FW: new publication on video and agric innovation

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Dorine Ruter [ETC Foundation]

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Jun 24, 2009, 8:25:39 AM6/24/09

to fldonli...@googlegroups.com, Van Mele, Paul (WARDA)

Dear all,

Please find below an abstract of a paper that may be of interest to some of you. It is a journal copyrighted article, so it cannot be put online. However, people who are interested in receiving a copy can contact Paul van Mele from WARDA. See below and in CC for his contact details.

Kind regards,

Dorine

Dorine Rüter
ETC Foundation

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From: Van Mele, Paul (WARDA) [mailto:P.VA...@CGIAR.ORG]
Sent: dinsdag 16 juni 2009 11:56
To: Dorine Ruter [ETC Foundation]
Subject: RE: new publication on video and agric innovation

Zossou, E., Van Mele, P., Vodouhe, S.D. and Wanvoeke, J. 2009. The power of video to trigger innovation: rice processing in central Benin. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 7(2), 119-129.

Abstract

Understanding how to stimulate innovation among farmers and processors is crucial for attaining sustainable agriculture. To explore how farmer-to-farmer learning videos and training workshops changed women’s rice processing practices, we interviewed 200 women and 17 women’s groups in 20 villages in central Benin, including four villages which had received no intervention at all. Video on improved rice parboiling (a process whereby paddy is pre-cooked by steam without touching the water) had reached three times more women (74%) than hands-on training workshops organized by local NGOs, as such contributing to more equitable knowledge sharing within communities. In the villages where the NGOs had shown the video, 24% of the women started to use the improved parboiler equipment individually and 56% collectively within their group, compared to none in the control villages. About 92% of the women who attended both video and workshops developed creative solutions based on the idea of pre-cooking paddy with steam, compared to 72% for those who learned only through video. Fewer women innovated after learning through workshops only (19%) and after being informed by their peers (15%). Video watching also made women pay attention to reducing the loss of steam and use local resources innovatively to conserve energy. More than 90% of the women who watched the video improved the quality of their parboiled rice, e.g. by removing dirt, washing rice several times and drying rice on tarpaulins. Workshops stimulated innovations less than video did. Farmer-to-farmer video has great potential to enhance sustainable agriculture by encouraging local innovations.

Dr. Paul Van Mele
Program Leader Learning & Innovation Systems
Africa Rice Center (WARDA)
01 BP 2031, Cotonou , Benin
tel. +229 21 35 01 88 ext. 332
fax +229 21 35 05 56
email: p.va...@cgiar.org

Nageeb Bakheit

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Jul 5, 2009, 1:23:26 AM7/5/09

to fldonli...@googlegroups.com, p.va...@cgiar.org

Dear Dorine Ruter:
Thank you for sharing with us the material. As part of FLD FORUM I find it interesting.
Regards
Nageeb

Subject: [FLD] FW: new publication on video and agric innovation
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:25:39 +0200
From: d.r...@etcnl.nl
To: fldonli...@googlegroups.com
CC: P.VA...@CGIAR.ORG