Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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identification and selection of instructive management techniques and their
practitioners, the expert farmers
•
actual demonstrations and dissemination led by farmers, with scientists play-
ing a monitoring and supportive role in collaboration with policy agents and
other stakeholders.
Among the diversity of ways of identifying appropriate management
systems or agrotechnologies and of demonstrating and disseminating them are
the following:
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farm visits
•
family reunions
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gatherings of friends and neighbours
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group discussions and durbars of farmers, scientists, and other key players
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organized groups such as the association of PLEC farmers in Ghana
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food fairs
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schools.
In Ghana the process is facilitated by video shows.
The model outlined above “shows how demonstration activities are based on
knowledge gained through research into farmers' natural and social environment”
(Pinedo-Vasquez, Gyasi, and Coffey 2002: 109).
General characteristics of the sites in Ghana
In Ghana the primary focal areas of PLEC work are the following:
•
Gyamfiase-Adenya (originally named Yensiso), Sekesua-Osonson (originally
named Sekesua), and Amanase-Whanabenya (originally named Amanase) all
located within the forest-savanna mosaic zone of southern Ghana
•
Jachie in the humid forest zone in central Ghana
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Bongnayili-Dugu-Song (originally named Dugu), which, together with
Nyorigu-Binguri-Gore (originally named Bawku-Manga), a subsidiary site, is
located in the interior savanna zone (Maps B, C, D, E).
Mainly geographical proximity or accessibility and availability of research
knowledge of the agricultural landscape informed the choice of these areas.
They are in various stages of development into demonstration sites under the
management of farmers with the support of nearby scientists drawn mainly from
the following institutions:
•
University of Ghana, Legon/Accra, in the case of southern Ghana
•
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in the case
of central Ghana
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University for Development Studies, Tamale, in the case of northern Ghana.
A major characteristic of the sites is the considerable pressure exerted on
biophysical resources by the predominantly agricultural population through
