the island's population consists of smallholders and herders, ranchers and farmers [2]. Tuber plants that play an important role in Indonesia include sweet potatoes [3].…”

The Contribution of Women Farming Workers on Household Income

“…Thus, women, especially in the village, are burdened with quite heavy double duties. Therefore, in essence, the role of women as housewives has the main task of household work and they will leave the house to earn a living besides the main job if the husband's income is insufficient (Stenchly, et al 2019).…”