IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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Links between innovation and farmers’ problems:

design elements for developement programs

Anne Mathieu and Jean-Pierre DarréINRA SAD and GERDAL

France

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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Theoritical base

It comes from comprehensive sociology of Weber.

The cause of activity lies in the meaning that the subjects give to their behavior. Behaviors are not defined by circumstances and history; the latter only define the conditions in which the choice between behaviors can be made.

We work at local level. Inside a global situation, there are choices for local development.

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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Four ideas

1- All farmers are linked in a social entity.

2- Farmers act from « norms for action » which are established locally.

3- Nobody can set down a problem for somebody else.

4- To solve the poverty of farmers is not always compatible with the search of potential of productivity.

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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1- All farmers are linked in a social entity.

Network of work and equipment exchanges and

technical dialog bettween farmers

of a catchment (Pays de Caux,

France)

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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2- Farmers act from « norms for action » which are established locallyFirst, what is a « norm for action » ?

In a locality, at a given moment, there are forms of knowledge about technical process. It is both:- the way the farmers perceive the technical process, and how to manage it, together with the conditions observed, the indicators used,

and the rules for action;- and local variations in the way the technical

process is implemented, linked with the characteristics of sub-groups of farmers

(big/small, poor/rich, young/old, men/women, for example).

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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These knowledge is both: -way to think and way to do -and resource and constraint for

action.

It defines what can be do and what cannot be do. It is both a technical and social

representation.

« Norms for action » concern also how to conceive off job and way to produce.

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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At the same time they build, in dialogs, « norms for action », farmers build a form of

knowledge.

It is the way the group cut the reality, allocate some words to categories, and link pertinent features to these categories for

evaluation.

« Norms for action » are linked with particular forms of knowledge

Other groups (especially scientists) have not always the same forms of knowledge

than local groups.

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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« Norms for action » are continuously transformed inside the locality

When a farmer want to transform a way to do something, or introduce an innovation, debates occur in the locality. Through

arguments, these debates transform how farmers in the locality conceive technical

process.Innovation coming from outside is

“domesticated” before being either rejected or adapted and finally appropriated by all the farmers, or by a sub-group of farmers. It

involves a change in local conceptions, and may also leads to changes in the social position

of farmers

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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3- Nobody can set down a problemfor somebody else.

Problems are not coming from situations, they are not a feature of reality.

A situation exists and somebody have a link with this situation. He/she expresses a

concern about it.

It is this worry which can be transformed in a solving problem:

How to do for, to…

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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The diagnosis that a scientist can do of a situation is not the same thing that people’s

problems in a situation.

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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4- The search of the potential of productivity is not always compatible

with the struggle against poverty

If the aim of a development action is to reach the potential of productivity, or to

introduce an external technical innovation, then the action will benefit

the richest farmers who can invest.

But if the aim is to improve life and work conditions of the poorest, then it will

probably lead to an increase of production.

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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Consequences for development programs design to reduce poverty

Links with innovation

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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In our perspective, farmers, even poorest, can expresses their concerns.

They can be transformed in solving problems by

These concerns can be known from an enquiry, or from meetings of these

farmers.

These problems are linked with a locality.

IMI workshop, IFAD 15-17 nov 2005

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The program have to take into account the following facts:

- These problems are linked with a locality.

- Farmers are embedded in network

- They have particular form of knowledge

- Local norms don’t allow them to do everything

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In these sort of programs, external innovation concerns developement

institutions. Advisors have to change their role:

their job consists now in revealing farmers problems, and help to solve them.