Participatory farm management methods for agricultural research and extension : a training manual

The manual describes a number of participatory farm management methods, which have been developed for use with or by semi-literate and non-literate small-holder farmers. Participatory farm management methods are simple tools, which enable farmers, together with research or extension workers to quantify and analyse the use and production of resources at the farm and household levels. The authors note that these methods have the same functions as conventional farm management methods in terms of helping farmers in their decision-making processes but have been developed specifically for use with small-holder farmers. The methods described in the manual have been developed over a three-year period and have been used by farmers in Ghana and Zimbabwe. The easy-to-use manual outlines four methods in detail and the authors note that each of these methods can be adapted for use by farmers, researchers and extension workers.