Farmers' Knowledge about Maize Cultivation in the Middle Hills of Eastern Nepal: a Pre-Requisite to Plan Adaptive on-Farm Participatory Research

摘要

The national research system in Nepal has not been very successful in incorporating an understanding of the local agricultural systems in research and development planning, perhaps because of their complexity and heterogeneity. Where attempts have been made to understand local farming practice, these have generally involved limited interaction amongst research teams and farmers in diagnostic surveys. Although such interactions may have led to affecting the design of research, the knowledge itself remained largely implicit in what documentation was produced, so that each new diagnosis effectively started from scratch in terms of being able to use farmers' knowledge in the planning process. Understanding of farmers' knowledge of maize production practices as a precursor to participatory on-farm research for maize was initiated in June 1998 from Marga, Patle and Fakchamara in the eastern middle hills of Nepal. This involved repeated and detailed interviews with key informants alone and in groups. Results revealed that hill farmers in Nepal had sophisticated understanding about maize production systems, which is a dynamic resource based on observation and experience, much has been constantly adapting as practices change through self correcting practice. The present knowledge in maize derived from farmers, which considers farmers' requirements in new maize varieties and circumstances can bring a significant impact to maize research in the middle hills agricultural systems. Appreciating farmers' perspectives in designing on-farm participatory technology generation process is likely to enhance research efficiency and lOPVs (new varieties) uptake by farmers.