Resources

In this brief note, recent innovations which help researchers learn about variables influencing farmers' resource allocation decisions are discussed. Participants in a workshop, which took place at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, looked at transect walks, mapping, modelling, seasonal analysis, ranking, scoring, resource flow diagrams, as well as other analysis tools. All techniques discussed had been developed by Rama Gounder and other individuals, who played a leading role in the workshop, acting as teachers.

This paper describes the results of applying wealth and income ranking techniques in a society spatially and culturally distant from the ones where it had been applied previously. With regard to the income rank, income data from 38 households in a rural Indian village wereg collected for the cropping year June 1985 to May 1986. Assets considered for the wealth rank were: land, animals and the number of people engaged in employment. The paper concludes that wealth ranking is a useful technique of stratification for the area of India in which it was tested. It is reasonable to assume from this that the technique could be used in other parts of India.

This is a compendium of papers presented at IDS/IIED seminar on 'Wealth and Well-Being Ranking'. It draws on various attempts to implement a wealth ranking exercise, given in the form of presentations, which include: B. Grandin, and the 'Background to wealth ranking'; Marie-Therese Sarch, 'The Adoption of New Agricultural Technology in The Gambia'; Verona Groverman, and the ' People's Participation Programme', Swaziland; Ian Scoones, looking at 'Wealth Ranking in Zimbabwe'; and Pramesh Shah's report on 'AKRSP (India), Gujarat, among others. Most comments and questions focused on definitions, applicability and sensitivity. The last section looks at the questions left unanswered, and is concerned with what happens over a longer time period, whether wealth ranking can be implemented over a wider area, and notes the difficulty experienced with regard to passing wealth ranking ideas on to community facilitators.

It is essentially a brief note on wealth ranking methodology using the card sorting system. Wealth ranking is a method which helps researchers understand the relative wealth within an area and thus the impact of any intervention on different social groupings. The paper goes into detail, looking at the preparation of the cards, their introduction to the informant, card sorting, and follow-up discussion. Computing and grouping, calculating the scores for each informant is also discussed.

This article discusses the sondeo method and presents an example of its use in agricultural technology research in Guatemala. It argues that multidisciplinary agricultural research teams can augment information on agricultural technology needs. A reconnaissance survey team of ten, equally split between socio-economists and technologists, was used to assess farmer constraints and technology needs in advance of agricultural research. Quantified information and questionnaires were not required and the survey lasted only one week. The team investigated farmer conditions in pairs made up of a social and a natural scientist. On each of four days, the pairings changed. Daily post-survey team discussions were essential. Each member of the team prepared a report and these were finally amalgamated. Experience suggests that combined disciplines can, if well managed, produce incisive and efficient diagnoses of rural conditions and needs, and educate the participants in multidisciplinary thinking.

It concerns the experience of Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra (KGVK), a NGO sponsored and supported by the Usha Martin Group of Industries. It has conducted a series of PRA training exercises for government officers from watershed and forestry programmes, for voluntary agencies, research institutions and other NGOs. This paper describes one particular PRA camp at Mahilong, Bihar, which had two purposes. Firstly, to ascertain more information about the area and project sustainability, and secondly to train others in the required methodology. The paper discusses the sequence adopted at the camp, special features of the programme and the opportunities the camp gave to discuss issues with farmers from the area.

This is a write up of a situational analysis using participatory rural appraisal methods, carried out in Kistagiri village, Andhra Pradesh, India. The objective of the analysis was to gain an understanding of the decision-making process of farmers in the matter of fodder selection for large cattle. It consisted of three stages: (1) farmers were asked to indicate the fodder they used; (2) fodder was presented in pairs, and farmers asked to select the better; and (3) a list drawn-up of various fodder characteristics and qualities, which were then matched against the various fodder under analysis. Finally, conclusions are drawn from the process.