In sustainable agriculture, we place a high value on experiential
information. In other words when farmers talk about their
experience and observations, we listen. What works for farmers
in one region have good promise for farmers in other regions.
Some people view the term "anecdotal information" quite favorably.
In sustainable agriculture, we place a high value on experiential
information, field observations, indigenous knowledge, anecdotal
information.
Traditionally, the research/extension community has viewed
"anecdotal information" as second or third class information because
Extension built its reputation on "research-based information".
With pest control recommendations, I think Extension specialists are
less likely to provide anecdotal information when the economic
survival of farms are at stake. They do not wish to see law suits
hand delivered by the Sherrif's office, because the anecdotal control
measure they recommended to a farmer didn't work worth a
hoot and the crop gotten eaten alive by green bugs.
However, in alternative farming systems the farmers and technology
are 5-10 years ahead of research and extension and there is a need to
include current information even though the information does not
derive from research and extension journals; i.e., sequential
spraying of biodynamic preparations, foliar sprays to increase the
brix level, organic potting mixes with growth promoting
rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, feeding kelp or diatomacious
earth to livestock, spraying hydrogen peroxide on tomatoes,
using microbial inoculants to treat food wastes and keep them
from degrading prior to incoporation into compost windrows.
There is no data that shows a system of rotations and cover
crops and timely cultivation will control weeds in a watermelon field
in Oklahoma instead of using herbicides, but quite a few low-input
and limited resource farmers know it can be done based on first-hand
experience. Nary to be seen in the Extension literature how to pull
off this mighty trick, yet how to do it exists in the field.
When presenting information that includes data and observations
from a wide variety of sources -- peer-reviewed journal article,
on-farm research, anecdotal -- there is a need to qualify the
source. This is a delimna that faces all information providers, not
just Extension. .
In my experience providing sustainable ag information at farmer
workshops, the farmers themselves care less that ideas or
methods presented originate from researchers as long as what is said
makes bottomline sense with regards to practical implementation,
expected results, and economics.
The fact that the research comes from a credible source such as
university or USDA is a boon for quick acceptance of a new idea,
but farmer-generated information seems to be just as valuable
when the idea-product-practice makes good sense. Farmers like to
"try out" new products and practices anyways.
The following is very rough, but perhaps one way to show how
information sources can be categorized.
Reliability Index:
** Journal Article
High confidence, limited field experience
** On-farm research
Good confidence, good field applicability
** Anecdotal
Fair confidence, high farmer experience index, good idea to try out
on small on-farm plots before full-scale implementation
Documentation:
Case studies, personal communication, farm tours,
phone surveys.... these can all be used as documented information.
The citation will provide the source, as well as indicate they
are non-traditional rather than standard publications or research
reports.
In her book, "Protecting Our Biological and Intellectual
Heritage in the Age of Biopiracy" [Research Foundation for Science,
Technology and Natural Resource Policy, New Delhi, 1996],
Vandana Shiva provides a graphic illustration of how healing
modalities may be viewed.
A.
Pluralism of Knowledge Systems -- Diverse by equally valid
methodologies
Ayurveda - Siddha - Unani - Folk - Homeopathy - Allopathy
B.
Hierarchy of Knowledge Systems -- Only reductionist methods
of western science treated as valid
Allopathy = Scientific
=======================================
Folk - Unani - Siddha - Ayurveda - Homeopathy = Non-Scientific
[Note: Diagram B is a pyramid in her book, with allopathy
sitting above a line drawn through the upper third of the pyramid,
whereas the indigenous healing systems are below the line
in the bottom two-thirds of the pyramid]
I like this diagram because the same concept of horizontal
versus vertical can be extended to sustainable agriculture
information sources such as the Peer-Reviewed Research Data to
Anecdotal Observations continuum, as well as to High-Input
Chemical Agriculture to Alternative Farming System modalities.
Steve Diver
ATTRA
> at an upcoming extension agent training on organic production systems, i have
> been asked to provide some thought provoking comments on the use,
> applicability, acceptability, etc., of anecdotal evidence or information in
> making recommendations to farmers. the real question presented to me is:
> what
> is an extension administration's position on use of this type of data in an
> extension educational program?
>
> some of the kinds of info i'd like to uncover include:
>
> tests of reliability of that type info
> guidelines for documentation of anecdotal info
> including anecdotal and more traditional research info in recommendations
>
> any thoughts or comments?
> --
> Roger Crickenberger
> Email : rcricken@amaroq.ces.ncsu.edu
> Phone : (919) 515-3252
-- steved@ncatark.uark.eduTo Unsubscribe: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with "unsubscribe sanet-mg". To Subscribe to Digest: Email majordomo@ces.ncsu.edu with the command "subscribe sanet-mg-digest".