This article describes the adaptation of the matrix scoring technique to investigate local perceptions of agroecosystem properties - productivity, stability, sustainability and equity. Methods discussed include transects, mapping and modelling, matrix ranking of productivity, and matrix ranking of the productivity of different crop combinations, seasonal calendars and timelines.
This note is based on the adaptation of matrix scoring in order to investigate local perceptions of agroecosystem properties, namely: productivity, stability, sustainability and equity. It concerns a recently concluded PRA workshop in Paiyur for scientists from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. The paper concludes that sequencing of activities and a relaxed approach to collaborative exploration is a prerequisite for understanding the behaviour of the farm family. Scoring of any kind involves implicit weighting, and inter-year, inter-plot and enterprise combinations confound the issues.