Farmers' Experimentation

This article asks "what actually is farmer experimentation?" Examples are given of farmers in Sanando, a semi-arid region of Mali. Farmers' understandings of 'experimentation' were elicited through interviews. They were also asked why they experimented and how. Experimentation was found to mainly concern new varieties and soil fertility. The farmers' process of testing, rejecting and reframing hypotheses is documented. Persistent observation is noted as a key component. It is noted, however, that some 'experiments' are more akin to experience, and thus it may be difficult to determine where an experiment begins and ends. This is particularly so since farming in Sanando is characterised by variability and unpredictability - problems have to be reframed according to the situation. Experimentation/experience is therefore a learning process.