Participatory rapid appraisal of farmers' agricultural knowledge and communication systems

The study focuses on developing an approach to map the communication networks that exist in an agricultural system and to identify the main actors who play a role in shaping agricultural and rural development. The study, which took place in the Philippines in 1993, saw a multi-disciplinary team from the fields of communication, farming systems development and agricultural research working with farmers to illustrate their information network. As the farmers identified various actors right up to the provincial and national levels, the research team set about mapping the network through interviewing the various actors. The authors are of the view that the study provides evidence for the need for a new role for municipal agricultural technicians in local agricultural and rural development.