Knowledge, science, and practice in ecological weed management: farmer–extensionist–scientist interactions - Ecological Management of Agricultural Weeds - page 132

different regions where velvetbean is used vary greatly in length of dry season
and rainfall,factors that farmers have taken into account when adapting their
systems for velvetbean use (CIDICCO, 1995).
Many nongovernmental development organizations (NGOs) throughout
Central America over the past 10 years have begun to promote the use of legu-
minous annual cover crops with small farmers. Velvetbean and other cover
crops are viewed not only as valuable for improving soil fertility and reducing
weed control costs, but also as a way to motivate farmers to experiment with
solutions to their problems with their own resources (Bunch, 1982). Farmers
who have learned to manage velvetbean through experiments on their own
farms play a key role in the farmer-to-farmer approach. These farmers, who
are known as promoters, often begin by asking a group of farmers why they
think their yields have declined. Promoters speak of similar problems in their
home region and describe the use of leguminous cover crops. The group may
visit other farmers already working with cover crops. Promoters offer small
amounts of seed for multiplication and testing.As farmers observe results and
harvest seed, they encourage other farmers to try cover crops. Regional and
national farmers' meetings are often organized to promote the exchange of
results (e.g., Buckles & Arteaga, 1993; Lopez, 1993).
Does the dramatic spread of velvetbean in recent years represent improved
farmer capacity for managing crop production and weed control or the fortui-
tous, but temporary, solution to a special combination of production prob-
lems? Will the farmer experimentation and farmer-to-farmer communication
promoted by NGOs lead to improved farmer capacity or simply more efficient
technology transfer? How will farmers who learned to use velvetbean from
other farmers for weed control in maize respond to changing maize prices or
new pest problems? A collapse in maize prices in the Atlantida region of
Honduras would jeopardize the velvetbean-maize rotation, since velvetbean
does not intercrop easily with annual crops other than maize. Recently, severe
infestations of Rottboellia cochinchinensis have been reported in velvetbean
fallows in Honduras, leading to land abandonment (Triomphe, 1996). These
examples suggest that while farmer-to-farmer networks can be low cost and
effective, there is a role for strategic, on-going links between farmer networks
and research and extension systems. Scientists and extension staff may lack
immediate solutions to problems like maize prices or the invasion of R. cochin-
chinensis . Nevertheless, a process of co-learning for improved weed manage-
ment can achieve several objectives: scientists focused more clearly on
integrated approaches to field problems; extensionists directed toward
increased farmer capacity for decision-making rather than on technology
transfer; and farmers communicating ecological knowledge rather than tech-
nological novelties with other farmers.